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

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

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!

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

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!

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......

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.

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.......

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.

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.

St George