Reader, writer, music lover, library nerd, mother and wife. I have big dreams with little time and no funds to pull them off. Join me as I try to dream my way through adulthood.
'Get busy living or get busy dying' Stephen King
All because I have been promising to read a book forever (ok so there is probably more than one friend and more than one unread book but I agree with Lemony Snicket!)
But I got an amazing book for Christmas and really couldn't resist it! It's all my weird and lovely colleague's fault for she introduced me to Jen Campbell and the Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops books. They are books that had me ahhhing, nodding and out right laughing with every other quote, even though I have never worked in a bookshop most things translated to libraries. So when I got Jen's new book for Christmas, The Bookshop Book, it just kept winking at me until I picked it up and sneaked a peak. And another one. Then another, well you get the picture.
Sat there nice and cosy in front of the crackling log fire in Northumberland with plans to visit my favourite bookshop in the coming days guess which bookshop the opened onto?...Yes, my favourite bookshop Barter Books, Alnwick. It did raise a little chuckle. Then I did what every good bibliophile should do, I began at the beginning and continued to the end! This tour by page did not disappoint. It was full of little nuggets of wonder and brilliance. Full of rabbit holes for you to follow, books to add to the never ending To Read List and even a few blogs to check out.
But worse than that (at least for my other half) rekindled some dreams and tickled my wanderlust. I now have a list of bookshops circling the globe to visit and a new Pinterest board to gather my thoughts on for my dream bookshop.
I truly loved reading about all the wonderful bookshops all over the world; the ones I want to visit from Wigtown, Scotland to Storytellers Inc. Lancashire and across the pond to places like the Community Bookstore, Brooklyn New York. Jen even had me wanting to visit Paris, something I have never wanted to do before. But with the lure of Shakespeare and Co. who could not want to take a look in person; finger those spines, close your eyes to take a deeper breath of that vanillary book smell and pick one off the shelf to curl up with for a while.
More than all of the places I want to visit, which to be frank would need a gap year and a lottery win to fund, were all the places I wanted to share with friends. Cook and Book, dine on a meal selected from a cookbooks, at that point I said out loud to some rather quizzical looks, "Oh Sandra would love that."And so many book shops steeped in the history of the Beat authors I just kept thinking Connor would love this one and this one and this one and I could see him spending a night or two sleeping at Shakespeare and Co. writing and more. Yes there are bookshops mentioned with beds in where you can sleepover (new bucket list item I think!).There were so many more, too many to mention. I guess that is why I have been going around enthusing about this book so much. Trying to get people to add this to their to read list.
It has been a long time since a book has had me furiously scribbling notes so I don't forget which parts I loved. Even longer since I wanted to start straight back at the beginning as soon as I finished and a little longer still since I cringed when someone asked to borrow my copy, not because I'm precious I know the person will be careful (she's a librarian) but because I'm just not sure I will ever be done referring to it!
I don't even usually review books but I seem to have walked into doing just that! Seriously Jen, well played! But this book is a bit like the gravy of my roast dinner book list, and everyone knows you can't have a roast dinner without gravy.
Now, one of my most favourite parts of the author interviews was that most ended with them describing their dream bookshop so I thought I would do the same, here goes....
It would be warm and welcoming, light but cosy. There would be log fires, coffee and cakes. The cafe would do themed children's meals depending on the story time theme/author of the month theme. There would be comfy chairs and places to sit all over the place and a young adult area too. I'd have arts involved somewhere, somehow with a gallery space and a corner where people can drop in and work on their art or creative journals and if they use our resources there'd be an honesty box system. Oh and a story time chair, which if you know me you know I would probably never sit in as I prefer to sit on the floor with the kids, but it's a must.
So I've told you my perfect place, what about you. What's in your perfect bookshop?
Today's track, Youth Lagoon - Daydream, is a recommendation by the aforementioned Connor. Have a listen, and a daydream about bookshops for a while. Then when you're done if you fancy something completely different to here bob on over to his blog and have a read.
