tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-522250663411165232024-03-13T04:04:09.015-07:00Midlands MidlifeThe random twitterings of a midlander, midlife!Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.comBlogger171125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-69448167519058845022011-01-12T15:01:00.000-08:002011-01-12T15:14:38.339-08:00New Year!Hello blog readers, hope you're all having a great New Year, yes I know this post is a little late to be mentioning that, but better late than never eh!<br />Things have been a tad busy here, hence my other frizforthewin blog got abandoned too, right about the time we moved house and lost web connection for 2.5 weeks (ARGGGGHHHHHH I hear you gasp?!)<br />We'll it's all sorted now, but I don't recommend moving house 3 weeks before Xmas.....especially with the whole Santa thing to do, let alone trying to find the rest of...well...everything you've ever accumalated....particularly in the snow, as we did......I'm surprised I'm still sane (at least I think I am? answers on the comments please!)<br />Currently our New Year has started with all the kids deciding to be ill, oh the joys of cleaning up sick.....and now we're onto the horrible coughing bit, poor dd2 is sounding very rough.....might have to go to the Dr's with her yet :-(<br />Anyway it's late, so I'm off to bed! but I will post again soon :-) Have fun until then!Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-67079897678083492472010-08-26T13:13:00.001-07:002010-08-26T13:29:01.156-07:00A wedding!!Oooh we're off to a wedding tomorrow for the day, not just any old wedding this one either, because it's at a zoo!! Chester Zoo to be precise www.chesterzoo.org I have to say our wonderful friends had a cracking idea getting married there, our kids are sooo excited! (as I do believe is theirs too) We apparently get to look around the zoo before the wedding, then afterwards apparently we get to play with the monkeys (more on this later of course!)<br />In the meantime I'm hoping I fit into one of two dresses that appear to be my options for wearing tomorrow....I've been that busy with work this last week or three that I've had no time to look for anything to wear! yikes......sure it will be ok!<br />Keep your fingers crossed that the weather clears up ok, we need a lovely day for the bride and her groom :-)Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-87041283030581404392010-08-18T15:33:00.000-07:002010-08-18T15:46:31.446-07:00Life and the art of not postingFar too busy of late, but it's 23:34, tea is cooking in the oven, the girls are on holiday with Gran, stepson is at his mums and husband is still not back from work, so I have a few mins to post! and catch up with the world.<br /><br />August is a whirl! we've done a week in Wales, at LARP (Live Action Roleplay) for those of you who don't know what the hell I'm on about <a href="http://www.ascendancylrp.co.uk/">www.ascendancylrp.co.uk</a> is the system dh and I run with the help of lots of ref's and crew! It rained 5 days out of 7, particularly spectacularly the day MeridianAriel came to see us! thank goodness for the local McArthur Glen at Bridgend, or we'd have been a lot soggier (incorporating Starbucks obviously :-) )<br /><br />(and now I have a cat trying to share my knee!)<br /><br />This week, as above, the girls are away with Gran, so that we can both go to work, as we have staff off on holiday! (kids and working evenings do not go!) and we're trying to get the house painted up as we're putting it up for sale in the hope of moving (nearer the bbsitter - Gran!) I've tried to paint our bedroom celing tonight, but failed, as didn't have enough paint left in the tin, so it's half done! 'fail'<br /><br />Gah gotta dash, husband has arrived and tea needs eating, before it's time to get up again.Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-36242192546077040502010-07-30T04:45:00.000-07:002010-07-30T05:10:41.701-07:00Thank you gifts<strong></strong><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/TFK9df6YMFI/AAAAAAAAAK4/MADH0ZwA8fI/s1600/DSCF1012.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499666409453006930" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/TFK9df6YMFI/AAAAAAAAAK4/MADH0ZwA8fI/s320/DSCF1012.JPG" /></a><br /><div>My lovely friend Meridian Ariel and her husband have helped our family out a heap over the last few weeks leading upto the holidays, as I needed a hand with childcare after school, due to staff holidays at work and then to top it all our car kept breaking down and her lovely husband kept flying to my rescue, from the roadside and then helped us again by ferrying us all around until we got mobile again.<br /></div><div>This deserved a BIG THANK YOU, So I decided to make them something, (as handmade is always better than shop brought) but what do you make the queen of crafting and baking that she can't do better herself?</div><br /><div>The only thing I could think of was scones, so that's what I did, here's the recipe and the photos for you to enjoy. I took them round with a pot of jam and some clotted cream, as that's what goes best. I also cheated and get her a bunch of flowers from the supermarket, but you can't really make those yourself can you eh?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="center"><strong>Fruit Scones</strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong></strong></div>Heat oven to 220<br />Grease a baking tray with margarine<br />You need:<br />8 oz of self raising flour<br />2 oz margarine or butter (softened if butter)<br />1 oz sugar<br />1 egg<br />Milk to make upto 125 ml or 1/4 pint of liquid<br />Salt and a Teaspoon<br />Fruit of your choice (dried is best but you could happily experiment!)<br />A rolling pin<br />A cookie cutter or a knife<br /><br />1. Mix flour and half a tea spoon of salt, rub in the margarine until you get a fine consistancy.<br />2. Stir in the sugar and fruit<br />3. Mix the egg and milk together, then add most of it to the mix, (save a bit for the tops if you like) watch the mix doesn't get too wet here, as you need to be able to roll it out, if it does, add a bit more flour.<br />4. Kneed in the bowl or on a floured work surface, when your happy with it, (should be roll outable, a nice soft and spongy dough, not soggy, add extra flour until you're happy you can roll it out) turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and roll it out into 1cm thickness.<br />5. Grab your cookie cutter and get making scones! pop them onto your baking tray, if you want shiny scones, brush a bit of the egg and milk mix on the top, if not don't,<br />6. Bake for 10 minutes.<br /><br />Chefs note: You don't actually need a cookie cutter, my mum uses a knife and makes triangles or squares.<br /><br />Happy scone making!