tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58661517027056164852024-02-20T16:14:44.190+00:00Magical Meadowspamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-17245009080835066812011-03-06T18:21:00.000+00:002011-03-06T18:21:27.179+00:00For goodness sake<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm saying hello all with a heavy heart. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've regained my blog, but I've lost a treasure. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today my lovely, outstanding and amazing, I mean a.m.a.z.i.n.g 79 years-young father Don died. He left a brother, two sisters, four children, twenty grandchildren, nine greatgrandchildren, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">many special friends, his local church congregation, and the Deaf sign language community in the U.K. at a loss as to how they will ever fill the huge gap he leaves in all their lives.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was the most loving, considerate, giving and compassionate of men.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And he overcame enormous obstacles with grace and hard work.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His motto was 'sacrifice before self'.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You would love him too if you'd the luck to know him, I know that.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVdvDUxSY-HOXd2069glEt7bIcbafHvphe8yHOKArY07-eohVOzic5iSKVrGhg2ZdERkrHh1BZRbfok6RUa3oGhyphenhyphenPlVRzs8kARYFARgTIIRXulPH7zddjxlJDUQgT9jD-ozS7RH4_ZpSc/s1600/IMG_1974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVdvDUxSY-HOXd2069glEt7bIcbafHvphe8yHOKArY07-eohVOzic5iSKVrGhg2ZdERkrHh1BZRbfok6RUa3oGhyphenhyphenPlVRzs8kARYFARgTIIRXulPH7zddjxlJDUQgT9jD-ozS7RH4_ZpSc/s320/IMG_1974.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(whoops, he'd be much better at this techno stuff than I am, and have a giggle at my ineptitude)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll miss him forever.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Byebye Dad</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love you</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and give Mam a hug from us</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">xxxxx</span></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-38018337382878263372011-01-27T17:45:00.000+00:002011-01-27T17:45:00.074+00:00Bed Back and Beyond<div style="text-align: center;">Hello you, how are things?</div><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here we've just finished.....</div><div style="text-align: center;">five months of house-fixing-activities</div><div style="text-align: center;">thirty days of car-filled-drop-offs of <i>little stuff</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">one day of removals-men-with-van for<i> big stuff</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Job done. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, erm, kind of,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Someone</i> has another couple of weeks dismantling/rebuilding</div><div style="text-align: center;">office/work-shop man-type-stuff.</div><div style="text-align: center;">* </div><div style="text-align: center;">Me?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hmmm, ok,</div><div style="text-align: center;">it has to be said, </div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll be twiddling my paint brush for a little while longer</div><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><div style="text-align: center;">But not today</div><div style="text-align: center;">today my back hurt </div><div style="text-align: center;">so, I gave it.....</div><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><div style="text-align: center;">A cosy bed</div><div style="text-align: center;">a hot water bottle</div><div style="text-align: center;">soup</div><div style="text-align: center;">chocolate</div><div style="text-align: center;">painkillers</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1bFRNWCTgvEtOzF7QlL76QOdJQ453rCT_Pd_xiJeCQsoIEzZXsKjZXLxqmvYazmB9eAqBaLuMXMk5OfF8RJqybGt0XxRwgrPApVSVO4FedPFJ71D5xLSdtgOUPbGkfpRLYS1Ff9d3cIn/s1600/IMG_0298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1bFRNWCTgvEtOzF7QlL76QOdJQ453rCT_Pd_xiJeCQsoIEzZXsKjZXLxqmvYazmB9eAqBaLuMXMk5OfF8RJqybGt0XxRwgrPApVSVO4FedPFJ71D5xLSdtgOUPbGkfpRLYS1Ff9d3cIn/s320/IMG_0298.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1bFRNWCTgvEtOzF7QlL76QOdJQ453rCT_Pd_xiJeCQsoIEzZXsKjZXLxqmvYazmB9eAqBaLuMXMk5OfF8RJqybGt0XxRwgrPApVSVO4FedPFJ71D5xLSdtgOUPbGkfpRLYS1Ff9d3cIn/s1600/IMG_0298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>and a <i>very</i> good book</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8x8Kkqc71ESkbjLDKrBNp_Se2vjUORoFVbcpr1kZ3QBaczxzd9oxJ2Ynb7b_r1lnPQWW7_G2Gq62FdIsbhzXxgXfffrG2FfJ9zS5jA1izkmE23S0KPWADNRTQwQ9zxYrJef3531H16r6y/s1600/IMG_0297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8x8Kkqc71ESkbjLDKrBNp_Se2vjUORoFVbcpr1kZ3QBaczxzd9oxJ2Ynb7b_r1lnPQWW7_G2Gq62FdIsbhzXxgXfffrG2FfJ9zS5jA1izkmE23S0KPWADNRTQwQ9zxYrJef3531H16r6y/s320/IMG_0297.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I'll start unpacking....tomorrow</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8Zcthw9dX7bnQPnGuBDB4r9XEeSt27YHhFpKIrLqjG4A9_b88fQ7o_bGERUg36w4Yf0XozUILr4h-lj6aA34EQpnj7mmR3PoGPBh3QC1RQaF2_E039ogyysa0W78kzYMWukn32c8D-EB/s1600/IMG_0267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8Zcthw9dX7bnQPnGuBDB4r9XEeSt27YHhFpKIrLqjG4A9_b88fQ7o_bGERUg36w4Yf0XozUILr4h-lj6aA34EQpnj7mmR3PoGPBh3QC1RQaF2_E039ogyysa0W78kzYMWukn32c8D-EB/s320/IMG_0267.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*deep sigh*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy. soon. me :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">xxx</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">today's post is dedicated to Francesca's <a href="http://www.fuoriborgo.com/fuoriborgo/">ode to hotwaterbottles</a>;)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><br />
</span></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-30483994064055075732011-01-19T22:00:00.002+00:002011-01-20T06:27:15.861+00:00Let's Dance, Let's Bounce ........<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hello folks</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm <u>so grateful</u> for the masses of helpful advice on starting my garden adventures. Thank you all:)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Brrr, just when we thought it was safe to discard the thermal layer</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">it's sub-zero frrreezing again. Ah well, no sign of snow here so at least we can get out and about. Anyone not in the U.K. may be unaware that the <i>slightest</i> twinkle of white stuff is all it takes to bring this <i>great</i> nation <i>completely</i> to it's knees. And then some. Ah but we do love a nice wintery scene, be it a greetings card, calendar picture, or a blog post. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Po-0bX9Pu9bgB4jM769gGi72nHAYtiV8nS0oNdeyFJPJ4vpESrAjB770_itBT_PElZH9aEDTOf0NoDm7eaKiS5-OIKBy6nPPPb6GUUg7Txv7kcP64ogGkQdaQAdoSBchfQjoNoXgD28P/s1600/IMG_3977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Po-0bX9Pu9bgB4jM769gGi72nHAYtiV8nS0oNdeyFJPJ4vpESrAjB770_itBT_PElZH9aEDTOf0NoDm7eaKiS5-OIKBy6nPPPb6GUUg7Txv7kcP64ogGkQdaQAdoSBchfQjoNoXgD28P/s320/IMG_3977.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We do have some signs of spring around magical meadows, oh yes. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These include boy Blackbirds taking each other on in the my-beak-is-<s>bigger</s>-more-yellow-and-shiney-than-yours dancing competition for territory and girls. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Very entertaining to observe through my kitchen window. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And the Jackdaws are pairing up. Up above the High Street on the chimney pots where they love to nest, I saw two Jackdaws kissing, as I waited for my bus yesterday. Hey, that could be the start of a nursery rhyme....Two Jackdaws kissing....hmm.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm still waiting to spot the first snowdrops. I remember last year they were later than usual and that was a very cold and snowy winter too. Shouldn't be long now though. And best of all, the past three mornings I've had my wake-up call from the Dawn Chorus. Each day a little louder and more exuberant than the one before. It really sets me up well hearing all the different birds chiming in with their part. Marvellous!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of my favourite things is to go out and about watching the birds. Most of my life I enjoyed being outdoors walking the hills and dales here in the north of England. But somehow, when I was out in nature it was animals, rather, mammals that I watched for. A walk was a disappointment if I didn't spot a weasel or a squirrel, or some reindeer.........</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3o98XfnX4TMClgwFblIy-r40UU9xiA2m45H2MZoUsg3oRk6FGOUYfkJobJ_UzMhe7LPZ5S4mV8Fo77ABnneJFb-ZT2G13KJ8N7tj-9YyzdcBVLEQwfEiQIdGV49b0qsXqk_TPl3Xy4Zx/s1600/IMG_7100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3o98XfnX4TMClgwFblIy-r40UU9xiA2m45H2MZoUsg3oRk6FGOUYfkJobJ_UzMhe7LPZ5S4mV8Fo77ABnneJFb-ZT2G13KJ8N7tj-9YyzdcBVLEQwfEiQIdGV49b0qsXqk_TPl3Xy4Zx/s320/IMG_7100.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But birds? </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUqDZ5YJ5O7lJmUIRvGYHUA5dMdnkKdJ4j83SNyMGCmPywVrkq6ifKBPTEXfZPOJNRwxsrHhzafqzj_d1Q1eJt_JKRQKZGJDZYvLCC4lHDAi8BhgEoAf6O3dWit5OK8Bi0gBhds5vgGTo/s1600/IMG_3159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUqDZ5YJ5O7lJmUIRvGYHUA5dMdnkKdJ4j83SNyMGCmPywVrkq6ifKBPTEXfZPOJNRwxsrHhzafqzj_d1Q1eJt_JKRQKZGJDZYvLCC4lHDAi8BhgEoAf6O3dWit5OK8Bi0gBhds5vgGTo/s320/IMG_3159.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Birds just didn't cross my radar (lol)!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVwiK20dsuoFfdcYyniLYHoJZ3gXAktJ-7t9LeDs6sZtEdLkvj7lxhMc-GchKa-_-OybitsAiq2P4MHKqLx0c0ym8NMPc7dzdo8vw3IA80xYz3JvBhTrildCzJPe_o-OvStyOZPfwQsK5/s1600/IMG_3146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVwiK20dsuoFfdcYyniLYHoJZ3gXAktJ-7t9LeDs6sZtEdLkvj7lxhMc-GchKa-_-OybitsAiq2P4MHKqLx0c0ym8NMPc7dzdo8vw3IA80xYz3JvBhTrildCzJPe_o-OvStyOZPfwQsK5/s320/IMG_3146.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then, one day in August 2007 we were camping in the Scottish Highlands. Up on the <a href="http://www.cairngorms.co.uk/">Cairngorm Mountains</a>, we were holed-up in our car on a mountain road, eating our supper and playing scrabble (!) as we waited-out a dismal and very cold drizzle-and-mist evening squall. Out of my window I saw a tiny bird. I watched it for ages, as fascination grew. I was knocked sideways by it's beauty. I wondered at it's markings, the tiny orange legs and beak and black and white face mask. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I marvelled at how something <i>so small</i> could possibly find it's way up onto this arctic tundra and <i>survive. </i>I was amazed. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And, ok this might be the wisdom of age (I am very old), I tell you, at that moment, </span><br />
<div style="font-size: 10.8333px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">my quality of life soared.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And <i>I</i> finally <i>got</i> birds!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">(I later found out this was a Ringed Plover, passing through on a summer holiday from Greenland or Canada!)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The following day we climbed to the top of Cairngorm itself. Quite a busy spot, with hikers and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munro">munro baggers</a> (strange breed of homosapien) and all. And there on the rock-field, on a gale-blown landscape..........oh my word!</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgfqzoKlhID2LgPHXgKWi56hxxIAieIopoNTkW_mMDDmjnrnpC4nNYkXHFqw8cnMHEtQXeMT7p_oDw702SzRjmlATCKbE608-ixTnBPvZk9gymvMDLZNpEsSq5M2q27M5I4xIYfrGjr4Q/s1600/img69.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgfqzoKlhID2LgPHXgKWi56hxxIAieIopoNTkW_mMDDmjnrnpC4nNYkXHFqw8cnMHEtQXeMT7p_oDw702SzRjmlATCKbE608-ixTnBPvZk9gymvMDLZNpEsSq5M2q27M5I4xIYfrGjr4Q/s320/img69.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You'll have to zoom in really close, but I promise you - it's there,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> right slap bang in the middle </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10.8333px;">a tiny <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/snowbunting/">snow bunting</a>! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of only a hundred breeding pairs resident here.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10.8333px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Life without my birds? No thanks.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10.8333px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">*</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10.8333px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Talking about quality of life, reminds me, something's changed around here. </span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10.8333px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Over the past three or four years I've had to cut back on the walking and swimming and general enjoying moving around, keeping fit, getting fitter activities. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10.8333px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Life got pretty miserable for a time. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10.8333px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">But yesterday, after a very difficult few months</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10.8333px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">and all thanks to the wonder that is the National Health Service, </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10.8333px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I finally got the eight-weeks-post-op all clear and fit to exercise I was waiting for OH YEAH! </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10.8333px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">(Does that include trampolining, I asked :p Of course they said, no problem!)</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10.8333px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">So, my daily routine will pick up a bit of pace now. Some speed walking. A dip and a dive. A bouncy turn or two. And before you know it - look out m</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ountains, here I come!</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10.8333px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">*</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10.8333px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Yes, ok, I'll take it slow to start with, don't worry. After all, I am very old.</span></span></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Have a good day all</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">See you soon;)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">pamela</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">xxx</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Birds and wildlife encounters today:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> A fantastic Sparrowhawk swooping across the gardens after a lunch of small birdies (a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">nd staying long enough perched on a post for me and Dad to both get out our binoculars for a very good long look at impressive plumage, talons, yellow beady eyes and beak:)</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;"> A near-miss with a fox streaking across the road in front of us on our full-moon-lit drive home - whoops! too close Mr fox (in pursuit of his first mate maybe?)</span></span></li>
