It's Awards TIme

Last week I mentioned two awards that had been bestowed upon me and my little blog. As yet I have not paid them the attention they deserve. So here goes!

Katie at Nested has passed on this lovely award to me.

Now it has no rules so I am just going to basque in the glow of such a lovely award from one of the few blogs that I read with a truly authentic voice, thank the lovely Katie and then bestow the award on the blogs I will mention in a minute.

My second award came winging it's way from my favourite photographer and friend Lee Johnson. This is a guy with impeccable taste and an eye for what works, so the fact he has passed this award on to me makes me smile...a lot! Thank you Mr Johnson!

And to the rules...always with the rules, sheesh.

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and include a link to their site. (Check!)
2. Add the Versatile Blogger Award picture to your blog post. (Check!)
3. Nominate 7 fellow bloggers that you’ve recently discovered or follow regularly and include a link to their site.  (Ooooo, I will think about this one...stay tuned!)
4. Let them know you have nominated them. (Yeah, yeah. Let me decide already!)
5. Share 7 random facts about you. (Well 7 is my lucky number but I think y'all know everything there is to know about me by now. Apologies if I bore you!).

7 Random Facts About Me - Because I'm not random at all ;-)

1. I love panda's. To the point I have a tattoo of one!

2. I have way too many unfulfilled ambitions which includes learning to play the bass guitar.

3. I name my cars...generally strong male names (and I need ideas for a new addition to our family - the Other Half has brought home a beautiful new play thing but it has no name. Ideas on a postcard please)

4. I love the Ocean; it's sound, it's rhythm. Especially sailing on it, however I don't like swimming in it!

5. I close my eyes if I want to experience something more deeply.

6. I read faster on my Kobo but prefer the feel and smell of a book in my hands.

7. When I was younger I bleached my hair to get rid of the red highlights that ran through it. Now I actively colour my hair varying shades of copper and red.

The Magic 7 Blogs

Getting not one but two shiny awards for utter greatness:

Deb at Kicking Corners

Jewels at Frazzled and Frumpy

The Masked Mom

Michelle at Buttered Toast Rocks

Larissa at Pappa is a Preacher

Adam at Blogs and Boulders

aeye at Shouldn't Life be More Than This?

These are all fabulous blogs and apologies to these wonderful writers that I have not been as dedicated to my reading of blogs as I should lately....forgive me? (fluttering eyelashes and everything!) What I am trying to say is nip over, take a look and leave them some love!

Finally I will leave you with this tune that seems perfectly appropriate to me at the moment.

Day 6 NaBloPoMo December - Random Thursday

For random Thursday this week you get to know a little more about me, so skip on to tomorrow if you have already had enough of me!!

Larissa at Papa is a Preacher has passed along a Liebster Blog Award, described on her blog as:

 

 "The Liebster Blog Award is an award given from bloggers to bloggers that are small to medium in size or up and coming in the blogsphere. Liebster is German for favorite. The award is a way to give beginning bloggers some worthy attention, make connections and let readers learn a little more about you. "

It always surprises me a little when I get things like this passed along, I invariably end up doing a little dance singing 'someone likes me, someone likes me'.....no judging ;-)

So, I have eleven questions to answer, eleven facts about myself and then eleven questions to set for the blogs I pass the award to (all in less than ten minutes to ensure I still post on Thursday not Friday, eeeepp).

1. A childhood memory.

I have many memories of my childhood that revolve around the hospital where my Dad was cared for. There was an auxiliary nurse that would take me doing jobs around the ward to give my Mum and Dad time. She made me my own nurses hat (you know the old fashioned paper ones) and I would wear a plastic apron. I will never forget the day she let me send the laundry down the shoot. Sometimes it's the little things that count.

2. One of your biggest fears. 

 

The end of the world. To the point that Independence Day (the film) gave me nightmares for a week!

3. Something you wish you knew at 18.

 

To just be me and not what others wanted me to be, or at least what I thought they wanted me to be.

4. Five things you cannot leave the house without.

 

Notepad and pen (so just one item not two), a scarf of some description, fingerless gloves / wrist warmers (yes occasionally in summer too), usually the kids (although I wish I could leave them behind sometimes!), oh and I guess clean knickers would be a bonus (just in case I get run over by a bus!).

