Mirror Shards

Bluebell

2009-04-30T09:52:00.005+01:00

Our local woods are carpeted with blubells. Took this pic last night, am quite chuffed with it (it's been slightly edited)

Hedgehog Haven

2009-04-09T11:54:00.003+01:00

One of my virtual D For Dog pals, Trish, has set up a lovely new website for her little (but ever-expanding) hedgehog rescue which she runs from home.

The Hedgehog Haven not only gives progress reports of hedgehogs that Trish is looking after, but also links to various other useful hedgehog sites and provides advice on what to do if you find a hedgehog that you think may need help.

Dentist Visit

2009-04-08T12:50:00.002+01:00

Never been a huge fan of dentists, as I've had some horrible ones in the past, but my current dentist is absolutely lovely. She's always smiley and happy and she's never sent me away with a sore mouth. Generally I see visits to the dentist as an expensive but thorough teeth cleaning experience as I always end up with a scale and polish (apparently I have bad tartar build-up on some of my bottom row of teeth as they overlap a bit and are hard to clean)...

...BUT....

..t.here's always the worry, isn't there, that they'll spot some hitherto unnoticed cavity, or an emerging wisdom tooth at a worrying angle, or an obscure gum infection!

Oh well, hopefully the only thing I have to worry about this afternoon is the parking, although at least it's the Easter hols here so I won't even have to worry much about that !

Singing jazz with Lucas and Walliams?!

2009-04-01T09:41:00.002+01:00

Had another bizarro dream this morning before the alarm went off.

Was in some kind of school hall where a show of sorts was being organised I think. It's going fuzzy now but I remember that the Henson twins spotted me and came to say hello, which is funny cos I haven't seen either of them for 19 years!! So there I was, with people milling around in the hall humming and singing to themselves, and I thought Hey, I can sing, maybe it's time to overcome my stage fright and volunteer for a spot. The obvious one to me was Cole Porter's wonderful "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye", which I learned to sing way back when I was having singing lessons - just before Simply Red covered it. I still know the words and still love singing it.

As I was thinking about it, who should come in but David Walliams and Matt Lucas. And you'll like this: the reason Matt Lucas was there was because he was at school with me. In drag, as it was a girls school.. suited him though. I was miffed with David Walliams for "stealing" Matt Lucas away from us during the sixth form.

It worked out all right in the end because Matt Lucas ended up backing me on the drums..

I should've written it all down as soon as I woke up as I know I've already lost some of it. Even as I was dreaming I was thinking how surreal it was! But then on the news when I got up there was a piece about "rock choirs" and I thought, maybe something is trying to tell me to take up singing again? Maybe it's time to push my ridiculous shyness to one side and mooch down to the village hall on Tuesday and see what our ladies choir is up to. I sang in choirs for many many years at school and university, and I do miss it.

Random morning music

2009-04-01T08:54:00.002+01:00

First, a bit of background:

Last year I upgraded my phone. My Nokia N73 was everything I wanted in a phone (phone, PDA, MP3 player, camera) and I had been very happy with it for about a month. Unfortunately there was an incident which involved a cat, my phone and a large, sweet cup of tea and the N73 was never the same after that. It still works as a phone, so is handy as a backup. Anyway, long story short, I had no insurance or spare cash so was stuck with it until my contract was up, which was last June. As you can imagine, I was pretty excited when June came around - partly also because of the July wedding - and I did lots of research and opted for the N95 8Gb as it does everything the N73 did but substantially better and with added Wi-fi connectivity and a much better camera. So far I haven't been disappointed, although it has just been fixed under warranty after all the keys stopped responding..

I have (at the moment) 430 tracks on the phone, and a tape adaptor for the car stereo, so when I've got the car (Tracy & I have one car between us now) I plug my phone in, set it to "shuffle" and press play... sometimes it seems to have a mind of it's own and almost play to a theme. I have a wide range of music on there, from dance to heavy rock, so it's quite surprising when it picks out four or five tracks that go together reasonably well.