</ol></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-55810650553772163032011-01-16T20:26:00.000+00:002011-01-16T20:26:49.568+00:00How Does Your Garden Grow? Do Tell.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hello all you lovely folk:)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks for all your lovely comments on Sunday's getting-out-and-about post</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You're great!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now then, I know there are some gardeners amongst you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some with small plots or giant gardens,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">fields or crofts or council allotments.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some growing fine flowers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some harvesting every fruit and vegetable possible.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some of you just doing your best and giving it a go.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I admire you all. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But, well (I'm a bit shy to ask) you see.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I need a bit of help and advice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">'Cos, after a bit of browsing during my afternoon tea-break </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83FRQ-GR0D_2FvUMIDAO79W4ZvF5KcuKFj4egKphkEtHJAPExdY7ycUPfGuPwVxCR33T5wibTL79zBy5x2eGWTsY_g9rPEAIsp59YZw_45k2JwiPj-0CDVQQeOJWcvdv5yfpOegqKMlZb/s1600/IMG_0261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83FRQ-GR0D_2FvUMIDAO79W4ZvF5KcuKFj4egKphkEtHJAPExdY7ycUPfGuPwVxCR33T5wibTL79zBy5x2eGWTsY_g9rPEAIsp59YZw_45k2JwiPj-0CDVQQeOJWcvdv5yfpOegqKMlZb/s320/IMG_0261.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with helpful, healthful hints</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcL0n1TW-XCZ6_7o5wwno_VeYZCyFzyS1RwnscJUKEsypgr-0dPnNcoGPV_5acOYpklehiMnNsQ4Kh_jfwYo5s6IRQkTMNbichV1nClUcK8S5UbLFSJMl-1eEUKSho1DAOfvlDnzVxFkBN/s1600/IMG_0264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcL0n1TW-XCZ6_7o5wwno_VeYZCyFzyS1RwnscJUKEsypgr-0dPnNcoGPV_5acOYpklehiMnNsQ4Kh_jfwYo5s6IRQkTMNbichV1nClUcK8S5UbLFSJMl-1eEUKSho1DAOfvlDnzVxFkBN/s320/IMG_0264.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and a yearning for fresh greens</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvr8YmGEPHOp7mjDRNSc37wSE8VeyDJc4oR8a936-mGFvhwYjqWfr6LBfBIno9zS2j1rRlqfe9bNrFx3soo6dUeTEgldUk1abeyIYuXWX6rH99WvDjH9G2CB4goglPjQMpGVJ9xQ_myceJ/s1600/IMG_0263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvr8YmGEPHOp7mjDRNSc37wSE8VeyDJc4oR8a936-mGFvhwYjqWfr6LBfBIno9zS2j1rRlqfe9bNrFx3soo6dUeTEgldUk1abeyIYuXWX6rH99WvDjH9G2CB4goglPjQMpGVJ9xQ_myceJ/s320/IMG_0263.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's time to get serious</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNLfD_x8JlLjMT5dJcu2v-QThK3qpTgFaHnvWW2PLnJSxdEnI0bo7UjlG_ULJQqSEPHi7BBsWTPDCC88hwykO8OTpFQLp1bMWB4RQ1LjJyK-tfL56UV5QfMBBFC0K0DPJY_e47MSNooo3/s1600/IMG_0262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNLfD_x8JlLjMT5dJcu2v-QThK3qpTgFaHnvWW2PLnJSxdEnI0bo7UjlG_ULJQqSEPHi7BBsWTPDCC88hwykO8OTpFQLp1bMWB4RQ1LjJyK-tfL56UV5QfMBBFC0K0DPJY_e47MSNooo3/s320/IMG_0262.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But I ask you.........</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BTFYO4MwN7THeDCLo_wyxbxv2X27Vjiw0V3kcf01hKKcpkQXA8Nxvk7e1ZcLoMiF4TfvTqelSugCn4lxOGpY-ryVOETd4LVv3ix_qZhWLrzaAba_4ZyPLkXHRvquLlNyzX_yPgE2yLmh/s1600/IMG_0258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BTFYO4MwN7THeDCLo_wyxbxv2X27Vjiw0V3kcf01hKKcpkQXA8Nxvk7e1ZcLoMiF4TfvTqelSugCn4lxOGpY-ryVOETd4LVv3ix_qZhWLrzaAba_4ZyPLkXHRvquLlNyzX_yPgE2yLmh/s320/IMG_0258.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Where do I start?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUFeQYrp7YFdLJNmCYi7IzVu0i14HJ_c9UbcKBTNDYoSr6jKzO-YFubTRxx8e1gyBNXm4uOMAQpwlFE7WpZUaDvyWFmU3osfgx57RA6rrfcqj6Guxl_D3dA78sta3t2t0hBnfh-J66rhc/s1600/IMG_0259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUFeQYrp7YFdLJNmCYi7IzVu0i14HJ_c9UbcKBTNDYoSr6jKzO-YFubTRxx8e1gyBNXm4uOMAQpwlFE7WpZUaDvyWFmU3osfgx57RA6rrfcqj6Guxl_D3dA78sta3t2t0hBnfh-J66rhc/s320/IMG_0259.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And quite frankly.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjhN48JgrCb9GmjSZM0Oul1A5JMXkLJidBZ6J5mJLmkbCJZafDyT_h5Pjk4QvREqTKzAXSOsrO2cu0MVkSfyRuYxI-6RHvoRrYRErZRhqZQlEFENCEumbjo1hennafRITriMnS-WiWexD/s1600/IMG_0260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjhN48JgrCb9GmjSZM0Oul1A5JMXkLJidBZ6J5mJLmkbCJZafDyT_h5Pjk4QvREqTKzAXSOsrO2cu0MVkSfyRuYxI-6RHvoRrYRErZRhqZQlEFENCEumbjo1hennafRITriMnS-WiWexD/s320/IMG_0260.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Is there any hope?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbO2RB2nBb5cJZii6uq1pKAsjNnnACWbgdecUpTpPX2KqL-QyXYj2bGTLdPyg9Gg9IymCr9FxuSJFG_QjiwfZYU-Y6Ntuqozc9hGoQ7G3EVlJbCwly8qALwTBPQroxzUnJX2WDXh710OtY/s1600/IMG_0266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbO2RB2nBb5cJZii6uq1pKAsjNnnACWbgdecUpTpPX2KqL-QyXYj2bGTLdPyg9Gg9IymCr9FxuSJFG_QjiwfZYU-Y6Ntuqozc9hGoQ7G3EVlJbCwly8qALwTBPQroxzUnJX2WDXh710OtY/s320/IMG_0266.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Or should I just stick to my sprouted-garden-in-a-jar?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*Sigh...wishful thinking....of the Good Life.....Dreams*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">pamela</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">xxx</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-26873783911201084112011-01-16T09:01:00.000+00:002011-01-16T09:01:00.364+00:00Get on with it pamela . . . Carpe diem!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hello everyone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nice to see you!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, how are you this grey and dismal January sunday morning?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Still snuggling under cosy old Radio Blanket?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOWf65EeHpgsqjrlduPclsZddy5r3jb8mcuwY5ld3SQWaphy3xSjtWKPrgQj497-sX_Zi2g6KVAR9zEayUw4RipFEK9C8nIzBfavOU12esUFhRFL8xrjYoHL_5k7MGbTlG3aJ-cWFlKWH/s1600/IMG_0657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOWf65EeHpgsqjrlduPclsZddy5r3jb8mcuwY5ld3SQWaphy3xSjtWKPrgQj497-sX_Zi2g6KVAR9zEayUw4RipFEK9C8nIzBfavOU12esUFhRFL8xrjYoHL_5k7MGbTlG3aJ-cWFlKWH/s320/IMG_0657.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a few magazines or some favourite paperbacks </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">tempting you to linger ?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPHqvA2NWjfO-VW3LeobspqZwC3ajFHAJvEqyaDtVhUqTBQRIW1xFl1QGNH89B0a5oFE-Pzx8jL5pgRmGRdcEru8SC1hwsiv-OulB8wUMWaZosoLIhjN3HFox4ede0tpegAKUZs7gudBi/s320/IMG_0665.JPG" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Come on now.......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">that's the idea, get a tasty breakfast inside you</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTa6XYsDIHj2fF84oEYvL-wjb0Az_tlZYCF3uFP5lQB2e879CZpPsiFB6A8SV92Mh0u_Fq5v-IanwlYcR33mRIxyMGlp87JG4kpvGqUATQzCe8fdUF2ZY_LsQFH-BfdhXP53FAQ27KrCLZ/s1600/IMG_3490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTa6XYsDIHj2fF84oEYvL-wjb0Az_tlZYCF3uFP5lQB2e879CZpPsiFB6A8SV92Mh0u_Fq5v-IanwlYcR33mRIxyMGlp87JG4kpvGqUATQzCe8fdUF2ZY_LsQFH-BfdhXP53FAQ27KrCLZ/s320/IMG_3490.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">do a few stretches</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mZq78qQ01kxkKWWgKEAMIPR9LkwuDLJGEp4LgJEsi5In8QL0gIA-5jsYgB-YDXkJT-I_ElMnlZVZ6G88MujBBU_PsrFSKIoI5VvwF46CotqMmYiEHh8nJ8zfPcOYRYZHrgseUGZoPSip/s1600/img76.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mZq78qQ01kxkKWWgKEAMIPR9LkwuDLJGEp4LgJEsi5In8QL0gIA-5jsYgB-YDXkJT-I_ElMnlZVZ6G88MujBBU_PsrFSKIoI5VvwF46CotqMmYiEHh8nJ8zfPcOYRYZHrgseUGZoPSip/s320/img76.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">plan a few adventures </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2FSMp0iwqDYxgEx-G_s_pMrzM4l9xc8bcFCIPWs2PtsiqMZ8dAGoWiC7HF7Uf3O7JIp8HwQppKw3ydFj2s286VQoFOeIHMl-wXgSG7L51QrgJxtpbEmJ8H2exjYRqdFU_K084YbebjjM/s1600/IMG_7057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2FSMp0iwqDYxgEx-G_s_pMrzM4l9xc8bcFCIPWs2PtsiqMZ8dAGoWiC7HF7Uf3O7JIp8HwQppKw3ydFj2s286VQoFOeIHMl-wXgSG7L51QrgJxtpbEmJ8H2exjYRqdFU_K084YbebjjM/s320/IMG_7057.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">take a break along the way......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTFeTJ09mh89g2YrGAldL1JZrtrdmCBy12eU1Oz2wU-sLH9vtYz4pUScA4YkJJlFRBeoZJMdxE40T1FVzd0bZkGbYcjaV6k4VORnccIBex8B_OawWEvyiZkjeEvl1f7nsn9OLJzULH2Vt/s1600/IMG_7056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTFeTJ09mh89g2YrGAldL1JZrtrdmCBy12eU1Oz2wU-sLH9vtYz4pUScA4YkJJlFRBeoZJMdxE40T1FVzd0bZkGbYcjaV6k4VORnccIBex8B_OawWEvyiZkjeEvl1f7nsn9OLJzULH2Vt/s320/IMG_7056.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">meet up with a few friends</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1y9020WzdIK33NW424KgLSWQ9tq54WL1cVLpXC7MkFRYEuD800RE4H1WxcbVHlTi_bFF-xEhJsu69jRbW-v5x-p1Xw1rvnXNdNvBDZt_hPtDkOWBmBegDGf8xtINMsfsk9EnriNXfQyRX/s1600/IMG_5258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1y9020WzdIK33NW424KgLSWQ9tq54WL1cVLpXC7MkFRYEuD800RE4H1WxcbVHlTi_bFF-xEhJsu69jRbW-v5x-p1Xw1rvnXNdNvBDZt_hPtDkOWBmBegDGf8xtINMsfsk9EnriNXfQyRX/s320/IMG_5258.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrDFYIaoDCEbf9q9V-0vH_YEDsAIJWibKv6iDqobBHbxC8151Yxrrk7wNuXJ8wd5qbRcIVaPoQYNavFElfpo_n9bEUItgvrLjBIWAXJKdsMLDgj1U2jdSkmZLVWfhTU0ewwibc4uCxfxf/s1600/IMG_7003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrDFYIaoDCEbf9q9V-0vH_YEDsAIJWibKv6iDqobBHbxC8151Yxrrk7wNuXJ8wd5qbRcIVaPoQYNavFElfpo_n9bEUItgvrLjBIWAXJKdsMLDgj1U2jdSkmZLVWfhTU0ewwibc4uCxfxf/s320/IMG_7003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and take a trip........to the top!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzNaIcGwrINSJoBtzfg-Ve5f1KyLk0PMYuSXNuAD4UZ4nEu1nX9sG3eJD-vsflCaigJYSt7PYHERM1dEOO7b3AvSIw8pdRAJ7jNIKKhbPNZeS6KFH78J_gYdYvpM8KCFOxBWc4wQ7a5f7/s1600/img71.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzNaIcGwrINSJoBtzfg-Ve5f1KyLk0PMYuSXNuAD4UZ4nEu1nX9sG3eJD-vsflCaigJYSt7PYHERM1dEOO7b3AvSIw8pdRAJ7jNIKKhbPNZeS6KFH78J_gYdYvpM8KCFOxBWc4wQ7a5f7/s320/img71.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now don't you feel better?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's grand!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bye bye for now</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And thank you all so much for stopping by</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">and for all your lovely fantastic comments!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See you again soon;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">pamela</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">xxx</div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-77824621583337618552011-01-11T10:11:00.001+00:002011-01-11T10:18:17.592+00:00Send a hug xxx<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello people</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just a quick note. I hope you can help.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During my early morning blog session I came across a so tragic and sad situation. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A blogger, Lori, who I occasionally pop into visit when I fancy a giggle (such a funny girl) now has to face life alone with her two little ones after her husband Tony died yesterday. He was 34. Lori is 29. He harmed himself, in front of her, which was as she says, during a psychotic episode but completely out of character. During a torturous bedside vigil she forgave him his actions but had to watch as each medical intervention failed and Tony left her.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lori's blog is <a href="http://www.rrsahm.com/">the Random Ramblings of a Stay at Home Mum</a> and she's in Sydney Australia.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you're able to leave her a message I know it's hugely appreciated, as Lori says</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4e4152; line-height: 20px;"><i>This- the Internet, my community- this is where I've been coming when the pain is so bad I cannot breathe. I read your messages, I feel your prayers, and it gives me faith and comfort".</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4e4152; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4e4152; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you kind peeps.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4e4152; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(and I won't be complaining, or moaning at my man today, at all, promise)</span>.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4e4152; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pamela</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4e4152; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">xxx</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4e4152; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4e4152; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4e4152; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-63345231369688949322011-01-10T11:40:00.006+00:002011-01-11T12:01:27.573+00:0080/20 Rules, O.K?<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello lovely folks and how is this new year treating you so far? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking around blogland has been really delightful this week, with all the wonderful pictures and descriptions of peep's experiences and achievements for 2010.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of the Resolutions are great and I may well be copying:) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But not just yet.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I've long tended not to jump into resolution enactment mode until February the first. Get the festive aftermath well cleared before starting afresh. It works for me.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be truthful, my best and most long-lasting Big Changes have taken place in August and September. The reason is two-fold. I have a late summer birthday. Always a good point for reflection and renewal. And in U.K. education circles 'the new term' begins after a six-week break, typically last two weeks in July 'til first week in September. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> As a parent this is significant - the fresh uniforms and equipment, blank timetables eager to be filled, and the choices of after-school activities, sports, crafts, drama, music, vegging-out if front of the T.V., computer gaming skills.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So you get the picture. And of course significant birthdays take on another level of intensity (unless you choose the Ostrich method hehe). Got to do something <i>meaningful.</i> Paraglide when you're eighty. Bungee jump when you reach ninety!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Say a person is approaching their fiftieth birthday. They have been through some dark and troublesome times. The sense of a new start, rebirth, builds. Imagine if you will that person has done, as many do, hankered after a different lifestyle, something major. They have pushed this desire to one side repeatedly over the years, making 'too difficult' or 'no time' or 'not enough information' their reasoning. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then it happens. The tipping point. The time is now. The change is made. The announcement as well, possibly.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2005 aged fifty my decision was to be vegan. For me that meant that no animals were used, exploited, killed. So, what I ate,drank, wore, consumed, bathed in, dressed in, gifted, and created became cruelty-free.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That was my decision. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Made by me, personal to me, and not through pressure, persuasion or politic.