Myplace2

Relocation, relocation, relocation

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:00:32 +0100

Just to let you all know that, in future, I won't be blogging here.

I won't be deleting this blog as it contains so many lovely memories so it will be simply suspended in time under the guardianship of "Arnica".

My poetry blog will stay the same but my non poetry posts will now be found here. You'll always be welcome to pop by for a coffee and chat.

I'll see you all over there for drinkies later!

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A taste of Cheddar

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:33:44 +0100

Cox's Mill Hotel, Cheddar Gorge

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Who's been sleeping in my bed?

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 13:45:22 +0100

When I arrived at my friend's house he said "I hope you don't mind sharing with George?"

Well he was a bit too boney for my liking but at least he didn't snore!

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I'm back!

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 08:41:15 +0100

What a hectic time I've had in the UK.

I have covered well over a thousand miles and met up with some smashing bloggers en-route.

First of all I spent a lovely day with one of my very first blogfriends Usky.

Then after a visit to my dear Mum I met up with Murphymole for a good old natter over a meal and glass or two of wine.

My next stop was lunch and a whistlestop tour of Nottingham's theatre land with Phil (Frenchy) Lowe.

Finally I met up with a boggle of bloggers in Bournemouth. Jenray (Jenny and Ray), Kevin Wilson, Elliegant and I spent time putting the world to rights. I've forgiven Jenny for telling me to "shut up"

All in all I had a great time meeting everyone and will definitely do it again.

Now all I have to do is catch up on what's been going on in blogland whilst I've been away

This could take some time!

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Amazing!

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:13:06 +0100

I've just managed to get online and am gob-smacked to see that I've been given two BLOSCARS!

Many thanks for all the lovely comments.

Marian

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I've got piles

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:46:20 +0100

.... of ironing to do.

I've created two piles - one "to do now" and one "to do sometime"

Well at least I'm organised!

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Spice on UK Tour

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 11:11:01 +0100

I decided that it's time I took a short break and looked at one or two options one of which was to drive back to the UK and look up a few friends. At Christmas I received a letter from an old friend who lives in the South of England but I don't have a recent email address or a telephone number for her but I came across the telephone number of someone I used to work with but haven't seen for almost eight years. I knew that he'd moved house and wasn't sure if this was the right number but I rang it anyway.

Well it was the right number and he was rather taken aback. He said "you won't believe this but I came across your address card just the other day and it's now sitting on my desk in front of me". We chatted for ages and I told him of my plan to drive back and he invited me to stay at his place in Somerset for a few days.

I haven't finalised my itinery yet but I will be driving around the UK so if any of my blogfriends want to let me have their telephone number (in confidence obviously!) I might just be in your area! Watch this space!

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Bring me Sunshine

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:26:18 +0100

Yesterday I came across this sculpture by the Canadian sculptor Louis Gosselin

The piece is entitled Oraison Solaire (Solar Prayer) and measures 210cm in circumference.

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First Wives' Club

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:51:38 +0100

Next week is half term holiday and my ex-husband and his wife are paying a visit to my Daughter and family. Louis (aged 5) told his teacher that Grandad was coming to stay and that his Grandad didn't have much hair. The teacher asked him if he used a walking stick!!!!

Well I thought it was funny!

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A Nice Touch!

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:09:33 +0100

Morning cuppa anyone?

How thoughtful of the proprietors to provide nice warm throws for their clients.

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Going .... going ..... gone!

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:58:59 +0100

Monkey see, monkey do!

These are not very good quality shots but I love the chain of events unfolding before my eyes.

Ready........

Steady........

....... Oh!

Oops! ....... If you look very closely you'll see Teddy Polar Bear

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Getting off your Face!

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:11:58 +0100

Yesterday Subs did an interesting post entitled "One very good reason to abandon Facebook". Although I'm not a Facebook member I've heard about it and thought I should learn more.

First of all I read all the bloggers' comments on Subs' posting and then I "googled" Facebook to read that:

Facebook has met with some controversy over the past few years. It has been blocked intermittently in several countries including Syria and Iran. It has also been banned at many places of work to increase productivity. Privacy has also been an issue, and it has been compromised several times. It is also facing several lawsuits from a number of Zuckerberg's former classmates, who claim that Facebook had stolen their source code and other intellectual property.

So what, if any, are the merits of Facebook?

Am I missing out on something? or should I be glad I'm not a part off it?

I'd be interested in hearing your general views.

Thank you.

