tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72299272039517215752024-02-20T19:16:22.883-08:00Blog That!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-37727013075951221512012-10-25T08:59:00.002-07:002012-10-25T09:00:32.876-07:00Beach Photos <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #660000;">I am living up to my maxim of "take photos of random things 'cos sometimes you get what you want!" Pie laughs at me... but it works!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #660000;">These were taken on a beach walk in Galway, it was a lovely day and trust me in Ireland you don't take those for granted. <span style="font-size: small;">It's green for a reason... RAIN<span style="font-size: small;">!</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;">I don't know what it is about rock that fascinates me, I think it's the variety of colour and shadow that you get. it's hard but so pretty at the same time. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-69263318147984066932012-10-24T13:51:00.000-07:002012-10-24T13:51:00.131-07:00<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">More photos taken on our Autumn walk.</span></span></span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-60261623952932976472012-10-23T12:58:00.001-07:002012-10-23T12:58:38.852-07:00Autumn Walk 2012 - Part 1<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Went for a walk with my hubby on what will probably be the last decent day this Autumn.... camera's in hand to se what we could capture. Hope you enjoy my pictures... and yes I do like to take pictures of weird and quite random stuff. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-10633641803787536972012-09-24T17:04:00.000-07:002012-09-25T02:45:56.701-07:00Nathan's Day<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hate September, it's a bit childish to hate a month, but I dread it and every year right on cue it comes round and there is no escaping it or the welling of painful memories and emotions that inevitably come along with it. Today is the day when our dream of having a child together officially ended. Today was the day that Nathan came into and went out of our lives... Can you say was born? Does someone who never had any chance of survival count as being born?</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I ask myself why his loss, one out of so many, should be the one that hurts so much and why so many years later this day should still hold so much pain? Maybe it's because his loss really was the end of our road, even if we didn't allow ourselves to believe it, or rather I didn't want to believe it, but it was, the infection after losing Nathan really did put paid to any further attempts, I just couldn't accept that then.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe it's because he was the only one I thought was going to make it, when you get to the magical 12 weeks you start to think 'yes! We're ok! Danger zone past!' By 16 weeks you're telling people and beginning to plan and becoming attached to the little person in there, so the blow is all the harder to take when it comes.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hadn't really let myself get attached with the others, more so after Nathan, by then I had realised there was no 'out of the woods' point in a pregnancy for me, it was always going to be an exercise in terror and I should accept it, but with Nathan I was already enraptured, he had a name, I knew he was a 'he' and we already had that connection, that bond, that love. Or at least I did, who knows what he felt.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe in Nathan how I feel is accumulation of emotion surrounding all the miscarriages, maybe it's the tangible experience I had, perhaps this grief is for all of them, just he is the one with a name, he is the one that I wasn't alone for. He is the one we got to sit and hold and cry together over.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The last few weeks have been difficult for me, its not that the ache of loss ever goes away, it doesn't, but most of the time I absolutely refuse to let it rule me. I don't want to be defined by the losses, the pain or the sadness. But once a year I let myself feel it because if I don't I feel that the depth of these emotions will drown me and I couldn't fight my way back again. Like a release valve on a pressure cooker. </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was feeling so low last week I took myself off to the cinema alone, I purposely picked what I thought would be a sad movie, Anna Karenina, I thought I can sit under the cover of darkness and cry and no one will question it. Didn't work, film was not very good, I shed no tears, no release was had but I did cry all the way home in the car listening to sad songs. So thats a lesson for me... Just sit in the car next year and listen to Tracy Chapman.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So today is Nathan's Day, today is the day I grieve and mourn the dream that never was and tomorrow I will dry my eyes, lock away the pain and get on with the business of living... Until next year.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-60985987754844032922012-09-19T12:41:00.000-07:002012-09-19T12:41:10.837-07:00400 Knitting Stitches<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;">Love this book! Whether you are a completely new knitter of a very experienced one this book is invaluable.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;">For the newbie knitter there are pages and pages of how to's to get you started and teach you how to knit from scratch and for the experienced knitter instructions on 400 different knitting stitches including both written description and charts.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;">Why is this handy? Well let's say you've been knitting for some time and you want to have a go at designing your own patterns this book describes the stitches per repeat which makes it so much easier to develop a pattern.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;">Using this book you could make endless afghans of patchworked patterns. Definitely worth buying and having in your library, you will refer to it often.</span></span></span><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=httplisapblob-21&o=2&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0307462730" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-62327076896962601592012-09-17T04:55:00.001-07:002012-09-17T04:59:06.252-07:00On Demand ~ Justine Elyot<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Now I have always been a fan of erotic fiction. Well written erotic fiction that is, not your 50 Shades of Badly Written Crap, properly structured, grammatically correct erotic fiction, stuff that titilates the senses as well as entertains the mind. Strangely bad writing is an utter turn off for me.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">I have always thought that written erotica was a female province, women are much more "in their heds" when it comes to sex, we seem to be much slower to get the engine running and we take our time getting to where we need to go, whereas men, it seems, only need a flash of breast and they are off! No need for a starter pistol there.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">I guess the one good thing about 50 Shades of Tripe is that it has mainstreamed erotic fiction, I am giggling at his point as I keep mistyping fiction and it's coming out as fuction.... Freudian slip perchance? Given the blog topic it's kind of apt.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Anyway, back on point, by having a triology of erotic fiction novels hit the shelves of Tesco has really opened the door for so any other, better, books to come out from under the counter, I can well imagine Amazon are seeing a surge in sales in this genre as well.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Well for those of you that have been switched on to Erotic Fiction let me suggest this book as your next foray. On Demand is a collection of... shall we say "adventures" based in a hotel and written in the form of 'scenes' or short stories if you will. It isn't a love story although there is love of many kinds to be found within the stories and all the scenes link together and have some central characters that you follow. But the stories are very sexy, racy, risque but written in such a classy, mature way that no matter how depraved the story none of it reads as tacky.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Definitely worth a read and partners everywhere will enjoy the side effects from their ladies enjoying a little late night reading, even if does mean they get woken up at odd hours to deal with the consequences.</span></span></span></div>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=httplisapblob-21&o=2&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=1405910232" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-13402908119357049182012-09-13T12:39:00.001-07:002012-09-13T12:40:10.059-07:00A Little Bit of Cakey Goodness to share<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVsgOEo6dkHEDJuu_AjuTgqmrtr9x5aPSNNMJNcVhc7XiAfCXARDuUp6_yd5o4P_pTXa5b6rP3AxGylwVa5Kqd1DuHcdJu0WHwcuH8g7m2_sFV7JS0eXZwyoAy4HS_BizqnXZWOgIzAE/s1600/Whittlesey8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVsgOEo6dkHEDJuu_AjuTgqmrtr9x5aPSNNMJNcVhc7XiAfCXARDuUp6_yd5o4P_pTXa5b6rP3AxGylwVa5Kqd1DuHcdJu0WHwcuH8g7m2_sFV7JS0eXZwyoAy4HS_BizqnXZWOgIzAE/s320/Whittlesey8.jpg" width="309" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Who knew running a cake stand could be so exhausting!!! I went to help my friend Cathy woman her stand at the Whittlesey Festival (great day out by the way, loads to see and do!). Sounded a simple enough endeavour.... cakes after all aren't all that heavy are they?