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 80/20 rule you say, what about that? Generally means we use/do/act/make ethical choices the majority of the time. The remaining portion, is outside of our control, or rather, our available choices (an oftenmost example of the rule applied to the mundane is when describing us as only ever wearing twenty percent of our clothing - not all at the same time you understand - whilst the rest remains in the wardrobe, a wasted resource, and an expensive one at that!).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But here's the thing..... </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE FOOD</span>. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because nothing is absolute. And there are many shades of this thing called vegan. Personally I respect them all. We live in complex societies, consuming all manner of things, from all places on this earth. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I added provisos and amendments as I learned what my change meant for me.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I included human exploitation as <i>one</i> of the important (for me) factors to be avoided in my consumption-choice-criteria.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wanted earth-friendly not earth-abusive practices used in providing my food and consumables. I didn't want wastefulness. I wanted fair-trade and fair-wage. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So for example I decided I would not buy cheap new clothing from high street stores with very low prices and high turnover. You know the shops I mean.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm still reviewing my criteria. New information emerges. We learn about the impact on communities of the western world's high consumption of <i>new</i> and the disuse, recycling or otherwise, of <i>old</i>. We learn that the growing of cotton forces millions into unhealthful lives living under the poverty level. That <i>cotton is the world's most polluting crop</i>. That huge areas of land given over to one cash crop that is highly managed with vast quantities of pesticides is not compatible with life for animals. <i>Cotton</i> is a vegan issue. That children and women spend their days picking through mountains of waste to find plastics to sell for recycling, and earn enough to eat. <i>Plastic</i> is a vegan issue. That boys and men on the west coast of Africa, and on the Indian sub-continent, risk life and limb to break-up and reuse machinery and electronics, an activity deemed too risky or not economically viable for western workers. <i>Consumption</i> is a vegan issue. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here I sit, typing my blog on a computer wherein the precious metals used in the tiny chip linking me to the worldwide web are mined <i>by children</i> in horrific circumstances. And the chip in my mobile phone is <i>part of a chain</i> linking families, using their bare hands to pick ore out of the ground, to the militia gangs of rapists, thugs and murderers terrorising communities in Congo. I'm not being hypocritical. I'm applying the 80/20 rule. And I never forget that.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So when I say I'm vegan, and I live by ethical principles, what I mean is, I'm doing my best. But it's never going to be enough.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm still learning.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, let's see. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What are you, 80/20, or All-Or-Nothing?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Best Regards</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pamela</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">xxx<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Edited 11/01/2011 to include a link to the most amazingly informative and compassionate and lovely blogger on the planet (I am very fond, it's true) who will tell you <a href="http://notesfromthefrugaltrenches.com/2011/01/11/a-look-at-our-ancestors-have-we-really-moved-forward/">HERE</a> a little more about how children suffer<span id="goog_617437214"></span><span id="goog_617437215"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a></span></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-1354942505738642852011-01-01T07:52:00.002+00:002011-01-01T08:07:12.097+00:00I said it so I willHippy Hoppy Happy things to you folks:)<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Hey pamela, what are your new year's resolutions? Do tell:)</span><br />
<br />
I'm thinking SMILE <i>more. </i> It's a plan.<br />
<br />
And stop with the exclammation!!!!!marks!!!!!!<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Sounds good!!! But tell me, why no photo's of late?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><br />
</span><br />
Well, have been trying to upload REALLY INTERESTING and EYECATCHING pictures. But it all went horribly wrong:(<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">OIC. And no wintery walks, no creativity to report? No monthly resolutions post, no update on your house renovation, house move, health status, work in progress?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><br />
</span><br />
It's not ME it's THEM! They're just so blooming interesting!!!! They suck up all my time and energy!!!! They hook me in with their gorgeous crafty eyecandy!!!! Or they have <i>all</i> the solutions to my chaotic and grimy life!!!!! Or they're just THE BEST PEOPLE!<i> </i>like <i>ever</i>!!!!<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Ah! So it's a digital holiday for you then? A real break from the blogging and social media? A get-on-with-the-real-world digi-sabbatical? A NO INTERNET interlude so that STUFF GETS DONE?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><br />
</span><br />
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7h3jm2naeWKRL57ME-93tbxyPNmBg0TTcjHTH8bQmkmhdlXS3UEOmagLGtFP_Jylz1U3_LGhACa-DdTPRYAOuC5-i-K_hl9YdExPoEmx6Vq5Dg-fDpL_t4nAbE5FtAT8Oll9L2wNuUfL2/s1600/IMG_0801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7h3jm2naeWKRL57ME-93tbxyPNmBg0TTcjHTH8bQmkmhdlXS3UEOmagLGtFP_Jylz1U3_LGhACa-DdTPRYAOuC5-i-K_hl9YdExPoEmx6Vq5Dg-fDpL_t4nAbE5FtAT8Oll9L2wNuUfL2/s320/IMG_0801.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking on the bright side <i>lol</i>!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>(like I said, it all went <i>horribly</i> wrong)<br />
See you soon folks<br />
pamela<br />
xxxpamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-38418540152815853572010-12-29T10:03:00.000+00:002010-12-29T10:03:13.504+00:00Join the (plastic) dots.......<div style="text-align: center;">On the day before the day before, how are you doing people? New Year's Eve tomorrow, so in the lull before the party are we thinking of our world and how to make it a better place? Or just how to get by, without too much fuss? Maybe.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stone, wood, water, sun, sky. Plastic. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Plastic leaches. Plastic leaks. Plastic <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">links</span>, insidiously, inexorably, to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">everything</span> on this planet. The way we use plastic, and the way we <i>dis</i>use plastic affects everyone. Everyone. Human and <i>non</i>-human animals. Every<i>one</i> marine terrestrial or aeriel.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://thedailyocean.blogspot.com/2010/12/day-181-dec-27-2010.html">Lookie here</a> at what the oceans have to cope with. Sarah at The Daily Ocean collects beach trash, everyday. She hopes to</div><blockquote><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.8333px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003333; font-size: 10.8333px; font-weight: bold;"> raise awareness for how much Plastic Marine Pollution is out there, that the solutions start with us right here on land, and that everyday we can make choices in what we consume and buy that can add up to make a difference.</span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;">Great spirit! </div><div style="text-align: center;"> Find out some scary stuff and a way out of dependence on plastic by joining with the <a href="http://fakeplasticfish.com/">fake plastic fish</a> to find ways of living plastic-free. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Take a look at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/UselessPlasticCrap">http://www.facebook.com/UselessPlasticCrap</a> excuse me. Ahem, *blushes* but a point worth making.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And stop with the plastic bags people, please;) Tim Minchin (hero*sigh*) advises us to</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVh15aUt8-c">Take your canvas bags lol!</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Every little bit matters, join the dots, we're all connected.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks for listening</div><div style="text-align: center;">Bye for now</div><div style="text-align: center;">pamela x</div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-47587410294048656402010-12-25T06:34:00.001+00:002010-12-25T07:43:33.809+00:00Happy birthday babe......<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I learned of this children's book on a blog (of course, now I want to find <i>which</i> blog I can't remember! If it was yours, please tell me). Anyways, I thought that some of you might like it today especially. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">On the night you were born</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">the moon smiled with such wonder</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">that the stars peaked in to see you</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">and the night wind whispered</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">"life will never be the same"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Because there had never been anyone like you</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">ever in the world</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">excerpt from the lovely book by <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Night-You-Were-Born/dp/0312346069/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1293262639&sr=1-1">Nancy Tillman</a></span></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-43382023685854093032010-12-21T23:18:00.000+00:002010-12-21T23:18:49.136+00:00Pretty perfect really......<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Winter Solstice to you all! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just in case you hadn't noticed, today was the shortest day, that was it - zip - gone! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All hail the new year. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, happy :) sad:( or too stressed to care, how are you feeling? Is it true to say that the shortest day is also the busiest given the very nature of this seasonal silliness? (apologies for all who may take christmas very seriously, no offence meant). </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Usually the female in the house *groans*, who has all the extra work eh? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These days I don't have much of the stress since, being an oldie I've given up on many seasonal traditions. Re-invented things to suit myself (and him indoors). Give gifts to the very old (our parents) and the very young (our grandchildren) take a walk up a hill on christmas day, somewhere wild and wonderful with a bit of luck:) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back to a cosy house, a 'feast' of jacket potato and bean casserole, maybe a bit of pud. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Job done. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On any other day I'm most likely to be seen......</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">trailing around the place </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkBQO-AsE8id18jzRtIwHvOru7pkWrpOSHU4i6T58lzQKt8-GOrbFC3vxoEwgIl8fhAVWlBJRcEyVVz65pFChhao2CLfM9B6Rpl0uXpKiBH2RIdOXAzHmAXvrSzyIkz0yon5HD31L2tAe/s320/IMG_1194.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with my trusty backpack and walking poles</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">getting stoned..........;)</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnLBbfECdGkWrtNnALcAm1JBtWh5slRY-PxV0SPRYDdYcyUu7Smsl_fp5tbuZvGMrO0l0uiGq-qaWnFFqGrxMObqWGDvvlkYxJDk_xM1J69ZRRH1x0dzicBCL9dhglYcaONjC3X2clnvV/s1600/IMG_3635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnLBbfECdGkWrtNnALcAm1JBtWh5slRY-PxV0SPRYDdYcyUu7Smsl_fp5tbuZvGMrO0l0uiGq-qaWnFFqGrxMObqWGDvvlkYxJDk_xM1J69ZRRH1x0dzicBCL9dhglYcaONjC3X2clnvV/s320/IMG_3635.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Castlerigg Neolithic Stone Circle<br />
Cumbria</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hanging out with the birds.....</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNo5rZpZISyRbLRnSuMiID-PZlN_wUNlq7nTCNWaiQ_2Ug9xK4ulMfhfaCeujsM8YBr6O_TQOc0R82P-ABbsq4Q1HncKYsPhspXJRDtVt37GIb_WWyisL24yqRsRlk8jBdawCi4xp-tmGs/s1600/IMG_2303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNo5rZpZISyRbLRnSuMiID-PZlN_wUNlq7nTCNWaiQ_2Ug9xK4ulMfhfaCeujsM8YBr6O_TQOc0R82P-ABbsq4Q1HncKYsPhspXJRDtVt37GIb_WWyisL24yqRsRlk8jBdawCi4xp-tmGs/s320/IMG_2303.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saltburn's historic Victorian Pier and Industrial Teesport<br />
from Huntcliffe</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> sharing a cup of afternoon tea with little friends </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAi4BCDsqlbrpp41-eZu09BTQf9P9USgX_zNPHNST9zy1buZksYknc2el7YVpDHopGrqKKmPUxTGODpax9K1i1fPTVe3_Gbhcl7Mq1v6lA9kt35p-jbDFTxQpQcv3ONEx2jLBPyNcwHqJI/s1600/IMG_1731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAi4BCDsqlbrpp41-eZu09BTQf9P9USgX_zNPHNST9zy1buZksYknc2el7YVpDHopGrqKKmPUxTGODpax9K1i1fPTVe3_Gbhcl7Mq1v6lA9kt35p-jbDFTxQpQcv3ONEx2jLBPyNcwHqJI/s320/IMG_1731.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"don't forget mine" says Eeyore</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXA9M7Shuh2LEsEWLeByM_2ALFLBk0OyfuxHHFGZ23H4OJnYKzdWPREvsZ4PUbF4660IECdBU_JP2j7OPYak5Ct0hJxWFeoQauxKvLWseuLCIdxncYB45B3A3wVDzZ4SL9olTVwLHD7NBq/s1600/IMG_1730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXA9M7Shuh2LEsEWLeByM_2ALFLBk0OyfuxHHFGZ23H4OJnYKzdWPREvsZ4PUbF4660IECdBU_JP2j7OPYak5Ct0hJxWFeoQauxKvLWseuLCIdxncYB45B3A3wVDzZ4SL9olTVwLHD7NBq/s320/IMG_1730.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">"gosh Tigger", says Piglet, "why do you always look so surprised?" </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and maybe getting a few unfinished projects ......</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5Cw3X1igFAhAwAxv4wGO5tKW4-qicK3QEvk76ZA4LsK0F37a3TFtT-rUOKRT3j_Up3qrQdbQExVYzwYm9LNBWwJotG7zOABkdL7KMkDS2sk1EDwAao09tSEeKxQn_qtc5hLTvHloRq-t/s1600/IMG_1774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5Cw3X1igFAhAwAxv4wGO5tKW4-qicK3QEvk76ZA4LsK0F37a3TFtT-rUOKRT3j_Up3qrQdbQExVYzwYm9LNBWwJotG7zOABkdL7KMkDS2sk1EDwAao09tSEeKxQn_qtc5hLTvHloRq-t/s320/IMG_1774.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paddington Bear Number Quilt</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.......... finished:)</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DzhoIQ_cDTAt-jiVd7yZlJ0TiNvshH0vZRiBiEEtHLLjLiV8X7XMX3rXictcJQ-I4LCPlVfzGrS1e6KPFm2sGTm2-9e8hdQ2qmLcIY_xqT-FXGov3Orz1BEyJXLY9tMrE5SuPUGuNJ_-/s1600/IMG_1862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DzhoIQ_cDTAt-jiVd7yZlJ0TiNvshH0vZRiBiEEtHLLjLiV8X7XMX3rXictcJQ-I4LCPlVfzGrS1e6KPFm2sGTm2-9e8hdQ2qmLcIY_xqT-FXGov3Orz1BEyJXLY9tMrE5SuPUGuNJ_-/s320/IMG_1862.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willow's welcome home bundle November - 2009</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heyho,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>sings</i></span>* it's a grand old life for us *<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>sings</i></span>*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a happy life friends </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">xxx</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-58573983837058955482010-12-17T21:35:00.000+00:002010-12-17T21:35:31.342+00:00Baggage and should I share.........?<div style="text-align: center;">Hi folks. Brrr chilly old day. Ice is back on the inside of my windows. A bit of sun would be nice!</div><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><div style="text-align: center;">Following yesterday's post about change, and quotes, and words that can act as backgrounds for behaviour,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and thanks for all your amazing comments by the way:) golly, you are a.m.a.z.i.n.g!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i></i>So<br />