Some days staring at the TV is all I am capable of. Other days there are moments when deep questions tickle the grey matter. Like today; when you plug your phone or ipod into your stereo or car audio system and ask that system to shuffle the music, is it the stereo or your phone that controls the shuffle? The music on my way to work was particularly good you see and I wondered which machine to afford the credit to because some days are bad music days when every other song needs to be skipped as it is just not fitting for the moment. Sorry I digress. Or other bigger 'life, the universe and everything' type questions like; why are we here?
Now I have no idea what the answer to this question is...what? I am no Stephen Hawking am I? I ask questions about shuffling ipods for goodness sake! However in my pondering I did come to a realisation; does it matter? One thing is certain, the thing that makes it all worth while and the thing that has seen me survive has been my connections with other people.
The last couple of months have been hard personally for me, for no particular reason other than circumstances weighing me down. Now, in the grand scheme of things I have a roof over my head, I can afford to feed my family and we are all healthy. These are the times where you think to yourself get a grip, your life is peachy. But it is what it is and downward my mood has spiraled. Through it all there they have been, my little shining stars. The lights that brighten my day and keep my head up and a smile on my face no matter what I face.
Those people that can throw chocolate (and other goodies) a really, really long way and time it's arrival so perfectly it made me smile, cry and laugh all at the same time. Then chat online with you for hours about anything.
The little messages that pop up and say I'm thinking of you, how are you doing? bringing a smile with them, even though things are not rosy for them.
Oh and the laughter. The geeking out, the inuendo, the insider jokes and the down right did I just walk into that moments that have kept me sane at work. With old friends and new; discovering those things that we are on the same wavelength about or other things that we have in common when we thought we were the only one. If I didn't eat as much chocolate the amount I have laughed recently at work I could have shed a few pounds at least.
Connections...lead to smiles...leads to laughter...leads to a lighter heart...leads to inspiration...
I had always thought in the past that my inspiration came from a couple of very limited sources. I am starting to see that it is there in everything, it is connected to everything I just need a lighter and more open heart (and probably mind) in order to accept it. That's probably why music unlocks things for me and walks in the open. I finally see my awesome friends not only keep me sane and make smile, they inspire me too.
So thank you my friends, thank you for being there for me, whether you were aware or not you helped (are helping) to keep me sane. Though sometimes I wonder if, "we are all mad here." As mad as a bucket of frogs.
Just a little Stereophonics to end with today. When you are struggling what drags you out of it to face another day?
That's about how far I feel I am going on this learning curve!
At the beginning of this year I set myself a target to write my first full length draft of a book. I didn't think it would be easy. However I also didn't expect to have to learn so much about myself either.
The theory of writing is easy, there's one main rule....
So why in the hell do I find this so hard? I can't seem to settle into a writing routine, mainly because our lives don't seem to have a stable routine. And then when I do find a day, like today for example when I have a glorious amount of time to myself where I could write, I find I can't. Please, don't say it, I can already hear my Grandma telling me there is "no such word as can't." I know there isn't, I know this is all in my head and I just need to get over it but as Mr Gaiman nice puts it, "it's that easy and it's that hard."
My realisation today is that I am a very emotional writer. I don't mean in terms of my actual writing, although I do hope that is packed with emotion, I mean if my emotions are slightly off kilter then I really struggle writing. Take today a great opportunity wasted because all I wanted to do was this:
After all it would have been better than someones face! Then I just ended up in a self-perpetuating cycle of anger, getting angry with myself for letting my emotions get the better of me. Allowing logic to take over I realised that this is me and it's going to happen over and over again, so I can stand there screaming every time or I can find a coping mechanism and fast before I run out of time!!
Tea? Apparently not, though very tasty (Thanks Deb for the pin!).
A walk in the fresh air. Apparently tweeting birds are good for the mood, or so I've heard. Ok this one helped a little bit, and much better than the hours of procrastination on the internet!!
But do you know the one thing that helped more than anything today was my friends! You guys between you all defused the ticking bomb, making me feel more balanced and ready to face the screen.
Even though I may not have made the headway I wanted to in terms of writing today I know a little more about me and I'm a step closer to working out how to do this!! Oh to have worked all this out when I was younger.
Can you pin point what you have learnt about yourself during your writing journey? Are you still learning more every day? And is that the point, do we write to learn more about who we are?