<br /><div align="center"></div>Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-3728064309661635412010-07-12T08:00:00.000-07:002010-07-12T08:38:52.007-07:00Summer Garden GoodiesThis summer we've been busy trying to grow a variety of stuff in the garden with varying success. Peas have been great, the girls have had lots of fun shelling them (and eating them in the process) you can't beat fresh peas, they taste so great and are that easy to grow even I can do it! This year we did ours in a large garden pot, just sewed them in a z shape, as per the packet, and kept on watering them, the result is as below, with the only hardship being the purchase of some pea/bean netting for them to grow up (we scrounged the canes from my mum!)<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/TDswMfIneNI/AAAAAAAAAKw/G3AN_WLFZRI/s1600/DSCF0959.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493037161582655698" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/TDswMfIneNI/AAAAAAAAAKw/G3AN_WLFZRI/s320/DSCF0959.JPG" /></a><br />I attempted a few lettuce too and the result is below, two Lollo Rosso just about ready to eat.<br /><br /><br /><div> </div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/TDsvR_6i0ZI/AAAAAAAAAKo/hdkSxizs390/s1600/DSCF0960.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493036156769718674" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/TDsvR_6i0ZI/AAAAAAAAAKo/hdkSxizs390/s320/DSCF0960.JPG" /></a></div><div></div><div> </div><div>A few years back I purchased five strawberry plants that did nothing...then last year, they kicked into life and sent runners off everywhere and fruited like nobodys business! unfortunately I developed a slight rodent problem too, so we didn't get any fruit for ourselves, but this year, rodent issues sorted, I learn't my lesson and got the netting out, which miffed our local friendly blackbird, but got us a prize haul of strawberries for the last two weeks! </div><div> </div><div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/TDsvQlMYAYI/AAAAAAAAAKY/NIbDrib2dwo/s1600/DSCF0956.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493036132416881026" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/TDsvQlMYAYI/AAAAAAAAAKY/NIbDrib2dwo/s320/DSCF0956.JPG" /></a></div><div></div><div> </div><div>A strawberry ripening, they taste so lovely, freshly picked. </div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/TDsvQfDBIVI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/5ta0lYU5krY/s1600/DSCF0957.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493036130767020370" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/TDsvQfDBIVI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/5ta0lYU5krY/s320/DSCF0957.JPG" /></a></div><div></div><div> </div><div>The end result, one days haul, ready for some sugar, cream or ice-cream! </div><div><br /> </div></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/TDsvPy9BSnI/AAAAAAAAAKI/rYpeOL5Vk8I/s1600/DSCF0963.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493036118930705010" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/TDsvPy9BSnI/AAAAAAAAAKI/rYpeOL5Vk8I/s320/DSCF0963.JPG" /></a></div><div><div></div><div> </div><div>The funniest thing was, after a whole week of eating strawberries, the kids started to beg me not to feed them strawberries the next week! so we made a huge pile of milkshakes and smoothies with them instead! (who ever thought we'd get sick of strawberries eh!)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-77241463894441989882010-07-04T07:05:00.000-07:002010-07-04T07:09:35.919-07:0010 Seconds to myselfSo what do you think of the new blog layout then? I've had 10 seconds to myself today! or at least that's how it feels, despite the kids being away at the grandparents for the weekend, husband and I have had so much to catch up on and do! (like spend an evening together, that's not at work or talking about work!) At last I've found the time to tinker and post though, hopefully will be doing a bit more of that, now that we're getting straighter :-) with life, work etc. I've even had time to read a few of my friends blogs too :-)Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-33977033293438937352010-05-10T06:16:00.000-07:002010-05-10T06:51:31.257-07:00Little and Large Craft Swapping<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469630008824720338" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/S-gHg4DQa9I/AAAAAAAAAJ4/VE1TtJbJADA/s320/DSCF0768.JPG" /><br />Dd1 and I decided to partake in a craft swap to help pass the Easter holidays, as she loves creating and crafting things, I thought this would be an ideal thing for us to do during the hols, which are usually wet and horrible, particularly as I was mainly off work! Typcially it decided to be lovely and sunny and thus the whole close came out to play for the two weeks, so dd1 didn't make quite as much stuff as she usually would have done for the swap, but as it was billed as adults too, I got cracking and I hope our recipients liked what we did for them. The picture above contains dd1's peg doll and bracelet, all made by her, then the Tooth Fairy pillow and the Head Band were crafted by myself. I added goodies from Lush, as noted on the swap info, along with some chocolate, Oreos and two packets of Tinker Bell sweets recently arrived from USA from dd1's friend H. (dd1 wanted to share, as you can't get them here!)<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/S-gHxKCghQI/AAAAAAAAAKA/GAQrXMlkink/s1600/DSCF0776.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469630288531326210" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/S-gHxKCghQI/AAAAAAAAAKA/GAQrXMlkink/s320/DSCF0776.JPG" /></a> In return we got the goodies in the picture above, plus some yummy Green n Blacks Butterscotch Chocolate for me! As you can see we have a great Lion, Horse (who glows in the dark) and bracelet made by our small swapee for dd1. The fantastic knitted Pokemon, were knitted by our large swappee, who is a genius! if I'm right we have a Piccachu and a Jumpluff, plus a great Mario Mushroom :-) apparenlty they're amigurumi <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amigurumi">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amigurumi</a><br />I think you have to be more talented than I am to knit them, but I must say I am quite tempted to give it a go when I get time! dd1 is very impressed and will be taking them to Pokemon Hobby League with her this week, I bet all the kids will want them :-)<br /><br />Gah I'm out of time, I have to dash to school, more from me soon! (ish) in my terms of blogging at the moment, that will be about another three weeks.....bye!<br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-54893616629363380512010-05-04T14:52:00.001-07:002010-05-04T14:53:11.587-07:00I want to blogI want to blog about some crafting stuff I've been doing, but sorry I can't yet folkes, as the recipient hasn't confirmed it's been recieved and just in case she's aware of this blog!! so coming soon....Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-59440688936557145322010-04-04T04:24:00.001-07:002010-04-04T05:03:02.153-07:00Happy Eastes Sunday /Gardening against the odds<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/S7h7cqudAkI/AAAAAAAAAJw/J_aTDdgJeEo/s1600/DSCF0755.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456246680995037762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/S7h7cqudAkI/AAAAAAAAAJw/J_aTDdgJeEo/s320/DSCF0755.JPG" border="0" /></a>Happy Easter Sunday! Whaddya think of my biscuit then? masterpiece eh! well the girls, their friend and I had fun doing those yesterday afternoon, kept us entertained. This morning however I have been doing other things.<br /><br />The morning started with my lovley REM sleep being disturbed by a very excited daughter wielding an Easter Egg, all good, the Easter bunny has done his job well. REM 0, Kids 1. So dh distracted the kids by letting them eat an egg each and I got half way through my friends 'Kick Ass' Graphic, before an almighty crash signaled the end of 'A's plantpot and stand (very sad as inherited from his deceased mother) and one very upset dd1, as she realised the significance of what her dancing had done........<br /><br />Fastforward a few hours, graphic finished (yay) and breakfast out of the way, I decide to pot on a few of our attempts at the growing of veg and flowers for the year.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/S7h6FF-IOUI/AAAAAAAAAJo/5J4rH0hmDzU/s1600/DSCF0759.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456245176480053570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/S7h6FF-IOUI/AAAAAAAAAJo/5J4rH0hmDzU/s320/DSCF0759.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><p>Above are our lettuce seedlings, nestling in garden fleece, in a hope they may survive.<br /></p><p>This is when I discover that a) its blooming freezing outside, despite a mixture of sunshine and showers and b) that dd2 has been attempting to kill several of the plants all by herself....it's enough to drive you to chocolate (and more coffee) I tell you! </p><p>Below is a picture of a surviving sunflower, dd2 has discovered that you can happily kill them by slotting your finger nails through the stems.......she's also re-discovered the naughty step and an unhappy mummy, I'm hoping she's learned her lesson?<br /></p><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/S7h6E4e7ztI/AAAAAAAAAJg/aX_24VyHp6Q/s1600/DSCF0761.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456245172859555538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/S7h6E4e7ztI/AAAAAAAAAJg/aX_24VyHp6Q/s320/DSCF0761.JPG" border="0" /></a> So in the end I managed to pot on the remaining few Sunflowers, (shame dd2 killed the best 3, sob, sob) 6 Tomatoes and 6 Sweetcorn as well. The results are displayed on our dining room table below, with a variety of other flower seedlings still waiting to grow. I've dragged the table in front of the window in the hope that this will assist the growth, should the sun every escape the cloud for 5 mins?<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/S7h6EVDA5LI/AAAAAAAAAJY/aMRa4aAg0qw/s1600/DSCF0758.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456245163347207346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/S7h6EVDA5LI/AAAAAAAAAJY/aMRa4aAg0qw/s320/DSCF0758.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-4282468335864953552010-04-03T05:32:00.000-07:002010-04-03T05:52:02.364-07:00Happy Easter<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/S7c2pCerjDI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/a1Bfy6NZSeY/s1600/DSCF0746.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455889552250735666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/S7c2pCerjDI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/a1Bfy6NZSeY/s320/DSCF0746.JPG" border="0" /></a> Happy Easter to whom ever is out there reading this blog!<br />Today has been a busy one so far, but as Meri is away I thought I'd pick up the batton and post for the 2nd time this year about our baking adventures!<br /><br />A, the girls and I whizzed to Beeston briefly this morning, and whilst dh did things at the Bank, we legged it around Wilkos to get big pots for our seedlings to transfer into (more on that in another post), I then snuck into Cafe Nero for a quick frappe latte, so dh had no choice but to join me :-) mwah haha...then grabbed some cupcake cases from Sainsb's and dropped A back at work in Ripley. <br /><br />Got home, grew another child from down the road immediately, so I thought right, I know what will keep the kids entertained, a spot of baking! told them, they all ran a mile, seems playing mums with babies is what they'd rather be doing today. So I baked in peace instead! <br /><br />I've created some lovely chocolate biscuits for them all to decorate later this afternoon, when their friend gets back from swimming, we have lots of sprinkles, eggs, and a variety of coloured icing to knock up, which they can spoon over to their hearts content.<br /><br />I also knocked up the lovely vanilla cupcakes that you can see in the picture, what do you think of my piping, not bad for my 1st ever attempt eh? dd1 did the box at school, it says to mum on the other side, alas the chocolate goodies that were in it seem to have disappeared before I got a look in?! and the smaller daffodils, now in the cup, were on dd2's easter bonnet (which was minimalist, as I only realised about it all the day before, ahem) I'm sure the friends we have popping by tonight will help us shift this abundance of cakes, failing that I doubt very much that we'll struggle, in fact I may just try one now, with some lovely Mocha coffee that my mum brought me back from the Caribbean, mmmmmm.Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-37907921751436284892010-03-27T15:15:00.000-07:002010-03-27T15:23:31.320-07:00Photo meme thing<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/S66EUflufOI/AAAAAAAAAJI/3QEJTjQ_7G0/s1600/DSCF0172.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453441686404234466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/S66EUflufOI/AAAAAAAAAJI/3QEJTjQ_7G0/s320/DSCF0172.JPG" border="0" /></a>Well, I thought as I've not blogged for aeons (or so it seems) I'd slowly get back into things by doing the meme, which I apparently got tagged with, just by reading Meridianariels blog! so if you're reading this may I suggest you do the same too :-)<br />Open the first folder and pick the 10th picture. It's that simple! in my case it turns out to be a lovely Sunflower in the garden about 3 years ago. Lovely summery picture, seeing the sunshine in it is making me hope for warmer days soon, even if the forecasters do say we have a further bout of snow to hit us before Easter is out. So until the next time dear blog readers.