I've been busy and working on my PLAN. <br />
Instead of launching into the obvious"I will write a book" "...earn a fortune" etc, I'm looking at what's stopping me doing the important stuff before now. And how I'm going to deal with it.<br />
*<br />
Here's a clue, what if you were to change what's normal <i>for you</i> and make a <i>new</i> normal?<br />
Figure out what the issues are, <i>unpack them</i><br />
<i></i> and learn how to deal with them. <br />
No need if your normal is totally blinking brilliant. But mine's not so there you go!<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">If you want advice from people who are good at this stuff look <a href="http://totallytogetherjournal.com/tag/womom/">here</a> or <a href="http://freespiritknits.blogspot.com/2010/12/reduce-clutter-create-space-wrap-up.html">here</a> or <a href="http://minimalistpackrat.com/2010/12/03/change-your-life-with-a-master-plan/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+minimalistpackrat/CJpW+(Minimalist+Packrat)">here</a></span><span id="goog_2029826727"></span><span id="goog_2029826728"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><br />
*</div><div style="text-align: center;">Which led me to wonder 'should I share?'</div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you lovely people in blogland really have to know me and all my less-than-perfect,<br />
what I'm really like (oh the horror) reality</div><div style="text-align: center;">or would you rather not?<br />
*</div><div style="text-align: center;">A series of pages are developing *points to top of page* if you're brave, take a look</div><div style="text-align: center;">Otherwise, you could just wonder, as I am right now<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtaMFOE7WKlqyVpxSiLUzq6084oLjuAhYpVfokFFqktkoryxlujV6-Zc2VumYdl1dBT799rExyXdTfBxST1v1FZcH4B5ESSZwOk_6ZfQ0aLt7PsRQ69K1fVeQ_jald86OiiT5sOj7cCGbj/s1600/IMG_0761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtaMFOE7WKlqyVpxSiLUzq6084oLjuAhYpVfokFFqktkoryxlujV6-Zc2VumYdl1dBT799rExyXdTfBxST1v1FZcH4B5ESSZwOk_6ZfQ0aLt7PsRQ69K1fVeQ_jald86OiiT5sOj7cCGbj/s320/IMG_0761.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <i>who</i> needs this many bags?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCbTGYJmx3yDlB66MySw_VvyA-qaEa9UkJaQSsc5PIlnxk_xy4Iny3UdmXr5l1A6NFJvzYFSyaqLW-eDfpE5IkPImUpMDjDrh9c4pukpohnQB5Bi2JvJ9llFUZwsdUmMS8h2vNKv8QNjY/s1600/IMG_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCbTGYJmx3yDlB66MySw_VvyA-qaEa9UkJaQSsc5PIlnxk_xy4Iny3UdmXr5l1A6NFJvzYFSyaqLW-eDfpE5IkPImUpMDjDrh9c4pukpohnQB5Bi2JvJ9llFUZwsdUmMS8h2vNKv8QNjY/s320/IMG_0762.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">bye for now</div><div style="text-align: center;">pamela 'making changes, one bag at a time' lol</div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-78927183012112502122010-12-16T19:31:00.001+00:002010-12-16T19:40:03.687+00:00What's in a word?<div style="text-align: center;">Hello everyone, hope you're having <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">a good day</span>, whatever 'a good day' means to you ;)</div><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><div style="text-align: center;">Today I'm feeling quite self-satisfied with my technical prowess *grins smugly*. </div><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><div style="text-align: center;">Being one of those new bloggers who finally realised she was <i>never</i> going to start a blog unless she settled for 'start it NOW and learn as you go, don't wait until everything's perfect' which obviously included the skill-set to actually design and run the flipping thing. That wasn't a proper sentence (duh, writing skills Pamela!). Sorry. Point is I was far from happy with the end result. Definitely a <i>work in progress</i>. </div><div style="text-align: center;">*</div><div style="text-align: center;">Of course some skills you pick-up without realising you're learning anything. Follow on-screen prompts. Click-click ahh! Others come with a bit more effort. So I've been fiddling for more than a few days. Not musically, you understand. Tweaking. Re-arranging and adding gadgets, seasonal greetings, info about me and the like. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm wanting, desperately, to change the colours/fonts/banners aka the <i>look</i> of the thing too. And take better photographs. But that takes more time. And I've heard scary stories about whole blogs disappearing into cyberspace if you do too much too soon. Oo er. So those can wait. </div><div style="text-align: center;">But what I really wanted to sort TODAY was the 'blogs I follow' bit. Somehow only a dozen or so were on show. And I'd had several bashes at rectifying it. Because I follow a lot of blogs. And I like to share. And I didn't want to appear rude and exclude anyone.<br />
*</div><div style="text-align: center;">So anyway, job done:) Apart from the ones I follow that I don't follow directly through blogger. Obviously. I'll get onto those <s>directly</s> eventually.<br />
*</div><div style="text-align: center;">On a different note, I've been thinking about quotes and mottoes. I notice many blogs carry a 'quote of the day' or and inspirational saying. <br />
*</div><div style="text-align: center;">In my life one has been <i>very useful</i> and got me through some rough <s>sh</s> stuff.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't know who it's attributed to. But anyway, it helped me, made me stop and think, and/or changed my actions.<br />
*</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">treat every obstacle as a stepping-stone</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Simple eh? <br />
*</div><div style="text-align: center;">A couple of others -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">does your face light up when your kid walks in the room?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">That pulled me up short (I'm thinking it's Maya Angelou right?) at a time when all was going downhill. Me against <i>them</i> scenario. Bless!</div><div style="text-align: center;">I think that applies to a whole lot of relationships or scenarios. Think about it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And how about ........<br />
*</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">your lack of planning is not my emergency!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">I only just learned the last one. Shame. Could've used it A LOT with my teenage/twenty-somethings back then. *Sigh*</div><div style="text-align: center;">Could you use it now with someone? (I'm not saying you shouldn't help-out of course I'm not, but y'know, you've got a life too, agreed?)</div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've also been thinking ahead about changes to come and how to 'be the best' I can be (apart from recognising zombie-danger of course!). Lots of motivational thinking out there. One great idea here on Christine Kane's blog to <a href="http://christinekane.com/blog/resolution-revolution-a-better-way-to-start-your-year/">change the approach</a> on the resolution front and <i>choose a word</i>. One word becomes an emblem of the game-plan for the year. Read her post from 2007 and then again this week if you're one who <i>fails</i> to keep her new year's resolutions, like me. Don't give up! Get smart!</div><div style="text-align: center;"> I've chosen my word of 2011. 'TRY'. That's it! I'm holding that thought. On serious issues, plans, and fun. I'm going to TRY. And not have the pressure of MUST (....lose weight, de-clutter, learn whatever). I think this is the way for me, motivational, and mindful.<br />
*</div><div style="text-align: center;">So there you have it. Technically accomplished, wise and smart;) Lol!</div><div style="text-align: center;">How about you? Any mantra guiding your day? </div><div style="text-align: center;">And what word would you choose?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Love to hear from you!</div><div style="text-align: center;">pamela x<br />
*</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">and for a bit of fun (aka 'life')</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">from the Channel Four comedy series 'Black Books' - Bernard: [selling a <em style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">book</em>]</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"Enjoy. It's dreadful, but quite short"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-26691901406923680032010-12-15T00:24:00.000+00:002010-12-15T00:24:03.638+00:00It's that time of year again!Hello lovely people, how is it going with you hohoho;)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYkeXpY3IGLMp5f_Bzl6zIiOclBk1gfZ4Y9XiimSUgNCwxzswWwD1TjX5mtz0H9ct_1LZp5AhGT9X1HCyMiTgg8dE41mGe6z6b0dtiLAmMXUUCeCV9mefyrGMCHBbo4CMZJVqBXXxrSM4/s1600/IMG_0066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYkeXpY3IGLMp5f_Bzl6zIiOclBk1gfZ4Y9XiimSUgNCwxzswWwD1TjX5mtz0H9ct_1LZp5AhGT9X1HCyMiTgg8dE41mGe6z6b0dtiLAmMXUUCeCV9mefyrGMCHBbo4CMZJVqBXXxrSM4/s320/IMG_0066.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
I don't know what it is about me and December. Some of my many and most stressful house moves and medical dilemmas always seem to gather momentum as Christmas approaches. One memorable year we moved into a newly purchased house on the sixteenth of December. The 'chain' meant we had to leave our home, no option. So we arrived with small children and all our effects to find the occupants still packing! We were carrying boxes in as they filled and carried theirs out. Eventually they went, having given up on half their furniture and belongings. We couldn't move for <i>other people's stuff</i>. And no time for cleaning or decorating. Hanging paperchains on greasy walls. Yeaurgh!<br />
<br />
Several years back I'd had surgery at the end of Michaelmas term just before the Christmas break and hoped I'd be recovered before the commencement of Epiphany semester. Struggling to shop, deck the halls and trim the tree, not to mention hobbling around the kitchen hoping that wrestling with heavy baking dishes and their contents wasn't delaying my body in healing or doing me further harm (reader, it was).<br />
<br />
Well folks, this year is double jeopardy. Three weeks post-op I'm deemed able enough (by general consensus, to whit 'no-one else is going to do it'), to recommence <i>work in the batcave'</i> (with deep voice - dum dum da!) with a view to getting it habitable i.e. moving-in condition, <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">by next thursday</span></i>. Yup. Day before Christmas Eve. A two-day moving experience (oh,yes that would be <i>Christmas</i> Day <u>and</u> <i>Boxing</i> Day) and then we're off south until New Years, to visit children and grandchildren. Weather permitting (cue hysterical laughter).<br />
<br />
This is only my second day up. And not in pyjamas. I've had to wear clothes. Brush my hair. Put boots, coat, hat, gloves and scarf on. Walk to the bus stop, travel into town and meet-up with my driver at the diy emporium. Bathroom tiles and trims were selected. (more) Wallcoverings of several varieties purchased (we couldn't choose so will decide in situ and return rejects for full refund. Or donate to Freecycle). The shed is arriving on Friday. The hob which is (apparently) lost-in-transit is being attached to gas supply very soon. Man-who-does-tiling promises to 'work through the night' in order that bathroom fitter may (finally) finish the job (started the day of my op November 24th) on Monday. Carpet fitter arrives Tuesday. Wednesday we pack.<br />
<br />
Ok, you're getting the picture, right?<br />
<br />
So <i>all</i> I've got to do in <i>five</i> days is (hobble around) wall-prepping, painting, pasting, wallpapering, cleaning and finishing living room dining room kitchen utility stairs landing hall and grand daughter's room. And hoping all the exertion doesn't delay my body in healing or cause me further harm.<br />
Reader, *dramatic sigh* stay tuned;)<br />
<br />
And don't worry. I'll be fine. And it'll all be worth it in the end;)<br />
Just don't ask me how my festive preparations are going, ok?pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-70814262934482270892010-12-11T01:08:00.000+00:002010-12-11T01:08:54.757+00:00Zombies........and then someHello folks, <br />
Time for a change around here.<br />
*Sigh* Y'know, the internet is a wonderous, fragile, fascinating and dangerous place. Oh yeah, you knew. Enough said. On a positive note, I've being learning about zombies. And how to battle against them. And then some. Let me share....................<br />
<br />
Over the past few weeks I've had a great deal of time to kill (awful expression that, killing time). And yes, you're right, I could have spent it crafting or reading or writing. I was just too unwell, drugged-up and unmotivated and, truth be told too <i>absorbed </i>into travelling the blogosphere to do owt else (a northern phrase - owt=nought=nothing). I'll go as far as suggesting I had a bit of an addiction phase going on. As in, morning starts: wake up, turn on computer check blogger, <i>before </i>tablets toilet teeth tea toast. Hmmmm.<br />
<br />
I've been all around the world. I've visited (sometimes leaving comments, oftentimes just <i>ahem </i>lurking) blogs in many countries, in most continants. Virtually. I've gained insight, nay, <i>witnessed</i> the most amazing, or heartwarming, or heartbreaking, sorrowful, joyful, or mundane, prosaic lives and lifestyles, stories and events. I've wanted to share. I've mentally composed posts. I've wanted to write about blogging, and about blogs. I've thought about this <i>alot</i>. Blogging is a <i>very</i> thought-provoking pastime.<br />
<br />
I started off with craft blogs. Colourful, inspiring, technical, helpful. I wandered into home-making, small-holding, arts, literature, all things vintage, frugal, green and minimalist. All have a hold on me. Learn new skills, get ideas, find validation. But I wanted <i>more</i>.<br />
<br />
Read a blog post. Read the comments left. Link to the commentors. Read their blog. Link to.....and so on. Start to meet blogs I've visited already, commented on, sometimes weeks before. But got there by a different route. Sometimes I stand by my comments - hey! I said <i>that</i> woah! or sometimes I groan, I was too hasty! in my rush to leave a message and move on. Sometimes I didn't remember visiting or commenting, like seeing a ghost of me, in the wrong place.<br />
<br />
I've read a lot of blogs.<br />
<br />
And slowly something less transient, more meaningful started to evolve. Not just the serendipitous spider's web, but a shape of a change in the way I was thinking and reacting, mirrored in the blogs I found.<br />
<br />
If this has happened to you then you'll recognise what I mean. Some key points, maybe erm......<br />
<br />
Personal reflection<br />
Living with gratitude<br />
Making changes<br />
Being kind<br />
Being kinder<br />
Clearing space<span id="goog_1257710218"></span><span id="goog_1257710219"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><br />
Clearing more space<br />
B-r-e-a-t-h-i-n-g<br />
Releasing possessions<br />
Releasing possessiveness<br />
Getting rid of <i>stuff</i><br />