This mornings offerings were quite good:

The Psychedelic Furs - Pretty in Pink
Lene Lovich - Bird Song
Tanita Tikaram - Twist in my Sobriety
The Damned - Eloise
Ultravox - Sleepwalk
The Kinks - You Really Got Me
and finally, and somewhat incongruously, The Prodigy - No Good (Start The Dance) (Bad For Yo mix) from More Music For the Jilted Generation

Interesting mix. Wonder what it will play on my way home?

Tweet tweet

2009-02-20T16:18:00.003Z

Oops. Joined Twitter aaages ago, got distracted and forgot about it, then someone decided to follow me so I went and had another look. It's caught on now, hasn't it? Just a bit.

The thing I'm enjoying about it is the banter that goes on, really. The potential for conversations, and for finding people with similar interests. So far I seem to be following journalists, the occasional techy and animal lovers, with a couple of exceptions.

All very interesting, for the moment, although I suspect it was probably a bit better, in some ways, before everyone caught on.

Hmm...

NZ Government introduces prohibitive internet laws

2009-02-16T08:41:00.001Z

Please consider joining the online protest at the new NZ internet laws. They don't protect individuals but are purely and simply designed to protect big companies and quite frankly, they're just insane: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/juha/6247

Happy New Year!

2009-01-13T15:37:00.003Z

I know it's a bit late, but here's hoping everyone has a great 2009, with lots of positive experiences.

An awful lot of people that I've spoken to have had a terrible time of it in the last year, with illnesses; deaths; separations; financial problems - it was definitely a year of obstacles. In Chinese Astrology, 2008 (the year of the Brown Rat) was forecast to be a rollercoaster of a year, and it certainly was for us, with deep lows and amazing highs.

With 2009, the predictions (Chinese Astrology) still aren't so good, but for some reason I feel much more positive, like a major obstacle has been removed or a door opened. I think it's because there is movement already - we haven't got a major event to plan for now that the wedding is over and done with, so we're free to get on with everything else; all the little things we couldn't do last year, hopefully we can get them done this year.

I know the global predictions for this year are a bit grim. But I'm hopeful that those predictions will turn out to have been exaggerated - I personally tend to think the media are hyping it up just a tad, and that if those who can do so stay cautiously optimistic, everything will turn out OK.

What happened to the Summer?

2008-12-05T11:50:00.004Z

It's been a long time again, hasn't it? The handfasting went wonderfully, it was truly amazing to be in the centre of a circle surrounded by all that love, and everyone had a really good time. Quill were late arriving but made up for it with a brilliant set that got everybody dancing (even me), and the staff and landlord of the Bull i'th'Thorn pub were great hosts. You can only have a good party if you have good company, good hosts, and great music, and we had all of those. Thanks to everybody who came for making our day so special! Special thanks to Rick & Tigga for bringing a bag of tricks - party poppers, bubbles, sweets - and keeping the kids (and adults) entertained, what a lovely thought.

Any hangovers the following morning were wonderfully soothed by Graham's (pub landlord and chef) lovely cooked breakfasts - he even made sure there was something my vegan sister could eat.

During the week after the party, we nipped down to the registry office and did the legal bit - just the basic ceremony with my sis and Tracy's parents, but it was quite an experience nonetheless. I don't actually remember the words to the vows...

Then at the weekend, we buggered off to Italy on honeymoon. We'd wanted to go to Tuscany for the longest time, and it was every bit as wonderful as we'd thought it would be. The only thing I'd change if I could go back is that I'd probably go for an apartment with air conditioning, as it was so hot even at night, but then we might not have got views like this one:

That's the view from the pool...

We had a lovely week, and definitely want to go back and explore some more, Tuscany is a truly beautiful place with lovely people and the food and wine are wonderful too.

Since we got back I've not been in the mood for blogging, really, it's been back to reality with a bang and it all seems so distant now, even though we have photos and video - and rings - to prove it all really happened. People keep asking "how is married life". Well, it's not really much different to unmarried life, except for the rings and that little bit of extra security. For me, it's just nice to know that we have that legal protection now that we didn't have before. And now, instead of waking up every morning and being blown away that this beautiful, amazing woman has chosen to be with me, I'm blown away that she has chosen to make that commitment to me. I truly am a lucky woman!

48 hours

2008-07-16T16:12:00.003+01:00

Well, then.

So.

48 hours to go.

