Tuesday, November 30, 2010

NaBloPoMo 30 - The end

So I almost made it.

What did I learn this time?

A small part of time set aside the think, pray and ponder is good for
my mental health.

----------

I'm loving the snow today. It's not sticking to the ground, but I
walked home, and I felt it sticking to my hair, my eyelashes. Cue much
singing of songs from the Sound of Music, and then random other songs.
Before I know it I'm singing loudly to myself. I feel alive, I feel
connected to God and I feel happy. Result.

----------

The End.

NaBloPoMo 30 - The end

So I almost made it.

What did I learn this time?

A small part of time set aside the think, pray and ponder is good for
my mental health.

----------

I'm loving the snow today. It's not sticking to the ground, but I
walked home, and I felt it sticking to my hair, my eyelashes. Cue much
singing of songs from the Sound of Music, and then random other songs.
Before I know it I'm singing loudly to myself. I feel alive, I feel
connected to God and I feel happy. Result.

----------

The End.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Nablopomo 27 yay mexican

Ok so going out with Nikki is funny. Wine and margheritas and mexican food. And all of our other lovely friends. And for toddy biscuits that look like a face.

Nablopomo 27 yay mexican

Ok so going out with Nikki is funny. Wine and margheritas and mexican food. And all of our other lovely friends. And for toddy biscuits that look like a face.

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Thursday, November 25, 2010

NaBloPoMo 24 + 25

A few thoughts from over the last few days.

1. Two men getting dressed up in kilts and dinner jackets in the Aldi
car park at 6pm. Why?

2. If there is so much derelict housing in the UK why is it not being
refurbished into affordable housing for the homeless, and those on
housing waiting lists?

3. This prayer is lovely:

"Ever-present Father, help me to meet you in the Scriptures I read and
the prayers I say; in the
bread I break and the meals I share; in my investments at work and my
enjoyments at play; and in
the neighbors and family I welcome, love, and serve, for your sake and
that your love and peace
may reign now and forever. Amen."

4. I must finish buying presents so I can get on with being adventy
with not worrying about consumerism. Yay for online shopping.

5. Nicky is coming to stay and I am very excited about this. I love
having guests to stay and I can't wait to see her again.

6. Giving things of value away is liberating.

7. This is horrendous: http://www.reprieve.org.uk/2010_11_22_high_court_hearing

NaBloPoMo 24 + 25

A few thoughts from over the last few days.

1. Two men getting dressed up in kilts and dinner jackets in the Aldi
car park at 6pm. Why?

2. If there is so much derelict housing in the UK why is it not being
refurbished into affordable housing for the homeless, and those on
housing waiting lists?

3. This prayer is lovely:

"Ever-present Father, help me to meet you in the Scriptures I read and
the prayers I say; in the
bread I break and the meals I share; in my investments at work and my
enjoyments at play; and in
the neighbors and family I welcome, love, and serve, for your sake and
that your love and peace
may reign now and forever. Amen."

4. I must finish buying presents so I can get on with being adventy
with not worrying about consumerism. Yay for online shopping.

5. Nicky is coming to stay and I am very excited about this. I love
having guests to stay and I can't wait to see her again.

6. Giving things of value away is liberating.

7. This is horrendous: http://www.reprieve.org.uk/2010_11_22_high_court_hearing

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

NaBloPoMo 23- Nothing to say

I've been trying to think of something meaningful, insightful and
interesting to write today.

And I can't.

Let's see what today's NaBloPoMo prompt is:

"What's on your wall: prints, posters, photos, paintings? What makes
you want to hang something up?"

In our living room, we have graduation photos, photos of us with our
family, one wedding photo, some cards, a painting of irish countryside
we received as a wedding present, and photos of friends.

In the hall, we have some art work by Toddy, a lovely photo of me
taken by Toddy, a painting of our church by my mum, and a photo od us.

In the dining room we have 2 large oil paintings and a screen print
from my A Level Art days and a very big mirror.

In the bedroom we have a large Klimt print.

In the library we have various bits of my art work and nice postcards
and photos.

If I get round to it , I will take photos.