<br />
All from the same nursery. <br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">The new year, twenty eleven, is nearly upon us. Time for a change.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">I need a plan.</span><br />
<br />
<ol><li>Deal with the zombies. Start by identification. Find a plan<i> here</i> <a href="http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/">farbeyondthestars</a></li>
<li>Build an escape tunnel. Find a plan <i>here</i> <a href="http://regards%20from%20the%20balcony/">Regards From The Balcony</a></li>
<li>Eat real food. Do this already. You can find it <i>here</i> <a href="http://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com/">veganlunchbox</a> and a gzillion other places</li>
<li>Stop being a packrat. Clear out clutter as demonstrated <i>here</i> <a href="http://minimalistpackrat.com/2010/11/17/zombie-clutter/">minimalistpackrat</a></li>
<li>Creat your new life, discover your passion <i>here </i><a href="http://christinekane.com/">christinekane.com</a></li>
<li>Just care more as shown fantastically <i>here</i> <a href="http://notesfromthefrugaltrenches.com/">notesfromthefrugaltrenches</a></li>
</ol><br />
<br />
Don't want to be a zombie? Me neither!<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Twenty days.</span><br />
What's your plan?pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-45257460236656478182010-12-06T18:10:00.001+00:002010-12-06T19:56:56.425+00:00Rest and Recuperation.....and cats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hello there you folks, struggling with the winter snow, or otherwise (comments box on last post, phew). I'm on convalescence leave of absence. Safely tucked up at my daughter and partner's house after a short seven mile ride last night. They have just as much snow as us........ gosh!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6gOYWsqafmHC_sblMmVqOG5wA0Z17zapw1NDFnBpoNoYND6my6IqKVtS-j1-YWO1alPCLoPgRGGXjfKEfqtH_gbuHCg2dLDuRAeawiNImMFGddNxGlcf7E52zOPCf_ONu_8eERBwMxcE/s1600/IMG_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6gOYWsqafmHC_sblMmVqOG5wA0Z17zapw1NDFnBpoNoYND6my6IqKVtS-j1-YWO1alPCLoPgRGGXjfKEfqtH_gbuHCg2dLDuRAeawiNImMFGddNxGlcf7E52zOPCf_ONu_8eERBwMxcE/s320/IMG_0009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Introducing .........</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi382jlaoWu8C0kTn2xjhVO9cBQj4URWHXaG4Ci6JFNnsIlhaQseBPNo2f3xVlBDg0qZEbVxE07G_2VerSXEVHBikeCMYZ1JL7KtZ4eG5gV8XU50gaoICK62QPyt1EHVQL3LmkR_N8sTsq_/s1600/IMG_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi382jlaoWu8C0kTn2xjhVO9cBQj4URWHXaG4Ci6JFNnsIlhaQseBPNo2f3xVlBDg0qZEbVxE07G_2VerSXEVHBikeCMYZ1JL7KtZ4eG5gV8XU50gaoICK62QPyt1EHVQL3LmkR_N8sTsq_/s320/IMG_0016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Angela the snowgirl!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_xEpF2NDRj5M8IITAg8S4m-xFtLwC5PijUIpCkKW-FMIh5340eL14jTYJTmtJ6UmSZoOe2OgJg8dqy2ldmTsvu9SrdGEzWaNNmXLPg35xjsr3h4_pjsbz3p1R3I0804QtOyChoVyp0eL/s1600/IMG_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_xEpF2NDRj5M8IITAg8S4m-xFtLwC5PijUIpCkKW-FMIh5340eL14jTYJTmtJ6UmSZoOe2OgJg8dqy2ldmTsvu9SrdGEzWaNNmXLPg35xjsr3h4_pjsbz3p1R3I0804QtOyChoVyp0eL/s320/IMG_0017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaWMaBBtfpOBOBKygKn_jCCkJ9bRmisGwUUhbSkHKzJ9n66Wd6PEPQch9V3ojjsMcXMEwc0lxZPquM-rLVfANk8P_7bRK8csZ3Iu5aDxHr54thxbBPQtSE0eXfquwPZXx5nhy1vQJcwPo/s1600/IMG_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaWMaBBtfpOBOBKygKn_jCCkJ9bRmisGwUUhbSkHKzJ9n66Wd6PEPQch9V3ojjsMcXMEwc0lxZPquM-rLVfANk8P_7bRK8csZ3Iu5aDxHr54thxbBPQtSE0eXfquwPZXx5nhy1vQJcwPo/s320/IMG_0018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We were woken last night by avalanches of snow and ice sliding off the roof</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iW3zBDvw-WQ1fjB83wmO-gNtjsPtCb3fBVNuc9w0FHPxSj3fB2TLTlDzVDhCnNGKgd_4QQFD8-PDUqlYsqXk58niRTloQegsGM7Qch0FhBTSlA83ngYfdVdns3m2U8MeB_HDFMPEA3cJ/s1600/IMG_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iW3zBDvw-WQ1fjB83wmO-gNtjsPtCb3fBVNuc9w0FHPxSj3fB2TLTlDzVDhCnNGKgd_4QQFD8-PDUqlYsqXk58niRTloQegsGM7Qch0FhBTSlA83ngYfdVdns3m2U8MeB_HDFMPEA3cJ/s320/IMG_0019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iW3zBDvw-WQ1fjB83wmO-gNtjsPtCb3fBVNuc9w0FHPxSj3fB2TLTlDzVDhCnNGKgd_4QQFD8-PDUqlYsqXk58niRTloQegsGM7Qch0FhBTSlA83ngYfdVdns3m2U8MeB_HDFMPEA3cJ/s1600/IMG_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>many have lost guttering, aerials and roof tiles</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CYkEJuZPn2TP1Kw0H4FhQGTyyxFNWwcuR5JuVRUFdz3jR7JxC4b5JKJbwrLHKGiL7QCefC2TaRn5sIaNbXdPcAlpqk6wkRj1ocIECTfMSkDR6SU2pQbtaE4J4tQMbxUj2IHC3ZSbRfmG/s1600/IMG_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CYkEJuZPn2TP1Kw0H4FhQGTyyxFNWwcuR5JuVRUFdz3jR7JxC4b5JKJbwrLHKGiL7QCefC2TaRn5sIaNbXdPcAlpqk6wkRj1ocIECTfMSkDR6SU2pQbtaE4J4tQMbxUj2IHC3ZSbRfmG/s320/IMG_0020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">looks like a few more to come down I think</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-04b046p7DUdnYZ2eFEPOuFkKc7l7f58PV_btPgzKma40nK7IrOhTTMgUY7ipXUXuJFkeRcLmDw335sqtddBe5YOM4n2NOWKcBwXYgdskSvukFyUWuRCfNCpxKFaI5luVughbdWvZZIIi/s1600/IMG_0063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-04b046p7DUdnYZ2eFEPOuFkKc7l7f58PV_btPgzKma40nK7IrOhTTMgUY7ipXUXuJFkeRcLmDw335sqtddBe5YOM4n2NOWKcBwXYgdskSvukFyUWuRCfNCpxKFaI5luVughbdWvZZIIi/s320/IMG_0063.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Some christmas sparkles</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65MhwUZl1T5nv1mHCVQsJVbVSlU-kvqnB7l2hQ_78Yr6iVlEexFPlU9O838_iMD2RoKkk0YTYWzKXAOy_OjV68mmHKQkRbInii6R4Wsh4KKk0xrQjgDaXCA1tXAebIS0ZShdl8fk0Xbu9/s1600/IMG_0065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65MhwUZl1T5nv1mHCVQsJVbVSlU-kvqnB7l2hQ_78Yr6iVlEexFPlU9O838_iMD2RoKkk0YTYWzKXAOy_OjV68mmHKQkRbInii6R4Wsh4KKk0xrQjgDaXCA1tXAebIS0ZShdl8fk0Xbu9/s320/IMG_0065.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> a few of these passed down from mother to daughter - with memories included</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5RqaJcl-2wZypvaI9uNJfHgxLcBxtRmu2cwe47SekA0mGCWBVzohU0vRV17r4J9FQCyjhBig7UhpYDBXNoQH4M4-SU9tWUZAua4W-9YWITUIxd82em9Whyjz2Vk9XBKfTvgUalw9SuK9/s1600/IMG_0068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5RqaJcl-2wZypvaI9uNJfHgxLcBxtRmu2cwe47SekA0mGCWBVzohU0vRV17r4J9FQCyjhBig7UhpYDBXNoQH4M4-SU9tWUZAua4W-9YWITUIxd82em9Whyjz2Vk9XBKfTvgUalw9SuK9/s320/IMG_0068.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and keeping company with our feline friends Lottie and Norman, otherwise known as ....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2y19T2mYuuNu4NEJamjVHShWvKvUu2VN5cHCPdrRB7F7rF-CwMBERfdPS4unu0TnpravLMF2qPaPx9pO1KPX-LqnSmBiYoCuXDIkaQMR4fdwOzkgcBpynMIkfYvNA_SYmn4k98cUjsofd/s1600/IMG_0043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2y19T2mYuuNu4NEJamjVHShWvKvUu2VN5cHCPdrRB7F7rF-CwMBERfdPS4unu0TnpravLMF2qPaPx9pO1KPX-LqnSmBiYoCuXDIkaQMR4fdwOzkgcBpynMIkfYvNA_SYmn4k98cUjsofd/s320/IMG_0043.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Hide and seek cats</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7OLmWOp8W1haykl_kJhuEo1_1q47medDDnkovIdHOYsdACkruQI_ebiEMBt8giZ90ioDhN6i4DaUgtm1zDrQw9glWHsUvxNDvvYin39bbd9c9AkBukGO339HozBwDWGULPa55yuexOr0/s1600/IMG_0046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7OLmWOp8W1haykl_kJhuEo1_1q47medDDnkovIdHOYsdACkruQI_ebiEMBt8giZ90ioDhN6i4DaUgtm1zDrQw9glWHsUvxNDvvYin39bbd9c9AkBukGO339HozBwDWGULPa55yuexOr0/s320/IMG_0046.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Snow panther</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAx2kWnF7Cy7lrXNLseuNMYMEJYJdlA1jvpEmOyw-lq8Qr-ZlbZjxWxKMiBDSEKXgMIEV_wpoxqIlZY_JJIbbeZ_qGon_kl3taPa1erU_pmRx_8DE22ZlXQBGx1EsKAQbLgPnsjC4mut7/s1600/IMG_0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAx2kWnF7Cy7lrXNLseuNMYMEJYJdlA1jvpEmOyw-lq8Qr-ZlbZjxWxKMiBDSEKXgMIEV_wpoxqIlZY_JJIbbeZ_qGon_kl3taPa1erU_pmRx_8DE22ZlXQBGx1EsKAQbLgPnsjC4mut7/s320/IMG_0028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Snow leopard</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mO5VrW7bb3C3cmn4c_Fy6O2Z0Lf7iEJffKMkSbS9ZHKopq_ZRyIw9nSh8UUu0raR6mFNF2mTHfhgt_ELHkdaPx6DynUQ-p_zdmms4mC_Yvuu1SXiYIrW7RNr1P_EL5oqKCJtCrujFEqs/s1600/IMG_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mO5VrW7bb3C3cmn4c_Fy6O2Z0Lf7iEJffKMkSbS9ZHKopq_ZRyIw9nSh8UUu0raR6mFNF2mTHfhgt_ELHkdaPx6DynUQ-p_zdmms4mC_Yvuu1SXiYIrW7RNr1P_EL5oqKCJtCrujFEqs/s320/IMG_0029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Snuggle Puss</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHcH5PKc8Ysw0r1RTaTacz5sFS5Yvsi7dLdpF6r5qhl-V8lHRhEqQd4W0UDNBNU5p18H7oqH0t_-Ro50gUECRP5w2buwWYruQ2EAE_UHflCLVe2mScTTLc0oqB8gm307S4RX6-4TciznP/s1600/IMG_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHcH5PKc8Ysw0r1RTaTacz5sFS5Yvsi7dLdpF6r5qhl-V8lHRhEqQd4W0UDNBNU5p18H7oqH0t_-Ro50gUECRP5w2buwWYruQ2EAE_UHflCLVe2mScTTLc0oqB8gm307S4RX6-4TciznP/s320/IMG_0001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> and Boo! Puss </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTucm0qPC3q8EEqle-Ispo5xM4L-fY4oELxu_JxC6WpWrcwaD39o5zqc4uUwGeDEA2f3ddkqD_xOObwYpl_uMoiRNmNj5Jtz-e8rQkXFEAQ6b4d2Dpd_EVyhj18PXTwyo2MzcOLM_ReZc9/s1600/IMG_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTucm0qPC3q8EEqle-Ispo5xM4L-fY4oELxu_JxC6WpWrcwaD39o5zqc4uUwGeDEA2f3ddkqD_xOObwYpl_uMoiRNmNj5Jtz-e8rQkXFEAQ6b4d2Dpd_EVyhj18PXTwyo2MzcOLM_ReZc9/s320/IMG_0004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> and very, very,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyDaXLxvLv0RfrDuDm5JexUHlrKXI_dKMYtqtch4SDhQ1RY09RW6TJxQiQPXqbiImmHMABt9bogX-egq5_juP5H_KdEE-JE63_3aUZR_jkpDylQ03klMnNKPxcRlmfgY_bTeyjfe8svZW/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyDaXLxvLv0RfrDuDm5JexUHlrKXI_dKMYtqtch4SDhQ1RY09RW6TJxQiQPXqbiImmHMABt9bogX-egq5_juP5H_KdEE-JE63_3aUZR_jkpDylQ03klMnNKPxcRlmfgY_bTeyjfe8svZW/s320/IMG_0008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OyQswdse-NzuBg7IuptTFZXPIw67hzmNLktowCLsQNAkdO15Lp_eVjjFn4MXj59RZyovvu80JAIrdwR-MP02knYqRYC7lnU-03ua3NPpCUJ_DFflQdnUMyTBt-hl2TridRXpdPPCuexR/s1600/IMG_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OyQswdse-NzuBg7IuptTFZXPIw67hzmNLktowCLsQNAkdO15Lp_eVjjFn4MXj59RZyovvu80JAIrdwR-MP02knYqRYC7lnU-03ua3NPpCUJ_DFflQdnUMyTBt-hl2TridRXpdPPCuexR/s320/IMG_0025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">contented happycats:)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsG8ZK6n820sQH1osHHAf4tJq4ZFWWbf2pjEnWGYLTqr86siEisE23vq-rQcKQ7YNiSmH85V62mHqA7BLoBGEwjEy1NIEAM8k59UrF19FWShS7GEJvKGSG4G4rVG6TWOtGb8mvxCiF2ep/s1600/IMG_0061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsG8ZK6n820sQH1osHHAf4tJq4ZFWWbf2pjEnWGYLTqr86siEisE23vq-rQcKQ7YNiSmH85V62mHqA7BLoBGEwjEy1NIEAM8k59UrF19FWShS7GEJvKGSG4G4rVG6TWOtGb8mvxCiF2ep/s320/IMG_0061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just like me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bye for now xxx Pamela</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Edited to add:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">You're right. I'm shamelessly attempting to attract cat people to come visit. I've heard there are a lot of them about. Lurking. Waiting to pounce. Lol.</span></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-37741353776481189242010-12-04T17:17:00.001+00:002010-12-04T18:24:23.658+00:00Ice Cold in Zanzibar.......Hello folks<br />
I've been wondering how your weekend's progressing. Having some fun, some down time maybe? Let me tell you how things are around here......<br />
<ul><li>Today <s>I'll be</s> I was mostly wearing fluffy dressing gowns (I have three, they take turns), pyjamas (with useful pockets), cosy bedsocks, and spotty slippers. All in the pink.</li>
<li>My favoured accessories were faux fur covered hot water bottles (two), variety of coloured hair bobbles (as one got lost in the bed I invariably found another) and an old towel, used as an <s>impoverished</s> improvised and rather fetching shawl.</li>
<li>Snacks have been provided. These included mince pies, porridge with syrup, two pears, and a packet of crisps (the one's with the little blue bag of salt included). I didn't open it. The salt bag, not the crisp bag.</li>
<li>Entertainment was in the form of I-Player (I tried for cheery chappy Michael McIntyre but laughing caused a relapse in my condition), various Sudoku, blogging and watching youtubers frolicking in the snow.</li>
<li>Technical support was provided by Orange mobile, Samsung Netbook, and Cannon. Oh, and an old and very scratched pair of over-the-counter reading glasses (3.5) from Boots the Chemist (a £5 bargain reduced from £25. But <i>no longer</i> a bargain since they are <i>too darned scratched</i> to see through). </li>
</ul>Apparently it's a bit chilly out at the moment. <br />
<br />
I'm nicely tucked up all cosy. So that's alright then. Smashing. Sigh.<br />
<br />
Pardon? The title......oh yeah, sorry. Here you go...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukz6wJ5VOG6C1vn8Y2P0IZbgJFGH6FtRRUS2NZRjiWTFys7fseqQRRS9Edy67YR8Y1BGms2H8PKvgjUE3PXAjoionswED_0bchb7i3PUfFyQm4GRgybggQIw6I4oF4hf2mu8s_Xls5pa2/s1600/IMG_0799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukz6wJ5VOG6C1vn8Y2P0IZbgJFGH6FtRRUS2NZRjiWTFys7fseqQRRS9Edy67YR8Y1BGms2H8PKvgjUE3PXAjoionswED_0bchb7i3PUfFyQm4GRgybggQIw6I4oF4hf2mu8s_Xls5pa2/s400/IMG_0799.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Just <i>a bit</i> chilly.<br />
Hope you folks are staying nice and snuggly.<br />
pamela xxxpamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-91262703072460546342010-12-01T00:00:00.001+00:002010-12-01T00:00:06.453+00:00Monthly Resolution - DecemberHello lovely people<br />
I hope you're all keeping yourselves toasty warm, or comfortably cool, depending on your location and disposition;)<br />
December the first. What about that then, an entire month passed by - just like that! Back on the first of November I gave thought to resolve something new at the start of each month.<i style="color: blue;"> </i>Before a new one, look back at the old. Let's see, I said I would<br />
<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 25px;">compile an IMPORTANT INFORMATION station for our new house, in the form of a loose-leaved folder with an index and plastic pockets. All the quotes, contact details, receipts, etc. in one place. Organised. And...... </span></i></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><i>put together the scraps of fabric/paint colours/favourite magazine pictures into MOODBOARDS for each room (probably) in a separate folder.</i></span></span></li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 43px;"><i>So my resolution was to <b>use my new system AT ALL TIMES to better project manage the ongoing house move.</b></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 30px;">Did I do it? Hmm, yes to the first. Not really, ok then, no, to the second.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 30px;">The house file turned out <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">very useful</span></i> on a whole host of levels</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDvGJXfgS5KQQuq3IMOy7goru1h2aD7zcxUTprIPMpOTOg3BahAUnoeZSHbJ_thr6nDX2NQVQX_OQ3A3x0FlWtmyJkh2SDe5Np7rP8w8aFaqtQlRwp3qo0KJbY6Bja7QMdEkyJamg2H8j/s1600/IMG_0777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDvGJXfgS5KQQuq3IMOy7goru1h2aD7zcxUTprIPMpOTOg3BahAUnoeZSHbJ_thr6nDX2NQVQX_OQ3A3x0FlWtmyJkh2SDe5Np7rP8w8aFaqtQlRwp3qo0KJbY6Bja7QMdEkyJamg2H8j/s320/IMG_0777.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 30px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 30px;">All the info at my fingertips. Easy to add to. Easy to find. "Pam...<i>Pam</i>!..Where are the *****!!! meter readings?"...."Why, in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">The House File</span> darling, just check the front index" (chortles;)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 30px;">Some issues. Not always good about returning a plastic pocket to the main folder after use, say at the carpet shop, or B&Q. Some receipts have never made it from pocket/bag/car to relevant folder. One or two quotes and notes laying about the place instead of safely tucked away. And very difficult to have to cart the large folder back and forth between two houses on a daily basis (on the bus, flask, sandwiches, etc). But I'll continue to use this system. After I've given it a tidy-up.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 30px;">The moodboards? Great idea, never got past that stage, sigh. Hence I continued 'carrying a picture in my head' which, combined with my magnetic attraction to bargain bins and bashed paint tins means I've ended up with a bit of a mish-mash on the home decor front. Sounds horrendous I know. Hope to pull it all together after a bit of a rethink and a few bold ideas. Watch this space.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 36px;">Ok, so I've resolved this month to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 36px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-style: italic;"> conduct an eco/resources audit. Involving a sit-down and sort-out of finances, money-savers, carbon/wasting/saving, and so on. <u>And to do this every month. </u></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 36px;"> Ambitious? Hmm, maybe. Sounds a bit vague, short on detail? You're right. I've done a fair bit of thinking/reading/research on this one but hey, I'm six days post-op, still on pain-meds, and cranky, ok? I'll get it together soon and tell you more about it. Couple of examples do come to mind though.......</span><br />
