From my garden.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
Revisiting the Tadpole
This little chap was hunting in the long grass of the lawn this evening, so was mustered for an inspection. So cute!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Hiatus
Goodness me, it's two weeks since I last posted here, and my disappearance does not mean I've been off on travels, regrettably. It's been two more weeks of no energy and little voice, not to mention increasing frustration and fed-upness with myself.
The view from the Magic Armchair has often been like this:-
It's not so difficult to endure being almost housebound when the weather makes outside so uninviting.
I've been doing a lot of thinking work on textiles but not felt up to physically working on them. The rusted fabrics are calling to me and I would like to do more.
I have also been knitting a simple cardigan: one back and front are done so far. Also I've been doing a fair amount of armchair travelling on the laptop, trying to find out where we might be able to go for a holiday involving lots of rest and recreation, but we are having difficulties finding convenient dates for everyone, and accomodation availability. Hopefully that will be sorted soon. My poor husband is feeling very stressed at work and his back keeps playing up, so I think he needs a break rather urgently.
Next week Anna is off to Austria via Venice, for a singing tour ("Blessed")with her school Gospel Choir, Youthful Spirit, after they perform tomorrow at Wells Cathedral by request of the Bishop, at a garden party and service being held to celebrate a visit by Bishops from Africa.
Ben has a non-curriculum week at school too, with special activities including a visit to the Forest of Dean, so he'll have lots of fun.
Sarah, meanwhile, has completed her portfolio work and submitted everything, so is finished at university. She'll be in and out every few days for the next ten days or so, before needing to get down to the serious business of finding work. She has the misfortune of graduating just when the building trade is having a massive downturn, so this is easier said than done, but she has gained a scholarship place on a month-long international architecture forum in London, which is good for her CV, and has been putting out many feelers to find a position as an architectural assistant as well as looking at other related work experience she might gainfully take. Maybe it will be easier when her degree award is ascertained and finalised.
Another choral experience I will be enjoying is the new Saturday evening series on BBC1, Last Choir Standing. Last week we saw the audition stage, and it was thrilling to see so many enthusiastic choirs in such diverse styles. Some of the judges' choices may have been controversial, but there was some extraordinary talent revealed. I won't be able to sing along, but I'll enjoy the show anyway.
The view from the Magic Armchair has often been like this:-
It's not so difficult to endure being almost housebound when the weather makes outside so uninviting.
I've been doing a lot of thinking work on textiles but not felt up to physically working on them. The rusted fabrics are calling to me and I would like to do more.
I have also been knitting a simple cardigan: one back and front are done so far. Also I've been doing a fair amount of armchair travelling on the laptop, trying to find out where we might be able to go for a holiday involving lots of rest and recreation, but we are having difficulties finding convenient dates for everyone, and accomodation availability. Hopefully that will be sorted soon. My poor husband is feeling very stressed at work and his back keeps playing up, so I think he needs a break rather urgently.
Next week Anna is off to Austria via Venice, for a singing tour ("Blessed")with her school Gospel Choir, Youthful Spirit, after they perform tomorrow at Wells Cathedral by request of the Bishop, at a garden party and service being held to celebrate a visit by Bishops from Africa.
Ben has a non-curriculum week at school too, with special activities including a visit to the Forest of Dean, so he'll have lots of fun.
Sarah, meanwhile, has completed her portfolio work and submitted everything, so is finished at university. She'll be in and out every few days for the next ten days or so, before needing to get down to the serious business of finding work. She has the misfortune of graduating just when the building trade is having a massive downturn, so this is easier said than done, but she has gained a scholarship place on a month-long international architecture forum in London, which is good for her CV, and has been putting out many feelers to find a position as an architectural assistant as well as looking at other related work experience she might gainfully take. Maybe it will be easier when her degree award is ascertained and finalised.
Another choral experience I will be enjoying is the new Saturday evening series on BBC1, Last Choir Standing. Last week we saw the audition stage, and it was thrilling to see so many enthusiastic choirs in such diverse styles. Some of the judges' choices may have been controversial, but there was some extraordinary talent revealed. I won't be able to sing along, but I'll enjoy the show anyway.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Tagged
I've been tagged with a meme, by Jeni and it's taken me ages to complete.
1) LAST MOVIE YOU SAW IN A THEATRE?
I saw some of Indiana Jones at the weekend but wasn't feeling well and kept falling asleep. I'm ashamed to say I woke myself up with a snore! Didn't fall asleep when I watched Proof on rental last week, though. Thought that was excellent.
2) WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING?
Literally just finished "We Need To Talk About Kevin" by Lionel Shriver. I found it a very slow read - it should have been one to take on holiday for that reason - but really good, different and thought-provoking. I'm sort of sad to have finished it, too - always a good recommendation for a book. I'll have to go to the library for some more books now. I'm also enjoying "Alabama Stitch Book" by Nancy Chanin for inspiration about stylish recycling of clothing, "From Image to Stitch" by Maggie Grey for inspiration for creating art and "The Art of Byzantium" by Thomas F. Mathews for inspiration.