I like art on walls. I like thinking upon that which is good and
lovely. I think art on walls turns a house into a home, lets you
express your own creativity through placement and colour. I enjoy that
a lot of the art and photos in our house has been created by me or
friends. Tom wanted to know why I wanted so many photos up, and I said
that walking past them everyday helped me remember those happy times,
and those happy people.

NaBloPoMo 23- Nothing to say

I've been trying to think of something meaningful, insightful and
interesting to write today.

And I can't.

Let's see what today's NaBloPoMo prompt is:

"What's on your wall: prints, posters, photos, paintings? What makes
you want to hang something up?"

In our living room, we have graduation photos, photos of us with our
family, one wedding photo, some cards, a painting of irish countryside
we received as a wedding present, and photos of friends.

In the hall, we have some art work by Toddy, a lovely photo of me
taken by Toddy, a painting of our church by my mum, and a photo od us.

In the dining room we have 2 large oil paintings and a screen print
from my A Level Art days and a very big mirror.

In the bedroom we have a large Klimt print.

In the library we have various bits of my art work and nice postcards
and photos.

If I get round to it , I will take photos.

I like art on walls. I like thinking upon that which is good and
lovely. I think art on walls turns a house into a home, lets you
express your own creativity through placement and colour. I enjoy that
a lot of the art and photos in our house has been created by me or
friends. Tom wanted to know why I wanted so many photos up, and I said
that walking past them everyday helped me remember those happy times,
and those happy people.

Monday, November 22, 2010

NaBloPoMo 22 - Curl

I sat and curled my hair today. Curled away the cares and fears. The "I'm not sure what to says". The sad memories. The ends.

I stood and made stew today. Chopped the pork, the apples, the carrots. The parsnips. The potatos the herbs.

Between curls and wholewheat dumplings things brightened up.

The best part of today, was dancing around the living room with Tom, cracking up into fits of giggles and laughing.

 

For these things I am grateful.

 

Did you know friends are like angels? You don't have to see them to know they are there.

Which friends stand beside you like angels in the night?

 

The Alex in London who sends me culture, recipes, history and laughter. Hours and hours of laughter.

 

The Amey of my youth, travelling the world for me, having adventures for me, picking right up where ever we left off without skipping a beat.

 

The Fran in Scotland, of two meetings, of friendship passed down my mother's line, with laughter like the sound of rain on leaves and exciting letters in magical shapes.

 

The Mel, off in the North, who is dance, is joy, is blue, is sitting down with tea, setting the world to rights.

 

The Tim of playing the Hobbit in the playground, the long dark nights, the talking, the poetry, the music.

 

The Nicola, of bare months, of words, of please, of letters dripping with with questions, and yes and joy, and fairies in purses.

 

The George, the Sarah, the Holly, the Jo, the knitting and beer, and laughter and food, and haircuts and painting nails and singing.

 

The Dave, the Matt, of bad jokes, and drinking and debating, and dressing up.

 

The Rachel of dancing days, and learning to be who you are, who told me to dance as if no one is watching.

 

The Fran of sparkling dresses and singing covers of pop songs and being there no matter what.

 

The John, of port, and building bridges, and lets look at this hole they're digging in a river, and singing so loud so true, and just sitting in my living room, not saying anything much, just being there when I was so poorly.

 

The Ruth and James and childers who open their home, and fill bellies with tasty goodies, and make pretty things and tell good jokes.fled to

 

The Simon off to pastures new, who challenges, and provokes and cares, who makes people laugh and do things they never thought they good.

 

The Charley in the shiny happy flat, of good shoes, and good wine, and absolute eloquence.

 

For these I am grateful.

 

(For all those near by, I love you too. It's just today is about people far from the home of the heart.)

 

 

 

NaBloPoMo 22 - Curl

I sat and curled my hair today. Curled away the cares and fears. The "I'm not sure what to says". The sad memories. The ends.

I stood and made stew today. Chopped the pork, the apples, the carrots. The parsnips. The potatos the herbs.

Between curls and wholewheat dumplings things brightened up.

The best part of today, was dancing around the living room with Tom, cracking up into fits of giggles and laughing.

 

For these things I am grateful.

 

Did you know friends are like angels? You don't have to see them to know they are there.

Which friends stand beside you like angels in the night?

 

The Alex in London who sends me culture, recipes, history and laughter. Hours and hours of laughter.