I kind of feel like a stranger walking into a dusty old house. You know the kind; it feels really familiar as you climb the wooden steps to the front door, the creak for each slow and careful step you take never taking your eyes from the peeling duck egg paint on the door. Your breathing deep and heavy is the only thing you can hear as you reach for the cold brass of the door knob, drawing you to it with some unexplainable force. Your fingers barely touch the pitted metal when the door pops open and groans on the dusty dark hall way...
"Hello, is there anyone there" you call out. You realise then you know this place, you loved this place once when it was full of words and friends. But you have been gone so long you aren't sure it can be the same again. There is no answer straight away, but that is ok the fear in the pit of your stomach has gone. This is your house, it just needs some tlc; a broom and a lick of paint, maybe a party with some cupcakes!!
So, I have been gone a while. I haven't blogged, I haven't read any blogs. What have I been doing you ask?? Um well, lets see. I have written a little; you know the ambitions I mentioned last time, the ones I was running head long at? I had this idea in my head that I might dive gracefully into them. Well I maybe bounced off them a little (think a big pile of jelly), but I have started my book, I have my idea and a couple of chapters as a start of my first draft, they will have to be re-written very soon but it's a start.
Other than that I have been doing a lot of reading, mainly because that is pretty much all you can do in bed. The last six weeks have seen me in and out of hospital like a yo-yo and books have been my refuge. Those and some amazing friends who have spent way too many hours on facebook and twitter keeping me sane!! It seems a bit pathetic that since the beginning of July I don't have more to report but I really don't, I guess that's why I haven't been blogging much; hospital food, an operation and the odd book really aren't that interesting!
I will say if you fancy a good read check out Marissa Meyer - Cinder and Laini Taylor - Daughter of Smoke and Bone.
Hopefully I will find time to get on here to blog a little more regularly, in the meantime be safe ;-)
A little taster of my latest musical obsession the Lost-who?!?! ;-) If you haven't heard of Imagine Dragons go listen to them now, this is my favourite song!!
Oh I nearly forgot, I did manage to submit a postcard short story that will hopefully be in an exhibition in October locally and then after that in India, I will keep you posted ;-)
Sometimes you have to know when it's time to say goodbye!
I have seen friends come and go, some are etched in my mind, a few written on my heart but there are only a couple that have ripped open my soul and changed me forever.
“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people move our souls to dance. They awaken us to a new understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom. Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon. They stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same.” ― Flavia Weedn
Accepting that someones time in my life has come to an end has never been one of my strengths. I wonder, after having read the poem below, if it is because I love too easily. I love my friends, my family and my lover all with as much heart, yet in vastly different ways. Has this love-blindness hampered the clairvoyancey of friendship in me?
Reason, Season, or Lifetime
People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person.
When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty; to provide you with guidance and support; to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.
Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
— Unknown
I once said I didn't think I would ever be as strong as the main character in my favourite book (Brida by Paulo Coelho for those that don't know me). Strong enough to accept that one of her soul mates had fulfilled the reason he had come into her life and that they would likely not see each other again. I'm still not so sure, but I am getting there.
Maybe one day I will find it easier to say goodbye and accept the gift that has been bestowed upon me with grace. Maybe one day it won't feel quite like cutting out my own heart and offering it up on a platter.
In the mean time here are a couple of random verses that don't seem to want to grow up unto fully fledged poems!
Sometimes you meet someone
And they are with you for a season
Never meant to stay forever
Just there for a specific reason.
Sometimes you are mistaken
You are nothing to that someone
Who meant the world to you and more.
Sometimes you search forever
Just to find that special one
Sometimes it takes a while
To realise you were with them all along.
Time to say goodbye.
PS I hope this is the last in what seems like a long line of deep and meaningful's that I will be sharing...at least for a while. I am a member of a fabulous critique group and they are inspiring me to run head long at my ambitions...watch this space as they say!
I think I am just going to call Tuesday's 'Tuesday Tunes' given that I never feel particularly jokey or cheery on a Tuesday. Bah!
So today you get the soundtrack to my weekend, or at least the one that has been floating around in the mush of my mind!!