5. Favorite U.S. President. Why?

 

It always used to be JFK, I love that era, but honestly Obama is just pipping him to the post at the moment.

6. Something on your bucket-list. (Or simply something you really want to do someday.)

 

See Romeo and Juliet performed at the Globe Theatre.

7. Polkadots, stripes or chevron?

 

Stripes, I did cry a little this week when my favourite pair of green stripy socks developed a terminal hole (think wicked witch of the east, or was it west...I forget).

8. A place you think everyone should visit!

 

The UK, there are so many hidden treasures. Step out of the cities and visit the coast, or the hills.

9. If you could change one thing about 2012, what would it be?

Not drinking a whole bottle of wine just to discover me and wine really aren't friends. I only hope Jose will have me back!!

10. Something you like about yourself.

 

I have said this before but hey I like it - I Love easily and freely, this does also mean my heart is broken frequently but I try not let that stop me from loving.

11. Sunset or sunrise?

 

If I have to choose it would be the sunset, but only so I could watch the stars all night just to hang around and catch the sunrise too ;-)

 

Eleven facts d'Sleepy

 

1. I have a tiny obsession with the concept of soul-mates.

 

2. I am a chocoholic.

 

3. I have zip self confidence, although I have been told I come across as confident :-/

 

4. I try to confront my fears head on, however I would kind of prefer not to face my biggest fear!

 

5. I maybe still believe in Santa Clause, just a little ;-)

 

6. I do an excited little dance when I get comments, new followers or get mentioned in a tweet...sad I know!!

 

7. I am a very auditory kind of person. I associate things and people with songs; either because of the lyrics, because the song is someones favourite or because I was reading a book whilst listening to this song.

 

8. I am a hippy at heart, I love dancing around bare-foot in lush grass.

 

9. I prefer giving presents to receiving them, although I should maybe re-phrase that if the other half is reading....I prefer to give presents but still loving getting surprise gifts.

 

10. I always bite off more than I can chew.

 

11. If I am in need of inspiration a walk in the wilderness (or as close as I can get to wilderness) usually does the trick, even better with the right kind of company.

 

*phew* y'all still with me??

 

Recipients of this award; based on a variety of totally subjective things and chosen by a wholly objective panel of me, me and me, are:

 

Kate at Nested

Deb at Kicking Corners

Lo Johnston Writing

 

Ok, so my mind has gone blank and I cannot think of any other blogs, that I follow, that are relatively new to all this. If I have not listed you and you feel left out please answer the questions any way and post a link in the comments.

 

So your questions should you choose to accept this award are:

 

1. Do you believe in soul-mates and why, even if the answer is no? (sorry shamelessly stealing this question from Loki-Lou because it is such a good question! Thanks Loki)

 

2. Sunset photo or nighttime shot? (images to compare available here)

 

3. Fleecy PJ's, Onesie or shorts?

 

4. Where do you head or to whom do you go if you are in need of inspiration?

 

5. What song best captures you or your life, either in general or in this moment?

 

6. What one thing would you have in your life if there were no monetary, moral or other limitations?

 

7. What is your dream job?

 

8. What is your Christmas Eve tradition?

 

9. Do tablets (ie. ipads) make you feel like you are living in a Sci-fi movie?

 

10. What musical instrument would you play if you could? Or would you sing instead?

 

11. Candle light or the big light (sorry Northern reference to the main ceiling light in a room)?

 

Happy question time guys, can't wait to read your answers ;-)

 

Day 5 NaBloPoMo December - Blog Hop

So we all know about the big name books *ahem* EL James *ahem* and the rest of us lowly writers harbour no jealous feelings towards them and their success....honest!

Anyway this blog hop is designed to highlight some authors that you may not have heard of or writers yet to catch a break. The hop is really more of a game of tag; I was tagged by Lo Johnston, pop over and visit her. You can find out more about the book she is working on and follow her to twitter etc....

So all I have to do is tell you all about a book of mine (yeah, not written yet) or work in progress (phew) and then tag 5 other writers to do the same (who will post their answers around 9th January 2013). So here goes.......

1: What is the working title of your book?

Secrets of our Soul.

2: Where did the idea come from for the book?