3) FAVOURITE BOARD GAME?
I like Scrabble: much prefer word games to others. Also like Boggle, though it doesn't have a board.....
4) FAVOURITE MAGAZINE?
Are Blogs the new magazine? I sometimes think so. I like Embroidery, and often buy Stitch, too, and sometimes Classic Stitches. I subscribe to Workshop on the Web, too, which is an on-line equivalent, and I like the Thr3fold journals.
5) FAVOURITE SMELLS?
Honeysuckle, Roses, Ylang Ylang, Jasmine, Olive oil, the air when the rain stops, washing dried on the line, dinner cooking, Dior Addict, Dior Fahrenheit, babies.
6) FAVOURITE SOUNDS?
Birdsong, waterfalls, children playing make-believe games.
7) WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD?
Helplessness.
Also looking forward to doing something and then having to cancel or miss out due to being ill. (Because this happens a lot).
8) WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE?
What's the time? (I can sleep for Britain and through almost anything).
9) FAVOURITE FAST FOOD PLACE?
Fast food is a difficult option when you can't tolerate wheat/gluten. I guess I tend to drop by a Sainsbury's salad bar to go, or find somewhere that serves baked potatoes or salads.
10) FUTURE CHILDS NAME?
Been there, done that, got the stretch marks....! No more children, I've been pruned!
11) IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY I’D……
Have a housekeeper. Build a house to my own design, incorporating the closest to carbon-neutrality I could get. Buy art. Travel (to India, Syria, Mauritius, Maldives, Granada, and lots of other places). Set up my in-laws with a home and a business near to us. Give to charity and fund effective research into ME, MND and Kidney Disease. Plant trees. Take lots of courses and workshops.
12) DO YOU DRIVE FAST?
Sometimes, but like Jeni, less so now that petrol costs so very much.
13) DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL?
DH is sometimes an animal and he's very cuddly but I'd not call him stuffed.....
14) STORMS – COOL OR SCARY?
I've always found thunder storms exciting but I find strong winds increasingly scary.
Don't know why.
15) WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR?
A red Vauxhall Viva.
16) FAVOURITE DRINK?
Tea. Apple juice with ginger. Rum and coke. Rioja (red or white).
17) FINISH THIS STATEMENT-IF I HAD THE TIME I WOULD…
This is a difficult one. Because I have so many problems with energy and fatigue, I tend to have the time but not the oomph to do things....
18) DO YOU EAT THE STEMS ON BROCCOLI?
Yes
19) IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY OTHER COLOUR, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE?
I'm not sure my colouring would work with another colour, but I'm sometimes attracted to the idea of purple or fuchsia hair. My pal Pauline has lovely white hair with turquoise (my favourite colour) extensions and that looks great. If I had white hair,I'd have fun with it, too.
20) NAME ALL THE DIFFERENT CITIES/TOWNS YOU HAVE LIVED IN?
Highams Park (London), St. Katharine's Dock, Wapping (London), Stone (Aylesbury), Stewkley (Bucks), Bristol, Congresbury.
21) FAVOURITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
I'm not a great sports spectator at all but will sometimes enjoy a good football match or the tennis if I'm in the mood.
22) ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
A clever, inspiring, creative and funny lady who dyes stunning fibres and I wish I saw more of. If I'm restricted to one thing, I'd have to say she's lovely.
23) WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED?
Built in drawers with clothes and stuff in them. Doubtless dust, too.
24) WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE BORN AS YOURSELF AGAIN??
Yes, but without the health problems, please.
25) MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL?
Definitely a night owl.
26) OVER EASY OR SUNNY SIDE UP?
I hate runny whites so it's over easy for me.
27) FAVOURITE PLACE TO RELAX?
Bed, bath, sofa, Magic Armchair, garden, jacuzzi, steam room, in the sunshine, by a lake or the sea.....
28) FAVOURITE PIE?
Pies are another problem with a wheat/gluten free diet. So it has to be home made pear frangipane tart.
29) FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOUR?
Walnut, Almond or Pistachio, or rum and raisin. Or my home-made Greek yoghurt, almond and honey ice cream.
30) OF ALL THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE TAGGED, WHO IS THE MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND FIRST?
Crumbs, I have to tag some people, too. Who is most likely to respond first? I don't know.
Two weeks later - still can't work out who to tag, so if you fancy answering these questions, please accept a tag and say so in a comment, then link to here when you make your post. Thank you! It doesn't take much to befuddle my brain at the moment, so any help is most gratefully received.
1) LAST MOVIE YOU SAW IN A THEATRE?
I saw some of Indiana Jones at the weekend but wasn't feeling well and kept falling asleep. I'm ashamed to say I woke myself up with a snore! Didn't fall asleep when I watched Proof on rental last week, though. Thought that was excellent.
2) WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING?