 

The Amey of my youth, travelling the world for me, having adventures for me, picking right up where ever we left off without skipping a beat.

 

The Fran in Scotland, of two meetings, of friendship passed down my mother's line, with laughter like the sound of rain on leaves and exciting letters in magical shapes.

 

The Mel, off in the North, who is dance, is joy, is blue, is sitting down with tea, setting the world to rights.

 

The Tim of playing the Hobbit in the playground, the long dark nights, the talking, the poetry, the music.

 

The Nicola, of bare months, of words, of please, of letters dripping with with questions, and yes and joy, and fairies in purses.

 

The George, the Sarah, the Holly, the Jo, the knitting and beer, and laughter and food, and haircuts and painting nails and singing.

 

The Dave, the Matt, of bad jokes, and drinking and debating, and dressing up.

 

The Rachel of dancing days, and learning to be who you are, who told me to dance as if no one is watching.

 

The Fran of sparkling dresses and singing covers of pop songs and being there no matter what.

 

The John, of port, and building bridges, and lets look at this hole they're digging in a river, and singing so loud so true, and just sitting in my living room, not saying anything much, just being there when I was so poorly.

 

The Ruth and James and childers who open their home, and fill bellies with tasty goodies, and make pretty things and tell good jokes.fled to

 

The Simon off to pastures new, who challenges, and provokes and cares, who makes people laugh and do things they never thought they good.

 

The Charley in the shiny happy flat, of good shoes, and good wine, and absolute eloquence.

 

For these I am grateful.

 

(For all those near by, I love you too. It's just today is about people far from the home of the heart.)

 

 

 

Sunday, November 21, 2010

NaBloPoMo 20 21

So a bit more of a fail. This weekend Tom and I went on a bag hunt, to see if we could buy a nice bag he saw in london but to no avail. We instead had a mooch round Lymington, bought some Christmas presents and went to the SouthWestern Arms beer festival. Unfortunately they ran out of beer at 11pm. It was supposed to run as well today, so I don't know what they did. Today, we had an epically long service for Christ the King. I got to sing with the worship group today, which was pleasing, and after we played very Soggy space cricket in sway, with a very Muddy pitch. Hannah's parents let us commandeer their kitchen and we made spaghetti bolegnese for 12. All the parents I have met have been such generous hospitable people. It's lovely and inspiring. We finished the evening in the Hare and Hounds in Sway, for the pub quiz. Our team came first alongside 4others but we lost the tie break. But it was a great evening.
via sendy

NaBloPoMo 20 21

So a bit more of a fail. This weekend Tom and I went on a bag hunt, to see if we could buy a nice bag he saw in london but to no avail. We instead had a mooch round Lymington, bought some Christmas presents and went to the SouthWestern Arms beer festival. Unfortunately they ran out of beer at 11pm. It was supposed to run as well today, so I don't know what they did. Today, we had an epically long service for Christ the King. I got to sing with the worship group today, which was pleasing, and after we played very Soggy space cricket in sway, with a very Muddy pitch. Hannah's parents let us commandeer their kitchen and we made spaghetti bolegnese for 12. All the parents I have met have been such generous hospitable people. It's lovely and inspiring. We finished the evening in the Hare and Hounds in Sway, for the pub quiz. Our team came first alongside 4others but we lost the tie break. But it was a great evening.
via sendy

Friday, November 19, 2010

NaBloPoMo 19 - Autumn Socks Day

Today is Autumn Socks Day.

What you haven't exchanged socks with your loved ones?

Shame on you!

Don't you have made up holidays in your family? Try it! You might like it.

Tom hate autumn, says it sucks. I say autumn rocks, hence autumn
socks. And we swap pairs of fun socks as a way of cheering up long
dark days and nights. Tom gifted me a pack of relatively sensible
stripy ankle socks in muted purples and blues, and a pair of raspberry
pink cabled knee high slipper socks with pompom trims. I gifted Tom a
pair of very bright red, and a pair of very bright green socks.

What would you celebrate?

NaBloPoMo 19 - Autumn Socks Day

Today is Autumn Socks Day.

What you haven't exchanged socks with your loved ones?

Shame on you!

Don't you have made up holidays in your family? Try it! You might like it.