The characters kind of crept up on me if I am honest. There have been many things that have conspired together to give me this idea (which I am still not sure is book worthy, we'll see)

3: What genre does your book fall under?

Soppy romance (another reason I am not sure, I am more of a fantasy/supernatural kind of girl with a sprinkling of romance so I am not quite sure why this is the story my mind wants to write?!)

4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Oh jeese, I have no idea. I know who wouldn't play the main characters...It wouldn't be the likes of Johnny Depp, Daniel Craig or Zak Effron. My characters are not the overtly good looking of confident celebrity, they are more understated and unassuming!

5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Faith and Dan are happy in their lives, until they meet each other. There is a connection, one that they try to fight and one that ultimately destroys everything....or does it.

6: Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

See above, I am not even sure this will make it to being a book. We will see how it evolves.

7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Apparently being in the very early stages of a work in progress means I get to skip a few of these questions ;-)

8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

It is not a genre I tend to read although it does have a feel of the Nicholas Sparks books (well the films they have been made into anyway!)

9: Who or What inspired you to write this book?

There are a few sources of inspiration; Paulo Coelho's Brida and some of the ideas raised in it, a variety of songs, some images, a friend and too much more to list here.

10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

There is a touch of tragedy, a non-traditional happyish ending, some amazing chemistry and a great sound track


So now I get to tag four fabulous writers (mostly so I can be nosey and find out more about their books), here's hoping that one of you are the 'next big thing'

Deb at Kicking Corners

Jewels at Frazzled and Frumpy

Loki-Lou at The Modfather

Margi at The M Half of the M-n-J Show

Now we all have something to look forward to in the new year.

Day 10 NaBloPoMo - Birthday Sing along

I am of to a birthday party tonight. For real, in person and everything! I have know this intelligent young man for the last ten years. I have watched him grow, and yes it makes me feel ancient because yesterday he became a man, he turned 18. So today we celebrate.

Not only is he intelligent and talented he has been a very mature God Father to my youngest munchkin for the better part of five years. Check out his website Liam Dargan or the you tube clip below and sit there in awe, as I have for most of the time I have known him!

He is destined for greatness, of this I have no doubt (as is his brother - talented family what can I say), he even teaches this old dog a trick or two every now and then ;-) Like who Mumford & Sons are!!

So, sing along Saturday is dedicated to Liam. Happy 18th, go be great!

Finally the last Wonderful Team Member Readership Award shout out goes to Lo at Lo Johnston Writing. She is full of useful hints, tips and reviews and is just an all round lovely person, so go check out her blog!

Day 7 of NaBloPoMo - Me, Myself and I

So NaBloPoMo's Wednesday contributions will see me return to posting some of my original writing. Today however I think I have been hanging with Loki-Lou too much (if that is even possible she is hilarious). This combined with my current musical obsession - the Lostprohets has resulted in a very surreal story that turned into an internal conversation with inner voices. I promise I have only taken paracetamol with some Pepsi!!

99% of the lyrics are from the Lostprophets, I hope they don't read this and come after me with some random sharp implement for sodomising their songs :-/ However there are three lines attributed to other artists, prize for anyone who can spot all three (and by prize I mean a very big virtual pat on the back - I am a writer/librarian I can't afford outlandish prizes. I sit here typing with my gloves on to stop my fingers freezing)

So with out further ado (ok maybe a little, the 'you's' in italics means she is talking to the boy, the normal 'you's' mean she is talking to herself)

Me, Myself and I

Girl (G) - ‘You’re here by my side in my summer’

‘Don’t you wake me up, I don’t want this dream to end’

Inner voice 1(I1) - ‘Some days these dreams just ain’t enough’

G - ‘But when you’re here with me that’s all I need’

I1 - You’re ‘lost in fiction’

Inner voice 2 (I2) - ‘So can you feel your heartbeat racing? Can you feel the tension rise?’

I1 - It’s ‘Always the wrong place at the wrong time’ this is ‘No good for me, no good for you’

G - ‘I’m sick of holding it in’

I2 - ‘Stop dreaming, start something’

G - ‘Are we lost or do we know which direction we should go? Sit around and wait for someone to take our hands and lead the way’

I2 - ‘Wake up, yeah I’m so sick of waiting for us to make a move.’ ‘It’s time to make a move’

G - ‘I don’t know how to change from being me, I don’t know what to say, maybe another day’

I1 - ‘If only you tried you could move on.’

