February the Howmany?

Aaaah....you've got to feel sorry for the kiddies born on March 1st this year, haven't you?

My Middly Kiddly is most aggrieved at having to wait A WHOLE EXTRA DAY until his birthday tomorrow.  Bless.  The rest of us (in our family) have birthdays either before, or so long after, the leap that it makes barely a jot of difference.

He's feeling it for us all.

And he won't have his ire quelled by being to told to think about the kiddies who were actually born on February 29th, who have to wait FOUR YEARS for their actual birthday.

Because, hey, what the Sam Heck does that have to do with anything?!?!

Who Turned The Lights Back On?

Anyone seen the matches?

We have, quite literally, just come out of a 2 hour power cut. 
I do appreciate this is not unusual for many people in many parts of the world, but here in ruralish-shire we tend to escape these little interruptions. 
So it was met with some excitement by Kids Nos.1-3 and this reminded me and the Best Beloved of our childhood - growing up in the long, dark, Winter of Discontent.  (At least I think that was what they called it.  That may have been another time altogether, but hey ho). 
Anyway, we had power-cuts a-plenty and they were all very thrilling for the under 16s.  Not so marvellous for the adults, who had to keep everyone warm and fed, regardless of having one arm tied metaphorically behind their back.

It's Good to have a Hero (I think)

'Many' of you have written in telling me all about your heroes, so I thought I would start a little Virtual Gallery of my own.

I admire all sorts of people for many different reasons.  Some don their hero capes for fleeting visits, some are a tad more permanent.

All the entries in my Hall of Heroes are particularly special to me, and yet - when I come to write about my reasons for allocating a special place in my heart to them - my keyboard goes blank.

Oh, what does it matter?  Only my husband and best buddy look at this anyway!

RECYCLING - It's not necessarily all good

Ah soup, that staple of the chilly day when you really can't be arsed to chew.

A bowl of soup

On just such a day, I settled me down in front of a recording of 'Secrets of World War II' with a steaming bowl of  Beef and Vegetable. 

Imagine my distress when my teeth closed down onto something hard and scratchy and not at all like the overcooked vegetable cube I was expecting.

I hastily removed the interloper and, peering myopically at it, convinced myself that it was a small piece of wood.  It had branches and everything.

But Wood?  In my soup?!  Surely these are austerity measures gone bonkers?

Did you ever....?

Ever opened the dictionary at exactly the page you need, quite by chance?
I just did - looking up 'evangelical' with my Middly Kiddly.

And we've got a BIG dictionary.    Spoooooooooooky.

Dipsticks (Is that really what they're called?)

Not my actual car

I had occasion, only recently, to add some oil to the inny bit of my car (not the bit where the chairs and levers are, but the bit under – what we English call – the bonnet  (which is a rather sweet and girly name for such a hot and growly part of the car)) Woah, way too many brackets.

I was alerted to the whole oil requirement thing by a) the oil can shaped symbol lighting up on my dashboard and b) my Resourceful and Practical Friend –who was waiting to collect a  Spanish visitor from the wrong terminal at  Manchester airport – telling me via the miracle of text that this means I need some oil.

Now, the Best Beloved had shown me before how to go about this whole rigmarole.  But do you think I could remember what on earth the dipstick was meant to show? 

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day x

It's Valentine's Day - so blimmin' well tell someone you love 'em.  Doesn't matter who it is, just spread the love.

(Second thoughts, that may be bad advice,  it probably does matter.  Keep it safe, folks :) )

Facebook - Is it just me?

I just don't understand Facebook.  I've tried, honest.

Don't get me wrong, I understand that it appeals to people as a way to keep in touch, share photos etc etc etc - I just don't understand how it works.

Not entirely sure how to post messages - which ones are private and which ones I am announcing to the world.
I thanked someone yesterday for the birthday wishes they sent to me and apparently they 'liked' that - which is nice, but I still don't get it.

My very dear friend*, who lives overseas and communicates with me entirely by email and dreams (another story), has tried, with infinite patience, to explain it all to me.

But I still don't get it.

That said, my bestest ever Aunt just contacted me via Facebook and we haven't been in touch for many, many years.
 
That I get   :-)

*(She has a blog - it's lucid and funny and she totally gets Facebook, Blogging etc etc http://weezafish.blogspot.com/) 

Snow Time for a Birthday

It was my birthday yesterday and a thundering good time was had by.....me. 
But first.....the snow.  After last weekend's liberal dousing we were treated last night to another dusting. 
I say 'dusting' entirely in the sense of 'I really need to do some'.  The snow/dust layers are as thick as each other.  2 inches in places.
Yes, last night's dumping was a good 'un, but now I fear my birthday celebration with my pals may be kiboshed.  And there was homecooked chicken and chorizo paella promised too (sad face icon).
(Must really learn how to do those).

Craft Club Mini Canvas Fridge Magnets

Mini Canvas Fridge Magnets
February 2012

Just got back - well not entirely true, have sorted the dog out and had a cup of tea - from Art & Craft Club. 

Thought I'd bung the results of today's endeavours

on here.

Pep Talk

Ahoy! (not sure why I use that particular form of greeting.  I used it in Sainsbury's the other day, much to my 8 year old daughter's consternation.)  Anyway...
Just had a pep talk from my Best Beloved re postings on my blog and where the sam heck are they ending up. 
Poor chap got home to find me in a state of high anxiety and a small pool of perspiration (non-odourous) entirely frustrated by my inability to work out how this blogging thing works.

I have become the kind of person who used to test my patience when I was but a whippersnapper full of brain cells and empty of responsibility.

So....

So, I promised myself that I would add something every day to my wee online diary-type jobby. 
H.o.w.e.v.e.r it is extreeeeemely late for one who is, frankly, in dire need of beauty sleep. 
So I will excuse myself and simply make a list:
Snow, Car, Rash, Valentine's, Snoring.
Well I can't wait to hear all about those! 
Nighty night xxx

Oh, It's such a Perfect Day

Ready to go...

Just got back from walking the dog (the dog as in DoNotBreakThe...)

A crisp, bright and sunny day - really very, very, VERY cold but scarves and gloves put up a sterling defence.  Clomped along in my boots on the hard ground that was so solid I didn't even need to change into my designated dog-walking boots.
Daffodils were bursting up through the ground (presumably they'd done their bursting when the ground was a tad more yielding).
Dog obeyed all commands and we both returned home apple-cheeked and happy.
At least I assume the dog is apple-cheeked, beneath all that black fluff. 

Sometimes there is just nothing finer.

Is it working..?

Let us see how this goes...

I have to say, so far so very difficult for me.  I left the workplace (to bring up the kiddies) before email, if you can imagine such a thing. 
So now, attempting to blog is a bit of stretch.
Still... two hours work and I have all this (imagine an expansive arm gesture) to show for it. 
Can't be bad.

Join me on this voyage of discovery...

You never know, I might get good enough to bung pictures up on here.