Wednesday, January 01, 2014

Wish for the New Year

Well another New Year has arrived and I'm quite happy to see the back of 2013 - not one of my best years. 
I don't generally make new year resolutions any more as I just can't keep them - secrets I can keep - resolutions fail miserably.

So instead I'll 'try' to do certain things - 

  • I'll try to blog at least once a week
  • I'll try to look after myself and get more sleep 
  • I'll try to paint or create at least once a week
  • I'll try to worry less over silly things
  • I'll try to be slightly less chaotic (really tough)
  • I'll try to do more of the little things that make the world a little better
I know these might seem like a bit of a 'cop-out' but I'm done with all the pressure and stress from outside and within - if I can lessen the stress I create for myself then hopefully I can deal with the things I don't have any control over.

I wish you all a good New Year and hope that the highs outweigh the lows xxx

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Happy Birthday Sue

It's almost three years since my old school friend Sue died. Today would have been her birthday and so I have spent a few minutes in the dusty rooms of my memories opening virtual boxes of faded memories and good times and laughter.
Sue always had much better dress sense and knew how to wear a hat - I remember this moment as though it was only yesterday - we were off to her sister's wedding - such a wonderful weekend and a treasured memory.


Monday, December 31, 2012

Another New Years Eve...

Here we are again, another New Years Eve. Christmas is all but over and in the blink of an eye we have arrived at the last day of 2012. The pine needles have fallen off the Christmas Tree, the chocolates and Christmas cake almost gone and the cats finished off the turkey on Boxing Day.

I'm not a big fan of New Year celebrations, when I was younger I loved a good party but now I'm quite happy with a relatively quiet night in - must be something to do with getting old.

I hope you all have a good 2013 and that you all experience times of joy and happiness x

Friday, December 21, 2012

Winter Solstice 21/12/2012

Well not only is it the Winter Solstice but the 'end of the world' if you read all the scary stories. However it would seem that maybe it is an ending as such but also a beginning - maybe the human race will finally take a good look at itself and it's actions and decide that change is needed, that we need to create and nurture and not consume and destroy - I'm keeping my fingers crossed.


(memegenerator.net) (http://www.grumpycats.com/)

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Sarah Joins Etsy

My daughter Sarah has started making bracelets as a hobby but she's just too young to have her own Etsy account so she's sharing mine.
They're fun and easy to wear and she's sold two already!
Have a look at them on Etsy Shop - Catartist



Saturday, June 09, 2012

Blaydon Races 150th Anniversary

Blaydon Races brass band version

The Blaydon Races - the unofficial anthem of Geordies celebrates its 150th anniversary today. There is a Blaydon Race taking place now as I write this, following the route described in the song. There is various versions on YouTube so I've picked out a couple. I love this song, it makes me proud to be a Geordie.

Blaydon Races Sir Bobby Robson Tribute


Saturday, May 05, 2012

Happy Birthday Mum

If my Mum was still around she would be celebrating her birthday today. She was never one for alcohol, the odd sherry or port and lemon at Christmas and New Year was about it. She always enjoyed a nice cup of tea, so in honour of her birthday I'll celebrate with a cup of tea and a slice of Swiss Roll - Happy Birthday Mum!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Almost Christmas

It's almost Christmas - I wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Just before I go to sleep I'll remember those who aren't here anymore but are always in my thoughts - friends and family and cats who will live in my heart always x

Wednesday, December 07, 2011

30 years in the NHS!

30 years ago today I started working for the NHS - strangely enough I'm now sitting opposite the person I sat opposite on my first day - funny how things go in circles!

Thursday, December 01, 2011

December time again

Such a long time since I last posted. I've been busy with major changes at work, not only the splitting up of our department but sending us to another NHS trust and another hospital! Things are slowly beginning to settle down but I don't know if we'll ever be happy where we are at the moment.
Anyway, it's the 1st of December - World Aids Day, the beginning of the Christmas season, the beginning of the frosts and also my birthday month, I'm sure more things will come to mind.
I'm going to try and post almost every day of December - see if I can focus my mind......

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Whitby 2011



We arrived in Whitby on Monday afternoon,the weather isn't great but at least we can see the Abbey from the caravan.

After unloading the car we went for a walk - those 199 steps certainly tire you out.