Tom hate autumn, says it sucks. I say autumn rocks, hence autumn
socks. And we swap pairs of fun socks as a way of cheering up long
dark days and nights. Tom gifted me a pack of relatively sensible
stripy ankle socks in muted purples and blues, and a pair of raspberry
pink cabled knee high slipper socks with pompom trims. I gifted Tom a
pair of very bright red, and a pair of very bright green socks.

What would you celebrate?

Thursday, November 18, 2010

NaBloPoMo 18 - Dad

Today is my dad's birthday.

I had struggled to find the right present to mark this, his 51st year.
Grown ups tend to have everything they need, and to buy the things
they want. Not like when you were a child, and you hoped and dreamed
of toy trains, toy ponies all wrapped up in shiny paper.

So I thought, and I mulled, and in the end a model bus depot leapt at
me from the pages of Amazon. Dad collects model Belfast and Dublin
buses, that remind him of his use. So I thought a realistic paper home
for them might be a suitable home for them, and could lead to another
of his famed dioramas, with the sheep walking into the telephone box.

Growing up in a house full of girls, I'm always surprised how many of
Dad's hobbies he managed to share. I read the label on every exhibit
in a museum just like him. I spent three hours in the London Transport
Museum, which would have done him proud. I share his love of choral
music, and family history. We would watch Formula 1 with him, and go
to transport festivals, and war museums.

But the thing I remember most about growing up with Dad is that whilst
he'd work long hours, he'd often come and pick us up from Guides, or
Ballet or Rehearsals. And in those times, I'd get to spend some time
alone with Dad talking through the day. Setting the world to rights,
trying to solve problems. Talking about faith and life and love.

It's stood us in good stead. I call him often once or twice a month as
I walk home from work, and chat to him over the speaker phone as he
drives home from work, comparing office stories and church stories and
worrying about the amount of paper work Mum seems to have to do, and
laughing about how that's rich coming from Dad with the pilot case
laden with quotes that need writing up, and regularly breaks under the
strain.

From Dad I get my public speaking skills, my gift of the gab, my love
of the craic. I was used as pro in many talk during family services,
and it's a sheer delight to watch my Dad now taking the tentative
steps towards a vocation in the church, turning these skills over to
God in a new way.

I also got from Dad the idea of what a husband should be. Watching a
man who has to work hideously long hours remembering to buy the yellow
rose for my Mum every Christmas, tucking handwritten notes into packed
lunches and praising my Mum for her creativity her talent, catching
them smooching in the kitchen and cuddling up to watch a film.

So Dad, here's to your birthday, here's to many more years. Thank you.

NaBloPoMo 18 - Dad

Today is my dad's birthday.

I had struggled to find the right present to mark this, his 51st year.
Grown ups tend to have everything they need, and to buy the things
they want. Not like when you were a child, and you hoped and dreamed
of toy trains, toy ponies all wrapped up in shiny paper.

So I thought, and I mulled, and in the end a model bus depot leapt at
me from the pages of Amazon. Dad collects model Belfast and Dublin
buses, that remind him of his use. So I thought a realistic paper home
for them might be a suitable home for them, and could lead to another
of his famed dioramas, with the sheep walking into the telephone box.

Growing up in a house full of girls, I'm always surprised how many of
Dad's hobbies he managed to share. I read the label on every exhibit
in a museum just like him. I spent three hours in the London Transport
Museum, which would have done him proud. I share his love of choral
music, and family history. We would watch Formula 1 with him, and go
to transport festivals, and war museums.

But the thing I remember most about growing up with Dad is that whilst
he'd work long hours, he'd often come and pick us up from Guides, or
Ballet or Rehearsals. And in those times, I'd get to spend some time
alone with Dad talking through the day. Setting the world to rights,
trying to solve problems. Talking about faith and life and love.

It's stood us in good stead. I call him often once or twice a month as
I walk home from work, and chat to him over the speaker phone as he
drives home from work, comparing office stories and church stories and
worrying about the amount of paper work Mum seems to have to do, and
laughing about how that's rich coming from Dad with the pilot case
laden with quotes that need writing up, and regularly breaks under the
strain.

From Dad I get my public speaking skills, my gift of the gab, my love
of the craic. I was used as pro in many talk during family services,
and it's a sheer delight to watch my Dad now taking the tentative
steps towards a vocation in the church, turning these skills over to
God in a new way.