The only things we've got left to do are:

1) pack
2) write our vows

I'm not at all worried about 1).

Number 2, however, is giving me some problems. I have so far written several versions: luckily Google Documents has lots of space.

It's not that I have a problem expressing how I feel.. it's just that I have a problem making promises - which I guess is a weird thing to admit to ahead of probably the biggest commitment I'll ever make in this lifetime. I have no qualms about telling our closest friends and family that I love this woman and that I intend to stay with her for ... well, for how long? I would like for us to be forever together, but as a believer in reincarnation I know that we may be together in the next life but our relationship could be totally different. And in this lifetime? Well, for as long as I live, I guess. Or as long as Tracy lives, maybe? Oh, I know. "Until death do us part."

I've not had writer's block this badly since I graduated...

In 48 hours it will all be over, with just the legal bit to go next week. Hopefully, by then, I will have found a way of expressing how I feel, and what I'm committing to without either gushing uncontrollably, blubbing like a baby, or sounding non-committal and wordy, or - possibly worst of all - trite.

Actually, there is a strong possibility that in 48 hours time I will be ever so slightly tipsy....

Thirteen days

2008-07-05T13:34:00.003+01:00

Sorry I've not posted much, although I think there are only a couple of people still reading this!! As you can probably imagine, it's been a bit mad recently. Work has been very busy too, as we have a client hopefully going live just as I start my 3 week break, and since I've written the code they're going live with I've had my hands full trying to work out why it wasn't quite doing what it should.

Mind you, we're about sorted at home now. The tickets for the honeymoon have arrived, most guests have confirmed (there are still a few who are dithering a bit), Mollie's booked in at PetPals Alfreton for a couple of days where I'm sure she'll have a whale of a time being part of a well-adjusted and friendly pack.

Tomorrow night I'm picking my mum up from the airport. For months I've known that, once Mum arrives, the time will pass incredibly quickly. She's not staying with us as we're out in the country with a dodgy bus service, rather with my sis until my Dad arrives the day before the handfasting. My sis lives in the city so it's easier for Mum to get around. It's amazing that this weekend is finally here, it doesn't seem that long since we started planning, but I suppose it's been one hell of a year so far, with a lot of drama, and it's gone by incredibly quickly.

Not long now!!

2008-06-11T15:05:00.004+01:00

6 weeks to go, which may sound like a long time but judging by how fast the last few months have flown by, it'll come incredibly quickly. Actually it's just over five weeks to the handfasting, but six weeks to the Civil Partnership.

Last week, we went to the registry office to "give notice". Obviously, with me being a computer professional and therefore cursed, the computer was down, so we had to go into the wedding suite and fill out paper forms. Well, the registrar (lovely lady) filled out the forms, we just had to answer lots of questions.

As we had to be separated for the interrogation, and whoever was in the waiting room was listening to an iPod, it was a bit like "Mr & Mrs" - especially since our replies had to match!! At one point I joked to the registrar that it was like "Mr & Mrs" and that I was fully expecting to be asked questions about Tracy's favourite CDs - at which she laughed, waved the paper at me and said "they're on the back!". Altogether it was a slightly nerve-wracking but quite interesting experience, and I came away with a spring in my step and butterflies in my tummy, grinning like a grinning person.

The enormity of what we're doing keeps hitting home. Sometimes I just can't get over what a lucky girl I am to have someone who loves me that much, and who I love that much. Wow.

Wash your hands of Palm Oil

2008-05-19T13:20:00.003+01:00

Lush have developed a non-palm oil based soap base and have cut out Palm Oil from their products!! I got a text from Tracy with a photo showing a huge ad in their shop window in Leicester:

You can read more here.

Save the Orangutan

2008-05-17T17:45:00.003+01:00

When I was a kid, my Dad used to tell me stories from when he was out in Borneo with the aircraft carrier HMS Bulwark. I don't remember vast amounts of the details, but I do remember thinking, I must go there someday and see Sarawak for myself.

Now my concern is that, by the time I have the means to get there, there won't be anything left. Because of the palm oil industry, huge swathes of jungle are being cleared and replaced with palm plantations. Orangutans are being burned out of their trees, shot for bush meat, and their young left to die.