</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So we arrive and set about setting up the stand, we gather tables and chairs from Cathy's office and put up the canopy (genius piece of kit I must say!) and we lay out the cakes as attractively as we can and they did look pretty marvellous and mouth watering. </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQyGuybz7Lzv2jjwakCiiRb3gqJpJiaJt-XkDWoVJrVzJBBzKK05vt4PXeHKuLlWXqTPvaP1tbhtcRZBh8eKEhZ8_p0irL0IGQA6jbfTqWdtN7OGvovtEEeaWkwXKFUb_iWxQVIz8rM4/s1600/Whittlesey11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQyGuybz7Lzv2jjwakCiiRb3gqJpJiaJt-XkDWoVJrVzJBBzKK05vt4PXeHKuLlWXqTPvaP1tbhtcRZBh8eKEhZ8_p0irL0IGQA6jbfTqWdtN7OGvovtEEeaWkwXKFUb_iWxQVIz8rM4/s400/Whittlesey11.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And we stood back and waited for the hoards to arrive and arrive they did. During the day there was a steady stream of people picking up their delicious Pattiecakes treats. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was only at the end of the day we really could see how much we had sold because all day long we were refilling the trays and displays from cunningly hidden boxes filled with more cakey goodness. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It wasn't all completely plain sailing however, quite a few lessons were learned during the course of the day... most importantly that weights for the base of the canopy were important accessories to have as when there was a massive gust of wind the thing almost blew away and we had to pounce on the legs to keep the thing from blowing over.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We also discovered that the sun is not always your friend... we had to scuttle around changing the side panels on the canopy to keep the sunlight off the cakes... chocolate toppings don't react well to sunshine, however even when they started to melt the chocolate ones sold out faster than any other!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I had a fantastic day helping Cathy but I will admit to being completely shattered by the time I got home carrying my box of left over goodies... believe it or not I only got 1 out of the whole box, the rest were snarfed down in good order by teenage boys. but glowing praise from them... Conor says that Cathy's cakes are "amazeballs" some new teenage terminology that means great apparently.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Cathy does take commissions on cakes of all types, so if you have a special event and need a fabby cake her website </span>is <a href="http://www.pattiecakes.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.pattiecakes.co.uk/</a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-16421317757028598902012-08-28T04:02:00.000-07:002012-08-28T04:03:56.084-07:00St Pancras Station<div style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I remember vividly walking past this building as a child, I can't remember why, possibly an eye appointment somewhere, but I do have this memory of this building when it was an absolute wreck, damaged from the war and falling down from neglect it was this horrible shell.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The restoration of this structure and the clever use of the building with the addition of eateries, a champagne bar and shopping venues, make it somewhere to visit in and of itself not just for passing through on the way to somewhere else.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I really loved the statues inside the station itself, there is one of Sir John Betjamen and one of a couple tenderly holding each other, you're not sure if they are saying a bittersweet farewell or exchanging a long loving greeting after some time apart, it works either way but you feel the emotion in the piece and I really liked that.</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-23317752855798380282012-08-27T13:21:00.001-07:002012-08-27T13:21:30.384-07:00The Cavalier Queen <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 20px;">Loved this book! I was completely enthralled by the characterisations and the plot. Obviously as it is a novel based on real people and historical events, if you know your history of the Englsh Monarchy then you already know how it ends but somehow because of the fantastic writing weaving a perfectly believable lifelong lovestory into what is already there I found myself hoping for different outcomes, even though logically I already knew what I hoped for was already impossible by dint of time.</span></div>
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For me the measure of how much I enjoy a book is how much of my sleep am I prepared to forego (I was a sloth in a previous incarnation) in order to read it and with book I can genuinely say, I lost significant z's.</div>
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Whilst much is made of King Charles I and his beheading the story of his French Princess Bride is glossed over in history lessons, all I remember being taught about Henriette Marie of France was that she tried to turn England back to Catholicism and that she was the reason in the end that Charles ended up sans noggin.</div>
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But perhaps this was not so, perhaps in the mists of time and he chroniclers of the time just painted that picture for convenience... After all histories are not written by the dead, are they? </div>
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Anyway, I liked the version of Henriette Marie I was introduced to in this story, beautiful, full of life and determination and with a backbone maybe not of steel, maybe willow, bending and swaying with circumstance, bending but never breaking and always returning upright when the storm has passed. This woman was more than a Queen she was a builder, a creator, a woman of vision. <br /><br />Fiona Mountain is a wonderful writer, her descriptive style draws you in and really paints a picture that I was seeing in my mind as I read. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-71355202712966073852012-08-26T17:31:00.004-07:002012-08-27T15:31:28.586-07:00Guilty Pleasure<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My youngest son is Dyspraxic and has ADHD, he was diagnosed at 9, but I always knew there was something... I won't say 'wrong' with him because I don't think of it as an illness or a defiency it's just part of his makeup and makes him who he is. Intelligent, funny, sarcastic, persnickety, ultra logical and painfully honest. But I also won't say it is easy to live with either, hence the guilty pleasure title of the post... I feel guilty that I am happy that he has gone to his fathers for a few days, after an entire summer holiday of Conor I need a break from him, whilst he is all the positive things I said he is also irritating, argumentative, blunt to the point of rudeness and totally oblivious to anyone's feelings but his own.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I guess I always knew there was something different about him from when he was really small, it was little things, rapt attention to a task to the point of obsession sometimes, but I got that, I was like that myself so I understood it. It was later, at school that his issues really came to the foreground, constant arguments with a specific teacher after which I would be called in and complained to about his behaviour. Apparently him pointing out that she was incompetant was inappropriate (even if it was true...she got fired by the end of the term). I did try pointng out that she should be impressed that not only did a 7 year old know in what context to use the word 'incompetant' (secretly I was well chuffed) but he could also spell it correctly... Now that is impressive you have to concede!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A period of 2 years of constantly complaining from the school about Conor's "rudeness" and for rudeness I would substitute "excessive bluntness" my son calls a spade a spade, if you're ugly he would happily tell you, my dearest friend Suzi will testify to this, not the ugly part, she isn't, but Conor christened her cabbage and it's stuck. This was a very difficult time, as a single parent I was endeavouring to date and had many a man seen off by Conor baring his arse at the poor chap. I think in his mind it was some sort of test to see if they would stick around.... If you can bear the sight of my arse you're alright with me! Kind of thing.... Not many men managed to stick it out I have to say.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But the most difficult side effect of Conor's behaviour was my mental health. I couldn't work out where I was going wrong? At his fathers he was a model child, at home he was hell on legs, he seemed to enjoy tormenting me, many was the day I locked myself into my bedroom with him battering on the door demanding entry whilst I sat on the inside crying bitter tears wondering what was I doing wrong. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The day came when then school insisted he go to the child and adolescent mental health dept for assessment and I will be forever grateful for that insistance... After tests suddenly there was a reason... I wasn't a shit parent with an out of control 'naughty' child. I was the parent of a Dyspraxic child and all of a sudden the lights came on. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Treatment for the ADHD was offered and administered and things did get better, obviously Dyspraxia is not a condition that has a pharmaceutical solution but there are coping mechanisms and behavioural therapies that help and we use them. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We haven't, however, managed to find a way of stopping Conor taking great pleasure in tormenting me, trust me 4 hours of being poked in the arm repeatedly by a knittng needle would be enough to send a saint into a screaming fit... I am no saint trust me... I scream!