G - ‘Another day, in another hand, things could be so different’

I1 - ‘You’re wasting your time’

I2 - ‘For all this to mean so much to me, for all this you make a move’ ‘Win or lose it’s time to choose’

G - ‘Every word I say would come out wrong and make you look the other way’

‘Her eyes are open like a book’

G - ‘I’ll be there cos I can see in your smile time stood still for me when you call’ ‘Answer me this’ ‘ How you feel , when you’re lying next to me’ ‘Could you be the one?’

‘For all these times that we walked away’ ‘Give me something to believe in, give me someone to believe in’

Boy (B) - ‘My soldiers march tonight, in the city of your dreams. This beautiful army are tearing at your seams’

G - But ‘the stars, they shine for you’ ‘I will not let this part of me be apart from you’

B - ‘Hey now dry your eyes, you will recover’ ‘I’m not what you want me to be’ ‘and if we did we won’t be friends’

G - ‘I would stop time to stay with you’ ‘I would stop time to keep you here’

B - ‘Tonight I feel stronger, Goodbye’

I1 - ‘Love, like waves always crashing down around us’

G - ‘I can see into this abyss, there is no stopping me from feeling this’ ‘There’s no hope for me’ ‘I’m slowly taking apart my broken sanity’

I2 - ‘And there’s a lot you can’t undo’

I1 - ‘I’ve never been the one to turn my back or let you fall through those cracks under your feet’ ‘some days are good, some days are tough’

G - ‘I know this feeling I keep buried inside won’t retreat or delete. It ends tonight, the dull pain that remains isn’t pretty’

I2 - ‘So how’s it gonna feel when I leave this town, broke and burning, with memories that we once found’

I1 - ‘Hold on, where we belong’

G - ‘And I seem to think you were once here with me, maybe I was wrong’ ‘And I sit and wonder, falling under’ ‘All these memories pull me down like lead’

Thoughts come my way....but it was nothing at all’ ‘I get the feeling that it’s gone and it’s the reason that I feel so dark now’

I1 - ‘If it wasn’t for love we’d have faded away’

G - ‘You took apart my soul’ ‘You put me on my knees and cut my throat’ ‘See you at the bitter end’

 

 

 

 

G - ‘To all the fights I’ve conquered and beyond’ ‘Love was once a part but now it’s disappeared’ ‘But I still feel lost without you’

‘Yesterday I lost my closest friend, yesterday I wanted time to end. I wonder if my heart will ever mend, I just let you slip away’

‘Maybe I’ll never see you smile again, maybe you thought it was all pretend. All these words that I could never say, I just let them slip away’

‘Maybe one day when I can move along. Maybe someday when you can hear this song. You won’t let this slip away.’ ‘I wonder if you’re listening, picking up on the signals’

‘And I wait here on my own, and I wait to see’

‘Pick myself up off the ground’ ‘And put the pieces back as one’

I1 - ‘Times like these won’t last forever’ ‘Burn, burn the life you can’t choose’

 

G - ‘We’re giving up, we’re moving on’

 

 

B - ‘Hello again, it seems so long since we last met’ ‘Just say hello again, say hello again’ ’Remember what it was like to enjoy our time’

I2 - ‘It’s not the end if you just say hello again’

I1 - ‘But tonight you’ll get it right’

G - ‘I have no regrets’ ‘The memories I hope will never fade’

 ‘Tonight I feel stronger, Goodbye’

 I hope you liked it and you don't now send the men in white coats after me ;-)


The fourth day of shout outs for the Wonderful Team Readership Award goes to Michelle over at Buttered Toast Rocks because it soooo does!! And if the title isn't enough for you visit her because she is an uber talented writer and faces zombies head on in the wee hours of the morning ;-)

Day 4 NaBloPoMo - Small Stone Sunday

 

'Phil's dead!' He's still and cold

Let's wear black while we dig the hole

We've drawn him pictures, he was very old.

 

Today the house is in mourning. Today I will don my boots, grab my shovel and bury another member of the family under the patio (ok maybe that would be a little drastic, under ther cherry blossom in the border will do).