<br /><div></div>Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-63651594476799342312009-10-03T06:56:00.000-07:002009-10-03T07:28:46.168-07:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SsdY2hhLH6I/AAAAAAAAAI4/2t4sSQ7is3s/s1600-h/DSCF0543.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388373172905779106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SsdY2hhLH6I/AAAAAAAAAI4/2t4sSQ7is3s/s320/DSCF0543.JPG" border="0" /></a> Well, my family are going to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">benefit</span> from my slightly foul mood this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">afternoon</span> if nothing else. Normally, well no actually, not normally these days (as I have kids, who hamper my mood loosing abilities these days) but in days past, when someone has <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">aggravated</span> me enough to get me into a bad mood, I've been known to go and stomp the hills for a few hours/miles until I'm feeling fresh as a daisy again, full of lovely clean (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ish</span>) air and nature and its wonderful calming effects. This afternoon however, as I have the kids in tow, I cannot do that, (if I did it'd be fruitless, as the whinging a 3 and 5 year old can produce when being asked to walk up a hill to admire a view, is beyond the limits of comprehension) so between random shouts of '<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">mummy</span>' and screams of 'she did this, she did that' I've attempted to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">therapeutically</span> bake my way to sanity. <br /><br />This has mainly worked, bar me just attempting to have 5 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">mins</span> with the cat on my knee to write this, during which time I've upset dd1, as I asked her to leave me alone, just for a few minutes, so she's now stomping about upstairs very loudly.....<br /><br />So what's put me in a mood, my dearest daddy of course. The only person in the world who can possibly wind me up so much (although <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">dh</span> comes a close 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">nd</span> some times, but I can divorce him right? so he's never managed to hit the mark quite like an errant parent can, dd1 is possibly thinking this about me right now too....) Anyway the issue arose, when I asked my dad to meet me at the hospital and look after my kids for 15-30 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">mins</span> in the canteen, so I could go and see my gran, his mother, who I've not seen for a week, due to visiting hours starting at school finish time and ending at the kids bed time (which is just about when <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">dh</span> gets home, if he's not working an evening) He said no to meeting me at the hospital............he did say I could travel an hour to his, drop the kids, go to the hospital (half hour back where I'd come from, then back to his to get my kids, then an hour home) surprisingly I said no, or should that be NO!<br /><br />He is now going to the hospital to visit her, himself with my mum, but has refused to look after my kids for half hour when he's there, so I can see her too. I tell you, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">WTF</span> is that about then? other than him behaving like a child? a very selfish one at that......my mum tried to offer to have them with him, but he's told her she can't? I don't want to cause WW3 between them, so I've just left it and come to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">grrrrrrrrr</span> at home on my own.<br /><br />The result of my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Grrrrrrrrr</span> so far has been Apple and Blackberry Crumble for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">dh</span>, Apple Muffins for the girls and I (and Richard if he wants some too) plus a now rising loaf of bread, which needs another kneed soon, before it hits the oven. (I'm gonna kneed that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Grrrrrr</span> right out of my hair)<br /><br />The house smells lovely and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Autumnal</span> now, lots of cinnamon spice (which <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">incidentally</span> was the first smell to hit me, when I got to Meridians this am) The girls had fun baking the muffins with me and coating them with cinnamon sugar, so its not been all bad for them either, particularly as they get to feast on them shortly too!<br /><br />We also picked up some Pumpkins for carving today too, although its a bit early for that, on Meridians recommendation we went to the farm that sells mainly apples and '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">woot</span>' only £1.00 per pumpkin, so we have two <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">adorning</span> the fire place now, I guess its a spot of crafting next then, after all October is the month to 'do' Halloween.Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-52556399641076552022009-08-24T08:27:00.000-07:002009-08-24T08:52:18.345-07:00Tis the season....<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Tis</span> the season to purchase new PJ's is what I say! well it wasn't exactly what I went out for initially, but you know, a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do right?<br /><br />My day started <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ominously</span> enough, with tummy ache, so I ignored the fact I'd <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">pledged</span> to my fattening tummy that I really would attend body combat today and instead accepted a cup of Earl Grey tea in bed, which promptly went cold as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">dh</span> let me sleep for another hour, 9am wake up bliss! but I have kids, so cold tea is really not a problem, kinda the usual really (Mondays in case you hadn't guessed are a day off work here, and with the kids being off school an excuse not to shift!) I eventually surfaced, fed the kids and dunked and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">de</span> loused them. (Yes <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">folk's</span>! we're a nit free house once again, stage 2 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">treatment</span> complete 'salutes the air', well until summer club tomorrow again anyway, when I swear I will kill someone if dd1 brings them home again.....)