This morning when I got up and came out of the bedroom Tom (cat) came wandering down the hall and towards the door. Naturally as the good obedient servant that I am I followed to open the door. Soon all 4 cats were sitting in the hallway looking out the door with what can only be described as “morning squinty make the light go away” eyes, then they all decided that they didn’t really want to go out as it was too bright and they still hadn’t had breakfast. However this post was interrupted by three of them making a bid for freedom now that they are full. I reckon the other one is somewhere eating leftovers.
Category: general
School Fairs & Flights
I am very proud of myself – today we drove to a school fair. It’s the fact that I drove there – previously we’d have been scouring the bus timetables to see if it would be possible to get there. So a big thumbs up for that!
Naturally enough we went straight to the book room. Prices were €2.00 each or 3 for €5.00 so I indulged and picked up Nigella Express, Northanger Abbey & Learning To Drive (Teach Yourself). So a big hurrah! I was a bit worried as to the price of Nigella so I had to weigh up the fact that it’s lovely with the idea that I might not use it – but even for €2.00 it is so worth it – I’m such a skinflint! well actually at the moment I am.
I also picked up a copy of Time Out Paris while in Borders and I think I shall keep this as my travelling magazine/bible between now and August. That is because this evening we finally booked our flights to Paris – 8 days in Paris oh the delights and wonder of it all. Last year was great if a little frantic this time will be a time of wandering and sauntering – Fantastic!
We also booked our flights to Manchester as we are going to Liverpool for the weekend in a short while. We are both looking forward to this weekend but for me the highlight will be the possibility of fiddling with a spinning wheel – she doesn’t know it yet so I’d better warn her that I’ll be demanding and audience with the equipment – woohoo!
Death
I will be 33 soon, this morning I have to go to the funeral of somebody who had only just turned 31. When I heard the news I couldn’t believe it – my flabber was completely gasted. The news of the death of somebody you know will always draw you nearer to those you love – almost physically. The first thing you want to do is grab hold of that person just so you can confirm that they are here and real and in turn while they hold you and confirm your presence to them you also confirm it to yourself. Does that make sense? All of a sudden the days are brighter and your troubles are only a slight nuisance – it tends to swing your sense of proportion – normally it’s the doom and gloom of everyday life but hey you have life so therefore everything really is fantastic. While this is unrealistic if we could just carry forward a snippet of that new found optimism it could change our whole outlook on life.
Unfortunately before any of that can take place a funeral must be attended and a friendship must be remembered. Of all the deaths recently (since about 2001) none of the bodies have been like the person we knew so I think that the viewing of the body is no longer an option for me – I like my memories of people to be of them laughing and living and not of them dying and dead.
Sorry it’s a little bit down but I’m off for a cuddle from himself as it’s going to be one of those days and like breakfast you should always start the day with one (both breakfast & cuddle)
Finishing the week
I think I’m going to go to bed with a cup of Bedtime Tea and my book (there is also the possibly of a cat). I have 2 [books] beside my bed at the moment – The Gentle Art Of Domesticity by Jane Brocket and Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie. However the book I’ve been reading and am almost finished is Me & Mr Darcy by Alexandra Potter. I think I have about 15 pages left so while I get through those my tea will have cooled down enough to drink.
One last thing about my cup of tea or mug – coffee in a standard mug = yes, but there is something special about tea out of a china cup or mug. Can you have a china mug? Anyway it has a totally different feel to it – coffee out of china – the taste is to robust for the fragile pottery in your hand and while tea can be drunk from an ordinary mug a china cup/mug lifts it to a whole new place.
Good Night.
Mornings
I fed the cats and then they gathered at my feet worshipping me and my ability to open the front door 🙂 Opening the front door shortly after getting up in the mornings is lovely. The house is stuffy from sleeping people and that sudden burst of light and freshness is invigorating. As I’m closing the door I feel like I should run into the bedroom and throw on a tracksuit and runners and go for a walk. Unfortunately I don’t I womble back into the computer to finish my morning skim on the net and then it’s breakfast and bathroom and bus to work – not the kind of I must get out in this freshness that I would like. Of course the funny thing is that if I didn’t have to go to work I’d still be in bed and would miss this gloriousness.
So three cheers for that door opening to leave in lovely sunshine, a bracing drop in temperature and a lung full of clean, thinner, fresh air and if it’s raining just take away the sunshine bit (that’s rare enough here anyway).
Smellies
Well that is what we used to call them and I’ve never really thought about what they really are – basically it’s bathroom ‘stuff’ I love my bathroom stuff- bath bombs, bath stuff, soaps, potions & lotions. I don’t buy much ’cause I hate having them just lying around. However the thing is I love the stuff I buy but not the stuff that others buy me. There was a time when I was MAD about Lush but sometimes you just want to have a bath or shower you don’t want it to turn into a party – you just want it to be boringly luxuriant. I was never a fan of the body shop no matter how many times people bought me Christmas baskets or the likes. However now I seem to have drifted into L’Occitane – maybe I’m just growing up. Their verbena range is just lovely and the exfoliating soap is invigorating. Yes it’s a little bit pricey but as the adverts on telly say ’cause you’re worth it.