 

I thought I would expand today's small stone post to explain our hamster was old, but he lived a full life. Even on the way home from the pet store he explored his cage well, earning him the name Phileas Fogg (he must have done the cicuit around those tubes at least 80 times!) He explored the back of the book shelves and under the floor. He loved a spot of cheese and could escape his excercise ball in the blink of an eye. We will miss him, but I won't miss kneeling with my ass in the air trying to coax him back to his cage!

 

Today we will wear black, why is that?? If anyone wears black to my funeral I will haunt them forever, but that is a whole other morbid post!

 

On a happier note on to the first of my shout outs for the Wonderful Team Membership Award. This goes to Deb at Kicking Corners, she was my first blog crush and has become my 'best friend that I have never met'. I have recently been spending a lot of time catching up with things I missed on her blog before I discovered her, click here to catch up on her journey so far and can't wait until she is published so I can jump into a longer instalment of her amazing writing. Over to you Deb ;-)

Reader Appreciation

 

I love getting flowers, and sunflowers always make me smile :-) Little did I know that discovering a lovely new (to me) blog by a fellow Lancastrian I would end up with flowers within the week. That's it, on line blogging friendship securely cemented. Just so you know I am not needy, I won't expect them every week ;-) Seriously bob over and have a look at Modfather, she is a super talented and strong young woman who I have fallen in blog love with instantly.

 

Ok so she really awarded me a reader appreciation award, which is even better, right?!

 

You guys already know I love my readers to bits (see here if your new, sure I have mentioned my readers elsewhere too)....What? Sorry? There are rules?? Why always with the rules!

1. I need to nominate 15 blogs for this award!

2. I have to answer 10 questions that have been posed by the person who nominated me.

3. I have to ask 10 questions of those I nominate.

 

So 15 blogs to award. That is a lot! I think instead I will award those of you that love me enough to comment on what I write (whilst also trying not to nominate the same people as Loki-Lou!), I am such a rule breaker!! Side note, if I have missed anyone this is not intentional I just have a brain swiming with so many things at the moment it is taking me a whils to fish out the important to now things! Please consider yourself an award recipient too ;-)

 

Kicking Corners

 

Periphery

 

Frazzled and Frumpy

 

Buttered Toast Rocks

 

Masked Mum

 

The M Half

 

Sockamabobs and Thingamajigs

 

Seven lovely blogs, my favourite number :-)

 

On to step two...answer 10 questions.

 

1.If you could live anywhere in world where would it be? And why?

There are so many places that I would love to visit, some places I have and could see myself living. But if I am really honest with myself; there is no place like home! I don't think I could wander too far from Pendle Hill.

2. What was your favourite TV show when you were a kid?

Oh man, there are too many to mention; Grotbags, Trapdoor, Button Moon, Chip and Dale, He-Man, Thundercats.... Wow I could go on but instead I will leave a little clip of Trapdoor instead.

3. Kindle or actual books?

Actual books, all the time. Although I do like my Kobo.

4. If you were picked up by the Tardis which Doctor would you like to travel the universe with?

I grew up watching Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison and Sylvester McCoy with my Dad and love them all. But seriously if I were to jump in a tardis with anyone I would prefer someone I don't think of as a father figure (well wouldn't you)! I have to confess though, I have only caught the odd episode of the new Doctors. I do however have a little thing for Captain Jack Harkness, I'd be in that Tardis like a shot if it was with him ;-)

5. Gary Oldman or Alan Rickman? (If you like neither….unlikely I know but it might happen! Then – Benedict Cumberbatch or Tom Hiddleston).

Alan Rickman, Gary Oldman gives me the hebbies!

6. If you could invite 5 people (famous or otherwise) to a dinner party who would you ask?

Deb from Kicking Corners (because I just love her to bits, even though I have never met her), Tangled Lou from Periphery (legend has is she is really a weird old man), Loki-Lou from Modfather (who I need to get to know better), Jewels from Frazzled and Frumpy (who I don't believe is frumpy and would like to confirm my suspicion) and Michelle from Butter Toast Rocks (I just want an excuse to eat buttered toast). There are so many other wonderful bloggers I would love to meet and get to know even better, all for different reasons. Are you wondering why my dinner table isn't packed with the rich and famous? I have a funny quirk; I'd rather not meet the famous people I like, I always worry that I won't like them after that!!