I also got from Dad the idea of what a husband should be. Watching a
man who has to work hideously long hours remembering to buy the yellow
rose for my Mum every Christmas, tucking handwritten notes into packed
lunches and praising my Mum for her creativity her talent, catching
them smooching in the kitchen and cuddling up to watch a film.

So Dad, here's to your birthday, here's to many more years. Thank you.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

NaBloPoMo 16 and 17

Again a fail. But a worthy one.

Yesterday walking home, I was pondering and praying, and feeling
rather little and alone and slightly scared. When I walked over the
bridge, the rain subsided slightly, and the wind blew a little more
gently, so I slowed my hurried pace. Then the lights burned brighter
for a moment, industrial hodgepodge glowing and rippling in the river
water.

And I had a revelation, a soft word spoken just for me. It was so
profound I thought I'd share.

God our mother, knows what it is to lose a child.

Those words were a curious thought and lead me to read Psalm 91:

Psalm 91

Assurance of God???s Protection


1 You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,*
2 will say to the Lord, ???My refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust.???
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence;
4 he will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
or the arrow that flies by day,
6 or the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
or the destruction that wastes at noonday.

I like to read this, replacing the traditional masculine with the
feminine. As God is all and genderless, I think the alternate wording
brings home the nature of motherhood in all it's terrifying goodness,
and captures what a mother does for their child.
Psalm 91

Assurance of God???s Protection


1 You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,*
2 will say to the Lord, ???My refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust.???
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence;
4 he will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
or the arrow that flies by day,
6 or the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
or the destruction that wastes at noonday.
Framed like this, God our mother, who tucks her children under her
wings for refuge, and gave her son as sacrifice, knows the deep lament
of loss.

Is that not comforting? Is that not something? God the great formless,
power, knowing what it is to lose something precious?

I do not yet understand these things fully, and the more I study, the
less I understand. But this spoke to me yesterday and today.

Now if someone can explain to me the supernatural elements of the
resurrection, and why the resurrection was necessary when the
teachings of Jesus are powerful enough alone, I'll be grand.

NaBloPoMo 16 and 17

Again a fail. But a worthy one.

Yesterday walking home, I was pondering and praying, and feeling
rather little and alone and slightly scared. When I walked over the
bridge, the rain subsided slightly, and the wind blew a little more
gently, so I slowed my hurried pace. Then the lights burned brighter
for a moment, industrial hodgepodge glowing and rippling in the river
water.

And I had a revelation, a soft word spoken just for me. It was so
profound I thought I'd share.

God our mother, knows what it is to lose a child.

Those words were a curious thought and lead me to read Psalm 91:

Psalm 91

Assurance of God’s Protection


1 You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,*
2 will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust.’
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence;
4 he will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
or the arrow that flies by day,
6 or the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
or the destruction that wastes at noonday.

I like to read this, replacing the traditional masculine with the
feminine. As God is all and genderless, I think the alternate wording
brings home the nature of motherhood in all it's terrifying goodness,
and captures what a mother does for their child.
Psalm 91

Assurance of God’s Protection


1 You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,*
2 will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust.’
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence;
4 he will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
or the arrow that flies by day,
6 or the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
or the destruction that wastes at noonday.
Framed like this, God our mother, who tucks her children under her
wings for refuge, and gave her son as sacrifice, knows the deep lament
of loss.

Is that not comforting? Is that not something? God the great formless,
power, knowing what it is to lose something precious?

I do not yet understand these things fully, and the more I study, the
less I understand. But this spoke to me yesterday and today.

Now if someone can explain to me the supernatural elements of the
resurrection, and why the resurrection was necessary when the
teachings of Jesus are powerful enough alone, I'll be grand.

Monday, November 15, 2010

NaBloPoMo 15 - Achievement

Today, for the first time I can remember, I sang my line pure and true
whilst someone else sang a harmony. I am afflicted normally with the
inability to stay in check, in tune. My voice wants to hop skip and
jump over to where the others are, rather than staying where it ought.

How like life! The grass is always greener, and honey always sweeter,
than in your own little patch.

