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Tuesday, 31 July 2012

Photo - Furry little face...

Just because she is my other more furry baby...


:) xx


- Posted on the move...

Monday, 30 July 2012

Photo - A free gift...

The title of this blog could not be more sarcastic.

You see this is what I got free in my salad tonight...


Yup! A big bloody black beetle! Note that it is almost the width of my fork underneath, almost my next mouthful!

And it was alive!!!!!

The husband took the beetle and the packaging from the salad back to the supermarket and the nice lady at the customer service counter asked him of he wanted and exchange or a refund.

Erm, what do you think love!? :) xx


- Posted on the move...

Sunday, 29 July 2012

Photo - Still ill...

There is nothing like a big mug of hot chocolate to make you feel better when you are snotty, rotten and watching energetic gymnasts somersaulting into glory.




Lord they make me feel lazy and tired! :) xx
- Posted on the sofa...

Saturday, 28 July 2012

Musings - Pride and glory...

Last night was the opening of the Olympic Games. Being British I felt a great deal of pride and bemusement at the ceremony that took place in London.


You can't help but love the thought that went into it, the sheer arrangement and amount of enthusiasm shown by all.

And The Queen!! In her acting debut alongside James Bond.

I was in tears constantly, proud tears, sad tears and laughter tears and then cross tears that they had rolled old Paul McCartney out again.


But the games have begun, let's wish the world luck. :) xx


- Posted on the move...

Friday, 27 July 2012

Musings - Man flu...

I am feeling very sorry for myself today... Got me a bad case of man flu. A-chew!!!


I can just about function enough to blog my moan.

Off for a nap now before the Olympic ceremony starts. :) xx


- Posted on the move...

Thursday, 26 July 2012

Photo - Nailed it...

I am all about the pearlescent nail varnish of late... It is most unlike me to do anything of a beauty therapy nature.


I suppose it keeps me out of mischief. :) xx


- Posted on the move...

Wednesday, 25 July 2012

Musings - Is thirty past it?..

Thirty and flirty and thriving?


Right, by thirty I take it they mean after thirty-two because, while I might have the smile of the flirt down, thriving I am not.

What is to thrive? Let’s find some synonyms… flourish, prosper, succeed, boom, bloom and blossom? Increase? I take it I am supposed to be more than I am, or at least want more than I am and have an aim to be it, get it and have it?

So let’s be all Sound of Music about it and start at the beginning… what do I want?

Top 3 that come to mind without any thought, just finger to key:
1. To be able to have a successful career as a writer.
2. To be financially secure and have the benefits of that security.
3. To have someone look me in the eye and know that I have blown their mind.

The first two points are obviously, for the most part, intertwined and relatively within my control. EFFORT EFFORT EFFORT! Make some!
And the third point, well, let’s not dwell on that one two much as this one is customarily reserved for my alter ego leading lady.

Now I need a game plan. A challenge! I do so love a challenge. Maybe I need to push myself more, my alter ego leading lady is not as patient as she once was.

Top 3 challenges that come to mind without any thought, just finger to key:
1. Write 30 poems from July 2012 to June 2012. One year, barely a poem per week, in the same format and all ending with a sonnet … line.
2. Write 30 reviews from July 2012 to June 2012 (are you sensing a theme) on anything that I watch, visit or buy. And put some effort into the review!
3. Read 30 books, okay I am not going to type that again, over the next year and in no less than 500 words talk about it. I know this is like a review but I wanted the additional challenge of actually reading.

So, in theory, I should be able to undertake and achieve my challenges. Right?

It doesn’t look that hard, thirty is a nice even easy number… it’s flirty. :) xx


- Posted on the move...

Tuesday, 24 July 2012

Photo - Latest dog addition...

I had to share this back seat photograph... Please meet the latest Disney dog addition to our
Household.


It is almost the same size as Katharine. :) xx


- Posted on the move...

Monday, 23 July 2012

Musings - One for the Money...

A review...