So what can we do? Well, firstly, don't take my word for it. There are lots of sites out there with information on what is happening and why we should do our best to stop it, and one that I found very informative is the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation. In fact, I've just adopted a baby orang called Madsen, who was rescued after a stupid woman had placed an order for him because she'd seen orangs and thought they looked funny. Because of her whim, Madsen's mother was shot. Now Madsen is in the care of the BOS and his future is looking better.

If we don't act, little Madsen and others like him may not have a jungle to go back to. So check the ingredients of the food you buy - if it has palm oil, put it back. Before buying furniture, ask where the wood comes from. Not just for the orangutans, but for the sake of the environment - according to Greenpeace, deforestation is a major contributor to climate change.

It's astounding, time is fleeting...

2008-05-09T15:42:00.004+01:00

..and yes, the next line is probably also appropriate. I'm so busy at work that the weeks are flying by, and now there are only 10 to go until the handfasting.

This week, we wrote the ceremony. I'm quite pleased with it, we re-used bits from handfastings I've previously performed but also rewrote some bits - like the calling of the corners - to fit in with our own beliefs, which tend more towards the shamanic than those of our friends. There may be a bit of tweaking here and there, and we've still got our vows to write, but I still feel like that's another box ticked. On the suggestion of our friend who is jointly presiding over the ceremony, we're going to send out a little note to those friends and family who have confirmed their attendance: thanking them for confirming, explaining about the use of a ceremonial circle and why it needs to not be broken, giving them a little map of where the venue is, re-iterating the need for us to know dietary requirements, giving them an idea of times; and any other last minute details that we think of.

It's not the only box ticked this week - I've ordered my clothing, which means I've just got potential make-up and jewellery to sort out, and my hair will need styling a bit a couple of weeks before. Also, my passport has arrived, so we're all set for the honeymoon, and I've found what seems to be a great place for Mollie to stay for the weekend - more on that on her blog once the details have been confirmed.

Holy Smoke
This week we attended a tobacco ceremony at a friend's house - the friend who lost her wife in March. It was mind-blowing, and Tracy and I both agree that we should have taken the following day off work. It was performed by a lovely lady who works in a tradition from Ecuador (although she herself is from Yorkshire and lives in Wales). For me, rituals are not really my bag; so I only take part in them on rare occasions when I feel that it will strengthen a bond between the attendees, or where I really need to focus my mind and gather my energy - which is what ritual is all about, really. It makes a huge difference who is there, who leads the ceremony, and the energy everyone brings. As the saying goes, it only takes one bad apple to spoil a cart. On this occasion, there were no bad apples, and Claire who led the ceremony had an amazing, generous, warm energy which drew us in and made us feel welcome. I put my ring on the altar so that I could take away an energetic reminder of the evening, and even four days later it's still heavy with the energy we raised. I feel truly privileged to have been invited to take part.

Synchronicity

2008-04-25T09:11:00.003+01:00

Well, a couple of hours after writing that last post, I left work, got in the car, switched on the radio - and a few minutes later Steve Wright played "Fly like an Eagle" by the Steve Miller Band. It's not a song you hear that often on the radio. It's also the song (in case you hadn't realised) from which the title of my last post is taken!!

I love it when things like that happen.

"Time keeps on slippin, slippin, slippin into the future..."

2008-04-24T14:26:00.003+01:00

Isn't it always the same when you've got deadlines and big events looming - you blink and a week has passed, or two!! Well, that's what keeps happening to me, anyway. Suddenly there are less than three months to go until the handfasting, and I still have nothing to wear and no passport (for the honeymoon). I'm sending the passport off tonight, on the way home. With the new photo regulations I've had to take the photo with no glasses on (so couldn't read the instructions) and looking my default miserable self. But the good news is that I look remarkably similar to how I did when I was 25, so I don't have to mug any of my allegedly respectable friends to countersign my photos etc. Phew.