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But i have learned to see the behaviour as in some ways flattering, he torments me because he feels safe, I'm the one person he feels safe enough tormenting that he feels won't go anywhere, I'll put up with it and him because he is my son and I love him.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Doesn't mean I won't lose the plot and throw a shoe at him though... Like I said... I am no saint.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So here is to my days off from Conor... my holiday so to speak and when he comes home and asks did you miss me? I will be as forthright as he and say "no!"</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-47275801783873617312012-08-23T02:31:00.000-07:002012-08-23T05:01:31.976-07:00Fifty Shade of Grey<div style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Ok to start with, originally I didn't actually buy this book, my husband thought it would be a good wheeze to put it on my ipad, mostly I think for embarassment factor, so I thought 'oh no miladdo I am not playing that, I shall read this book and then laugh at you'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Sadly, the joke remained on me! I had seen that this book had been spotted being read by umpteen celebs and been hyped as if it was the next instalment to the karma sutra... trust me on this... neither is the case. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">So what do we have? Well ostensibly the story (thin though it is) is about a very damaged man who meets an incredibly innocent young woman (a virgin no less... don't get many of them to the pound these days) and their ensuing "romance" if you can call it that. I know I wouldn't.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">What was good about the book? Depends on your point of view really, if you want a story, good writing, a decent plot, then you will be sadly disappointed. If you just want copious amounts of repetitive sex then rock on this is the book for you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">My main quibble is the author's absolute lack of descriptive vocabulary, she only seems to know one word for sexy... "HOT" that's pretty much it. I was a bit shocked that given there are such things as online thesaurus's she didn't take the time to bother to try and find some alternative options to that one word. For shame!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Sooo let's take a moment to have a little go at that shall we? If you pop the word HOT into a thesaurus you get </span></div>
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<tr><td><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">baking,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/blazing" rel="nofollow">blazing</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">blistering,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">boiling,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">broiling,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/burning" rel="nofollow">burning</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">calescent,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/close" rel="nofollow">close</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">decalescent,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">febrile,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">fevered,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">feverish,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">feverous,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/fiery" rel="nofollow">fiery</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">flaming,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">heated,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/humid" rel="nofollow">humid</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">igneous,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/incandescent" rel="nofollow">incandescent</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">like</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">an</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">oven,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">on</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">fire,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">ovenlike,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">parching,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">piping,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">recalescent,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/red" rel="nofollow">red</a><span id="hotword">*, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">roasting,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">scalding,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/scorching" rel="nofollow">scorching</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">searing,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">sizzling,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">smoking,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">steaming,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">stuffy,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/sultry" rel="nofollow">sultry</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">summery,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/sweltering" rel="nofollow">sweltering</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">sweltry,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">thermogenic,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/torrid" rel="nofollow">torrid</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">tropic,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/tropical" rel="nofollow">tropical</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">very</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">warm,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/warm" rel="nofollow">warm</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/white" rel="nofollow">white</a><span id="hotword">* </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Now that's not bad is it... whilst the word 'hot' really is about temperature there are quite a few words there that could quite easily apply to the sexiness of an individual or a situation. no?</span></div>
<div style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Now let's put in the word "SEXY" and see what you get. </span></div>
<br />
<table cellspacing="5" class="the_content"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"></span> </span></td>
<td><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">arousing,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">come-hither,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">cuddly,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/flirtatious" rel="nofollow">flirtatious</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/hot" rel="nofollow">hot</a><span id="hotword">*, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/inviting" rel="nofollow">inviting</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">kissable,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/libidinous" rel="nofollow">libidinous</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/mature" rel="nofollow">mature</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/provocative" rel="nofollow">provocative</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">provoking,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">racy,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">risqué,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/seductive" rel="nofollow">seductive</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/sensual" rel="nofollow">sensual</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/sensuous" rel="nofollow">sensuous</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">slinky,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/spicy" rel="nofollow">spicy</a><span id="hotword">*, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">steamy,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/suggestive" rel="nofollow">suggestive</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">titillating,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/voluptuous" rel="nofollow">voluptuous</a>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellspacing="5" class="the_content"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"></span> </span></td>
<td><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/adorable" rel="nofollow">adorable</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/alluring" rel="nofollow">alluring</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/beautiful" rel="nofollow">beautiful</a><span id="hotword">*, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">charming,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">covetable,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/enticing" rel="nofollow">enticing</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/fascinating" rel="nofollow">fascinating</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #0055bb; cursor: pointer;">fetching</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">That took me all of 30 seconds... so seriously this author couldn't take 30 seconds to come up with another word for HOT????</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">And if you get really really adventurous and pop in the word 'ATTRACTIVE' you get</span><br />
<br />
<table cellspacing="5" class="the_content"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"></span> </span></td>