Usually I like to read a book before I watch the adaptation, though if the page version is a little hard going then admittedly I cheat. Like with The Time Traveller’s Wife; I tried to get past the first couple of chapters but in the end succumbed to the allure of Eric Bana in an effort to read on un-confused. And it worked; I ended up loving both the film and the novel. Same really with Nicholas Sparks, I always love the amount of emotion that goes into his adaptions and I feel watching them first only adds to the reading experience. Would Nick think the same? I don’t know, but if thinking of Zac Efron means I can read The Lucky One in a Sunday afternoon and ended up sobbing at the end that can only be good, right?

Anyway, to the point of this post… a couple of weeks ago me and the husband, the husband and I, watched ‘One For The Money’ starring Katherine Heigl and Jason O’Mara. I really enjoyed it but felt something was lacking. The characters were fun, likeable and the actors worked well together. But something was missing. It was only after watching it that I found out that the film was actually based on a novel of the same name by Janet Evanovich. Being a book lover and a bit shame faced that I didn’t know it was a book, I bought it. And when it arrived I read it in a ridiculously short amount of time, even for me.



You see I LOVED the book. Where I had appreciated the film, reading the book made it clear what was missing. Sure the characters were still the same, portrayed very well by Katherine and Jason, and the plot on the most part was true… the thing missing was Janet’s wit. Very rare do I read a book where I feel that I am listening to a story told like a tale by the author. One for the money was one of them. Janet reeled me in and left me wanting more when I had finished. Lucky for me there are currently eighteen books in the Stephanie Plum series. I have already bought the next two and am eagerly awaiting their arrival.

So after nearly 400 words, what I am trying to say is… I recommend One For The Money, in both formats. Both are entertaining, witty, easy to read and watch with a plot and characters what really make you want more more more. :) xx

- Posted on the move...

Sunday, 22 July 2012

Photo - Playing out...

I love that Katharine has reached that age were she can play out in her Grandparent's garden on a sunny Sunday afternoon.


Doesn't she look adorable...


Grass stains from rolling down the lawn too. :) xx


- Posted on the move...

Saturday, 21 July 2012

Musings - PART 7 Year of Adventure...

Part 7! Can you believe it, that is over half the year done and we have thus far managed to achieve our goal of one thing a month.
July saw us at The Grand theatre in Leeds for my idea of hell.

Avenue Q! A tale about puppets. You remember I have an irrational fear of puppets right?

I must admit I was dreading it but the show was fantastic. So well written, excellently sung and acted and I was even able to look past the fear and thoroughly enjoy myself. I would recommend it, google it and see what it is all about yourself.

As with all our theatre visits we have been unable to take photos during the performance so here are a few of the theatre and one of The Arcade.
:) xx


























- Posted on the move...

Friday, 20 July 2012

Musings - Moi, moi, moi...

Have you ever taken the time to write a paragraph about yourself? An about me?

It is actually a lot harder than you think! I tried it… an hour later I had deleted several inane lines of shallow description and developed a frown line.

I found myself with a number of questions:
What do people want to know?
What do I want them to know?
What am I willing to disclose?
Am I brave enough?
Am I interesting enough?

I decided to let my fingers type to a natural pause and simply read ‘me’ back. This is my about me…



Hi… I’m Stacy.

I have blonde hair, blue eyes and petit facial features which I hide behind a pair of terracotta spectacles. I am of average build, average height and average pretty much everything else. I excel at little and coast at a lot. I like to read, watch and listen, making me an observer rather than a doer. I am left handed, live by an inner imaginary soundtrack made up of soft rock songs and my iPhone is usually glued to my hand. I am a Nicholas Sparks quote ‘I am a common (wo)man with common thoughts and I have led a common life…’ but I have had neither the joy nor the tragedy to warrant a full page.

