Author: MsWalsh

As I type I'm 40 odd yrs. Sometimes very odd :) I'm separated and now I'm also cat free. I love to cook, craft, read & watch TV. This is to be the place that makes me smile.
Films

Favourite Cartoon

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If you were to ask me what was my favourite cartoon I would have to answer Yogi’s First Christmas!  Come December I scour the Radio Times looking for it on the Cartoon Network.

There was a time when I was looking to get it on DVD and all that was to be had was a copy of it that didn’t exactly look official and every once in a while I’ll check to see if there’s been any update on it being released.  So while I checked earlier in the year and found nothing, and somehow it managed to slip under my radar – when we were in Tesco this evening I saw it on the telly which could only mean it’s now on DVD.

It’s amazing how fast you can grab a thing off the shelf 🙂  so I’m now the proud owner of my favourite Cartoon on DVD.
I really really really want to watch it right now but I can’t – mainly ’cause I’ve to get up tomorrow to go to work and I wouldn’t fancy having to admit to being tired is due to watching cartoons ’til the wee small hours.

Just knowing that it’s there is still giving me little spasms of joy.

 Yogi's First Christmas

general · Seasons

Delayed Gratification

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I love love love miserable weather. I think in some places this puts me in the odd category but I don’t mind. So unfortunately for me I am still waiting. I think we would have been happy to have temperatures like this during the summer!
Today it’s a bit windy and the leaves are swirling and dancing. The entrance into the building is full of leaves – I was sorely tempted to stick around andnkick leaves for the afternoon.
So while I am still waiting for season appropriate weather I am holding off on having a Chai Latte. There is something about that frothy, sweet & spicey tea that brings winter to mind (my mind) – cold noses and cold fingers.
This morning I was going to indulge but it wouldn’t be the same. Yes it would be lovely – it’s lovely any time of year but it’s cosy at the cold time of year.

So like the child in the room alone with the sweets I have to pass the coffee shop every morning – will I have the chai latte now or will I wait for a more satisfying cup when the weather turns? Ok I’m an adult and can have both but somehow I know it wouldn’t be the same.

Books

Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day

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I ordered 2 of Persephone Books‘ books from Chapters- Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day by Winifred Watson & House-Bound by Winifred Peck.

Today, just after lunch, I got a tweet to tell me Miss Pettigrew had arrived in.

As this is a blog about things that make me smile I have to tell you – I read from page 1 – 13 on the bus and smiled the whole time.

I may have to take tomorrow off – after all it’s only for a day – Miss Pettigrews Day.
Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day

Childhood Memories · Family

Memories of Nannan

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This evening I was watching River Cottage Every Day and the topic of the programme was Breakfast. Hugh was singing the praises of oats and saying how he loved porridge.
I love porridge and it would be my breakfast of choice this probably stems from my grandmother (Nannan) She always made me porridge whenever I stayed over. However there was one morning that sticks with me and makes me giggle to this day.
Nannan and I were chatting while she was getting the porridge ready. Once it was ready, she got out the two bowls and sprinkled sugar on the bottom of them. So chatting away she started to pour the porridge into the bowls – however it was only after she had finished pouring into the first bowl that we realised it had all been poured into the sugar bowl!!!
I know that it’s not that funny and you probably had to be there but it still makes me smile – we had such great times and I still miss her. Some day soon I’ll tell you about walking on the beach – nothing funny just a happy memory.

Notions · Rain

Strange Notions

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It rained last night – the weather for the last few days has been glorious – continental almost, but last night it rained.  As the title of the post says there’s a strange notion floating around my head – I wish it was still raining.

I know I’ve mentioned previously my love of the rain – when I opened the front door to the cats this morning the fresh air was beautiful after the stuffy bedroom.  I have a rule about rain – don’t get wet on the day you wash your hair any other day go and dance in the puddles.

This morning I’m in a dawdle & dance in the puddles kind of mood so that is another reason why I’d like it to be raining.  Also I love the splashes from the rain drops – I could sit there entranced by it for hours.

However it’s not raining and I’ve dawdled for long enough – time to go out into the world.

Childhood Memories · Cooking

How Happy Am I?

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Very is the answer! Today we were out and about – we went to Dun Laoghaire (by mistake) so we went into Meadows & Bryne. Whilst browsing around – it’s was amazing the amount of gadgets that you just have to have! Anyway whilst browsing I came across a Pie/Tart dish with a swizzly thing that runs around the bottom to release it – I just had to have it!
I immediately rummaged through my cook books to find a tart recipe – that’s a lot more difficult than I thought. It would seem that all of the books seem to think that apple tart should be the french open tart whilst my grandmothers tarts were covered almost pie like. I did manage to get one recipe and now I’ll cross check it with one or two online (possibly adding a clove or two or cinnamon)
Now all I need is the time to make it 🙂