<td><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/adorable" rel="nofollow">adorable</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/agreeable" rel="nofollow">agreeable</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/alluring" rel="nofollow">alluring</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/beautiful" rel="nofollow">beautiful</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">beckoning,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">bewitching,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">captivating,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/charming" rel="nofollow">charming</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/comely" rel="nofollow">comely</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/enchanting" rel="nofollow">enchanting</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/engaging" rel="nofollow">engaging</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/enthralling" rel="nofollow">enthralling</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/enticing" rel="nofollow">enticing</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/fair" rel="nofollow">fair</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/fascinating" rel="nofollow">fascinating</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">fetching,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/glamorous" rel="nofollow">glamorous</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">good-looking,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/gorgeous" rel="nofollow">gorgeous</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/handsome" rel="nofollow">handsome</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">hunky,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/interesting" rel="nofollow">interesting</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/inviting" rel="nofollow">inviting</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">looker,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/lovely" rel="nofollow">lovely</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">luring,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/magnetic" rel="nofollow">magnetic</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">mesmeric,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/pleasant" rel="nofollow">pleasant</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/pleasing" rel="nofollow">pleasing</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">prepossessing,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/pretty" rel="nofollow">pretty</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/provocative" rel="nofollow">provocative</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/seductive" rel="nofollow">seductive</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/stunning" rel="nofollow">stunning</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/taking" rel="nofollow">taking</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/tantalizing" rel="nofollow">tantalizing</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/teasing" rel="nofollow">teasing</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/tempting" rel="nofollow">tempting</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/winning" rel="nofollow">winning</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/winsome" rel="nofollow">winsome</a>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">So there you have it... basically the writer of this book was just lazy. Hmmm should I pop that into the thesaurus... yeah let's just for fun.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellspacing="5" class="the_content"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"></span> </span></td>
<td><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/apathetic" rel="nofollow">apathetic</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">asleep</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">on</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">job,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/careless" rel="nofollow">careless</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/comatose" rel="nofollow">comatose</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">dallying,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/dilatory" rel="nofollow">dilatory</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">drowsy,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/dull" rel="nofollow">dull</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">flagging,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/idle" rel="nofollow">idle</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/inattentive" rel="nofollow">inattentive</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/indifferent" rel="nofollow">indifferent</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/indolent" rel="nofollow">indolent</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/inert" rel="nofollow">inert</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/lackadaisical" rel="nofollow">lackadaisical</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">laggard,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">lagging,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/languid" rel="nofollow">languid</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">languorous,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/lethargic" rel="nofollow">lethargic</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/lifeless" rel="nofollow">lifeless</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">loafing,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">neglectful,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">out</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">it,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/passive" rel="nofollow">passive</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">procrastinating,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/remiss" rel="nofollow">remiss</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">shiftless,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/slack" rel="nofollow">slack</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/sleepy" rel="nofollow">sleepy</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">slothful,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/slow" rel="nofollow">slow</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">slow-moving,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">snoozy,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/somnolent" rel="nofollow">somnolent</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/supine" rel="nofollow">supine</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/tardy" rel="nofollow">tardy</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/tired" rel="nofollow">tired</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/torpid" rel="nofollow">torpid</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/trifling" rel="nofollow">trifling</a><span id="hotword">, </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/unconcerned" rel="nofollow">unconcerned</a><span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">unenergetic,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">unindustrious,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">unpersevering,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">unready,</span> </span><a class="theColor" href="http://thesaurus.com/browse/weary" rel="nofollow">weary</a>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well there you go... another 30 seconds of my life I won't get back </span><sigh> </sigh></span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">My other issue with this book was the actual characters... the girl is wetter than a weekend in Ireland, she has all the spine of... well... an amoeba and the all hailed Christian Grey? Seriously I would kick that twat so hard in his privates that sex would be the last thing on his mind, he would be too busy trying to breathe! </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">What the devil was this writer trying to do, put back women's sexuality by about 100 years? Not only was this book a terrible representation of BDSM and sex play in general but it also advocates stalking, bullying and other generally undesirable attributes in a relationship. It's one thing to be manly and take control in a relationship, but come on... when does stalking ever become acceptable?</span><br />
<table cellspacing="5" class="the_content"><tbody>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-41543083725398461312012-08-16T02:13:00.001-07:002012-08-16T02:38:47.387-07:00The Queen of Subtleties<div style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">I bought this book on a whim when I was browsing my way through Amazon, I love anything about Tudor history, not entirely sure why, I mean it's not as if the story changes is it? We all know what happened! But I hadn't read anything by this author but I thought go for it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have been really surprised by how much I enjoyed this story, it follows the very familiar story of Anne Boleyn and her relationship with Henry but it's a dual story as it also follows that of a fictional character, Lucy Cornwallis, a talented subtleties maker. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I bet you are wondering what a subtlety is... I know I was. A subtlety was almost a sculpture made of sugar, these days I imagine that we would call these "deserts", marchpane, sugared fruits, cake and spun sugar was used to create fantastical decorative centerpieces that were very popular in Court and fine houses. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I really liked the jumping style of the book from Anne's story to Lucy's and back again and how that their lives cross paths and mesh. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Definitely worth a read. </span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-83429811059661004102012-08-06T07:44:00.000-07:002012-08-06T07:44:00.234-07:00Book Review: Essential Baby ~ Debbie Bliss<div style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This book is so handy, specially for those new to knitting, there is a great collection of quite simply designs that are easy to follow and make up. In particular the crossover vest which doesn't have any buttonholes to do... always a pain for a new knitter to get to grips with and the beanbag and blanket designs are straight forward and a great introduction to knitting where you end up with a nice end product and not just a ropey square that ends up going in the bin... yeah I did that... A lot at the start.