But today I managed to keep within by fence of notes on the page, and
how much more beautiful life sounded.

NaBloPoMo 15 - Achievement

Today, for the first time I can remember, I sang my line pure and true
whilst someone else sang a harmony. I am afflicted normally with the
inability to stay in check, in tune. My voice wants to hop skip and
jump over to where the others are, rather than staying where it ought.

How like life! The grass is always greener, and honey always sweeter,
than in your own little patch.

But today I managed to keep within by fence of notes on the page, and
how much more beautiful life sounded.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

songs for reference later

 

songs for reference later

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZsyMhdwkRk?wmode=transparent]

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKQEOM17nC0?wmode=transparent]

live blogging Great Big Kiss

so here we are at great big kiss in highbury. lots of sixties music and dancing.

via sendy

photos

NaBloPoMo 14 - London

I want to make loads and loads of these -
http://christmas.newarchaeology.com/make_paper_decorations.php

London was awesome, and a huge thank you to Toddy for allowing us to
come and stay. I loved the dancing at the 60s clubs and the play was
quite funny. It had some very well done physical theatre parts, where
they waved parts of their clothes and props to make look like it was
windy for example.

We went to Franny's Popup for dinner after the theatre, a pop up
restaurant only open until Jan, for pizza and pasta. It's very good
value for money aroun £90 for the 6 of us including two courses and
wine. Here's a Thrillist review -
http://www.thrillist.com/eat/food-dining/2010/11/08/franny%27s-pop-up

One the way home today, Tom and I went to the BM to see the Book of
the Dead exhibition, and it was so interesting. We often only think of
hieroglyphics being on walls, huge monumental things, but the
exhibition shows off the papyrus scrolls of the spells to help
Egyptians into the afterlife. The images are very detailed and
intricate, and all ink on papyrus, so also very fine.

We got in about 7:30pm, and Tom made a tasty stirfry for dinner. I'm
just trying to get the gumption together to do the washing up.

NaBloPoMo 14 - London

I want to make loads and loads of these -
http://christmas.newarchaeology.com/make_paper_decorations.php

London was awesome, and a huge thank you to Toddy for allowing us to
come and stay. I loved the dancing at the 60s clubs and the play was
quite funny. It had some very well done physical theatre parts, where
they waved parts of their clothes and props to make look like it was
windy for example.

We went to Franny's Popup for dinner after the theatre, a pop up
restaurant only open until Jan, for pizza and pasta. It's very good
value for money aroun ??90 for the 6 of us including two courses and
wine. Here's a Thrillist review -
http://www.thrillist.com/eat/food-dining/2010/11/08/franny%27s-pop-up

One the way home today, Tom and I went to the BM to see the Book of
the Dead exhibition, and it was so interesting. We often only think of
hieroglyphics being on walls, huge monumental things, but the
exhibition shows off the papyrus scrolls of the spells to help
Egyptians into the afterlife. The images are very detailed and
intricate, and all ink on papyrus, so also very fine.

We got in about 7:30pm, and Tom made a tasty stirfry for dinner. I'm
just trying to get the gumption together to do the washing up.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

photos

_java_java_java

via sendy

NaBloPoMo13 theTodd

Here is the Todd in his London finery. We got in from the club at 2am, have just finished an extensive breakfast and are about to go to the V and A, the Lord Mayor's Parade and the theatre.

NaBloPoMo13 theTodd

Here is the Todd in his London finery. We got in from the club at 2am, have just finished an extensive breakfast and are about to go to the V and A, the Lord Mayor's Parade and the theatre.

FW:Uncle Keith's Wedding Photos


Date: Fri, 12 Nov 2010 22:27:10 +0000
From: k.w.jones@btinternet.com
Subject: Our Wedding Photos
To: glitterqueen_sharon@hotmail.co.uk

Hi Sharon

Great to see you last Saturday.

As promised, here are our limited photos of the day.

Keith

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live blogging Great Big Kiss

_java

so here we are at great big kiss in highbury. lots of sixties music and dancing.

via sendy

Friday, November 12, 2010

Surprised rat - ORIGINAL

Surprised rat - ORIGINAL

NaBloMoPo 11 and 12 - Oops

OK so the first fail of the month. We went out to eat last night at
the Country Inn, Midhurst:
http://www.thecountryinn.co.uk/index.html

with Rich and Clair, Tom's nephew and his wife. Yes, Rich is Tom's
nephew, yes, he's married, yes, he's older than Tom. It's a bit
complicated.