On the other hand when people are buying you pressies they buy you lavender. I’m really happy that they thought of me and that means I’m happy to have the present but what do you do with it once they have gone? For years I kept these appreciated yet unwanted gifts – to the point where they are just horrible gunge. As part of the growing up process I’ve now learned that I can get rid of these space takers. I try to give them as donations to sales of works etc but at long last I’m not afraid to throw them out. Do you know what kind of a relief it is to allow yourself to do that?
Anyway all of this came about ’cause I’m heating the water for a bath. All in the name of winding down for my weekend away. My bath will be bubbly and smelling of Verbena.
So while I wait for that to be ready I have a story and a bit left in my book so off I go.
Weekend Destination
This weekend we’re going away. I’m really looking forward to it on two different fronts. The first is that I am going to drive to the airport and park so we don’t have to rely on a taxi at 5.30am or for coming home. So three cheers for me – I’ll be having a panic attack about getting to the airport and he’ll be having on when we get there. He’s the lucky one- I can’t take little tables and drive but he can take them and fly – plane is optional.
The other thing I’m looking forward to is we’re off to London. I have to say I’m really looking forward to it. I haven’t been over there in a long while – 12 years to be precise. I went over for my 21st present to see the Three Tenors in concert and it was wonderful. We weren’t too far from Baker Street and this time we’re at the other end of it. So we’ll have to have a look at all of that as he is reading his way through Sherlock Holmes at the moment. The main reason for our trip is the Jack The Ripper exhibition in the museum at docklands. When I say we have a slightly more then passing interest in the subject. We have a seemingly never ending list of places to see and things to do so I have a feeling that London will remain a destination of interest for quite a while to come.
I feel like I should be bouncing around with excitement but it’s 22.43 so I’m going to go to bed instead as I have work tomorrow. On the other hand a small squee of excitement is allowed! woohoo!
My Sisters Blanket
I seem to be procrastinating all over the place!
I am making a blanket for what I thought was to be my new niece/nephew (they are 90% sure it’s niece but we’ll wait for the day itself to confirm) when my sister spotted it she has decided that she is going to be the owner of this blanket and baby will have to ask nicely if it wants to use it.
I am in the final run of the pattern with a reduced repeat to follow and it looks like I’ll have to get more wool. This has seen me put off doing any more until I find the band for the ball so I can get more (procrastinator & disorganised). When I was in work the other day I found that I’d left the pattern behind me so that was when I changed the story in my head – the reason I’m not doing the blanket is that I don’t have the pattern and not ’cause I need to get more wool. Ok I’ve the pattern on the computer but the paper one has all my notes – like which line I’m on etc.
Isn’t it mental the stories you will tell yourself just to avoid having to do things? I exactly the same when I was in school.
No photo this time – when I have it finished I’ll put a picture on my craft page which is decidedly empty at the moment.
Penpals
They are wonderful on the other hand I am not. I do apologise but this is going to be a little whingy/giving out. I have a wonderful penpal who writes to me – If I say more often then I write to her I could be accused of understatement 😦 I think that at the rate of new leaves I’m turning over, in my letter writing habits, I should really look up and spot the trees. I think that this is the last leaf I’m turning over – I’m writing letters and that’s that! I’ve been given a nudge so it’s time to put pen to paper and just do it.
My problem is I’m a procrastinator – I’ll write that later, once it’s written it’s another battle to get it into the envelope and addressed. After that I have to stamp and post it = a month at its fastest – how can that be??? I work above/in the General Post Office!!!
I’m going away for the weekend – (London here we come) so I’m bringing addresses and there will be a start of postcards. I have to admit – rubbish at letters great at postcards when I go away. Don’t know why just am. So to end this bit of a whinge with something to smile about here is a postcard I sent home when we were in Paris last year:
Chocolate & Chinese
Yes it’s Thursday. For me this signifies the end of the week – my week rotates around my weekly meeting at/of Weight Watchers. After the meeting I scoff a Double Decker bar on the way to do my weekly shopping. This is gone before the car is even out of the car park (chocolate evaporates in my presence). Once the shopping is done and we’re in the car I phone himself and he rings the chinese takeaway. So when I get home I have enough time to take in the shopping and the dinner arrives. King Prawn Chop Suey & boiled rice and a can of diet coke – followed after a while by a Cadbury Dairy Milk that we split.
If I have been sticking to my menus for the week this is a treat of the highest sort. If I have been eating willy nilly then it doesn’t hold the same flavour or satisfaction. So for that alone it is worth my while being disciplined in my eating. There have been times when I’ve decided that nah don’t fancy a chinese takeaway lets get something different but the when the times comes around it’s hard to break the habit. On the other hand it’s not the chinese & chocolate that are special it’s the Thursday treat that is special – am I nuts?
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