Literally just finished "We Need To Talk About Kevin" by Lionel Shriver. I found it a very slow read - it should have been one to take on holiday for that reason - but really good, different and thought-provoking. I'm sort of sad to have finished it, too - always a good recommendation for a book. I'll have to go to the library for some more books now. I'm also enjoying "Alabama Stitch Book" by Nancy Chanin for inspiration about stylish recycling of clothing, "From Image to Stitch" by Maggie Grey for inspiration for creating art and "The Art of Byzantium" by Thomas F. Mathews for inspiration.
3) FAVOURITE BOARD GAME?
I like Scrabble: much prefer word games to others. Also like Boggle, though it doesn't have a board.....
4) FAVOURITE MAGAZINE?
Are Blogs the new magazine? I sometimes think so. I like Embroidery, and often buy Stitch, too, and sometimes Classic Stitches. I subscribe to Workshop on the Web, too, which is an on-line equivalent, and I like the Thr3fold journals.
5) FAVOURITE SMELLS?
Honeysuckle, Roses, Ylang Ylang, Jasmine, Olive oil, the air when the rain stops, washing dried on the line, dinner cooking, Dior Addict, Dior Fahrenheit, babies.
6) FAVOURITE SOUNDS?
Birdsong, waterfalls, children playing make-believe games.
7) WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD?
Helplessness.
Also looking forward to doing something and then having to cancel or miss out due to being ill. (Because this happens a lot).
8) WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE?
What's the time? (I can sleep for Britain and through almost anything).
9) FAVOURITE FAST FOOD PLACE?
Fast food is a difficult option when you can't tolerate wheat/gluten. I guess I tend to drop by a Sainsbury's salad bar to go, or find somewhere that serves baked potatoes or salads.
10) FUTURE CHILDS NAME?
Been there, done that, got the stretch marks....! No more children, I've been pruned!
11) IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY I’D……
Have a housekeeper. Build a house to my own design, incorporating the closest to carbon-neutrality I could get. Buy art. Travel (to India, Syria, Mauritius, Maldives, Granada, and lots of other places). Set up my in-laws with a home and a business near to us. Give to charity and fund effective research into ME, MND and Kidney Disease. Plant trees. Take lots of courses and workshops.
12) DO YOU DRIVE FAST?
Sometimes, but like Jeni, less so now that petrol costs so very much.
13) DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL?
DH is sometimes an animal and he's very cuddly but I'd not call him stuffed.....
14) STORMS – COOL OR SCARY?
I've always found thunder storms exciting but I find strong winds increasingly scary.
Don't know why.
15) WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR?
A red Vauxhall Viva.
16) FAVOURITE DRINK?
Tea. Apple juice with ginger. Rum and coke. Rioja (red or white).
17) FINISH THIS STATEMENT-IF I HAD THE TIME I WOULD…
This is a difficult one. Because I have so many problems with energy and fatigue, I tend to have the time but not the oomph to do things....
18) DO YOU EAT THE STEMS ON BROCCOLI?
Yes
19) IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY OTHER COLOUR, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE?
I'm not sure my colouring would work with another colour, but I'm sometimes attracted to the idea of purple or fuchsia hair. My pal Pauline has lovely white hair with turquoise (my favourite colour) extensions and that looks great. If I had white hair,I'd have fun with it, too.
20) NAME ALL THE DIFFERENT CITIES/TOWNS YOU HAVE LIVED IN?
Highams Park (London), St. Katharine's Dock, Wapping (London), Stone (Aylesbury), Stewkley (Bucks), Bristol, Congresbury.
21) FAVOURITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
I'm not a great sports spectator at all but will sometimes enjoy a good football match or the tennis if I'm in the mood.
22) ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
A clever, inspiring, creative and funny lady who dyes stunning fibres and I wish I saw more of. If I'm restricted to one thing, I'd have to say she's lovely.
23) WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED?
Built in drawers with clothes and stuff in them. Doubtless dust, too.
24) WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE BORN AS YOURSELF AGAIN??
Yes, but without the health problems, please.
25) MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL?
Definitely a night owl.
26) OVER EASY OR SUNNY SIDE UP?
I hate runny whites so it's over easy for me.
27) FAVOURITE PLACE TO RELAX?
Bed, bath, sofa, Magic Armchair, garden, jacuzzi, steam room, in the sunshine, by a lake or the sea.....
28) FAVOURITE PIE?
Pies are another problem with a wheat/gluten free diet. So it has to be home made pear frangipane tart.
29) FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOUR?
Walnut, Almond or Pistachio, or rum and raisin. Or my home-made Greek yoghurt, almond and honey ice cream.
30) OF ALL THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE TAGGED, WHO IS THE MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND FIRST?
Crumbs, I have to tag some people, too. Who is most likely to respond first? I don't know.
Two weeks later - still can't work out who to tag, so if you fancy answering these questions, please accept a tag and say so in a comment, then link to here when you make your post. Thank you! It doesn't take much to befuddle my brain at the moment, so any help is most gratefully received.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