It's always exceptionally nice spending time with Rich and Clair.
Because they're similar in age to us, and have recently got married
themselves, we are at similar stage of our lives. So we can spend all
evening talking about buying houses and telling stories about work,
and the strangeness of life not changing all that much after marriage,
but also being completely different.

They are really good friends, and I feel so comfortable with them,
that strange mix of family and friendship. I almost wish we lived
closer so we could see more of them. Rich was Tom's best man, and was
just soooooooo helpful when we were planning the wedding and
organising everything for us on the day, and Clair had so much useful
advice, adn I have to say writes such lovely encouraging things in her
cards she sends for special occasions.

Today I'm looking forward to spending some time with Toddy and John
and Tom in London, where we will be spending sometime over the
weekend. We're off to see http://www.love39steps.com/

and there may be dancing in a 1960s club. This is exciting!

NaBloMoPo 11 and 12 - Oops

OK so the first fail of the month. We went out to eat last night at
the Country Inn, Midhurst:
http://www.thecountryinn.co.uk/index.html

with Rich and Clair, Tom's nephew and his wife. Yes, Rich is Tom's
nephew, yes, he's married, yes, he's older than Tom. It's a bit
complicated.

It's always exceptionally nice spending time with Rich and Clair.
Because they're similar in age to us, and have recently got married
themselves, we are at similar stage of our lives. So we can spend all
evening talking about buying houses and telling stories about work,
and the strangeness of life not changing all that much after marriage,
but also being completely different.

They are really good friends, and I feel so comfortable with them,
that strange mix of family and friendship. I almost wish we lived
closer so we could see more of them. Rich was Tom's best man, and was
just soooooooo helpful when we were planning the wedding and
organising everything for us on the day, and Clair had so much useful
advice, adn I have to say writes such lovely encouraging things in her
cards she sends for special occasions.

Today I'm looking forward to spending some time with Toddy and John
and Tom in London, where we will be spending sometime over the
weekend. We're off to see http://www.love39steps.com/

and there may be dancing in a 1960s club. This is exciting!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

NaBloPoMo 10 - Exercise

It's been interesting the last few days to have something to fully dip
my brain into, to wring out and absorb ideas from this grey sponge. I
am enjoying my detour into unchartered waters and trying out new
technologies.

I am also enjoying my new phone, a little X10 Mini Pro. I now feel
like a real webby person, being the only one in the office who didn't
have an HTC/iPhone. It's no way as big as one of those, but it has
apps, and syncs with Google Calendar, and hooks up with the wifi. I
can know fully manage Tom's diary as well as mine. So hopefully he
won't miss as many meetings either. I also have an iPlayer app, and so
when I have a quiet moment I can watch Strictly Come Dancing anywhere.
Very pleasing.

In our house, Tom does most of the cooking and cleaning as he works
less hours than I, and so my responsibilities are mainly to do our
finances, manage our diaries, and do the filing. It's a fair swap the
way our working arrangements are currently ordered, and I'm sure
should Tom get the more intensive job we will swap.

If you had walked in to our house last night, you would have found Tom
and I spending an evening trying to make letter shapes a la Sesame
Street, having noticed we were lying in a V shape. We manage to work
our way through the whole alphabet and it was so fun. I think
sometimes, when you're adults, you forget how to have fun, how to play
and be joyous. And leaping about in uncontrollable laughter last night
was just so joyous, so silly and so fun. For the first time in a long
time I felt alive. In fact on Saturday I was feeling fairly hopeless.
Life was pointless because it all becomes dust. But a small flash of
joy brought on the realisation that life doesn't need a point. You
just have to get on and live it, and experience it before it
disappears.

If you had walked into our house half an hour ago, you would have
found Tom and I jumping around our living room following an exercise
video, having decided we are horribly unfit. And whilst we can't bend
or lift like the lady on the video, again the fits of giggles make it
worth it a hundred times over.

NaBloPoMo 10 - Exercise

It's been interesting the last few days to have something to fully dip
my brain into, to wring out and absorb ideas from this grey sponge. I
am enjoying my detour into unchartered waters and trying out new
technologies.