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Misleading Headlines

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 09:16:13 +0100

OK so I've been guilty of using one or two misleading titles to some of my posts. Such as:

"I've been at it"

"Knockers"

"Red Hot Mamma"

"A Dirty Weekend"

You get the idea. Even the French are at it - no that's not another title (but it should have been!) With the romance surrounding Valentine's Day I came across a catching headline which, even with my limited grasp of the language, I understood.

Boum son coeur fait toujours boum

Immediately that silly Peter Sellers/Sophia Loren duet came to mind

Her: Oh doctor, I'm in trouble.
Him: Well, goodness gracious me.
Her: For every time a certain man
Is standing next to me.
Him: Mmm?
Her: A flush comes to my face
And my pulse begins to race,
It goes boom boody-boom boody-boom boody-boom
Boody-boom boody-boom boody-boom-boom-boom,
Him: Oh!
Her: Boom boody-boom boody-boom boody-boom
Him: Well, goodness gracious me.

Thinking that it might be an interesting article on l'amour which might help me learn some useful phrases I clicked on the title and was surprised to find an article on football!

WELL GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME!

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Best Kept Loo Award

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 09:40:22 +0100

Yesterday Queenemab posted about visiting loos and we all exchanged comments about our nightmare experiences. It got me wondering where have I found a decent loo? The one at this café gets my nomination for "Best Kept Loo"

It was spotless and beautifully fitted out to a high standard and the owners went in and wiped down all the surfaces between users. I was so impressed that I made a point of expressing my delight to a suprised proprietor, but that might have been due to my poor command of the French language.

My nomination for "Most Unusual Decor" must go to this one

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I've been at it......

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:32:15 +0100

...all afternoon and I'm exhausted but satisfied

My bush is now nicely trimmed my cherry, pear, plum and apple trees have been pruned to within an inch of their lives and I've brought some more logs in. Tomorrow, if the weather stays the same, I will have to gather up all the debris and try and find somewhere to have a bonfire.

But for now I'm going to light a fire, run myself a bath and pour a glass of wine.

I may be gone for quite a while.

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Go on ........

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:02:49 +0100

..........Usky has shown us his and now I'll show you mine

So go on then - what are you waiting for? - show us yours

Your desktop images of course!

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Chablis

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:21:08 +0100

Yesterday I decided to really push the boat out and paid €6.90 for a bottle of wine instead of my typical €3.90. Last night my daughter and I shared the aforementioned bottle of Chablis and it was really, really lovely and well worth every Eurocent.

I also bought a similarly priced bottle of Provencial rosé called "Rosé à la Rose" and am rather tempted to open it tonight. Mmmmm perhaps I'll save it for St Valentine's Day instead?

Now what should I make to go with it?

*Reads the label*:-

Parfois nos vignes donnent ce vin précieux rose pale, d'une transparence rare, au délicat parfum, tel une rose fraichement épanouie dans un jardin de provence.

Oh yes - St Valentine's Night it is then!

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A Brighter Day

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:13:42 +0100

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A steaming holiday!

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 09:52:00 +0100

QueeneMab's posting about her holiday memories set me thinking and I remembered a very unusual holiday in Scotland.

We were a big family (I am one of five children) and I can only recall us going away for two holidays. One was via bus to Whitby where we stayed in a holiday flat and the other was via train to Scotland for one of these holidays.

Camping coach sites were operated by British Railways in the 1950's and 1960's and we stayed in what was literally a railway siding in a converted railway coach. Looking back the holiday had an Enid Blyton feel to it and we were just like "The Famous Five"

Happy days!

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Beach Trees!

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 09:27:59 +0100

Yesterday I posted some picture of my afternoon trip to the seaside. Tom aka Seasideman said that he wasn't used to seeing trees so close to the beach. Here's a few more shots of the pine trees.

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Picture this .........

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 19:00:26 +0100

Here's my afternoon in pictures

When I arrived home the sky changed dramatically as a storm gathered in the distance. You can probably tell that there was bright sunshine behind me as it lightened up the buildings. Just look at the glowering sky and the colour effect of the tree.

Here's the same tree and buildings (and sky!) an hour later!

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Away with the Fairies

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:48:10 +0100

My Granddaughter Aimée has had a wobbly front tooth for ages and it's been literally hanging by a thread for weeks. Well today they finally parted company and rather than being overjoyed she was really upset. The reason being it came out whilst she was playing in one of these:

Talk about finding a needle in a haystack! The lovely attendant at the enormous ball pool at Ikea has written a letter of explanation for Aimée to put under her pillow for the tooth fairy. She's also promised to post the tooth on if they find it when the pool gets cleaned next week.