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">Debbie Bliss is brilliant at making sure that there are plenty of instructions in her books on how to do the stitches so even if you are a complete novice you wouldn't have any trouble getting started. </span></span><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=httplisapblob-21&o=2&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=1844005011" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-1124281056345204922012-07-30T06:33:00.000-07:002012-07-30T06:33:00.283-07:00Virgin Earth - Philippa Gregory<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">This book is part of a two parter really, even though the story kind of stands on its own, it is the follow up to Earthly Joys. Where the first book follows the John Tradescant the Older in his career as gardener to the King, this book follows his son who inherits his father collection of plants and also his love and skill with the. John however gets to travel to America in search of new plants where he meets native Indians and falls in love with their lifestyle. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;"> As usual Philippa Gregory writes with style and grace, and I found myself falling into the story and living the adventure. </span></span></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=httplisapblob-21&o=2&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0007228481" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-18144194048878494922012-07-22T07:02:00.000-07:002012-07-22T07:02:00.325-07:00Bridal Jewellery ~ Clare Yarwood-White<div style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This is a really really useful little book, it's not huge , only 96 pages but well worth its size for the amount of information packed into it. I was expecting a book of designs but whilst there are some designs to get you thinking and trying ideas out there is also a wealth of information about gems, names, settings, design consideration, matching accessories and how to work with a bride during a very stressful time... and a whole section on building a bridal jewellery business, including market research, business planning and pricing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So if you are thinking along those lines this book is well worth getting.</span></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=httplisapblob-21&o=2&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0713675993" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-66651811438305558552012-07-21T06:51:00.000-07:002012-07-21T06:51:00.832-07:00Book Review: Earthly Joys ~ Philippa Gregory<div style="color: #660000; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Love Philippa Gregory's writing style... but then you probably know that as I am sure I have mentioned it before... once or twice, maybe even three times. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />This story is following John Tradescant the Elder who was in his time the greatest gardener of his age. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Tradescant_the_elder" target="_blank">John_Tradescant_the_elder</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">John was a naturalist, collector of plants and gardener to what would be today classed as "the stars". He created some of the most beautiful gardens in England, places like Hatfield House, Salisbury House, St Augustine's Abbey. John travelled extensively gathering plants and seeds for his collection which were house eventually in a house called "the Ark" </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">Obviously writing any novel about the past has to involve a certain amount of licence and guess work, especially when recreating a conversation or a possible situation and this is where Philippa Gregory excels, she manages to retain historical accuracy at the same time as keeping a story interesting and true to the time frame it's been written.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;">I'm not a big gardener, I do in fact have a black thumb and am the kiss of death to most plantlife but that didn't stop me enjoying every page of this book. </span></span></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=httplisapblob-21&o=2&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0007228473" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-88011144057330347412012-07-20T04:49:00.001-07:002012-07-20T04:50:42.967-07:00I went away a Mother and returned a GODmother<div style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Now that my husband and I have stopped trying to have a baby of our own lots of other questions have come in to play... What about adoption? Fostering? Could I feel the depth of feelings for a child that was not my own? I shouldn't be asking these questions really as I already have stepchildren in my life but adoption is different, all my stepchildren I have a connection with, the other parent so you do know something of where they come from but with an adopted child you probably wouldn't know anything.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwcQmJQMOJiXo1dX1K00emf657ar9ghSK5PLKqfHIR9yoeG089M3kWFL1tYJC6CDkS9aJBBP1a5bC61WIxtmUSdF6iSlJBPIuxQVSAWEZ9Udv78SYg8AMLghU7GWfMR-Q5WaTmcpnhMM/s1600/IMG_2325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwcQmJQMOJiXo1dX1K00emf657ar9ghSK5PLKqfHIR9yoeG089M3kWFL1tYJC6CDkS9aJBBP1a5bC61WIxtmUSdF6iSlJBPIuxQVSAWEZ9Udv78SYg8AMLghU7GWfMR-Q5WaTmcpnhMM/s320/IMG_2325.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer Olivia and her Mummy Samantha</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Recently a dear friend gave me the highest honour I can
think of by asking me to be godmother to her child, I didn't have a
single moment of hesitation, it's funny but throughout her pregnancy
this friend had had a horrible time, being there for her was by turns a
heartbreaking experience and sometimes frightening and sometimes I just
felt angry for her with the things she was having to go through. So
little Summer Olivia was already named "Tough Cookie" before she even
arrived, such was her determination to survive. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">But the moment I got to hold Summer for the first time I
just felt it, that overwhelming rush of love, that desire to protect and
care for... there were no doubts, no questions, just love. </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I enjoyed every moment of my visit to Sam and Summer, even the poopy nappies, the baby sick and the crying and I can't wait to go back and spend more time with my friend and my gorgeous goddaughter. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNoHi8uI-IanO5ku4MN85HJE6lKH29TH8zmhIQo6Zci2g-o-VpoGs7XeTxiIC3RUSXlGndyCa9U_Iy8SzAHGWH-YPIt41kwLneAJVgcpSMlPlyWsJ6Urv1G8tY5thFPv9udo_HFtlyuA0/s1600/IMG_2338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNoHi8uI-IanO5ku4MN85HJE6lKH29TH8zmhIQo6Zci2g-o-VpoGs7XeTxiIC3RUSXlGndyCa9U_Iy8SzAHGWH-YPIt41kwLneAJVgcpSMlPlyWsJ6Urv1G8tY5thFPv9udo_HFtlyuA0/s400/IMG_2338.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKNXj0nywRL-WYd3HEJjsOxU_iTClxmPyPgqr_PykeO69KBZwlue6ybSdGNBEZY21DBTlEEV6mylauGnK0KaOfyT4DOgW1nd50SlU92BFoTA9krmQ5lDp_zUqHJrvMD1wl1NcoWD1Pig/s1600/DSCF1970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKNXj0nywRL-WYd3HEJjsOxU_iTClxmPyPgqr_PykeO69KBZwlue6ybSdGNBEZY21DBTlEEV6mylauGnK0KaOfyT4DOgW1nd50SlU92BFoTA9krmQ5lDp_zUqHJrvMD1wl1NcoWD1Pig/s400/DSCF1970.jpg" width="337" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">But the one question the visit did answer for me was that yes. I could love a child that was not my own. That just opens up a whole new parcel of questions though? Would I be prepared to give up some of my hobbies? Where would we put another child? Could we even afford it? We're on the verge of being able to go on holiday as a couple, could I forego that?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">But then, thinking about it, not going there would mean more free time to zip up motorways unencumbered to spend time with Sam and Summer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-57153649758603521622012-07-05T02:02:00.000-07:002012-07-05T02:05:11.494-07:00Book Review : The Land Of The Painted Caves<div style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever been gagging for a book to come out? I have and this was the book, I have read all the previous 5 in the series and loved them, loved them so much I had re-read them several times and I had always hoped that this one would come soon, pleeeeease let it come soon. I think you are getting the drift on my desire to read this book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway finally the book comes out and like an avid child in a sweetshop I rushed to buy it... I even bought it in hardback because (a) I knew I would have to wait for the paperback and I'm not good at waiting and (b) I thought oh I know I will read it more than once so I can justify the hardback price. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So I save this to take with me on holiday and settle down in the sun for a good read... after about 100 pages though I was just about ready to cry.... with disappointment! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After waiting all this time for this book I couldn't believe just how bad the book was. I mean the characters are the same, the same people I felt I had been getting to know throughout the previous 5 books, so my attachment to them should have been the same. It wasn't a lack of emotional investment or interest on my part. It was just the book... I don't know what happened to Jean M Auel but this book just didn't have the same oompf that the others did. It was like she just ran out of steam, the book was so repetitive.. by page 100 I was literally screaming "ok already I know people find her freaking accent unusual... shut up about it!!!