<br />
<ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 36px;">at the checkout the bill tops £40 and <s>you</s> say "oh! I've got a voucher (save £8 when you spend £40)...but...it's...in...my...other...bag" Sigh.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 36px;">at the checkout the bill tops £40 and <s>you</s> say "oh! I've got a voucher (save £8 when you spend £40)...but...it's...expired...yesterday" Sigh.</span></span></li>
</ol><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 43px;">And yes, <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">both</span></i> these examples are out of my chaotic and useless very recent past <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">aka November</span>)</span>.</span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 43px;">It can't go on. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 51px;">Must do better. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.1667px; line-height: 51px;"><i>Or see headteacher for punishment.</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18ltqDgw2YijvWLzcxww3ea2QZeXUB2hFMpfo7-HgKm8LNUQbKBzrc4Q8ez5oLEWU9z0-k4pClwDRh7vhlV2uaXa_HFUzrV5JVz4zwuNbmv6jML0gLfF4BsstViMoFhAlEzJ9Z3Edx1I1/s1600/IMG_0774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18ltqDgw2YijvWLzcxww3ea2QZeXUB2hFMpfo7-HgKm8LNUQbKBzrc4Q8ez5oLEWU9z0-k4pClwDRh7vhlV2uaXa_HFUzrV5JVz4zwuNbmv6jML0gLfF4BsstViMoFhAlEzJ9Z3Edx1I1/s320/IMG_0774.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 43px;">So there you have it, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 43px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">my resolution for December is to get a grip on the finances and resources by holding a Monthly Audit, collecting all necessary paperwork, coupons, vouchers, etc </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(hey - I could use another loose-leaved indexed folder yeah! Call it 'Money-Saving Central')</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> to make sure they don't go to waste and so Save Our Money</span></span></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 43px;">.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16.6667px; line-height: 51px;">Lets see how it goes. I used to be so good at being organised, kind of lost my way. And with that thought, I'll bid you a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16.6667px; line-height: 87px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">H</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">appy </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">D</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">ecember</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"> darlings</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16.6667px; line-height: 61px;">. Oh, except to add, I'm back in the kitchen, creating <s>mayhem again</s> soup and dumplings. Sorry you just get the before/during picture, I got all the after, yum:) (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 61px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">He got the washing-up lol!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16.6667px; line-height: 61px;">)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTi0WJHn9dcGBZRkg4pnJgYGPXwoOTI5sWmkGVwc0vEF-ZfEZ5lUas9UK98YH7n-bnt4KUq2vWDLjFcZhthRVXix4IjdBhiZ0TdKz6jPsYQy8UxOVPEzvA9fZkmdGYbDDUM81zBYKnU26Q/s1600/IMG_0771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTi0WJHn9dcGBZRkg4pnJgYGPXwoOTI5sWmkGVwc0vEF-ZfEZ5lUas9UK98YH7n-bnt4KUq2vWDLjFcZhthRVXix4IjdBhiZ0TdKz6jPsYQy8UxOVPEzvA9fZkmdGYbDDUM81zBYKnU26Q/s320/IMG_0771.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTi0WJHn9dcGBZRkg4pnJgYGPXwoOTI5sWmkGVwc0vEF-ZfEZ5lUas9UK98YH7n-bnt4KUq2vWDLjFcZhthRVXix4IjdBhiZ0TdKz6jPsYQy8UxOVPEzvA9fZkmdGYbDDUM81zBYKnU26Q/s1600/IMG_0771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>B<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 104px;">yebye for now, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16.6667px; line-height: 51px;">pamela x</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16.6667px; line-height: 51px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16.6667px; line-height: 51px;">P.s. thanks to Sherri (for being super organised), and all you Frugal Bloggers, for inspiring me into action. </span></div></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-37347875620267632582010-11-30T12:54:00.001+00:002010-11-30T18:12:17.537+00:00Polite Notice: snow chains compulsory<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just a thought, but after seeing the country grind to a halt, slithering in snow, I couldn't help but hark back to last May in northern California.....................</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmFralZFet6MWTLl6gve76CznYF0PCAkTP9LJMTbPv8O1B_iqi8NOh2X3gbrkzIaT_f4wl46V8K8YW0J-yAhnmSYiUTGvyRPv0YACU0kVS_bUQzeP7WeK1Y3VdFgNBRo_3WYjgTixGAMr/s1600/IMG_3939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmFralZFet6MWTLl6gve76CznYF0PCAkTP9LJMTbPv8O1B_iqi8NOh2X3gbrkzIaT_f4wl46V8K8YW0J-yAhnmSYiUTGvyRPv0YACU0kVS_bUQzeP7WeK1Y3VdFgNBRo_3WYjgTixGAMr/s320/IMG_3939.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Donner Pass at 7,700 feet. Road cleared to go.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBn2nE5v2YATn9VlwXnwtZ2PuKoqHt7xwFdJ9Ib5z8aHQYJZubgtbh7wnF7_mbThStXhkz6oJTTtpE9PYjMCFy7XEJ372WPPJmWgAPaaD1fp-ctKT2hGKADRQ4lBSF0eKlvRA600YAOmLi/s1600/IMG_4071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBn2nE5v2YATn9VlwXnwtZ2PuKoqHt7xwFdJ9Ib5z8aHQYJZubgtbh7wnF7_mbThStXhkz6oJTTtpE9PYjMCFy7XEJ372WPPJmWgAPaaD1fp-ctKT2hGKADRQ4lBSF0eKlvRA600YAOmLi/s320/IMG_4071.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrnsT2F3EbWLtUbkYzKEgNDXygz_RfK7Mrj08hjyU_JrxM1fmyntXHcbyeW5W6Sbfp-sv3l8NhWvikPFze5AbS8IXKNh9FBjlTgJMMOAVb2qAsB7s-D3GD-7af5wEJ7PDXz6s-2Wst9yY/s1600/IMG_4527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrnsT2F3EbWLtUbkYzKEgNDXygz_RfK7Mrj08hjyU_JrxM1fmyntXHcbyeW5W6Sbfp-sv3l8NhWvikPFze5AbS8IXKNh9FBjlTgJMMOAVb2qAsB7s-D3GD-7af5wEJ7PDXz6s-2Wst9yY/s320/IMG_4527.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, seems like a good idea to me - get those chains on U.K!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Many thanks to all well-wishers, I'm on the mend, s-l-o-w-l-y, and don't make me laugh! Outch!</div><div style="text-align: center;">pamela x<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Edited to add</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><i>Yes it's no easy thing I know. Over in California we did see long laybys especially for putting on/taking off tire/tyrechains. Notices indicated they may only be required for a short distance but were compulsory. The roads over the high passes in the High Sierra had deep channels gouged out by the heavy trucks with chains. Even in the south above Los Angeles in the mountains we were in snow (and 'Thunder Blizzards') at 5ooo feet and on the drive down to the valley floor we passed many vehicles heading upwards, stopping to put on their chains. When we reached the first set of traffic lights at the bottom of the mountain all the cars pulling up (including us) shed a small avalanche of snow each off their roof as bemused locals wearing shorts and sunglasses strolled past in the midday heat (32c) lol! Very memorable!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><i>I remember the Blue Circle wagons from when I lived in Weardale. We were snowed in up a number of times up at Tunstall Valley (so beautiful, sigh) and it was the Water Board vehicles that used to clear that road eventually for access to the Resevoir and Treatment Plant, if I remember rightly.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><br />
</div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-7418481574783416482010-11-25T18:04:00.000+00:002010-11-25T18:04:57.721+00:00Snow Joke and Gratitude<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">Hello folks how's it going with you this week? Sorry about the slowness to post. I'm back now after short respite. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">Wowza. Britain experiencing the EARLIEST WINTER snowfall for 17 years. That'll be in autumn then, chortles;)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">Lots to write about but let's go for a story in pictures eh? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">Leaving Durham City (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">my driver had a two hour tailback on the motorway to get to me, a twenty minute journey normally) firstly negotiating the i</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">cy carpark........Yikes........no sign of gritting activity here</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYV63m_uDPBPeD0_lqheVuc_5-l3dQh6GnbKfc2bI5eh06YHSKXhLKjyPnHeRY-DmbFl95p_pdF9TGkfM8OlRg1vhu23P4L1EkK6Gud3qfZNI_XjJgg0Rarc72Hiqi3_Ohnz4MmgxJaGc/s1600/IMG_0710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYV63m_uDPBPeD0_lqheVuc_5-l3dQh6GnbKfc2bI5eh06YHSKXhLKjyPnHeRY-DmbFl95p_pdF9TGkfM8OlRg1vhu23P4L1EkK6Gud3qfZNI_XjJgg0Rarc72Hiqi3_Ohnz4MmgxJaGc/s320/IMG_0710.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">Passing shot of Durham Cathedral under glowering skies...........</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil13ByryNAD03O11NCdnbPrcVrRbEBuRPvaeZP_PWuZJxYXM85sO8R6lwjz1gxuzYERQi1y43WzmAZpccPjMaFSzQ-b0IdcWsLMRvG7kkmLqlRmEQvlGBzMTo-RX4dHufMV-XLoubocLUL/s1600/IMG_0718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil13ByryNAD03O11NCdnbPrcVrRbEBuRPvaeZP_PWuZJxYXM85sO8R6lwjz1gxuzYERQi1y43WzmAZpccPjMaFSzQ-b0IdcWsLMRvG7kkmLqlRmEQvlGBzMTo-RX4dHufMV-XLoubocLUL/s320/IMG_0718.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">City streets deserted as the nearby motorway groans under thousands of vehicles going nowhere. The traffic jam extends north, past the <a href="http://angel%20of%20the%20north/">angel of the north</a> and the Metrocentre and into Newcastle). Looks like the gritting lorry got through here ok though.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">And Durham Castle, part of the University and steeped in tradition</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4H6SR_8hCbmLjht7OStwp4zYo0folAy1caxTZoN8az6T5xthY1JRYav3ejx0SXAOSjWKFzktkZ8XPGEWYJoo1xvmGt2-7wYPz7pX3XeVIxni4CpXp-TuVhKPVFWzLDdmiInqbVqdCOQ7/s1600/IMG_0719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4H6SR_8hCbmLjht7OStwp4zYo0folAy1caxTZoN8az6T5xthY1JRYav3ejx0SXAOSjWKFzktkZ8XPGEWYJoo1xvmGt2-7wYPz7pX3XeVIxni4CpXp-TuVhKPVFWzLDdmiInqbVqdCOQ7/s320/IMG_0719.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">Both sit on an 'island' promentary surrounded by the River Wear, part of 'The Land of the Prince Bishops', county Durham's tag-line to attract the tourists <a href="http://land%20of%20the%20prince%20bishops/">land of the prince bishops</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">Dormant life under snowy blanket</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkylZh0M5XVWL1twJ5U-4UvzIuNP3bQDZGsz5AVaDFSsS9S0KS4kztj7POv_leB4yjRebTCY2mZXeX7eDWlOe4kKK_8Q-tTdGP-TZ15ZPts6RswzlQFSL6amlvVJ4j7-i0BBD4M22ZvIR4/s1600/IMG_0708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkylZh0M5XVWL1twJ5U-4UvzIuNP3bQDZGsz5AVaDFSsS9S0KS4kztj7POv_leB4yjRebTCY2mZXeX7eDWlOe4kKK_8Q-tTdGP-TZ15ZPts6RswzlQFSL6amlvVJ4j7-i0BBD4M22ZvIR4/s320/IMG_0708.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Redwing or Fieldfare? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMT3b9kj8Z-Mj4XHU98EXB3CWkU69fpvk-3DgkzzQwPvMggbtoDFYuvMWvrjr5mdDEqnQXPqh54Cas8xpWKhJS_lz2G2oX8EKkjSvjbNdqJ4bnXH43jF_pDPpTbI5vv9nDwcTIY1Tui5u/s1600/IMG_0707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMT3b9kj8Z-Mj4XHU98EXB3CWkU69fpvk-3DgkzzQwPvMggbtoDFYuvMWvrjr5mdDEqnQXPqh54Cas8xpWKhJS_lz2G2oX8EKkjSvjbNdqJ4bnXH43jF_pDPpTbI5vv9nDwcTIY1Tui5u/s320/IMG_0707.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">Back home and greeted by sweet cyclamens under their fluffy duvets</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrR6tg9QSq_BFmNlJZMvnQN157Rr4x1gPg2SFR2-RNajrYZSsLgMjSVH1dsQDTzDa5erWnLIQvKFbKt9IVRAiZqdyjOoQYxLJimhJB_HvKARVaqQSn9Rfa6PPK71PJAaY_Git1rwo0BK64/s1600/IMG_0722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrR6tg9QSq_BFmNlJZMvnQN157Rr4x1gPg2SFR2-RNajrYZSsLgMjSVH1dsQDTzDa5erWnLIQvKFbKt9IVRAiZqdyjOoQYxLJimhJB_HvKARVaqQSn9Rfa6PPK71PJAaY_Git1rwo0BK64/s320/IMG_0722.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">Err, who left the bikes out? going nowhere-else for some time I shouldn't think.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YNXEvdiT3BGGKYW4u7Zze7-cCbqbU2rivtgx7V6QzjUYP7kOnCgMG16Ofs1p-wBck5lpr5bY-VlyI4H7WHqpSkdZ8pGc1ODRYh9ILwMLRjtqTILmNC6CwQpE31dGhfJIShM6E6oUAp5C/s1600/IMG_0724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YNXEvdiT3BGGKYW4u7Zze7-cCbqbU2rivtgx7V6QzjUYP7kOnCgMG16Ofs1p-wBck5lpr5bY-VlyI4H7WHqpSkdZ8pGc1ODRYh9ILwMLRjtqTILmNC6CwQpE31dGhfJIShM6E6oUAp5C/s320/IMG_0724.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">Cold-snap here for awhile apparently</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAp2xpj3c9A6z50W_Zy6R718vimVxv1-rw4Mz0yT4OWUFplUIwsbWOFTLW4imZ9OrluFuJlEopU_RLCvIhShMvKSIDJOITzX7XLkDA4kMUm9lnOcoNQTH2oQy_0LuIMjgnSaKnO_4lGrUR/s1600/IMG_0729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAp2xpj3c9A6z50W_Zy6R718vimVxv1-rw4Mz0yT4OWUFplUIwsbWOFTLW4imZ9OrluFuJlEopU_RLCvIhShMvKSIDJOITzX7XLkDA4kMUm9lnOcoNQTH2oQy_0LuIMjgnSaKnO_4lGrUR/s320/IMG_0729.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33NbpFo4t3jR-HL6zlOaOSEwFhB-yPfgzF6xpnMBh8jYxMMZ508XtVFz1pMAZp5VmwfDTn9lC1mChZlEFbCEKTrd6Gu1jbfqhk6EHvC9kZUQUtM2w8q50taw-80JbBsIEdtr01PAjtsrU/s1600/IMG_0728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33NbpFo4t3jR-HL6zlOaOSEwFhB-yPfgzF6xpnMBh8jYxMMZ508XtVFz1pMAZp5VmwfDTn9lC1mChZlEFbCEKTrd6Gu1jbfqhk6EHvC9kZUQUtM2w8q50taw-80JbBsIEdtr01PAjtsrU/s320/IMG_0728.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">And this was just the first snow-shower, gulp:( Pretty though</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">So there you are, travel today only if ABSOLUTELY necessary. Well it was......</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacq51o0AB3wupkLD4sCASDTnL3I2iheue5H9FTCwTMyZ0cXRYJbRhF2GM0YZpZxT2UNKfANypM1KDfG3qJTvtkylV5XsL3V__Q322AunrNfwXVonPHxjk4u3JJnguRol7TqVGApmaKhWe/s1600/IMG_0731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacq51o0AB3wupkLD4sCASDTnL3I2iheue5H9FTCwTMyZ0cXRYJbRhF2GM0YZpZxT2UNKfANypM1KDfG3qJTvtkylV5XsL3V__Q322AunrNfwXVonPHxjk4u3JJnguRol7TqVGApmaKhWe/s320/IMG_0731.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxl1nV3a34IjC4dbF_v3LnPBMAvHpcrzitcIhbiyVpFOgfQwRinI-duvVLSJ4lk791V3w3wN5ZL7iAlHAtgN3jKSl8rzEXhyphenhyphenI0B0KGGrckF3ji-L4Bdc-MABoZMQMTT2jkNkyP0ClPga5A/s1600/IMG_0733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxl1nV3a34IjC4dbF_v3LnPBMAvHpcrzitcIhbiyVpFOgfQwRinI-duvVLSJ4lk791V3w3wN5ZL7iAlHAtgN3jKSl8rzEXhyphenhyphenI0B0KGGrckF3ji-L4Bdc-MABoZMQMTT2jkNkyP0ClPga5A/s320/IMG_0733.