7. In the event of a Zombie apocalypse would you sacrifice yourself to save a stranger or would you fight for your own survival?

 

Honest answer, probably not. Since becoming a Mum I have an over whelming instinct to protect my babies, which would require me being around. Of course in the process of thinking about this question there are many different permutations and possible out comes and we never really know what we are capable of until we face it. I hope I never have to work out the answer to this one, I am not keen on zombies...too messy!!

 

8. Do you prefer salted popcorn, sweet popcorn or half and half?

 

Half and half, just because I can never decide ;-)

 

9. What is your favourite sport (and team)?

 

My favourite sport to watch is Ice Hockey. My favourite sport to take part in is Tai Chi and Martial Arts. But in neither is there a team that I follow. However living with a Clarets fan and a coach for Burnley's Girls team I guess I have no choice in the team I follow ;-)

 

10. If the world was going to end and you only had time to tell one person that you loved them, who would it be? And why them?

 

Now this really is going back to a deep seated fear I buried long ago! The end of the world is the only thing that scares the hell out of me and always has. I had nightmares for a week after watching Independence Day (did I really just admit to that on the Internet?). I spent many hours as a teenager stressing over how I would get to those I love if the world came to an end, going over and over in my mind who the people I needed to see one last time would be. My other half, my Mum, my gran? Of course this has changed even more with two babies. How do you choose between the three people that hold the top spot in your world? I only hope I never have to find out and I am officially going to stop thinking about this now before I give myself nightmares!!

 

 

Next step, 10 questions for you lovely recipients of this award:

 

1. Who is your favourite band or singer or song?

2. Describe yourself as the main character in your own fairytale.

3. If you have a nickname, what is it and how did you come by it? If not what would you like your nick name to be and why?

4. What is your favourite word?

5. Who are your favourite literary couple?

6. What is your favourite Poem?

7. Do you like having someone play with your hair?

8. What is your greatest ambition?

9. If you have time alone, where do you go to feel at peace?

10. What is your favourite film?

 

Wow that is a lot of favourites, and I hate those questions too, I can never choose...sorry!

 

Can't wait to see all your answers, I love these posts because they feed my need to be nosey ;-)

 

 

 

 

Nearly Happy

Hello there, yes I am alive and I have not been abducted by aliens! It is well over a month since I last posted on a regular basis and this I am not happy about. Let me explain....

You all know that at the beginning of June I started my new job in a library. In short it is amazing, I thought maybe after a few weeks the novelty would wear off but I am still loving every minute.

I Love My Job
A 45 minute drive to work
I Love that I get to sing all the way
Story times and rhyme times too
I Love to see kids get involved
Crafty things to make and glitter everywhere
I Love that I get to act like a kid
The lovely people I have met and work with
I Love the warm welcome I have had
The understanding and encouraging boss
I Love that we are so similar
A 45 minute drive home
I Love the road that in places is cocooned by green trees
I Love my job!

Even during some recent flash floods, that made the drive home very interesting, the drive still doesn't bother me. Even when we have had unexpected staff shortages and the library has been so busy that the shelves looked to have been ransacked by ram raiders, I didn't get stressed we just dealt with things as they came along.

Today I was in charge of the summer reading challenge craft activities and got to help some lovely kids make masks in all shapes and sizes. It was like a glitter explosion, we had lions, dogs, butterflies, spiderman, batman and some amazing masquerade masks. Below is a picture of the mask a lovely little girl and her mum made for me after I had admired hers, with it's sparkly feathers and jewels it was a work of art. I love mine with pretty curled leaves and metallic markings (which don't show up well on the photo) it is very sophisticated and worthy of any masquerade ball, I just wish I had one to go to. I am tired now and still covered in glitter (it seriously gets every where doesn't it!) but I had an amazing afternoon.