The weekend didn't start well!!
I kind of retreated into music for a while and found this acoustic version of a 30 Seconds to Mars song I love.
But is is funny how a well placed text or message from a friend can help so much and this song made me think of that friend...I only hope she knows how awesome she is and that I help her in some small way too!
So smiling we went off into the woods for a wander and had an amazing day.
So here is hoping that wasn't the end of the world I saw coming and just a little storm. Something a little chilly and rocky at the time but weathered all the same.
Just having a little look back over recent posts and I realised I have been somewhat laxed about including some cool tunes. This seems odd to me because music has been increasingly taking over my life.
It all started when a friend of mine started to try and 'educate' me.....apparently I wasn't listening to some great bands that I should have been! I have to admit I wasn't! What I was listening to wasn't bad, it was just quite limited.
He reminded me of the likes of the Stereophonics to my music library.
Introduced me to the Lostprophets (regular readers will be aware of the minor obsession that sparked) and Stone Sour.
By this point I had headed down a rabbit hole of devouring everything I could get my hands on from any of the bands that I liked even a little. Just as things were starting to dry up a little other friends started stepping in with suggestions of what I should try, so next came Placebo
And still more with Gas Light Anthem, Queens of the Stone Age....
Until my latest obsession popped up in the form of 30 Seconds to Mars:
At this point I started to think I had hit the bottom of my rabbit hole and could happily climb out enjoying all the music I had discovered along the way. Sound in theory, apparently though I jumped into a rabbit hole that dropped me straight into wonderland because at the bottom I discovered Last FM. Now I have eaten and drunk all the things I had to to go through the door into a whole new wonderful world packed with even more musical delights. So I will leave you with Simple Plan...my latest discovery and hopefully not my last ;-)
Oh what the hell I couldn't decide which one to include so you get both, well why not they are good songs!
I hope you enjoyed your trip down my musical rabbit hole; we had to have a trip to wonderland seeing as it was Lewis Carroll's Birthday this week!
What do you think, have I been educated well enough? Are there things in your musical rabbit hole that should be in mine? Let me know, I'd love to discover more!
A couple of years ago I hit 30, this transition was not welcomed by me!! I recall heading for my bed and hiding under the duvet (or at least I wanted to). I have mentioned before about my relationship with birthdays and getting older, it's not good!
I made myself a promise to try and remain young, to live like Peter Pan and never grow old. It's not about wrinkles you understand, it is about how I feel inside.
There are many things that keep me smiling on the inside and therefore remain young.
* My kids
* My Other Half
* My friends
* This little bloggy community
* Having fun with the kids in the library (glitter will do that to you!)
But the best bit of my Peter Pan complex is getting to rebel a little. To do the things I didn't do when I was younger for fear appearing childish and not grown up enough!!
Here are my latest exploits:
This really doesn't do my fab new hair do justice! It really looks like my hair is on fire :-)
And seriously why wouldn't you love these (skull laces and all)??
Have you discovered Neverland? Hand over the directions, everything is better when you share ;-)
I have had many friends in my life, some who I still count as my friends some who are no longer in my life. Recently I have come to see what I have been missing, friendship as a two way street. It is a long time since I have had that!! Many people have been awol when it came time to be there for me, many more simply aren't close enough.
In a little twist of my life I have realised I have the final piece of my puzzle; I have my other half, I have my babies, I enjoy my job, developed a hobby that I enjoy and now I have a few close friends who make my world complete (even if they don't live on the same continent). You know who you are and I thank you for being in my life.
Today Tuesday Tickles takes a small hiatus so I can link up with Writing Our Way Home's Small Kindnesses Blogsplash. Head over and take a look, there is also a free book available if you have a Kindle ;-)
Anyway the deal is to flood this little old blogverse with kindness. If all of us post about the small things that mean the world, pretty soon the world (well the bloggy world at least) will be full of kindness.
It is no secret that I haven't been well of late and I have had quite a while sat on the sofa contemplating life (read here wallowing in self pitty until I physically slapped myself realising other have it worse!) Discovering this blogsplash has at least given me a new topic to consider.