<br />then I promptly left <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">dh</span> with the kids, as he'd kindly offered to 'look after them' whilst I went to meet my old friend Sue for lunch and a natter.<br /><br />Obviously when girls get together, we can rattle on a bit, which we <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">duly</span> did whilst working our way around several home stores (including <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Ikea</span> and Starbucks twice!) as we both needed a few ideas and bits of storage stuff, then it all kind of went awry when we just popped into Next for a look around and I remembered I needed some tights (its nearly autumn right) and then I saw some lovely new slippers, and well the PJ's next to them did match, so......<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">gah</span>! I brought them....after all the nights are drawing in and it was kinda cold last night, so surely I can't begrudge myself new PJ's eh? I did stop short of buying the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">hoodie</span> top to go with them, I figured I may let myself have that later in the year, when it gets <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">truly</span> freezing......the good news is I didn't buy any actual clothes from there, as the only top I liked looked horrible on! <br /><br />I get home to the ominous sound of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">dh</span> exclaiming 'what have you been doing down here!'<br />'ah' thinks I before opening the door, classic absent parenting must have been going on whilst I was away (the sort that involves an X-Box for the man and the house and contents for the kids) ....I didn't stay long, just long enough to admire the mess, the kids in swimsuits? and a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">harassed</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">dh</span>, whilst saying 'I'll go to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Sainsburys</span> to get something for tea then dear' whilst he looked disgruntled.<br /><br />When I got back again, the place was tidy with grovelling kids :-) So I coerced them into baking a lemon cake with me, which might yet be a drizzle icing one, as we've not gotten that far yet, because its still baking. I've even rustled up some chicken and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Mediterranean</span> vegetables now ready to cook for tea, not sure what's come over me? its the most domesticated I've been in weeks! maybe its the seasons running two weeks early (according to the BBC) is making me go all <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Autumnal</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">nesty</span> now?Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-1554476205807664882009-07-15T08:23:00.000-07:002009-07-15T08:49:51.117-07:0050's B Movie Craft Swap<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/Sl33vtsK8mI/AAAAAAAAAIw/gwwmZwo00tQ/s1600-h/DSCF0460.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358711530731532898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/Sl33vtsK8mI/AAAAAAAAAIw/gwwmZwo00tQ/s320/DSCF0460.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is what arrived in the post this morning from <a href="http://miyasohoza.blogspot.com/">http://miyasohoza.blogspot.com/</a> for the 50's B movie craft swap that Meridian sorted out for us all. Do you like my gwibbly blob monsters? the kids do, and guess which one they've been fighting over! that's right the Pink one, dd1 has won so far and its in her bedroom. I've also got some lovely choc to scoff whilst watching the enclosed DVD 'The Vampire Bat' eeeeeekkkk!!!!! plus a lovely eye mask to help me get some decent rest and more thread for stiching yay!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/Sl32PzguaYI/AAAAAAAAAIo/DwXzxohO1tM/s1600-h/DSCF0449.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358709883026696578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/Sl32PzguaYI/AAAAAAAAAIo/DwXzxohO1tM/s320/DSCF0449.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here's what I sent to Miya, A Were Rabbit Tea Towel, some evil mushrooms to hang, a booklet for the warding of vampires, some knitting needle bracelets, plus yarn for knitting and some scrummy choc and choc covered popcorn for watching B Movies with! </div><div> </div><div>What a cool swap, wonder if I can create the time for another one this year?<br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-13047040813890071952009-07-06T07:48:00.000-07:002009-07-06T08:02:02.842-07:00GibberWhat on earth did I just do???<br />I've entered an online writing competition, yikes.....good news is its an American thing, so I won't even be keeping tabs on it, just waiting for the rejection email instead! still at least it means I've written something! gotta be in it to win it as they say.<br />Its all Meridians fault, she decided that we'd do something slightly different for the book and writing group this week and she found the competition! I'm hoping she's submitted her Poision Apple Tree story as its rather good, will beat my pathetic entry by far! mind you they're also two totally different types of fiction anyway!<br /><br />Other news this week, Loki our new cat is settleing in well, he's got a reprieve on the VET for his injections until next week, as they want to be sure he's 9 weeks and cat rescue weren't sure if he was 7 or 8 weeks when we got him, so he's up for jabs next week instead. He's been shockingly using his basket, which in my experience cats just don't do, I mean come on, they're usually 'better' than that right, you know, entitled to use the bed/best seat they can find in the house, but hey I'm not complaining. He's been a star with the litter tray, no accidents so far and is slowly learning to jump from sofa to sofa and up onto the chairs. The table has been attempted a few times, but he's been immediately lifted to the floor, so has given up until we're not looking. Other news is, smoked cheese and curry are a must attempt to get to eat, no matter how much dh and I say no! thus he's generally spending mealtimes in a different room to us, as we hate to see him so disapointed! He's currently sitting on my tap as I type, trying to chew a bangle I crafted yesterday round at Meridians, I'll post pictures later, as I don't want to spoil my craft swap for the 50's B Movie swap, that Meridian has organised, as I've just posted it today, but its off to the states, so will take around 2 weeks to get there! keep your eyes peeled on these here pages!Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-80242163758284423822009-06-29T09:19:00.000-07:002009-06-29T09:34:16.442-07:00Our new addition<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SkjqG975SXI/AAAAAAAAAIY/a6nEeP0I5AE/s1600-h/DSCF0440.