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">There's no place like home. And hospital isn't it. Although my visit to short-stay surgery did give me the opportunity to write lists, LOTS OF LISTS.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKGW_LyygbTUbOFBZoMczHwldKwxZmnBZI0ml5z6-dV9rQheCOmW1UX4Q0f1NPLlbVy8SaO84TKkg-yfq8dCMUp7_mX0fcLo7Nvzk-3XNA30ia7qVUe31W4Zi7PJuffGqh1Q7wpPP05Vm/s1600/IMG_0737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKGW_LyygbTUbOFBZoMczHwldKwxZmnBZI0ml5z6-dV9rQheCOmW1UX4Q0f1NPLlbVy8SaO84TKkg-yfq8dCMUp7_mX0fcLo7Nvzk-3XNA30ia7qVUe31W4Zi7PJuffGqh1Q7wpPP05Vm/s320/IMG_0737.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">Six and a half hours sitting in dressing-gown and slippers in a draughty waiting room gives time for plenty of planning! I managed to detail at least fifty thrifty must-do's concerning lamps, planters, wall-hangings, window-dressings, mobiles (the hanging-from-the-ceiling variety not the where-did-I-put-it-this-time or the forgot-to-charge-the-bl****-thing-again variety) all doable whilst lounging about on enforced no-lifting-carrying shopping bags, laundry or cooking FOR THREE MONTHS type rest. The key theme is 'Be thrifty, use what you have' to make new house beautiful. Easy. Have been hoarding REALLY USEFUL stuff <i>for years</i>. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">And after surgery a sleepless night, usefully occupied by drafting proposal for future research and writing-to-earn-money</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zypxoGDkJJobIhhiPP9v2ERQJxUOMZ95gNmTMjxj7VtqPiD6RB57gSdx7Z_zZhTOSbaOFdy0ZAjzlQfaDLWkym5yH5aMMRDXsp4rbbemiGioCs-VLF2n5zTAitICP4uDY4G2-MfTH7MR/s1600/IMG_0735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zypxoGDkJJobIhhiPP9v2ERQJxUOMZ95gNmTMjxj7VtqPiD6RB57gSdx7Z_zZhTOSbaOFdy0ZAjzlQfaDLWkym5yH5aMMRDXsp4rbbemiGioCs-VLF2n5zTAitICP4uDY4G2-MfTH7MR/s320/IMG_0735.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqgT7OR1Qpzt_YnawjwwMle0sxTOXXcLYm7sYwQN8wYv4Q6r4-6lwmBbNcqgUBI3cL5xYEEguPQZac2hHMqzUsU5qte97Cwn0rEAqpxN63aJO19xyY1f1rhr9jHtOGg-JJHyQyuLqp1cTO/s1600/IMG_0736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqgT7OR1Qpzt_YnawjwwMle0sxTOXXcLYm7sYwQN8wYv4Q6r4-6lwmBbNcqgUBI3cL5xYEEguPQZac2hHMqzUsU5qte97Cwn0rEAqpxN63aJO19xyY1f1rhr9jHtOGg-JJHyQyuLqp1cTO/s320/IMG_0736.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's hoping.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">And if you'll indulge me, I'm dedicating today's blog posting to all the nursing and surgical teams working their magic <i>to put me right. </i>With extraspecial thanks to an amazingly dedicated night nurse M and a wonderful post-op recovery nurse S (sadly we learned this morning S slipped on ice trying to get to work and has broken her arm) get well soon darling and thanks for your skilled and loving care :)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">Bye for now, stay safe</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;">pamela x</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-3726345088705108302010-11-11T09:16:00.006+00:002010-11-11T23:26:55.946+00:00Why 'Magical Meadows'...?Hello folks, how are you going? Hope the week's going as you'd hoped;)<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Edited to add - I'm so sorry for the fonty sillyness below. Grrr. Font gremlins. Please bear with me, I'll try and clear it up soon, but not right now - or I'll miss my bus;)</span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Edited (much later) to add - let's try this again, and yes, I missed my bus anyway, sigh.</span></i></span><br />
<br />
A couple of people have been asking why I chose to name this blog as I have. I thought you might be curious too. I know I often am when I'm a bloggy visitor. Sometimes the answer appears self evident, sometimes it takes a couple of visits and the penny drops. Sometimes, well, darned if I care - just enjoy!<br />
<br />
I set up this blog on the spur of the moment. Been brewing in my mind for sometime. Put on hold until I 'had time' to 'do it perfectly'. But (a bit like bloggy lurking, flitting from link to link, you're not sure why or how you got where you got) there came a tipping point when I blinked and the deed was done - and so easy! (no 'cooling off period' ho ho) (and not perfect either, hey ho).<br />
<br />
So, not a great deal of preparation (none!) on design or content. And the title.............?<br />
<br />
A bit like the character in a movie, a spy or somesuch (grrr, I can't think of a single example....) when caught in the wrong place/wrong time scenario and forced to give name, searches her surroundings and fabricates an alias from a neon sign, shop window, newspaper headline. Still with me?<br />
<br />
When blogspot asked for blog title I rolled my eyes, muttered curses, thought briefly 'I give up', and then realised my eyes had rested on a pile of mags and periodicals nearby. You know what I'm talking about, 'How to live your dream in a (flippin' mind-numbingly expensive) Country Idyll', <s>743</s> 7,430 ways to <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">get</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">organised</span></i> and <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">save time</span></i> (yes I know - <b>don't</b> read articles like this!) a zillion tips to save money (likewise - <b>don't</b> waste money buying mags like this!). Also, more usefully, our county's Wildlife Trust (<b>do</b> subscribe - save important habitats forever!), other conservation eco-mags, etc.etc.......<br />
<br />
Resting on the top of this aspiring, inspiring and eclectic mix was a delightfully pretty paperback publication entitled "MAGical Meadows...and the Durham Magnesium Limestone". <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAv4pkEHzhZQf8FUVbQGjw30TPcL6nm3X1ONeZrf-oJ0U_hrKHz-g1OlorF4xclC3UX0WZFvwmGXzfCMsK5xFTVrf0O793gWwrGQwB75FqkVkZ73g2bqF9K05Ag8zFO4Kn-aOqxONHvKcW/s1600/IMG_0647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAv4pkEHzhZQf8FUVbQGjw30TPcL6nm3X1ONeZrf-oJ0U_hrKHz-g1OlorF4xclC3UX0WZFvwmGXzfCMsK5xFTVrf0O793gWwrGQwB75FqkVkZ73g2bqF9K05Ag8zFO4Kn-aOqxONHvKcW/s320/IMG_0647.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Job done. I claimed it at once. Typed 'MagicalMeadows' into the relevant name/your/blog box clicked once and launched myself into the bloggysphere.<br />
<br />
Ahh you say. Lazy girl. But let me tell you, there was good reason for my choice. It wasn't only panic-buying! It is where I live.<br />
<br />
I love where I live. The north-east. It's an area discounted by many as boring, industrial, post-industrial, lacking character, lacking imagination. Actually, it has everything. Rich in history. Spectacular scenary. Wonderous wildlife. Everything. (well apart from some tasty vegan eateries and a branch of Wholefoods, but hey, nowhere's perfect).<br />
<br />
Pass through with a stranger's eyes, what would you see? Take a look. Small 'ex-mining' pit villages, hemmed between motorway, mainline railway, 'A' roads and backlanes. Rows of back-to-back terraced streets, allotment gardens, churches and chapels. Post-war (i.e.1950's) 'New Towns', market squares, factory units, charity shops, community halls, quarries and mine-workings. Supermarkets, shopping malls, pubs, clubs, war memorials and schools. Sounds quaint? or grim? Both or neither, depends on your perspective I suppose. <br />
<br />
But <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">underpinning</span></i> all - geology. And <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">linking</span></i> all, on the surface - natural 'corridors'.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6M5Yzh7MXMQTh5UCPaqjEaEWFmRtMLkscJKmCKnDYCLqPbAD9z6cTLn2okPTbYpOXrHEaR7T3pXf7k52-lGJsGuQ6w-uFQEVKQg6_HkHDj39Ga1YUM57xiP3vI3u1v9ms0ra2dAZ4_Jj3/s1600/IMG_0654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6M5Yzh7MXMQTh5UCPaqjEaEWFmRtMLkscJKmCKnDYCLqPbAD9z6cTLn2okPTbYpOXrHEaR7T3pXf7k52-lGJsGuQ6w-uFQEVKQg6_HkHDj39Ga1YUM57xiP3vI3u1v9ms0ra2dAZ4_Jj3/s320/IMG_0654.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Little pockets of wonder - bird sanctuaries, ponds and streams, copses and woods, hills and moors, and meadows. Here comes the sciensy techy bit ........ </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“MAGical Meadows are the wildflower-rich grasslands found on thin soils overlying Magnesian Limestone rock.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In the UK Magnesian Limestone is restricted to a narrow band which stretches northwards from Nottinghamshire into Durham and Tyne and Wear.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The geographical position of the Magnesian Limestone acts as an ecological bridge between the chalks and limestones of northern Britain.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As a result magnesian limestone grassland contains unique assemblages of both southern and northern calcareous (lime-loving) plants.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Many of these plants are close to or at the limit of their natural growing range including </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bee Orchid</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (Ophrys aptifera), </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bird’s-eye Primrose</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (Primula farinose) and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">perennial Flax</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (Linum perenne).</span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Completely unique</span></span></i></b><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: red;">to east Durham and Tyne and Wear is the magnesian limestone grassland community containing </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Blue Moor-grass</span><span style="color: red;"> and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Small Scabious</span><span style="color: red;"> (Sesleria caerulea – Scabiosa columbaria). This community</span></span> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #00b050;">is not found anywhere else in the world and is both nationally and internationally important.”</span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.durhambiodiversity.org.uk/magicalmeadows.htm">http://www.durhambiodiversity.org.uk/magicalmeadows.htm</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVYKTYhFzmnpJj3YLzxnRAZj8G0hbmlqg_6qUICxs6uZgnm7Waau6TlJzsCSknzbLXMS1MzpndrG5l5sIx880QfNJm_tveYP8XsaJ3L34iztm3GIFi3mCMwQ_ds27uAb8n05DIMu6LwiJ/s1600/IMG_0652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVYKTYhFzmnpJj3YLzxnRAZj8G0hbmlqg_6qUICxs6uZgnm7Waau6TlJzsCSknzbLXMS1MzpndrG5l5sIx880QfNJm_tveYP8XsaJ3L34iztm3GIFi3mCMwQ_ds27uAb8n05DIMu6LwiJ/s320/IMG_0652.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><blockquote style="text-align: left;">Described as rare, valuable and unique, this habitat has been exploited and industrialised for millenia. Species have perished, lost forever, more still at risk. Conservation is imperative. The quarries and their surrounding lands are crucial, little oasis in a desert of industry, at risk of infill with waste and effluent. </blockquote><blockquote style="text-align: center;">There is no more beautiful, breathtaking or peaceful habitat on a summer's day.</blockquote><div style="text-align: center;">And it's where I live. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So there you are, just in case you were wondering. And even if you weren't;)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thanks for visiting.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">pamela x</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">P.s, love to know, how did you choose your bloggy home? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">P.p.s., <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">underpinning</span></i>, <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">linking</span></i> ..... hey - it's a patchwork thing! Even more apt, for a crafty sort of lass wouldn't you say?!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpukYVkvAn2ddgYRxdDglOoWNeDb_cfK-r9Dd-fEkRpDXHreI53R8T5W_GYMKn67AV9HIQesm6AsWsGkeJkJemBp0cxWlB-sXFpDkzd8GaNJVWCl0i9g0XOKSuRQh-Q1mwPhvPBM8T5A8/s1600/IMG_0656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpukYVkvAn2ddgYRxdDglOoWNeDb_cfK-r9Dd-fEkRpDXHreI53R8T5W_GYMKn67AV9HIQesm6AsWsGkeJkJemBp0cxWlB-sXFpDkzd8GaNJVWCl0i9g0XOKSuRQh-Q1mwPhvPBM8T5A8/s320/IMG_0656.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>(say hello to 'Radio Blanket circa 1994, thrifted yarns, made up as I went along, all on a circular needle).<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Edited to add - the second edit worked, result;)</span><br />
<a href="http://www.durhambiodiversity.org.uk/magicalmeadows.htm">http://www.durhambiodiversity.org.uk/magicalmeadows.htm</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.northeastwildlife.co.uk/gallery/">http://www.northeastwildlife.co.uk/gallery/</a>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-36471443623327165322010-11-06T22:22:00.004+00:002010-11-06T23:40:52.837+00:00Some small concerns ..........<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; text-indent: 0px !important;">Hello All</div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; text-indent: 0px !important;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; text-indent: 0px !important;">Before I start, I need to say something. I don't have big ambitions. At this point in my life (our lives) I (we) feel we deserve a warm and comfy nest, within which I (we) can work, relax, and be ourselves, surrounded by the activities and belongings we appreciate and enjoy. We've worked hard. Maybe we hanker after a special house in a special location, with a bit of land. Maybe we'd love to express ourselves being self-sufficient, frugal and grounded, raising vegetables and caring for chickens rescued from a terrible fate. But that's not going to happen just yet.</div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; text-indent: 0px !important;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; text-indent: 0px !important;">We're headed towards that land called retirement. Our series of temporary homes, rented and unlovely, had to end. Our resources were drained. We have but a few working years left. We needed a better base from which to function. We didn't want grand. Or expensive. Or fashionable. Our style is friendly, coloured by necessity. Our last chance to fix things popped up. We jumped and grabbed<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13.3333px;">.</span></div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; text-indent: 0px !important;"><br style="text-indent: 0px !important;" /></div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; text-indent: 0px !important;">Well, it's been tough. I dare say it's been fun in parts. The main difficulty is in getting over the disappointment of things not being straightforward. We really needed a quick move, get settled in, down to work. This house started as a bargain purchase, sale completed in TWO weeks! needing JUST a quick tidy-up and move-in planned within another two weeks, and now? The wiring was deadly. Completely re-done. Completely redone means floorboards up, walls and bricks and plaster down. Complete mayhem. An earthquake. Disaster. We've found ourselves on a merry-go-round of re-doing, re-placing, re-newing <i>almost everything</i>. </div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; text-indent: 0px !important;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; text-indent: 0px !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Now I'm looking at twelve, no, twenty pots of paint, rolls and rolls of lining paper, brushes, rollers, skirting boards, beading, tiles, ............ and that's before I start on curtains and carpets. Oh, and we need a bathroom, and the hob, oven and extractor fan have been condemned and, beyond redemption sadly, have been taken to the tip. The window frames are rotten. And we have no central heating or hot water. The boiler was condemned too. The quotes are laughable. A rocket to the moon is more achievable.</span></div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; text-indent: 0px !important;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; text-indent: 0px !important;">I'm managing to stay focussed on the end result (I do the decorating and so can visualise our finished 'home') , it's finding the energy that I have a big problem with. I get tired very quickly. The last two weeks have been really difficult for me having to be sitting in a cold dark house unable to do a great deal whilst electricians, plasterers et al made a big noisy mess everywhere. Then left me to clear it up every night! Not. happy. me.</div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; text-indent: 0px !important;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; text-indent: 0px !important;">Meanwhile, in Haiti they no longer even have tents. They. have. Earthquake. Cholera. Hurricane. Disaster.</div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; text-indent: 0px !important;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; text-indent: 0px !important;">Get real pamela. Count your blessings. Do something to help.</div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; text-indent: 0px !important;"><br />