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But I am stubborn and as it was the ONLY book I brought on holiday with me I felt compelled to finish it. I did... barely... almost chucked it in the sea a couple of times and the disappointment I felt at the repetition in the book wasn't salved by a strong ending... no it was the wishy washiest ending to an epic story I have ever seen. Now this could have been because I was already so annoyed with the disappointment of the body of the story or it could just have been because the ending was rubbish either way that's several hours of my life I won't be getting back. The last time I saw a plot this wet it involved Bobby Ewing being in a shower and it all being a dream in Dallas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And to top it off, I almost left the book in the hotel room, I was that disgusted with it, but no, I thought I will take it home and stick it on the bookshelf only to get charged for excess baggage on the way home... if I had left the book behind that would have been a chunk of weight we didn't end up paying for.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The editors of this books should have gone through it with a big red pen and marked "repetitious" on every page.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=httplisapblob-21&o=2&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0340824271" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-87635398259309421622012-06-20T04:47:00.004-07:002012-06-20T04:53:14.978-07:00Malta - Bus Tour<div style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We hopped aboard a <a href="http://www.citysightseeing.com.mt/" target="_blank">Citysightseeing</a> tour bus, this was a bit of an adventure for me, as I have never had the opportunity to travel much, this was a chance for a bit of time with my husband to do the "touristy" bit in between his many conference obligations. The offer of a Harbour Cruise on the Captain Morgan boat was enough of a temptation to overcome his initial reluctance. So we booked up to go on a 90 minute bus tour called the Violet Tour with an immediately following hour long boat ride. What fun!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oU4Dm7U47g3mnvfuG5hBA2x2_e4dsz3NRqv6T3s544NYY2xm46dv81gHxLe2LlfTHKDtAIvc-N3f8nAXjX2QG9QHU8VoNxNQpW1UpE4mtKEMbDhDHW_GqxMwreQJLk9ADjB_D6xsrkw/s1600/Malta_CptMorgan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oU4Dm7U47g3mnvfuG5hBA2x2_e4dsz3NRqv6T3s544NYY2xm46dv81gHxLe2LlfTHKDtAIvc-N3f8nAXjX2QG9QHU8VoNxNQpW1UpE4mtKEMbDhDHW_GqxMwreQJLk9ADjB_D6xsrkw/s320/Malta_CptMorgan.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I must point out that this was a close as we got to going on the Harbour Cruise as you will find out, I took this photo before we left on the bus tour whilst we were waiting for our bus to arrive. We hopped on the Hop On Hop Off Bus and we set off, the sun was gorgeous and the open topped bus was just the perfect vehicle to let you take photos as you pootled about the main towns of Malta.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">However, things went wrong about half way round our tour when the sound system of the bus was reported to the driver as not being working, so we were very quickly transferred onto another bus, <i>except </i>the bus we were transferred to wasn't doing the Violet Tour but the much much Blue Tour so instead of 90 minutes on the bus it was 3 hours on the bus! Not what was intended but on the bright side we saw a lot more of Malta and got lots of great photos. No Harbour Tour though, so when and yes I did say when we come back to Malta that's got to be on the list along with the Craft Village which was unfortunately shut it being a Sunday. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">These are some of the photos (only some, I took hundreds) from the tour.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgZHfSfoe4rxgkZB3Xsc9EZdsSdGs9szGS-mBsf4jaMMqmR0SHoKw8Put1id-bQnoZUcfkh8FC85FbfUDCvqHTmHXzS1dPMW8QVLdlDu5yrlytwRfsJF7K4ekzu-xLUz5EHuf3Vszll0/s1600/Malta_Bustour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgZHfSfoe4rxgkZB3Xsc9EZdsSdGs9szGS-mBsf4jaMMqmR0SHoKw8Put1id-bQnoZUcfkh8FC85FbfUDCvqHTmHXzS1dPMW8QVLdlDu5yrlytwRfsJF7K4ekzu-xLUz5EHuf3Vszll0/s400/Malta_Bustour.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Love the mix of old and modern architecture in Malta</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyn_M22DB0LE2oyb9ujWMuqYh64-7BXT01ZsYtRfzyTJE3yw9xJI_tdr1_-0a3Kty0w8dbImS95Gp5yuzqpAQGFBTak_h2Q_g24FSSdJkvpEt8ge-Q13-pgnC-y3PecL1FH8dzUkqepY/s1600/Malta_BlueTower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyn_M22DB0LE2oyb9ujWMuqYh64-7BXT01ZsYtRfzyTJE3yw9xJI_tdr1_-0a3Kty0w8dbImS95Gp5yuzqpAQGFBTak_h2Q_g24FSSdJkvpEt8ge-Q13-pgnC-y3PecL1FH8dzUkqepY/s400/Malta_BlueTower.jpg" width="266" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ultra Modern Conference Venue</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fWESUw3jO28cCvwmiLhYBnzNhhBLK9JBkOzRQgTJbMAdg4TFfR82c2atdAMIJNB_bi_8AW9A8w-2SyaYOWdJVtqMZB9p-sufppmirIMAhPt_YFlyTLBzf-M7aznxKtnKbhyx89lhRIk/s1600/Malta_Bustour1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fWESUw3jO28cCvwmiLhYBnzNhhBLK9JBkOzRQgTJbMAdg4TFfR82c2atdAMIJNB_bi_8AW9A8w-2SyaYOWdJVtqMZB9p-sufppmirIMAhPt_YFlyTLBzf-M7aznxKtnKbhyx89lhRIk/s640/Malta_Bustour1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As an island Malta is actually really small with only a small population of 400,000 (ish), but the history of the island is fascinating as it has been of strategic importance to so many difference conquering nations and each conqueror has left a piece of their culture behind especially in the impressive churches and fortifications.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKt4f9XLbMTrriQeuBa1SoWllI0PsMOkVQEF-mWEQz0Yyb43EmZo8qQzbU3nijT2wMRGcJmrBP3vR4PST7o1d_lKeAjhocx96e6HU-RO4KFNrCWjpG_GDvRSxDpYNK68IHrXNPPo0EDQ/s1600/Malta_Bustour6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKt4f9XLbMTrriQeuBa1SoWllI0PsMOkVQEF-mWEQz0Yyb43EmZo8qQzbU3nijT2wMRGcJmrBP3vR4PST7o1d_lKeAjhocx96e6HU-RO4KFNrCWjpG_GDvRSxDpYNK68IHrXNPPo0EDQ/s640/Malta_Bustour6.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A lot of central Malta is dedicated to farmland and growing the fruits and vegetables that we have enjoyed during our trip. In particular the peaches and strawberries here are just divine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0gHoZfdc8dCqad4d1Y9VL9Q4XHtwBFdta0SUfGJpOlMX8KQzHobj7Yv8pVqLUjC8S3XFEKuGNeaxlhIXD7PH1UlKPQWvKeSz63wkpRrqP2cUbevvuwYVo40j9KBW0UzkaAg3iJ4Lb_Y/s1600/Malta_Bustour7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0gHoZfdc8dCqad4d1Y9VL9Q4XHtwBFdta0SUfGJpOlMX8KQzHobj7Yv8pVqLUjC8S3XFEKuGNeaxlhIXD7PH1UlKPQWvKeSz63wkpRrqP2cUbevvuwYVo40j9KBW0UzkaAg3iJ4Lb_Y/s400/Malta_Bustour7.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOsU24voV2MCTO9j2R_np2Q7_gKjO03lD4Fizgqi0EOKw12QWP3ImSWhBv29SWFV9L6i_hkfSaGpviiNxM74kg21ck_JlYlOV9dm5fy4WOx1FuRtkBtW6cTtIghNJ8r3pcjojHWx_0MI/s1600/Malta_Bustour5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOsU24voV2MCTO9j2R_np2Q7_gKjO03lD4Fizgqi0EOKw12QWP3ImSWhBv29SWFV9L6i_hkfSaGpviiNxM74kg21ck_JlYlOV9dm5fy4WOx1FuRtkBtW6cTtIghNJ8r3pcjojHWx_0MI/s400/Malta_Bustour5.jpg" width="375" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHdkpNHjgRjltuoyWWwGLiO2ifNDL45hJoEqDlOYT3TgWLHRY3N82-MpcTREq89tfpbkIHlVUIDxCVYiXDw4_VmdgsoIG5AF7TGPXqfML5BHCNejzfBLdqPmIdYqeXdjAQmDGlxzN62Q/s1600/Malta_Bustour4.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHdkpNHjgRjltuoyWWwGLiO2ifNDL45hJoEqDlOYT3TgWLHRY3N82-MpcTREq89tfpbkIHlVUIDxCVYiXDw4_VmdgsoIG5AF7TGPXqfML5BHCNejzfBLdqPmIdYqeXdjAQmDGlxzN62Q/s320/Malta_Bustour4.jpg" width="350" /></a></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2rMaD_ak6BHW4LOZVfr4RAcru377BK1_QHVRRb5iBfpAWTb2TDlqH8VGqrnX66T_BEFDWWgI7EPdBIup3IYfzoU_TR4dL_JfQCPJ1NjDmdWNRkkERhQzzGBQaS80FO3vNaaqNaOV7ys/s1600/Malta_Bustour3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2rMaD_ak6BHW4LOZVfr4RAcru377BK1_QHVRRb5iBfpAWTb2TDlqH8VGqrnX66T_BEFDWWgI7EPdBIup3IYfzoU_TR4dL_JfQCPJ1NjDmdWNRkkERhQzzGBQaS80FO3vNaaqNaOV7ys/s400/Malta_Bustour3.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Love the amazing scaffolding</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSIaQ5u-kU7iaXh2Zko0F6vj8qcQ7RMP1EeJ9QS-vt9oZQcf-TYFHUIg6B3TTTPg8iSmeDIsx42ue5zQ_1B4XWW1oaF7sgiv_wzBfMdTqnrUW-zOb2Mycnzp1OSkvqqnfas0pzgd2f5Y/s1600/Malta_Bustour8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDDvaYYKMO4QSGsqi2ZT6ivRrR2VrhuFVpOoEkJ9RZ_v0JE467ofGA4wN9-OkVyP601TitJoNnc09xJGrMh0W-2T3ZJEsvAesZZEjE5XPTth44W-QUlD4WkCY032TvSz4KRKw1ptSZo0/s1600/Malta_Cranebirds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDDvaYYKMO4QSGsqi2ZT6ivRrR2VrhuFVpOoEkJ9RZ_v0JE467ofGA4wN9-OkVyP601TitJoNnc09xJGrMh0W-2T3ZJEsvAesZZEjE5XPTth44W-QUlD4WkCY032TvSz4KRKw1ptSZo0/s320/Malta_Cranebirds.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Angry Birds in real life</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-61017135659645531382012-06-19T13:51:00.001-07:002012-06-19T13:51:38.046-07:00Welcome to Malta<div style="color: black; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm not a great traveller, never really had the funds or the time to go anywhere really, so getting the chance to tag along with my husband on the odd work trip is always a treat. This trip is to Malta, never been here before and I genuinely can't say what I was expecting. So the island and its people has been a really pleasant surprise.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The first thing I have noticed about Malta is the level of construction going on, it's everywhere, right around the airport complex and along the coastline is just a forest of cranes and half made buildings. Malta is obviously undergoing some major investment. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXBPDQ9QXWyMBL4hnpD0D7vGQjkKkVThQTvyKNi7MN34WvhbfRHeeqGEvZmORBfSTAefoh8_ErkpGK6Ze6S2avKVtuygsxciLIWWefLDRV4RytGL8PcpE0rZyPiLRwwsE4lJaL1LvoAY/s1600/Malta_Hilton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXBPDQ9QXWyMBL4hnpD0D7vGQjkKkVThQTvyKNi7MN34WvhbfRHeeqGEvZmORBfSTAefoh8_ErkpGK6Ze6S2avKVtuygsxciLIWWefLDRV4RytGL8PcpE0rZyPiLRwwsE4lJaL1LvoAY/s320/Malta_Hilton.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We are staying at the Hilton Malta, it's a gorgeous building, very new and fresh, with wonderful architectural lines build along a natural harbour. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Each room or suite features its own terrace. ours is big enough to hold a party on... although not planning that. Considering this is a techie geek conference I have tagged along to I can't see any of them going for it. Anyone know what a collection of Geeks is referred to as? Is it a Byte? A boredom of Geeks. Oh I like that one... a boredom of geeks. Wonder how I can get that coined and turned into a proper verbal reference.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway back to the bits I am loving about this trip, obviously the boredom of geeks isn't a big player in the list. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_OL6VA4Q4KZpYGTY994dlQw_x3BhqUnO3Z-73D8_9YpwHyYUSheZlAjk1LUPeCrMWvA5_0ySSQLQYHt1CXZoUT4_Kl2wIAx03Y5yew95Tf034wdpjlOnO-aNl3VQzIxkrAEuo5uxcic/s1600/Malta_Lion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_OL6VA4Q4KZpYGTY994dlQw_x3BhqUnO3Z-73D8_9YpwHyYUSheZlAjk1LUPeCrMWvA5_0ySSQLQYHt1CXZoUT4_Kl2wIAx03Y5yew95Tf034wdpjlOnO-aNl3VQzIxkrAEuo5uxcic/s320/Malta_Lion.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This chap is one of a pair that sit outside the entrance of the Hilton Malta, I love them, I think they have real character and I have named them Laurel and Hardy... this one is Laurel.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0t6Hr3gLNwwQXn1qzr47F4cPLfBhblBoSA2Lkx6y5GGAN3HBOszKWBggdCtA_A7tC-cbe6kzEFCaLQrJYZn9Ua_LDwwWw0vJ442pbgWaY9NdPp_EUS820PsnqfC4P1DTMJtz4baEJdIc/s1600/Malta_HiltonEntrance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0t6Hr3gLNwwQXn1qzr47F4cPLfBhblBoSA2Lkx6y5GGAN3HBOszKWBggdCtA_A7tC-cbe6kzEFCaLQrJYZn9Ua_LDwwWw0vJ442pbgWaY9NdPp_EUS820PsnqfC4P1DTMJtz4baEJdIc/s320/Malta_HiltonEntrance.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hilton Malta Entrance</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3G0Q23jM-MbrTXBiVn0IdAXyS63cSzPzKiubqSM_oddBd18ezj6AC_2OPILcX0YZhFAY3ST7WEVanh8hT0ye-H-UADBlUp_UHTaVnFunA7eEqSLnWdfpLep2MdjCPn4Hkrxb_wZKH-XY/s1600/Malta_bedroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3G0Q23jM-MbrTXBiVn0IdAXyS63cSzPzKiubqSM_oddBd18ezj6AC_2OPILcX0YZhFAY3ST7WEVanh8hT0ye-H-UADBlUp_UHTaVnFunA7eEqSLnWdfpLep2MdjCPn4Hkrxb_wZKH-XY/s320/Malta_bedroom.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not had a single bed since I was about 9 so this has been different and definitely haven't been in a single bed since I got married. But having said that there is something to be said to not being stuck to someone else all night long. The room is lovely, clean, bright, airy and pretty much everything you could want with a fabulous en-suite bathroom, but really what you expect from a Hilton. But not entirely sure why we have duvets, it's 78 degrees here and even at night it hasn't gotten cold. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GgAR8XMT7AKLnEPK3CKhRD4u8Qz3mTcZu2XBvZ9oZDZzoMByOldM-L7jKOicuKyL6NFt7kXvgVF8LP5Bpcf6vRg_fRsUP9DG9nzSmtjqZeNVSTS2RPWvXXDadKeK3Tz1a8FYo4EyG9s/s1600/Malta_view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GgAR8XMT7AKLnEPK3CKhRD4u8Qz3mTcZu2XBvZ9oZDZzoMByOldM-L7jKOicuKyL6NFt7kXvgVF8LP5Bpcf6vRg_fRsUP9DG9nzSmtjqZeNVSTS2RPWvXXDadKeK3Tz1a8FYo4EyG9s/s400/Malta_view.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And finally for this post... the view from the balcony, this was after 6pm when we arrived... can it get any better than looking out at that!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-9999154788642630832012-05-16T12:57:00.000-07:002012-05-16T12:57:15.540-07:00Beloved - Chapter One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3EDLCCvi9ugF1UR23S0PvfPBIZAht55hdquBxpeb7mwskHkFRNOdSBWSsxPg-swjhezfqPG3XDV6i1NDmXSv-6wc_o81sD0rUDNViv5JAmpCiQvi6GpuKyRsXJyvC8ozuT22IPayzJ5o/s1600/Hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3EDLCCvi9ugF1UR23S0PvfPBIZAht55hdquBxpeb7mwskHkFRNOdSBWSsxPg-swjhezfqPG3XDV6i1NDmXSv-6wc_o81sD0rUDNViv5JAmpCiQvi6GpuKyRsXJyvC8ozuT22IPayzJ5o/s400/Hand.jpg" width="257" /></a>I watch him pass by my window every day. In the mornings the light bounces off his blonde curls and they gleam in the light. From my window I watch him pass, holding his briefcase in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. Sometimes he is talking on the phone. I wonder what colour his eyes are? I suspect they are blue but the angle of my view is wrong and he really is too far away for me to see properly. I would like his eyes to be green, I dream that his eyes will be green, with flecks of gold, but that is a dream and I don't really know but I want to, I want to know so badly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the evenings, when he passes by, his pace is slower and I can see the tired droop of his shoulders and the long slow stride of his walk. So different to first thing in the morning. I long to speak to him, to ask him his name, to ask him what he has been doing that has made him so tired. But I don't have the courage to go out and speak to him, I am afraid that he will not see me, he will look through me as though through a pane of glass, just like everyone else does.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have been here for such a long time, in this house, it feels like forever, the passage of time has lost its meaning for me somewhere. I was born in this house, I grew up here, it's always been my home, I've always loved it here. I remember playing in the attic rooms and running up and down the stairs. I remember bouncing my ball against the wall in the vestibule and running races in the garden with my sisters. My parents are gone, Elizabeth and Alice, my sisters, are gone. They have been gone a long time. I was alone for a long time but now the house is full of people again, full of noise and colour but still, I feel invisible, I can't seem to communicate with them, they pass me on the stairs, I smile and hope they will stop and speak to me but I don't have the courage to break the silence. I open my mouth to speak, to introduce myself but they are already gone, rushing off to carry on with their lives. For the longest time there has been no one in my world to talk to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But now there is him, the blonde man, I wish I knew his name, I want it to be James, in my dreams his name is James but I don't know. I need to know who he is. If he was in my world I wouldn't be alone anymore, I could talk to him, I have so much to tell him and so much I want to share with him, but I have to meet him first. I have to find a way to meet him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I resolve to go out and to say hello the next time he passes but when that time comes I cannot seem to leave the house to do it. My chance passes me by and I resolve to do it next time and again when the moment arrives I cannot seem to do it. What is stopping me? Am I afraid he will reject my attempt at contact or shyness or the fear that he will look through me and not see me or worse, he will see me and still walk on uninterested in my attempts. Which is worse to be seen and ignored or not to be seen at all? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I spend the evening in the garden beneath the cherry tree, it's my favourite place, I come here to think. It's cool and peaceful here, the breeze whispers through the pink cherry blossom, it's almost musical. I remember when my father built the stone bench that I am sitting on, he carved it himself as a gift for my mother, I remember sitting on the counter in his workshop watching him as he chiseled carefully at the segments of marble, thinking how wonderful it was that my father, a man who usually was so formal, seemed perfectly at ease getting messy and covered with stone dust making something for my mother. The bench forms two semi circles that fit around the the trunk of the tree, of course when my father first put it in place the tree was only slender, a slip of a thing, just as I was. Now the tree fills the circle and I marvel at how clever my father was to know how much space to leave to let the tree grow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The garden is quiet, the people that share the house with me now rarely seem to come into the garden. The children do sometimes but now it is evening and the children will be getting ready for bed, so it is just me and the birds sharing the space. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How I wish that I was sharing this quiet with James, my blonde man, how wonderful it would be to share this marble symbol dedicated to my father's love to my mother with him. For a moment I feel my loneliness wash over me like a cold wave and a moment suddenly feels like an eternity.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbgFU-WM8bwwqU6QkLRlwoHM0aQ5KBQd0sebmzrFkIOVrNWJMS8ma0Apk2gxLfDkAgcpqE24UuYLnGHrhzEjv6bNwvbPERfjIAKb4NywRypwUE5Z9EQqhOCIE3plYwEoK9IQhQGw4OBk/s1600/SHOLT_ATOPElement3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbgFU-WM8bwwqU6QkLRlwoHM0aQ5KBQd0sebmzrFkIOVrNWJMS8ma0Apk2gxLfDkAgcpqE24UuYLnGHrhzEjv6bNwvbPERfjIAKb4NywRypwUE5Z9EQqhOCIE3plYwEoK9IQhQGw4OBk/s640/SHOLT_ATOPElement3.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-28909646848963634672012-05-01T10:00:00.002-07:002012-05-01T10:01:33.759-07:00Time to Build an Ark Perchance?