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352785562555730290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SkjqG975SXI/AAAAAAAAAIY/a6nEeP0I5AE/s320/DSCF0440.JPG" border="0" /></a>Meet Loki, our new addition to the family! We've been expecting an arrival for a few weeks, and on Sunday got the call from the Cats Protection League to say that they'd found us a suitable young man and I have to say I think they got it spot on.<br />He's 7/8 weeks old and has lost his mummy to a traffic accident........not that he's bothered now, as he's getting lots of fuss and attention here, let me tell you this is not a timid cat. The current reciept of his attention however appears to be the patio window blinds, a source of much amusement it appears, good job his claws were snipped this morning before we got him, so at least he's not climbing them today at least. Dd1 has so far drawn him two pictures of himself and re allocated her toy dog kennel for him to sleep in, dd2 is still at nursery so has yet to meet him, no doubt that will keep us amused until bedtime!Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-27637617625874984082009-06-22T05:41:00.000-07:002009-06-22T06:05:48.185-07:00Strawberries Nil<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/Sj99caZ5WWI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/lfU9pNJQ0Xk/s1600-h/DSCF0428.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350132809417185634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/Sj99caZ5WWI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/lfU9pNJQ0Xk/s320/DSCF0428.JPG" border="0" /></a>This year I've been attempting to grow various things in pots. We've not got much border in which to do growing left, as I seem to have covered it all in bushes and herbs! So in an effort to show the girls how to grow their own food (like they paid much attention really) earlier we sowed a few trays of seeds, plus a few outdoor pots and now here are the results starting to come through! The pot above contains spring onions, I nibbled two for a taster with some sausages yesterday lunch and they were lovely, although they could do with another week or two to grow a bit more yet, so I shall refrain from harvesting any more just yet (Richard its a good job I forgot to send you home with some!)<br /><br />The pot garden in all its glory. <br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/Sj99cLSJPTI/AAAAAAAAAII/5ZXD3tjOQm8/s1600-h/DSCF0429.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350132805358140722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/Sj99cLSJPTI/AAAAAAAAAII/5ZXD3tjOQm8/s320/DSCF0429.JPG" border="0" /></a> The Grow bags contain far too many tomatoes, so I'm expecting a bumper chutney season in Autumn, although I may loose one plant yet, that is growing sideways mainly I assume due to the wind, but its stem is getting rather waterlogged, so may rot......</div><div>You can also see (left to right) Spring Onions, (back pot) Strawberries, 2 x Carrotts and finally Peas! Hopefully we shall have good crops from all, but we shall see........one thing I have learnt is that the table could do with moving, as whenever I put up the umbrella, it puts half the pots in shade....sigh.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/Sj99b6Gmb_I/AAAAAAAAAIA/awbslbBiNrM/s1600-h/DSCF0430.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350132800746319858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/Sj99b6Gmb_I/AAAAAAAAAIA/awbslbBiNrM/s320/DSCF0430.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Here's a photo of my fantastic strawberries. Well they were fantastic, we've had some very good eating off them, right up until the point that a small rodent, I think its a vole, has decided to start nibbling them.......we saw it bold as brass yesterday, running through the patch, taking a nibble out of each of my lovely ripening fruits......it ran away for all of 10 seconds when it realised I had spotted it, then it crept back.....I need to borrow my friends cat.....or get one of my own, dratted vermin. So yesterday it was Strawberries nil, invading nibbler 6........I was going to get netting, but they tunnel right? (the strawberries are in the remains of the border) sigh, moggy it is. I really wouldn't mind, but these strawberries did nothing last year, bar chucking off other runner plants, so to get all this lovely fruit this year, was something amazing! yet now I'm foiled again, who'd have thought gardening was so painful?<br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-58652289403660794402009-06-17T01:06:00.000-07:002009-06-17T01:22:13.422-07:00StormsMonday late afternoon was a day for some good storms in the UK it appears! Although we didn't get a direct hit here, due to being up a huge hill and thus having some weird weather conditions at the best of times, this photo shows the storm front approaching from the west. It was a rather weird evening in all, as we could see the storms swirling around our house from all sides, but mainly we stayed in the 'eye' if you like (except it wasn't a hurricane, so surely can't have an eye?)<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/Sjil4Wv1g3I/AAAAAAAAAH4/UbhDyrmkBxo/s1600-h/DSCF0434.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348206945099940722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/Sjil4Wv1g3I/AAAAAAAAAH4/UbhDyrmkBxo/s320/DSCF0434.JPG" border="0" /></a> I wish I had a better camera, these photos do not do the cloud formations justice really.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/Sjil4MHpzJI/AAAAAAAAAHw/XTYWn--c0Nw/s1600-h/DSCF0438.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348206942247046290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/Sjil4MHpzJI/AAAAAAAAAHw/XTYWn--c0Nw/s320/DSCF0438.JPG" border="0" /></a>What dh and I were seeing was 'proper' cgi, classic end of the world clourd swirls here, but sadly my little finepix camera, didn't quiet get the formations right.....I did call Meridian to get her dh to go out and take better pics with his mega equipment, but not sure if he got anything much from where they live? I'll wait for the rsvp on that one!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/Sjil3zHgJ2I/AAAAAAAAAHo/3MnTygjS2e8/s1600-h/DSCF0438.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348206935535527778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/Sjil3zHgJ2I/AAAAAAAAAHo/3MnTygjS2e8/s320/DSCF0438.JPG" border="0" /></a> Anyway thought you might a like a few cloudy photos for a change, I may have to ponder on getting a better camera though (expensive hobby alert!)<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-27227611180845265152009-06-11T13:20:00.000-07:002009-06-11T14:09:31.398-07:00Vive la France<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SjFqJS3yofI/AAAAAAAAAHg/SavErS9wXk4/s1600-h/DSCF0407.JPG"></a>Well, after the week of rain we've had here in the UK, I thought I'd cheer myself up (and anyone else whose reading) with a couple of pictures of lovely sunshine!