Because of the way my life has panned out, because of a million reasons, I don't really have a small tight knit group of friends and I am an only child. My best friend is my husband and most of the other people I class as dear friends are not the type of people to live in my pocket, or vice versa.
However, it is during times like these that I really miss having this kind of network. People who will drop everything to pop in for a brew and make sure you are still sane. People who will fold that pile of washing because the Other Half is doing a sterling job but can't do the work that two of us struggled to get through when fully functioning. People who don't give a rats ass if you haven't changed out of your PJ's in 48 hours.
I don't have this, what I have discovered though is how fabulous new friends can be. How it means the world when someone I hardly know thinks to send me funny youtube clips just because she knows I am having a hard time. It may seem like such a small thing, but to me it meant the difference between a smile or total break down.
As I have already thanked the special person who meant the world to me yesterday (althoough I am not sure she knows how much it meant - ha ha she does now!) I thought I would spread the love. I don't know anyone that is struggling today but if you are reading this and are weighed down by something here is a little juevenile hilarity. I hope this is the difference between a smile or a tear for you too.
Small kindnesses for me are those people that reach out to others in need; those that phone or text or tweet or email just to see if you are ok. Those that don't assume that someone else has it covered. Those little gestures that mean we don't feel so alone.
Be sure to visit some of the other blogs sharing their small kindnesses today, links can be found here
Sing along Saturday is dedicated to those few true friends who have been there for me this week. My Best Friend (other wise know as the other half) who has been my rock and generally run the house and kids. But also a couple of people who have provided me with much needed distractions, you know who you are!! I love you all.
As soon as I am fighting fit I will be there for you too ;-)
I had an amazing night last night! I have been to a few concerts before now but they have all been relatively nice refined affairs. Not last night, oh no, last night I popped my heavy rock cherry. Oh and I loved it!!!!!! Thanks should be said here to a fab friend who did not run screaming from the building at the sight of me bouncing up and down and singing till I lost my voice, guess that is true friendship for you!!
I hurt today, a lot, the sign of a lot of dancing and jumping around. So I am off to enjoy a cupcake and recover! I will however leave you with a little treat for my first sing along Saturday...enjoy!
And just in case any of the Lostprophets boys happen to wander by my blog; I love you all, thanks for popping my cherry and yes I would shave my legs for any one of you ;-)
PS I will take requests for next Saturday so messages on a postcard please (ok in the comments would be quicker!!)
"If I had a flower for every time I thought of you...I could walk through my garden forever."
― Lord Alfred Tennyson
I have been thinking a lot today about friends and how well we know the people we love (yes blogging friends you only have yourselves to blame). Tangled Lou and Margi at The M Half met up recently and their experience coupled with a.eye's post at Shouldn't Life Be More Thank This? really got my thinking cogs turning.
Have you ever been really down in the dumps; missing something or someone so much it hurts, or simply fed up with what life is throwing at you? Next thing you find out a friend is on the downside to. Suddenly your troubles don't seem so bad, you are now occupied trying to figure out how to cheer said friend up. Does this happen to anyone else or is this just another quirk d'Sleepy?
It hurts when you look so down
How can I disappear your frown?
It hurts when you look so stressed
I wish I could help you worry less!
It hurts when I don't know what to do
Making me realise I really don't know you
Let me in and tell me why
Before your pain causes me to cry.
In times like these I just hope they know I have a very pretty and colourful garden (at least in my head anyway!) I just hope that that is enough!
We have all felt it, that swell in your heart, the lump in your throat, the tell tale signs of Love. Sometimes I think I love too much, but that is a different and much longer post full of psychoanalysis that I am just not up for at this hour!
I remembered today how when I was young people got teased for 'luuurving' someone. A little older and the all consuming love of each high school crush, graffitied across our books and bags as a badge of honour.
It is not until later in life that we develop an appreciation that Love comes in may different forms. Parental love; proud and protective.
Romantic love; consuming and powerful.
Sibling love; being there no matter what happens.
These forms of love are not chosen, but the love shared between friends is a different beast all together. It is not as all consuming as that for a lover, nor as unbreakable as the love we have for our family, yet sometimes just sometimes it is perfect and fulfilling.