<div style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It's raining.... bet you didn't know that... it's like totally unheard of isn't it... rain in England! OMG!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I keep hearing people saying things like "How can we be in a drought when it hasn't stopped raining for a month?" or "How can there be a a hosepipe ban when it's raining?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I guess the truth is a lot of people don't understand things like water tables and saturation points. OMG!!! Something actually did soak into my brain during those endlessly tedious geography lessons, my old teacher would be so proud. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Anyway the lovely hubby and myself went out for a drive around our town "flood watching" in between downpours, it was obviously quite late and getting dark by the time we got out but I thought you never know so I took my camera and am I ever glad I did. I snapped this picture of a mill (pure fluke and a good camera can do wonders). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVDnQ_FufY9S53OpTSCC03iZXD4-WUPUAgysP3fj17BfTe_0GU-0oXqjCnKnjRmt019xEoRDatK3I_hVBsPUSvxfvB7ohhOFbKFOlvDnLop9JKBYWNeWYqPLup9E8E6YE9ZkG7h9GdS4/s1600/wborough3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVDnQ_FufY9S53OpTSCC03iZXD4-WUPUAgysP3fj17BfTe_0GU-0oXqjCnKnjRmt019xEoRDatK3I_hVBsPUSvxfvB7ohhOFbKFOlvDnLop9JKBYWNeWYqPLup9E8E6YE9ZkG7h9GdS4/s640/wborough3.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I love the way it almost looks as though it is floating on the water. My hubby would be terrified living in that house, he as a mortal fear of flooding. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDSMIBUh1LwppuHLeXyrmkcqXq9fbefYj2YfhosEQOuXaypYQ_XBm7XRaeYA2hfHQ4nEtycs5Kw8b2LgY6WwotcB59iSI3u_i8Alv6jHvHLx8sIgHIn05fC8hu5Ba3uBp0C9soj5TyQ8/s1600/wborough2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDSMIBUh1LwppuHLeXyrmkcqXq9fbefYj2YfhosEQOuXaypYQ_XBm7XRaeYA2hfHQ4nEtycs5Kw8b2LgY6WwotcB59iSI3u_i8Alv6jHvHLx8sIgHIn05fC8hu5Ba3uBp0C9soj5TyQ8/s640/wborough2.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVC_AewL5QQowPB4kWItsoV6DIT__uAeUcSAF8kJbSf_ACU6yK-XC_fpKNXkTxCC8jtmjtKYPYP6oAn0zj-7M_KPe-GMvjwHD8EDrh29sQQImpsjEnn2bN0k0BxZsbXeMM4wDlIFbJ0qU/s1600/Wborough1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVC_AewL5QQowPB4kWItsoV6DIT__uAeUcSAF8kJbSf_ACU6yK-XC_fpKNXkTxCC8jtmjtKYPYP6oAn0zj-7M_KPe-GMvjwHD8EDrh29sQQImpsjEnn2bN0k0BxZsbXeMM4wDlIFbJ0qU/s640/Wborough1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I can see further trips flood watching... it was good fun, strangely!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-79491228648715748232012-04-27T03:07:00.002-07:002012-04-27T03:07:44.492-07:00Book Review: My Sisters Keeper<div style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I read this book some time ago, can't remember why I didn't do a review on it, actually I think I do remember... this book really affected me, it made me very sad when I read it, it also made me question myself, by the time I read this I already had two sons and so a lot of the issues raised by the book were ones that I really had to think about, what <i>would </i>I do? Would I sacrifice the happiness of one child to save another? Would I go and have a baby with the sole purpose of trying to save the other? For me, given the difficulty I actually have getting and staying pregnant its a bit of a non starter question, but ethically it's a conundrum, one I am glad to say I haven't had to face, but I would hope that the answer would be no... I wouldn't devalue one of my children's lives to save the other. I wouldn't make that child do things he or she didn't want to do without their consent or even over their objections to save the other. I wouldn't put that child in the position where he or she had to say "no" and get a lawyer to try and get me to realise that their needs were being ignored and made them feel like a spare parts factory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I do enjoy Jodi Picoult books, although saying the word "enjoy" about these books feels so wrong. She tackles subjects that are so difficult, asks questions that no one wants to ask and does it in a way that doesnt turn it into a farce, she does it with sensitivity and a depth of thought and feeling that you can't help but disappear into what is an amazing read. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This story reduced me to tears at several points, pathetic... but true. </span></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=httplisapblob-21&o=2&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B002S0KBUY" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-53786706334619288382012-04-26T03:29:00.001-07:002012-04-26T03:29:16.539-07:00Book Review: Dreaming The Eagle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">I've always been fascinated by strong female characters, specially historical ones, obviously all we can ever do is look back, extrapolate from whatever historical evidence is available and conjure up a story from that, unfortunately time travel isn't an option... how cool it would be if it was! In modern times women's role in society is back up on the rise after several centuries of being denied a role, being held back by the male dominated elite... it's almost hard to believe that once upon a time women were warriors, seers, religious leaders and played important parts in the history of humankind. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Boudica or Boadicea as she is often known as is a character that has been of great interest to me, so Manda Scott's series of books on Boudica were a definite "must read" for me and I wasn't disappointed. Although this is historical fiction, it is believable historical fiction. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Manda Scott managed to bring to life a largely unknown portion of English history, there is very little written evidence from this time, just at the point that England is invaded by the Romans and the turning point in history from the British Isles, if the Romans hadn't come how different a country could this have been. Boudica is the Queen of the Iceni, one of the many tribes that occupied England and leads a revolt against the Romans. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This book is one of a series and I would highly recommend the whole series. If you like series style stories in the vein of "Clan of the Cave Bear" or "Lord of the Rings" then this series will have you enthralled. </span></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=httplisapblob-21&o=2&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0553814060" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7229927203951721575.post-35593844550439058172012-04-11T02:14:00.000-07:002012-04-11T02:15:36.219-07:00Musings on a Feline<div style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We have three cats in our house, Specs, Sooty and Ebony. There are no prizes for guessing what colour Sooty and Ebony are!
All three are related, Specs and Sooty are siblings and Ebony is Specs daughter, father unknown as is often the way with cats, specially the slutty kind. All three cats have very different personalities, which leads to a definate pecking order. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Specs thinks she is human and definitely looks down the other two, she bullies Sooty and absolutely hates Ebony hissing and spitting at her every chance she gets but she absolutely adores Daniel, my oldest son, he is HER human, his room is her domain and she constantly presents him with her trophy kills. I come a lowly second with Specs but that is only if Daniel is away or if she wants to get in his room and the door is shut.... See I know my place in this relationship, the affection she shows me is entirely a bribe to make me do what she wants. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Sooty, or fatboy, as he is more usually known, is a laid back sort of chap, constantly on the mooch for food, loving human company, but usually from a distance, tolerating the odd cuddle, but only because he understands there has to be a payback for titbits and treats. He is the one with the loudest most persistant voice but the gentlest nature and is utterly thick, bullied by both the female cats, you give him a treat and he will sit there looking at it whilst one of the other two steals it...and then looks up at you as if to say "what happened there?"
And then there is Ebony, the most angry, frightened cat on the planet and we have no idea why... Could be Specs constant abuse has made her skittish but she takes her anger out on Pie and myself, we can't even pass her in the hallway without her hissing and running for cover. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">You can see the hate...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The only person she seems to relax around is Conor. You can tell when the weather is bad because Ebony is indoors, she only comes in if the weather is bad or for food.
Having said that, if you can calm her down she quite enjoys a stroke but you kind of don't bother as she is just hard work and even after stroking her for 10 minutes and even getting her to purr she will turn around and hiss at you if you twitch the wrong way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Whilst I can't imagine the house without them...actually thinking about it, no one using the furniture as a scratching post, no endless carpet of fur from Sooty yanking his out (weirdo) and no one hissing and spitting at me... hmmmm I may have to re-evaluate that statement... Nope even with all that, can't really imagine the house without them but I am grateful that none of them loves me enough to leave a headless mouse on my pillow. </span></div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10324738893906657346noreply@blogger.com0