Any way back to my explanation! My childhood had it's issues, my teenage years...yes well we all know those, my twenties passed by in a blur, it is only now in my thirties tat I finally feel in control of my life. My beautiful family, my amazing job, my wonderful boss, the fantastic friends I have now (not all of you I have even met in person) all add up to one nearly happy me. What is missing you ask? I know it looks like I have it all and really ought to be grateful, however in all this happiness I have let my writing and reading slip. I am annoyed with myself and I only have me to blame for this lack of motivation. I could reel off a raft of excuses like; 'it's been hard getting used to this new routine' 'my new job is physically and mentally tireing' blah blah blah! Tonight I made a promise to myself to finish catching up on the blogs I love to read and also to set myself a new writing schedule and stick to it! Maybe then I can just be happy, instead of nearly there...or will I?

Are humans destined to make sure that they are never totally happy? Does there have to always be a but?

How is everyone in our corner of the bloggy world? I have missed you all loads xxx

Weekend Wonders - Unexplained Absence

You may have noticed, you may not, that I have been somewhat absent around the blogsphere of late. I am truly sorry that I haven't had the time to read and comment as I usually do, I promise that I will catch up eventually!

I volunteer with a group that helps to look after our local park and make sure it is a fabulous place for people to use. Wednesday 20th June was not only my eldest daughters 8th birthday, it was also the 100 year anniversary of Marsden Park being opened to the public. As part of the Friends group I helped to organise a mass celebration for the centenary, which was yesterday. We had a brass band, traditional Lancashire clog dancers, sporting activities, magic shows, Punch and Judy shows, a travelling zoo, various stalls, along with the local nursery joining us with their annual garden party and a wonderful historic exhibition charting the history of the park right back to the 1600's when it was a private family estate.

On Friday we had rain of Biblical proportions with localised flooding. It had me awake all night wondering if we were even going to be able to continue with the event that we had all spent so much time on. Come Saturday morning the rain had stopped and following some adjustments with the site plan the event got under way, all be it a little delayed and a couple of activities down due to flooding problems. The rain that was fore casted for Saturday stayed away until just before the end of the event and more people came to support us than I could have hoped for. All in all a great day was had by all who attended, which made up for the stress of organising it!!

Follow this link to some great photos of the event, I was so busy I didn't have chance to take any myself!!

In short I should have some time spare now I am not sat up till the wee hours of the morning finalising the logistics for the event and will be able to get back to reading your lovely insights and commenting as usual, not to mention I have some serious writing to do!!!! First though, some sleep!!

For now I will leave you with some of my favourite parts of the park visit the Friends of Marsden Park Site if you are interested in the history.

The Sundial (taken by Harriett)

The Troll Bridge

The Wishing Gate (taken by Eleanor)

My Girls Favourite Place!!

Random Thursdays - Absorbed

Apologies now for a very pathetic post!!

I have been doing my best to catch up on blogs this week, only to end up confusing the hell out of myself. I can't remember who has said what or when. Or even which blogs I have read or not.

The cause of all this, besides the exciting new job (which is going great by the way)? I am reading a book, recommended to me by a very good friend, which I am completely absorbed in. Even when I am not reading it I am thinking about it. In one respect it is making it a great book to read, on the other hand I am good for nothing at the moment, until I have read it and dealt with the issues it has raised.

I am sure most of you have already heard of Paulo Coelho and I am just chasing the ship in a little tiny row boat. However on the off chance you haven't read any of his books, do!! In the meantime I am going to continue rowing towards the boat holding everyone that is better read than me and get back to Brida, one seriously compelling read!!

See you over the weekend and I hope all is well in your corner of the world. What are you reading at the moment? Is it a sprint to the finish or a steady away journey?

Seriously?!?

Would you believe I have been nominated for a Versatile Blogger Award. It's ok, I'll give you a moment to recover (it took me longer than a moment!!!).

It is a huge honor that a fellow blogger, and writer, views my random musings as worthy of following to start with, but o also nominate me for an award, wow. I am incredibly grateful to Deb Stevens for her support and encouragement as I start my writing adventure, (yes I am still new enough to this writing thingy to see it as a wonderful adventure, please tell me this doesn't wear off!). Her blog is definitely worth a look, beware you may find it addictive!! It is full of magic moments, honest experiences with writing and a fantastically modern takes on fairy tales. She always gives me something to think about whilst managing to cheer me up every time I read her blog. Here's something just for you Deb, thank you!