I am also enjoying my new phone, a little X10 Mini Pro. I now feel
like a real webby person, being the only one in the office who didn't
have an HTC/iPhone. It's no way as big as one of those, but it has
apps, and syncs with Google Calendar, and hooks up with the wifi. I
can know fully manage Tom's diary as well as mine. So hopefully he
won't miss as many meetings either. I also have an iPlayer app, and so
when I have a quiet moment I can watch Strictly Come Dancing anywhere.
Very pleasing.

In our house, Tom does most of the cooking and cleaning as he works
less hours than I, and so my responsibilities are mainly to do our
finances, manage our diaries, and do the filing. It's a fair swap the
way our working arrangements are currently ordered, and I'm sure
should Tom get the more intensive job we will swap.

If you had walked in to our house last night, you would have found Tom
and I spending an evening trying to make letter shapes a la Sesame
Street, having noticed we were lying in a V shape. We manage to work
our way through the whole alphabet and it was so fun. I think
sometimes, when you're adults, you forget how to have fun, how to play
and be joyous. And leaping about in uncontrollable laughter last night
was just so joyous, so silly and so fun. For the first time in a long
time I felt alive. In fact on Saturday I was feeling fairly hopeless.
Life was pointless because it all becomes dust. But a small flash of
joy brought on the realisation that life doesn't need a point. You
just have to get on and live it, and experience it before it
disappears.

If you had walked into our house half an hour ago, you would have
found Tom and I jumping around our living room following an exercise
video, having decided we are horribly unfit. And whilst we can't bend
or lift like the lady on the video, again the fits of giggles make it
worth it a hundred times over.

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Nablopomo 9 - southampton swirls in the evening gloom

Where I walk the wind swirls. Leaves are dancing around. Like flocks of swallows. It feels like magic like art. The streetlighting here is soft white. With my heels clicking, in my trench, I could be a spy in an old thriller.

Nablopomo 9 - southampton swirls in the evening gloom

Where I walk the wind swirls. Leaves are dancing around. Like flocks of swallows. It feels like magic like art. The streetlighting here is soft white. With my heels clicking, in my trench, I could be a spy in an old thriller.

Tartle- Scottish ??? The act of hestitating while introducing someone because you???ve forgotten their name.





















Tartle: A Word I Needed to??Know






9 November, 2010 by thevicarswife


















I was pointed to a page of 20 Awesomely Untranslatable Words today. Some of them are excellent, but my eye was particularly caught by this one:

7. Tartle

Scottish ??? The act of hestitating while introducing someone because you???ve forgotten their name.

I must say that I often tartle, and so does the Vicar ??? a hazard of being somewhere where everyone knows who you are and you aren???t quite so up to speed. In a week when I???ve read a few blogposts about moving on to a new parish, I feel that it would be good to share anti-tartling tips.

How do you remember people???s names? Especially when you???re new somewhere?
















Posted in Fun | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments





3 Responses















  1. There???s a word for that?! Hurrah!

    It often happens when I go and join Dan who???s already talking to someone. We have an agreement now that if he doesn???t introduce me straight away, I know that he???s forgotten their name. That???s when I introduce myself, in the hope that they respond with ???oh hi, I???m xxxxx, I know Dan from xxxxx???

    Dan???s top tip is to ask for people???s email addresses, seeing as so many of us have our names as our email address.



















  2. I never tartle. I say, ???I???m sorry I???ve completely forgotten your name.??? But mostly I do remember names. Not faces, though. I???m bad at faces.



















  3. Having learned the hard way, and having moved parishes a bit in the last few years, I now make it a policy, as soon as we arrive somewhere new, of announcing that I have a really bad memory and not to be offended if I ask what your name is six Sundays in a row and in fact, why don???t you start every conversation we have for the next six months by telling me your name ??? and I will let you know when I think I have learned it.

    And of course, there is always making good friends with the one who seems to know EVERYONE, telling them they are going to be your resource person and then sidling up to them and saying, ???What???s the name of that person standing near the door, the one I was talking to for about ten minutes just before I came over to see you!??? most Sundays.

    ???Hi, are you visiting here this Sunday???? always ends badly.