</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important;"><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px;">And put your back into the flippin' wallpaper-stripping. Winter's coming.</div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Thanks for listening folks x</span></div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.75em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 36px; padding-right: 36px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span">HAITI the facts</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.75em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 36px; padding-right: 36px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Impact of the 12 January earthquake</span></span></div><ul style="font-family: sans-serif; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.dec.org.uk/_resources/images/branding/content_ul_diamond.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Two million people living in the most affected area</span></span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.dec.org.uk/_resources/images/branding/content_ul_diamond.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">220,000 dead</span></span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.dec.org.uk/_resources/images/branding/content_ul_diamond.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Over 180,000 homes damaged or destroyed, 1.5m homeless</span></span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.dec.org.uk/_resources/images/branding/content_ul_diamond.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">There are now 19 million cubic metres of rubble and debris in PaP – enough to fill a line of shipping containers stretching end to end from London to Beirut.</span></span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.dec.org.uk/_resources/images/branding/content_ul_diamond.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">One and a half million people living in camps including over 100,000 at critical risk from storms and flooding</span></span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.dec.org.uk/_resources/images/branding/content_ul_diamond.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">There are over 1,100 camps and 54 of these are home to 5,000 people or more</span></span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.dec.org.uk/_resources/images/branding/content_ul_diamond.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Over 600,000 people have left their home area in Port-au-Prince and mostly are staying with host families</span></span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.dec.org.uk/_resources/images/branding/content_ul_diamond.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Nearly 5,000 schools have been damaged or destroyed</span></span></li>
</ul><br />
<div style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Tahoma;"><a href="http://www.dec.org.uk/item/425"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://www.dec.org.uk/item/425</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; text-indent: 0px !important;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; text-indent: 0px !important;"><br />
</div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-36730707755882924392010-11-05T21:30:00.002+00:002010-11-06T07:53:54.823+00:00Anyone coming out to play.....?Hello folks<br />
<br />
How are you this bonfire night? Had a quiet night in myself. Big aerosol factory fire near us today, had enough smoke, flames, bangs and whistles thank you very much. Veg chow mein and apple crumble for supper, very nice, all gone. Snacks prepared for tomorrow's slog in the batcave. White shirts gleaming on their hangers for next week's worker. Car packed with bags of rubble, stripped wallpaper and various detritus ready for drop off at tip first thing. Sugar soaping and ceilings to wallpaper weekend ahead. Sigh.<br />
<br />
What to look forward to? Hmmm.........<br />
<br />
Dates in my diary!<br />
<br />
November 23rd<br />
Will be joining coachful of lovely o.a.peeps on christmas shopping day outing to Leeds. Personally would love to be hitting the charity shops, department store habby departments, vegan health food type shop. But only if I can sneak away whilst peeps have lunch. Any tips on goodies from locals in the know? Anyone free for a coffee? P.s. I can't walk fast or far.<br />
<br />
November 26th - 28th<br />
Knitting and Stitching Show Harrowgate. Sounds delightful. I've never been to a big crafty show (maybe I'll get supplies needed for My Big Project - discuss later). I'm excited, and scared. Any advice? P.s. Am in the north-east and don't drive, car-share anyone?<br />
<br />
Oh and I'm very pleased to say I'm hoping to be included in the quest by <a href="http://notesfromthefrugaltrenches.com/">http://notesfromthefrugaltrenches.com/</a> to provide winter clothes and toys for 1,000 little'uns. Hope I wasn't too slow to catch the boat on that one. Take a look there might still be room for you too!<br />
<br />
So then, a few treats to look forward to after all;)<br />
<br />
No fresh photo's today so here's another one from last November in the English Lake District....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGS-pQKH5Qx1qzmTJzfsE6_TVtKh9kqElJv8I0atu_w9Dh_X6uuUlIvxeUNvcZCqflc8ZdpE73Yi5VcWUvyl3fFF2kQL2alFk3Y6mLckU0VKuHKXKRQCbBVrzaQNN1yR3U3Q6VftlRpwS/s1600/IMG_2650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGS-pQKH5Qx1qzmTJzfsE6_TVtKh9kqElJv8I0atu_w9Dh_X6uuUlIvxeUNvcZCqflc8ZdpE73Yi5VcWUvyl3fFF2kQL2alFk3Y6mLckU0VKuHKXKRQCbBVrzaQNN1yR3U3Q6VftlRpwS/s320/IMG_2650.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
You're very lucky if you live over there (I used to, sigh).<br />
<br />
Well, I'm off for a shower and an early night now. I'm hoping to post about blogging soon. It's been a good experience so far. But one or two snags. I'm hoping for tips and advice. I'll sleep on it.<br />
<br />
Night-night all.<br />
<br />
pamela x<br />
<br />
p.s. any look-forward-to dates in your diary?pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-90779278771347331782010-11-03T16:02:00.002+00:002010-11-03T17:10:36.900+00:00Small Rewards ......Hello folks, how are you? Had a busy day? Well now......<br />
<br />
After a day at the batcave......<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46T9K60D8jGUI7h5OewMdn6OJ7diuIWmhDUYI10DZf1Uh257nToS40lEvEmIKcUHP9wDQHfE9-CLpYFilGuzD0S3_Rxagq9kM53uQIGXUzDYFWXJvs6JmGDvfagLkXUFXJ-81E5dDNtkc/s1600/IMG_0595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46T9K60D8jGUI7h5OewMdn6OJ7diuIWmhDUYI10DZf1Uh257nToS40lEvEmIKcUHP9wDQHfE9-CLpYFilGuzD0S3_Rxagq9kM53uQIGXUzDYFWXJvs6JmGDvfagLkXUFXJ-81E5dDNtkc/s320/IMG_0595.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
all a girl wants..........is.............<br />
<br />
a sit down in the fresh air with.......a nice cuppa........ooh that's just lovely........;)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdvdqQS4GCjuzyn6I81emXvBbDKLPk0fGio8jLjG07SfDdOvWiI_feQHf9VDTQdgKis4mAVpKmXhcXNHqJcQ7YNnwnwgQIvzuvHsXqZk88dDAQ1zOGNPUU-DAOx2HV_kIWMtC884f9sLu/s1600/IMG_0604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdvdqQS4GCjuzyn6I81emXvBbDKLPk0fGio8jLjG07SfDdOvWiI_feQHf9VDTQdgKis4mAVpKmXhcXNHqJcQ7YNnwnwgQIvzuvHsXqZk88dDAQ1zOGNPUU-DAOx2HV_kIWMtC884f9sLu/s320/IMG_0604.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
while she ponders what to do with the latest leavings discovered at number twelve, yes, it's another pair of dirty dusty lightfittings...........hmmm......paint or polish?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyPXpZ3yGf1RXVROPR9jFozUfFCfc-wvB6k8lMFyY9SN-V5NQAY0wBTjVkkwYMNR3kMik2rGXgMDPFsHnegvyyjQf6zG4kwFcM0dVg23kz-2Ug6yzGBIa0LiqsbhAnJBIFwXlifCaPH96/s1600/IMG_0625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyPXpZ3yGf1RXVROPR9jFozUfFCfc-wvB6k8lMFyY9SN-V5NQAY0wBTjVkkwYMNR3kMik2rGXgMDPFsHnegvyyjQf6zG4kwFcM0dVg23kz-2Ug6yzGBIa0LiqsbhAnJBIFwXlifCaPH96/s320/IMG_0625.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And she wonders what this evenings forage to the big DIY emporium might yield. And where she's going to find the energy from. She's going for lining paper, masking tape, brushes and ceiling paint but is hoping for some bargains and some inspiration. <br />
<br />
And she expects she'll return home with at least ten things that weren't on her list.<br />
<br />
Well, here's hoping this trip out is followed pretty closely by a long hot shower!<br />
<br />
Better get on with it then. Leaving you with leaves, the indoor foliage variety not the golden glory that is autumn in the north, hope you likey;)..............<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMyLzjyBdS0PbGvNd1kiiUTxxV1XuaNnUbjXl7pYzsZslQ_cn59XWozuj9Y3Q-oAatZGbQ38LYYbj6kTntLs2gTZPcj0TsBCXjdPoDLRFNiiq-KOASaiLAPXDcknDMlD8XAIfGhwM1E8ST/s1600/IMG_0614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMyLzjyBdS0PbGvNd1kiiUTxxV1XuaNnUbjXl7pYzsZslQ_cn59XWozuj9Y3Q-oAatZGbQ38LYYbj6kTntLs2gTZPcj0TsBCXjdPoDLRFNiiq-KOASaiLAPXDcknDMlD8XAIfGhwM1E8ST/s320/IMG_0614.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Thanks for visiting, byebye for now.<br />
<br />
pamela x<br />
<br />
P.s. since you ask - mine's rooibus with soya milk, and on occasion an added teaspoon of demerara, thanks!<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> (Oops sorry Clare and anyone else who's in the dark rooibus is also known as Redbush tea from South Africa originally - infact I was introduced to it by my lovely friend Sara who was from that great country! You can now buy it everywhere).</span></i><br />
<br />
Just wondering, what's your tipple of choice?pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866151702705616485.post-51935827072117590652010-11-01T11:21:00.001+00:002010-11-02T21:30:04.071+00:00Happy November .....Hello folks and welcome to November's first posting. I hope you had an<br />
enjoyable samhain/halloween/all.hallows.eve/potato picking week/half term break/celtic new year........<br />
<br />
Here's my trick.............<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_qpLvqksh_UHQYhs21VWBr8UdZWJNJKJ2R9O8bhoKvOhDTRWRwt_W3U_L_fZJW0OBcYLFuaVNAY62aqxo2h-oCldYlWQlDYWKAGT2B78PPyc3TPxn6K8JFsHtzLDIqqoMx1ppTxuY8ck/s1600/IMG_0531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_qpLvqksh_UHQYhs21VWBr8UdZWJNJKJ2R9O8bhoKvOhDTRWRwt_W3U_L_fZJW0OBcYLFuaVNAY62aqxo2h-oCldYlWQlDYWKAGT2B78PPyc3TPxn6K8JFsHtzLDIqqoMx1ppTxuY8ck/s320/IMG_0531.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Scary eh? What a shocker!<br />
<br />
And here's a treat.........<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHV446ZhscVq1mhd9avfbA7IbBkQzhiBSyYv42jPdhcNwORWRO4neJLNUm5Q3bSVY1ySfc_1WYtyeGzAxkgYyDRXpZwRyuWJ9hB9T3U_cLyGwqD2MrK2kDFY_bYIkY9eIah6mLQRRpCRJ9/s1600/IMG_0410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHV446ZhscVq1mhd9avfbA7IbBkQzhiBSyYv42jPdhcNwORWRO4neJLNUm5Q3bSVY1ySfc_1WYtyeGzAxkgYyDRXpZwRyuWJ9hB9T3U_cLyGwqD2MrK2kDFY_bYIkY9eIah6mLQRRpCRJ9/s320/IMG_0410.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Much better. Just lovely!<br />
<br />
Thought I'd start marking the first day of each month with a 'New Month's Resolution'. What do you think? A sort of theme to carry throughout, to help achieve the bigger aims and objectives more easily, and with a bit less stress and a bit more fun.<br />
<br />
Over the weekend I've considered a number of different resolutions. I also did a fair bit of browsing in blogland. I got some great ideas. I know I should be '<i>counting my blessings</i>' more than I do ( a great theme throughout the bloggysphere). But what else could I resolve to do which would<br />
<ul><li>make my current situation more bearable (more enjoyable would be overly optimistic)</li>
<li>get over my strong and deeply held tendency to procrastinate</li>
<li>push me to finish those works-in-progress which haven't made any progress in recent history</li>
<li>get us moved into number twelve sooner rather than (much) later</li>
</ul>Hmmm. I'm also noting the several folders, scraps of paper, print-outs and notebooks lying around the place. All holding various IMPORTANT information, plans, shopping lists and checklists regarding the work ongoing at number twelve and the packing-up over here. And remembering we couldn't find the vital IMPORTANT INFO....... we needed yesterday when deciding on a bathroom design. (we'd both come up with different measurements for the bathroom. But that's another story. P.s. I was right! heehee!)<br />
<br />
So November's resolution is self-evident really. <br />
<br />
Therefore (tonight)<br />
<br />
<ol><li>I'll be compiling an IMPORTANT INFORMATION station, in the form of a looseleaved folder with an index and plastic pockets. All the quotes, contact details, receipts, etc. in one place. Organised. And...... </li>
<li>I'm (finally) putting together the scraps of fabric/paint colours/favourite magazine pictures into MOODBOARDS for each room (probably) in a separate folder. I'll carry this around with me so thrifty finds won't be lost (unlike like the curtains I walked away from last week 'cos i wasn't sure if the colour was right or if they'd really 'go' with the (vague) plan I had in mind. I dashed back later when the penny dropped - perfect absolutely perfect!!! - only to find they'd . . . gone. And you know what thrift shopping is like.....I'll search and search but will never find the same or similar, ever. Sigh.</li>
</ol>So there you have November's resolution is to <b>use my new system AT ALL TIMES to better project manage the ongoing house move situation.</b><br />
<br />
Now I would credit the source of these inspired organisational tools HERE <i>normally</i>. Forgive me please as I just can't trace the links. I believe <a href="http://frugalflourish.blogspot.com/">http://frugalflourish.blogspot.com/</a> and http://sherricassaradesigns.blogspot.com/ were probably involved so thanks anyway! But if anyone feels left out let me know please x<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoE2iY_fY5CSFMiX8XoxFjeEd9fL4rJnaoefqWb7ZsKVFN3B0Y56Cz_l6whMtogWNtXEAcMbwBWGz1qlwVh3j8BGAaBM67cr_PMeL80VJoM_2fchmggr4oKK_YZDnzKmUsjRgrkaAF2s2B/s1600/IMG_0403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoE2iY_fY5CSFMiX8XoxFjeEd9fL4rJnaoefqWb7ZsKVFN3B0Y56Cz_l6whMtogWNtXEAcMbwBWGz1qlwVh3j8BGAaBM67cr_PMeL80VJoM_2fchmggr4oKK_YZDnzKmUsjRgrkaAF2s2B/s320/IMG_0403.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Oh yes, about those unfinished projects....................oops. Another time.<br />
<br />
So, what would your resolution be? Or is once a year enough?<br />
Must dash, meet up soon<br />
pamela x<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>pamelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142259491219508934noreply@blogger.com7