Monday, June 20, 2011

Missing an old friend 20th June 2011

My school friend Sue Hollingshead died last year. Today 20th June would have been her 50th birthday but as I can't send her a card I thought I would share a memory from our school years.
My birthday is December and very close to Christmas, consequently it often got forgotten or I would get one present to cover my birthday and Christmas. Being the the kind person she was she declared I could celebrate my half birthday on her birthday so we'd both have something to celebrate. So here I am Sue celebrating my half birthday and hoping that somewhere you're raising a glass.......

Friday, April 29, 2011

Stop all the clocks......


Yesterday was the funeral of Jason's father. Jason was determined to read a particular poem as a tribute - you'll recognise it from 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'. I think he was brave to do it and I'm proud that he managed to get through it.

W.H. Auden: Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone

From "Twelve Songs"

IX.
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crêpe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

St George and Shakespeare

The 23rd April is not only St George's Day but Shakespeare's birthday - two very 'English' icons even if St George was born in Turkey!
To celebrate I bought some St George's Day doughnuts from Greggs.


Tuesday, March 01, 2011

St David's Day


St David's Day is celebrated in Wales on 1st March as he is the patron saint of Wales. It's customary to wear one of the Welsh national emblems - a leek or a daffodil so I've chosen a picture of daffodils taken from my garden a few years ago.
You can find more info on the National Museum of Wales website

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Cats sleep anywhere


Jasper loves to sleep on the top cushion of the sofa - it's big, soft and comfy and next to the radiator. I wish I could get this comfortable.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Redbubble - trying to promote my art and photographs

Thought I would give Redbubble a go - I'm not David Bailey or Picasso but what the hell, I can take the odd good photo and paint something that catches the eye so here goes! As time goes on I'll alter my 'portfolio' and add more items.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Burns Night

Just a quick mention for Burns Night and the poem written by Robert Burns in 1786

Address to a Haggis

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the pudding-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm :
Weel are ye wordy o'a grace
As lang's my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o'need,
While thro' your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An' cut you up wi' ready sleight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like ony ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin', rich!

Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive:
Deil tak the hindmost! on they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
Bethankit! hums.

Is there that owre his French ragout
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad make her spew
Wi' perfect sconner,
Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As feckless as wither'd rash,
His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash;
His nieve a nit;
Thro' bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread.
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He'll mak it whissle;
An' legs an' arms, an' heads will sned,
Like taps o' thrissle.

Ye Pow'rs, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o' fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer
Gie her a haggis!

Friday, December 31, 2010

New Years Eve 2010



I don't know why but I find New Year depressing - it may be post Christmas Blues, it may be the fact that a new year means I'm getting older. This year has been tough, my other half lost his job twice and is now unemployed as well as having had to undergo major surgery, the NHS is being dismantled bit by bit which causes problems as my wages are now frozen for two years so there are no rises to cope with inflation and my old school friend died leaving a gap in many people's lives.
I'm hoping that 2011 will bring some better times although I can't see it yet.
Regardless of how I feel I wish everyone a happy 2011 and I've posted some random cat pictures just to cheer things up.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Nearly 50

It's my last day of being 49 - I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. I had a 'birthday' night out with the girls from work last week and decided my new drink would be Morgan's spiced rum and lemonade. I felt a bit rough on Friday but seeing as I developed flu by the Saturday I'll put it down to the virus. Having flu has somewhat thrown my birthday and Christmas plans - still need to write cards and do some Christmas shopping plus the usual washing, ironing etc.
Anyway, I got a bit nostalgic and ended up downloading lots of old songs from Amazon - plus the new X factor winners single - I'll talk about some of them a little bit more on my music blog.

1

"Have I The Right"
The Honeycombs;

1

"No Regrets"
Walker Brothers

1

"Tell Me When"
The Applejacks

1

"I'm So Straight I'm a Weirdo"
Rick Wakeman;

1

"Here Comes The Night"
Them;

1

"Twighlight Time"
The Platters

1

"Just A Dream"
Jimmy Clanton

1

"Take These Chains From My Heart"
Ray Charles

1

"My Boy Lollipop"
Millie;

1

"I Remember You"
Frank Ifield

1

"Let Me Go Lover"
Teresa Brewer

1

"Lula Rock-A-Hula"
Teresa Brewer;

1

"Lady With The Big Umbrella"
Dean Martin;

1

"Go Now"
The Moody Blues;

1

"Maria Elena"
Los Indios Tabajaras

1

"Make It Easy On Yourself"
Walker Brothers;

1

"Jackie"
Scott Walker;

1

"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"
Walker Brothers;

1

"When We Collide"
Matt Cardle;

Fabulous By: Charlie Gracie

Butterfly by: Charlie Gracie