I like eyes and I like the intimacy of their contact. My heart races on a daily basis and my heart aches just as much. I play at being happy in those moments when I am not, often a fraud in my own skin. But I fake a sparkle well, I can always have an interest in your interests, you can count on that. I am dependable, understandable, a nifty phone a friend. Daughter, woman, wife, mother, me occurring in that order with the exception of the ‘me’. Have I found me yet? I had plans for my life, now I have new plans. I want to make my daughter proud; I figure I have a few years yet to get my act together or rather my write together. I openly blog each day about that day but I am shy by nature. I am not the life of the party but I am the smile of laughter when the music dies.

I am hopeful that there is some exceptionality in my veins; I am optimistic at least, a realist with an optimistic outlook… I know the glass is half empty but I am willing to top that metaphorical liquid to the top. Someday, somehow, somewhere you will know me and think ‘I remember her, she used to be ordinary.’ And you will be wrong. I will still be ordinary… I will just have found a way to make you believe that to live life like you are dreaming out loud is to be remarkable.

Now it’s your turn… :) xx


- Posted wryly...

Thursday, 19 July 2012

Photo - Caught in the act...

This photo is me trying to take a stealthy photograph of Katharine reading her book...


It turned out to be Katharine spotting herself in the view finder and pointing with a 'there'.

Bless her, funny little onion that she is. :) xx


- Posted on the move...

Wednesday, 18 July 2012

Photo - Brighter shades...

I have moaned of late about the appalling Shades of Grey books, it infuriates me just to think about them.

So in protest here is a bit of colour...


:) xx


- Posted on the move...

Tuesday, 17 July 2012

Poetry- An almost kiss...

My take on the build up to a kiss...

Pounding hearts and none too gentle breaths are gasped,
Amid the heightened meld of sensation and of soaring heat,
Sweetest peak; tantalising, tentative, trembled tips of fingers touch,
Searing, piercing eyes catch and hold, don’t break, can’t break,
Intertwined in all but the physicality of a kiss, a whisper,
Outward a shimmer, a spark crackles forth; inner fires rush and rise,
Now is that moment, momentous, earth-shattering, lust’s consequence,
…mouth encounters mouth.


:) xx

- Posted on the move...

Monday, 16 July 2012

Musings - Time will tell...

I am all about the photos of late and less about the words.

It’s not that I am stuck, I have not fallen to the curse of writer’s block… I am befelled more by the ravages of time.



I don’t have enough of it, time that is!!!

I know I know, from time to time I do moan about not having enough time and I am conscious of the time wasted by griping about grappling with the illusion of fast passing time. Like now for instance… I could have written a poem in the spell / interval / period (time) I have waffled needlessly.

Sigh.

So here it is… the poem I could have written…

Take a pause, a breath, a thought and remember who, what, where and from when,
Imagine the before, disregard the now and cower at the future as it hurtles,
Make a plan, consciously, set a goal, make your target but take heed,
Elusive is the pattern of a projective, suggestive, passing from day to night
… hold on tight.

:) xx

- Posted on the move...

Sunday, 15 July 2012

Photo - DIY Sunday...

Today involved a little 4x4 maintenance...


Or rather it involved me making the cups of tea while the husband and the father did all the work.

But it's the supervision that counts ha ha. :) xx


- Posted on the move...

Saturday, 14 July 2012

Musings - Pretty polka dots...

Today we went to a wedding party and got all dressed up.

It was most unlike me not to be snapping away with the camera but I decided to just enjoy myself.

I did get a couple though...


How cute is that dress!?


But none of the photos were of the actual Bride and Groom. Never mind, I am sure Facebook will be full of them in a couple of days. :) xx


- Posted on the move...

Friday, 13 July 2012

Photo - For the love of dog...

In order to keep Katharine's dog obsession alive I bought her a new book...


It's called Dogs Don't Do Ballet and is all about Biff, the dog with a love of dance.

It is actually quite funny and I really enjoy making up all the voices.

Katharine looks at me and sighs but I know she secretly loves it. ;) xx


- Posted reading...

Thursday, 12 July 2012

Photo - Wolf...