<br /><br />The Marina at Frejus, Cote D'Azur, France.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SjFpF_9TiPI/AAAAAAAAAHY/iTXN43nzErg/s1600-h/DSCF0377.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346169784454318322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SjFpF_9TiPI/AAAAAAAAAHY/iTXN43nzErg/s320/DSCF0377.JPG" border="0" /></a> So we're back from our jollies to lovely, sunny, warm France, straight back to torrential rain in the UK, nice to see some typical British Summer Weather again......very tempted to get straight on a plane back down there again, I'll tell you!<br /><br /><div>We had a lovely time, splashing in the 6 pools on the caravan/camping site we were on (yep 6!) This is where we stayed and I'd recommend it to anyone whose looking for a great cheap getaway for themselves or their family. <a href="http://www.labaume-lapalmeraie.com/">http://www.labaume-lapalmeraie.com/</a> Their photos are lots better than mine too! </div><br /><br />As we'd hired a car whilst down there (lovely Toyota Corrola Verso, want one!) I managed to drag the horde off camp a few times, so we enjoyed perusing the 'local' supermarket 'Carrefour', who are about as local as Walmart these days.....but they had some nice goodies in there, so no complaints here! was particularly impressed by the range of Graphic Novels and Manga in there, you wouldn't get that in UK supermarkets.<br /><br />We managed a trip into Frejus, the local town, although I don't have any digital photos of that to share, which is a shame, as its a lovely old place, with an assortment of Roman ruins dotted throughout. I did remember to take a camera to the Marina and beach though, so you can enjoy a spot of summer sunshine through those.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SjFoCIbUWjI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/L4Um58wPXBY/s1600-h/DSCF0389.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346168618496580146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SjFoCIbUWjI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/L4Um58wPXBY/s320/DSCF0389.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><p>This is the view towards Saint Raphael.</p><p>We also managed a visit to Port Grimaud <a href="http://www.portgrimaud.com/">http://www.portgrimaud.com/</a> which again shows the place far better than I can, lovely little purpose built little venice, opposite Saint Tropez, which is the otherside of the bay. We didn't go into Saint Tropez, as its a one road in, one road out town, and the queues are huge. Most people recommend a ferry across, but with 5 of us, it was a bit too pricey for our cheap holiday! So instead we sat in Port Grimaud, admiring the lovely boats on display, whilst ponder exactly how many millions they cost! As usual a week away wasn't long enough, but hopefully we'll get longer next year.</p><p>I came back to find that Meridian had sorted out the 50's B Movie swap and I have my partner! so now I have to get crafting, hmmmm what to do.......</p>Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-12479362672869144132009-05-28T12:33:00.000-07:002009-05-28T12:34:42.489-07:00Vive la FranceSays it all really, tarra, as they say round here, see you in a week or so, when I may finally have something worthwhile to post about, ttfn.Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-49672690859774463682009-05-11T13:02:00.000-07:002009-05-11T13:04:15.698-07:00OMG its May!Sorry for the delayed realisation that its May and I haven't posted for nearly a month, I seem to be having a rather busy time of life, but I promise you I will be posting more shortly! decorating is now all done (for now anyway) so definately will post again before the week is out, promise!Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-59511875073137365282009-04-15T12:48:00.000-07:002009-04-15T13:14:01.027-07:00Easter WeekendSorry my posts have been missing for a while, I was rather poorly last week, unanticipated as these things always are, a quick two days in bed with the worst case of D&V I've had in years.....not recommended during your kids Easter holidays.........but I was better just in time for the chocolate and had obviously a huge excuse to eat my fill and gain the weight I'd lost being poorly!<br /><br />However Easter came and went with a calculated lack of chocolate in our household. I'd anticipated the possibility of chocolate overdose, and worked around it, so the kids only ended up with one egg and a few mini eggs each, hurrah, a less fattening Easter all round. The pictures below show a few painted<br />eggs by dd2.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SeY7tr1zrUI/AAAAAAAAAHI/psdNvOzVNgI/s1600-h/DSCF0360.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325009265460751682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SeY7tr1zrUI/AAAAAAAAAHI/psdNvOzVNgI/s320/DSCF0360.JPG" border="0" /></a> This one is by dd1.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SeY7tfNGfYI/AAAAAAAAAHA/_YDrDvQ_bgg/s1600-h/DSCF0359.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325009262068792706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SeY7tfNGfYI/AAAAAAAAAHA/_YDrDvQ_bgg/s320/DSCF0359.JPG" border="0" /></a>On Easter Monday we managed a day out at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Papplewick</span> Pumping Station (with the Grandparents) as they were having an open day, which also involved Egg Rolling. dd1 a surprising hit there, she got the hang of it and came 3rd, much to her and our surprise! The Pumping Station itself is a fantastic grand venue and I'm sorry I only had my phone with me, so my photos are still on it! It opens its door to the public every now and again, and they had the old <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Victorian</span> steam driven workings pumping away for all to see, quite a sight, when you consider the effort put into building such a structure in the first place. I think it took 6 boilers to keep it stoked enough in the days when steam did the trick on a local level, rather than the huge power stations and the grid that does the trick now. A great little site for the kids to see though, and it had some nice play areas, both park and science based, so the girls now know a bit more about the water cycle, getting water out of underground <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">reservoir's</span>, to houses etc.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SeY7tLUXy_I/AAAAAAAAAG4/p_mB_PL8Tz4/s1600-h/DSCF0357.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325009256730577906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SeY7tLUXy_I/AAAAAAAAAG4/p_mB_PL8Tz4/s320/DSCF0357.JPG" border="0" /></a> Our back garden looking slightly more spring like.