Now that's really over and above the call of duty!

Oh and Louis has sadly lost Teddy Polar Bear. For those of you who don't know Teddy Polar Bear here's a series of poems I wrote about him:-

Teddy Polar Bear Goes to School
Teddy Polar Bear Goes on Holiday
Teddy Polar Bear Goes Missing
Teddy Polar Bear Goes to the Beach
Teddy Polar Bear Has a Friend

The end of an era! Now I'll have to write Teddy Polar Bear "RIP"

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Lost in Space

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 08:17:31 +0100

I've just lost 24 hours blogging time. Yesterday I couldn't connect to the internet and I felt so isolated from you all.

I tried to pinpoint the problem, France Telecom said there wasn't a problem from their point of view, my son-in-law suggested some things to try but no joy

This morning it's mysteriously back to normal!

Now I might be quite some time catching up on everybody - sorry if I miss anything.

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From Russia with Love

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:30:01 +0100

Yesterday Malkeas did a post about some china that had been passed down from her beloved Nana. I told her about some china my Dad had brought back from Russia over 20 years ago and promised I'd post some pictures.

There's a small teapot with a matching cup and saucer and a small coffee pot with its matching cup and saucer. The fact that my Dad (who was very clumsy) managed to bring them back in his suitcase still amazes me. I guess that baggage handlers must have been more careful those days too!

These items are very special to me.

ps - I think I once promised to show these to Miramaze sorry for the delay!

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Ooops!

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:50:33 +0100

I knew I shouldn't have had wine ~~for~~ with my lunch!

I think I'd better have a siesta!

See you guys later!

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Online Banking

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:50:11 +0100

I'm quite glad I don't have online banking. How many unsuspecting people are conned by email messages like the one I've just deleted from my inbox?

Dear Customer,
Due to multiple log-in attempt errors on your account, LloydsTSB Security team has suspended your online banking access
In order to re-access your account online click in the link below

I am so relieved that my 87 year old Mum isn't a "silver surfer" but someone's mum's bound to fall for it!

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At Sixes and Sevens!

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:03:08 +0100

I'm literally "meeting myself coming back" today.

At 9.30 each Thursday morning I attend a French class to try and improve my French (well one can hope!!!) Last Thursday's class was cancelled due to the national strike over here. The tutor offered an extra class this week and the most convenient day for the group was today. I was the only one who couldn't make this date as I was due to be travelling back from the UK so I gave my apologies.

This morning I turned up ~~bleary~~ bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and no-one was there! Luckily I had a telephone directory in my car (doesn't everyone?) and made a quick call to a fellow ~~sufferer~~ student only to find that the agreed time was 2.30pm

That'll teach me to pay attention in class!

Ah well something to look forward to this afternoon!

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KNOCKERS!

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 08:40:09 +0100

Thoughts from a Bloscar nominee

No-one was more surprised than me to find myself a Bloscar nominee. I felt suitably humbled by the fact that my fellow bloggers nominated me.

In the past I’ve heard about the “bad feelings” that the Bloscars have stirred up but have never had first hand experience of it until now. For those of you who “knock” the Bloscars let me just say this:

The Bloscars are just a bit of fun

OK rant over!

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Snow use!

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:22:45 +0100

I'd better plough through the pile of ironing!

Sorry for the bad pun but it just popped into my head along with the following childhood song:

'Twas on a Monday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, O
A-washing of her linen, O
Refrain
Dashing away with the smoothing iron
Dashing away with the smoothing iron
She stole my heart away.

'Twas on a Tuesday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, O
A-hanging out her linen, O (Refrain)

'Twas on a Wednesday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, O
A-starching of her linen, O (Refrain)

'Twas on a Thursday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, O
A-ironing of her linen, O (Refrain)

'Twas on a Friday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, O
A-folding of her linen, O (Refrain)

'Twas on a Saturday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, O
A-airing of her linen, O (Refrain)

'Twas on a Sunday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, O
A-wearing of her linen, O (Refrain)

They just don't make songs like that anymore - thank goodness

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Snow Go Area

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:09:23 +0100

Having taken all the factors into consideration I have decided to stay put and not make my planned journey to the UK.

The snow will now probably disappear.

Roll on Summer

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