In honour of Teenwolf starting its second season on British television I thought I would share with you Katharine's wolf...


I am thinking that if this wolf was to become a teenage boy he would turn into a Hanson brother.

Remember them, hmm bop? :) xx


- Posted on the move...

Wednesday, 11 July 2012

Photo - Hey little tambourine girl...

This week is striking up to be a week of photos...




Here is Katharine with her latest musical instrument. Let's just say... It's loud. :) zxx
- Posted on the move...

Tuesday, 10 July 2012

Photo - Tele addict...

Yes...


Even Rohan the Border Terrier can't resist a little Choccywoccydoodah. :) xx


- Posted on the move...

Monday, 9 July 2012

Photo - Fat face...

When you are loosing weight you never fully believe it until you look at a photograph at the start of your loss and realise what a fat face you had...


Where the hell did those hamster cheeks come from? :) xx


- Posted laughing...

Sunday, 8 July 2012

Musings - Three things about Balsamic...

Balsamic vinegar...


I like it in my salad, maybe with a bit of oil for bread dipping and sometimes I might tip a little in the wok but that is about it.

This week I learned three new uses for balsamic...

1. It is delicious on strawberries,
2. A drop on the tongue cures hiccups,
3. Mix a table spoon with a jug of lemonade and some chopped fruit and you have made yourself a non-alcohol alternative to Pimms.

Bizarre, huh?

It got me thinking, what odd uses do you have for household items that are usually a little mundane? :) xx


- Posted pondering...

Saturday, 7 July 2012

Musings - Ponderosa...

Today we took Katharine to Ponderosa, a local therapeutic animal sanctuary.

There are Meerkats, Llamas, small furry creatures, reptiles, reindeer, horses, birds, fish and all of them up close and personal.

Katharine loved it, especially as we let her wonder with her backpack with the reigns...


She even got to enjoy some ice cream when we were hiding out in the cafe during a sudden down pour...


It was a great day and I took photographs as usual but this is the animal that entertained me the most...


There is not a chance in hell that there is a Prince under all that slime! :) xx

- Posted on the move...

Friday, 6 July 2012

Musings - Underwater blues...

A good portion of England is currently underwater. We have had a months rain in less than twenty four hours.

Luckily we live on a hill, but local villages have been flooded so badly that even the Prince of Wales paid a visit today to boost moral.

And this was the scene out of the window at work...


Not a great start to July is it, sigh. Xx


- Posted on the move...

Thursday, 5 July 2012

Photo - Turtle power...

I am pretty sure that it is illegal now to make a bowl out of a turtle...


Bless her. :) xx


- Posted on the move...

Wednesday, 4 July 2012

Musings - She'll get used to it...

Rohan, the sweetest most adorable doggie in the whole world, is officially Katharine's bitch...


You gotta love the patient yet tolerant expression. :) xx


- Posted on the move...

Tuesday, 3 July 2012

Musings - Inspired by Sam Spade...

Having watched The Maltese Falcon last week I decided that I haven't read enough period crime novels and their subsequent film adaptations.

So I made a start...


I eBayed Dashiell Hammett and bought up all that I could find.

So that is me set for the next few weeks, 1930's here I come! :) xx


- Posted on the move...

Monday, 2 July 2012

Photo - Puppy anyone?...

And this is only a small selection of puppies that our little darling has...


Me thinks she loves that fact that her best friend is a wagging tailed Border Terrier. :) xx


- Posted on the move...

Sunday, 1 July 2012

Photo - Did I mention...

I think I forgot to mention what Katharine got Kieran for father's day...


This photo was purchased at a fair in side The Piece Hall in Halifax. A famous market arena where people over a hundred years ago would bring their 'pieces' to sell and trade.

This photo was taken by Craig, one of alsorts of subjects captured, and being a landrover and with Kieran loving these old vehicles we snapped it up.

Great isn't it!? Now we need to find a frame to do it justice. :) xx

- Posted in reflection...
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