Today I spotted this picture floating around on Facebook and had to share it with you all, it describes love for me perfectly; be it between lover, a parent and child or between two friends.
Love to all my blogging friends, you have all shown time and again that you are willing to give up your time and energy to help out those in this little corner of the virtual world to ease the pain of another or help motivate someone to a goal. The fact that you can do this for people you haven't meant is an inspiration to me. Today my motivation and my smile are thanks to my inspiration; Deb over at Kicking Corners. A wonderful person, who I am privileged to call friend, even though we have never met. Thank you!
'It takes two to tango'....where did this saying come from?? For the history lesson go here.
For me the tango has always been my favourite dance, the tension between the dancers, the passion, the romance, the constant 'you chase, I chase' that all combines to make it utterly mesmerising to watch and fantastic to dance (if you can find the right partner!).
Sorry I couldn't decide between these two performances. One is strictly and Argentine tango the other a tango waltz. Either way I only wish I was that good!!
The tango, and this saying, kind of epitomise every successful relationship. Mother - daughter, husband - wife, lovers, friends; to really succeed, to really work for all involved and be enjoyable, fulfilling and memorable there must be give and take, push and pull, simply being there for each other.
There must be a willingness to chase the other, on both sides, just because the other person is worth your time and effort. Granted with family you are more inclined to try harder for longer, but in all other cases if one side starts to let things slip, if they become lazy and expect the other person to do all the work then that is when relationships break down. Friends loose touch, lovers go their separate ways, marriages break down, family members don't speak from one Christmas to the next.
The more mesmerising the dance the longer one person will try to lead even if the other person forgets their steps (trust me been there!) but eventually the dance will stop because it can no longer continue if one forgets to move toward the other.
My heart always breaks a little when the dance is over, as it does in life when you realise the dance of friendship has run its course, only you have been trying to lead the other when they no longer care to dance.
Keep dancing, keep moving towards the people that count because one day they may have given up and may not be there to catch you for the all important lift!
Apologies for the not so motivational post today, sometimes the little faerie in my mind writes what she wants to.
Only three days left to Deb's deadline, bob on over to see how she is doing. Let her know we are all cheering her to the finish line.
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
I have had such a lovely weekend that I thought I just had to share it with you, even though I am writing this on a Monday night and probably won't post it until early Tuesday morning so it is technically speaking not a 'weekend wonder' but what the hell I like breaking rules!
It started on Friday night drinking a bottle of wine and chatting to a friend (who is not my husband!) for five whole hours. I have no idea how we filled the time but I loved every minute of it and it was definitely worth the slightly fuzzy head the morning after!! There is something quite special about sharing a moan or a secret with a female friend that I have never really indulged in before, however I will definitely be doing so again!!
Then Saturday morning I got to shop, who doesn't love that!!! Now normally at this point I would consider my weekend complete and it could be in the running for a spot in my top ten weekends, yes I am very easily pleased, however it was no where near over. The girls had been packed off to Granny's for the weekend and we set off on our little adventure.
The British Grand Prix! Sorry I am getting my giddies now. There were a number of things that could go wrong; potential closure of the car parks (with not many alternative ways to get there), collection of tickets on the day at the event, the weather! Hence my usual giddiness didn't hit before the event. However we made it there, actually to the best parking space we have ever had at the event, the tickets were collected without a problem and the rain held off in the run up to the race. I even got to have starwberries and cream when I got into the track. The only downside...the tickets ended up being in a grandstand made out of glorified mechano, ok so that was a slight over exaggeration scaffolding but given my fear of heights (which is getting better) to sit up there was a little nerve wracking. Yet when the race was under way I forgot all about where I was and loved every minute! I thought I would share a few photos of the day:
This is how muddy some parts around the track were, and worse!
The Red Arrows show before the race.
The other half sporting opposing team colours, good job I love him!
Me getting into the spirit of things.
Picture of the McLaren garages thought the barriers on our post race walk down the pit straight.
Even some cute cars to look at whilst sat in the queue to get out of the car park!
In short a really great weekend was had, just back to reality now :-(
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