Books · Childhood Memories

Library Joys

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I know I’ve mentioned this before but I absolutely love going to the library – so much so that I’m a member in two different council areas (for locals it’s Dublin City Council & Fingal Council) It really is a great resource – I have one on my doorstep in work – all expressions aside it really is on the other side of the street from the office! – How cool is that!!! The only negative thing I can think of about it is it’s a bit dark but that’s only compared to the other two that I would frequent – Blanchardstown & Malahide. The Malahide one is that one I’d be pass by every week when I go to WW so last night we were a bit early so in we went! I Love Love Love it! and came out with two books (Rebecca Shaw) & two DVDs – A Very Long Engagement (himself loves Audrey Tautau & I missed the last 15mins of the film) and the other was a boxset of The Young Ones. Now that is what I consider a haul of opposites – gentle books about a village idyl, a french film & I’m not really sure what you could say to describe The Young Ones briefly – comedy?
I’m in seventh heaven when it comes to Libraries – you can go in pick out a book you want to read but don’t particularly want to buy or a book you’re not too sure about and give it a go – if you don’t have space for the books well that’s OK they have to be returned so no need to break out the Ikea catalogue to get more Billy bookcases. The same goes for DVDs, audiobooks, computer games and even magazines! Basically this stuff is all free so long as you give it back when you’re finished with it!
It’s funny – I remember when I was little going on the bus over to Malahide to the library – I would go upstairs to the childrens section and it was such a big day when I got my new ticket which allowed me to take things out of the adults library – the joy of that was that you could take out even more books if you were taking them from the childrens library 🙂 On one or two occassions (possibly a lot more) we went over to the one in Donaghmede SC but my overriding memory of that one was round – I don’t know why maybe there was seating arranged in a circle or something but anyway round it is!
So my next question is – what am I doing on here? I should put the kettle on and settle into the book I got the other day – Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand – it really is lovely 🙂
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

Music

Music To Sooth The Soul

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Good Morning!  I’m awake ridiculously early on an Easter morning – well early for me considering I’m not getting an easter egg 😦  BTW it’s not really ridiculously early – I woke at about 7 turned on the box and have rested.  I know it’s scandalous to have the telly on at the hour of the morning but I use it for the radio – brilliant signal and no fiddling with bands or dials.  This morning I started with BBC Radio 4 then flicked over to BBC7 sorry it’s not 7 any more I think it’s called BBC4 Extra – anyway then I remembered/realised it was Sunday and that meant Gloria on Lyric FM.

Gloria is a programme I could fall asleep to – and I don’t mean that as an insult – what I do mean is that the music is so beautiful that it relaxes me – I don’t know what it is about the choral music it is just so…  I don’t really have the words  – so I suppose the music is doing exactly what it was supposed to do.  Anyway I’d better go as I only have another 38 minutes left of the programme and I do so love to listen (although it does make great background music too!)

Gloria
Playlists
LyricFM

BTW this is what I’m having for Easter instead of an egg: Yummy!

Books · Husband · Life

Yesterday Was A Good Day

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I have to admit that I wasn’t holding out much hope for yesterday as it was a Monday.  All you really want to do is just get through it and move on with the week.  However when MB got into work she had a date for her surgery (for carpal tunnel) and it was the same day that was mooted for himself – eek!  Anyway I got on the ‘phone and gave himself a bell – get the date confirmed!!!  So he did (kindda) it will be confirmed today but it is going to be next week – I’m thrilled.  Ha Ha it seems I get to read my magazine after all! – I’d bought Country Living to read while waiting around the hospital last week but of course that was cancelled so didn’t get to read it – roll on next week for some lovely bliss.

Anyway back to yesterday – Himself has finally finished writing his book – ok he still has a bit more work to do – indexing, bibliography, etc but the hard research & conclusion is over and done with.  He is sooo relieved to have it done and I’m really really proud of him!  So we’re off out for dinner sometime over the next week just to celebrate book & surgery.  In the mean time I’m trying to think of something I can get himself to say well done – and unfortunately my head is drawing a blank.

Well I can’t stay here any longer –  I’ve to go to work 😦

 

Life

BBC Radio 4

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or BBC radio 7 – I love them!

However the best time to listen to them is just before going to sleep.

There is nothing more relaxing than hearing a voice talking in the background.  Please note it’s hearing a voice not necessarily listening to it – that requires too much concentration and would only keep me awake – that is why the choice of programme is very important.

Tonight I don’t think it will be BBC7 as there is some comedy on and I might be inclined to listen so I think it’s going to be “The World Tonight”, a bit of the “Book at Bedtime” and if I am still awake it’s “With Great Pleasure” – mind you if I’m still awake by B@B there must be something wrong.

Anyway I’ve to go and settle in for a nights listening – I’d better not forget to set the timer – last time I’d done that I was listening to Classic FM and I woke to the sound of whispering in the room – I got such a fright I couldn’t go back to sleep which totally defeated the point of putting on some lovely relaxing music to fall asleep to 🙂

Good Night!