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Now apparently there are some rules to being nominated / receiving this award; firstly I get to share the love and nominate up to 15 blogs my self. Then secondly I have to reveal 7 things about myself. So here goes...

The blogs I love to follow are as follows (in no particular order!):

Sockamabobs & Thingamajigs

I love this blog for all things crafty and generally living life as a family. The things this girl makes are truly fabulous and gorgeous!

Lee Johnson Photography

For beautiful photographs, occasional tips and a lot of inspiration. Sneak a peak I am sure you will love his work as much as I do!!

Amanda Hocking
A recently discovered (to me) author, who's books I have yet to read (yes they are on my to read list) but if I love reading them as much as her blog I will no doubt be hooked.

Lo Johnston
A great blog with tips for writing, inspirational moments and topics to make you think. Always worth checking in with.
My Favourite Books
My favourite book review blog.

How to be a Writer
Sally O'Reilly writes a fantastic blog with hints and tips for writers, whilst also sharing some of her own writing (which is witty and compelling).

My Name is Not Bob
A newly discovered blog with tips for writers. From what I have read so far his writing is funny with lots of handy links.

Mr Bs Emporium of Reading
The blog started during the 'adventure' of opening an independent bookshop in Bath and has continued.

Writing from the Tub
For all things booky.
Open a Bookshop, what could possibly go wrong?
I witty tale of opening a bookshop in London.

The Bookette
Great YA and children's book reviews.

Bookshelf
A quirky blog dedicated to the shelves us book nerds put our most prized possessions on.

An Awfully Big Blog Adventure
As it says on the tin, 'The ramblings of a few scattered authors'.

I know there are not 15 but these are the ones I like the most. I am sure by the time I have visited some of the blogs mentioned on Kicking Corners there will be more to add to my list of favourite blogs, but until then...

7 uninteresting facts about little old me:

1. I am a lover of smells, strange I know. I love all the obvious smells: newborn babies, fresh coffee, home baking fresh out of the oven. There are, however some smells that distract me on the spot, the smell of a man when they have been working outside is one. A strange mix of hard work and nature in one bundle, sorry I can not describe it any better but I am sure you will know what I mean. If not it is a good excuse to get the man in your life to go and do some gardening just to find out ;-)

2. I am addicted to books. Not just reading them, buying them and hording them. At the last count we have 7 bookshelves in our house and literally have no room for any more. But there is no way I will ever get rid of any!!!
3. I love water, in any shape or form; the sea, lakes, ponds, streams, put me near one and I cannot but help but smile. But I don't like to drink it, I'm weird I know ,most people get used to me eventually!

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4. The realisation that I had grown up was when I felt the need to start using eye cream, or "mummy's old lady cream" as my kids call it! Charming eh?

5. There are certain foods or drinks that I like, but don't like things flavoured like them. Bananas I like, but I can not stand banana flavoured milkshake or sweets. Coffee is another, I love a good cuppa but coffee flavoured things are simply awful. Whoever had the idea to have a coffee flavoured revel needs their head examining!

6. When I was at school I learnt traditional Lancashire clog dancing. I used to find this fact very embarrassing, however now I am older I have an appreciation for the links to my local areas history this has and that I had the opportunity to learn first hand.

7. Cherry blossom is my all time favourite flower. There is nothing better than the sight of a cherry tree in full bloom, it kind of looks like a cloud that has been caught in the branches or that some little fairy has taken candyfloss and decorated the trees with it to celebrate the start of spring. They last such a short time that some don't always understand my choice but they are spectacular when the are here and are so delicate even a slight wind will take them from their branches and send them scattering like confetti at a wedding. They are for me the embodiment of spring; short lived, delicate and full of promise.

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So, from a very happy me, happy blogging all my friends ;-)

How to be a Writer: NEVER PUT OFF TILL TOMORROW...

Not much to say today. I spent some of my time writing something new, which won't be ready for some time at this rate. I did however spot this on a blog I follow, I love the poem the writer has included, although it's the first time I have read it (shamefully!). Take a look at the blog, if you have ever dreamed of writing yourself you may find some useful tips!

How to be a Writer: NEVER PUT OFF TILL TOMORROW...: I had thought – among a million other random thoughts – that I might recommend a Blog of the Month, but having done a bit of research ther...