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SeY7s42crMI/AAAAAAAAAGw/vFNkbnKe9y4/s1600-h/DSCF0356.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325009251773230274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SeY7s42crMI/AAAAAAAAAGw/vFNkbnKe9y4/s320/DSCF0356.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Ok</span> so here I attempted to show the Cherry Blossom in full swing, but the photo sure doesn't do the view from our garden justice. What a week its been in the garden......RAT is the main cry, we'll actually it went 'mummy, is that a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">squirrel</span> hanging off the bird feeder?' to which I replied, yuk, no.......and thus the catcher man from the council is coming around tomorrow sometime to sort out our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">lovely</span> row of houses, as it appears that our neighbour has the actual nest, whilst the rest of us, have a run through our gardens......shudder....it put paid to me doing an egg hunt in the garden let me tell you........<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-21400734726059393012009-04-15T12:42:00.000-07:002009-04-15T12:47:54.562-07:00Owl<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SeY5Ke2tCrI/AAAAAAAAAGo/e-GGgXuS_tQ/s1600-h/DSCF0347.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325006461656173234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SeY5Ke2tCrI/AAAAAAAAAGo/e-GGgXuS_tQ/s320/DSCF0347.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I thought I'd blog a picture of this fantastic Owl carving that we saw last week whilst away in Staithes, available from the local gallery there, although sorry folkes, I don't recall the name, but I'm sure if you search you'll find it! I also quite like the metal shoal of fish to the left of Owl, although you can't see them as clearly.</div>Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-8669923820626307302009-04-13T12:33:00.001-07:002009-04-13T13:08:13.009-07:00A trip up North<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SeOZN0DmjXI/AAAAAAAAAGg/VNM6FWajbLU/s1600-h/DSCF0348.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324267647073160562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SeOZN0DmjXI/AAAAAAAAAGg/VNM6FWajbLU/s320/DSCF0348.JPG" border="0" /></a> Fishing Boats moored on the river.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SeOZNg9NbPI/AAAAAAAAAGY/zi-3WjN6vq4/s1600-h/DSCF0350.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324267641946074354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SeOZNg9NbPI/AAAAAAAAAGY/zi-3WjN6vq4/s320/DSCF0350.JPG" border="0" /></a> The harbour is just around the corner.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SeOZNTLvbTI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/i7qTeZhYogY/s1600-h/DSCF0345.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324267638248926514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SeOZNTLvbTI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/i7qTeZhYogY/s320/DSCF0345.JPG" border="0" /></a> Where's the pirates?<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SeOZNHoMupI/AAAAAAAAAGI/vpG3-IYN30k/s1600-h/DSCF0338.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324267635147061906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SeOZNHoMupI/AAAAAAAAAGI/vpG3-IYN30k/s320/DSCF0338.JPG" border="0" /></a> Ah there they are!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SeOZMysV_oI/AAAAAAAAAGA/iZ0q4xfGWVY/s1600-h/DSCF0343.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324267629527301762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eK17o51la-Q/SeOZMysV_oI/AAAAAAAAAGA/iZ0q4xfGWVY/s320/DSCF0343.JPG" border="0" /></a>A view to the beach at Staithes. </div><div><br /><div>Ok I'm working backwards here, because I did the stuff in this post at the Beginning of the kids Easter Holidays, but here goes!<br /></div><div>Friday 3rd April, kids break up from school, dh and I do the decent thing and promptly take them to the grandparents for the weekend! Oh, I know this sounds callous, but this was to be our wedding anniversary weekend away, ok so it was a few weeks late, but better late than never and the kids got spoilt with a trip to the seaside whilst they were there and anyone who know us, will know the GP's (as we shall call them) didn't have the kids at all last year, so this year, they're unwittingly making up for it! </div><br /><div>Dh and I made our way to York, to the lovely Premier Inn and had a lovely night, eating and drinking in the pub next door, followed by wonderful sleep, not disturbed by anyone or anything. Shame we couldn't say this on the next evening, when the bit of the pub we were in got invaded by 5 families (count 'em) of loud Liverpudlians, who proceeded to sit, women, kids and blokes across the whole area on seperate tables, then shouting across to each other........they also set the fire alarm off at 7am the next morning, not impressed. But anyway I digress.....</div><br /><div>Saturday was spent wondering around Harrogate first, with dh and I miss timing breakfast at every cafe we attempted to go into, ie they'd all just stopped serving by 5 mins.......teach us to be leisurely in our day....no all day breakfasts up there! that we found anyway. So we browsed shops and book stores, then bailed out back to York for the afternoon, where we made ourselves at home in Borders, Neros and several other random stores, as we pootled around savouring the atmosphere. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Sunday we headed upto Redcar to see Mark and Amanda. As it was Marks 50th Birthday, we all headed to Staithes, on the Cleveland Coast, for a spot of lunch, at a fabby proper music and local type pub, that M & A have been gigging at recently. All lunched out, we headed down the hill to see what the village was like, and boy is it lovely, as the photos will attest to. A 'reete' good piratey place, if ever I saw one, which has been turned mainly by the looks of it, into holiday lets or gift shops, galleries and restaurants. Beautiful all the same, as I hope you can see from the pictures above.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>I'll fill you in on the rest of Easter later on this week, but sleep beckons for now and work has to be done for rather a long time tomorrow, so until the next time, adieu.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52225066341116523.post-81013807134429243052009-04-12T03:54:00.000-07:002009-04-12T03:55:12.091-07:00Happy EasterHappy Easter to all, been a bit weird here lately what with hols, illness and then Easter, but will post properly to catch up with you all soon, some nice photos too I hope!Frizbehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319570094726445686noreply@blogger.com0