Yesterday I did one of the most nerve-wracking things ever - a close second to proposing in the first place - I phoned the registry office. A nice lady took my booking for the Civil Partnership and explained how much everything would cost and when we'd need to pay. At the beginning of June we're going in to prove that we really are who we say we are and pay them a "notice fee" each. And then it'll only be a few weeks until we do the deed. We're having the handfasting, then a few days later the CP, then a couple of days after that we're jetting off to the mountains of Tuscany for a week of gastronomic delight. Italian food, italian wine, beautiful Tuscan countryside, art and architecture - oh, and of course my new ..er... wife? It'll be a wonderful break from the madness.

In the meantime the deadline for the software project I'm working on has moved to the week before the handfasting - there's no way I want to come back after three weeks and try to decipher my code!! Better to start something new when I come back all refreshed and tanned (well, OK, since I'm a redhead I'll either come back severely freckled or an interesting lobster colour, and with bright orange hair) from the holidays.

Life at the moment is very, very exciting.

Morning

2008-04-10T10:13:00.002+01:00

Months ago, T and I had this great idea that, once it got light enough, we'd start getting up at 6 to take the dog for a walk and possibly even build that up to a jog or even run. This week, we started the new regime and the alarm has gone off at 6 every morning. Mollie dog loves it, which is surprising as she's not known for being an early riser normally, and if I can get to work earlier I can also leave earlier, which means I have time to cook a decent meal before Tracy gets home...

However, we forgot one minor point. If you get up earlier, it's generally advisable to go to bed earlier, too. Which we haven't actually managed. So this morning I just refused to get up, and Tracy and Mollie went out without me. I snoozed until 7.30 and then reluctantly dragged myself out of bed. Hopefully I'll get my 8 hours tonight, otherwise I'll be on strike tomorrow morning as well...!

Time flies

2008-03-31T11:34:00.005+01:00

Sorry I've not written for a while. I couldn't face it after losing Sammy - he was by my side for 13 years, from when I was unemployed, through my first job, up to finding my feet as a programmer and getting my career going. He was there when I went through break-ups, there when I came out as a lesbian, there when I met Tracy, when we fell in love. He was there when we moved in together and there when we bought our first house. Through it all he was always available for cuddles or play and had an unerring ability to tell when you needed cheering up. He was one in a million.

Sadly, just as I thought I was getting over his loss, we lost a close human friend, another unique and wonderful personality lost to us, but this time overnight - there was no warning, no sense of anything wrong, she just went, suddenly, leaving a huge hole that simply can't be filled. I'm grateful that it was relatively quick, but I'm still angry that someone who had just found happiness and was busy making plans for herself and her family should be taken away when evil people out there flourish and live long lives.

Anyway, I know it sounds like I'm wallowing in grief, but actually I'm not. One advantage of having slightly mediumistic tendencies is that you can feel the presence of people and animals who have passed into the spirit world, so that although it's hard to not be able to physically touch them, or to hear their voices clearly, you can still communicate in a way. Sammy cat was there at our friend's funeral, and they will both be at our handfasting in July, I'm sure of it.

Meanwhile, life goes on. We still have a handfasting (four months to go!) and civil partnership to plan, jobs to do, three remaining pets to care for and friends and family to see. Tracy has graduated as a Shiatsu practitioner so that will hopefully pick up this year, I've had the honour of being promoted to a moderator on the D For Dog forums - which are going from strength to strength - , Tracy and I have started going to Yin Yoga, and Mollie and I have just started agility classes. Somewhere along the line we also seriously need to get some DIY done around the house...

The agility classes will be mentioned on Mollie's blog, I'll be back with updates of the rest of my incredibly mundane life later! =)

Samson, 1994-2008

2008-01-16T11:59:00.000Z

Yesterday we lost my beloved Sammy cat. He was one of a kind. I'll write more when I can do so without welling up.

Bah Humbug

2007-12-21T15:03:00.000Z

Well, today's my last day at work until the 2nd January and I'm looking forward to the time off, even though we're doing something most days. At the very least it'll give me an opportunity to catch up on a few chores, get rid of the ironing pile and go for some nice long walks with Tracy and the dog - in daylight!

But, I have to confess, I'm not looking forward to the actual "Christmas" thing. Aside from the fact that I object to Christmas as a cold-hearted exploitation of consumers by the retail industry, and I can't abide the schmaltzy American Christmas hits that are on the radio, on the Sky channel selection screen, on the speakers in lifts and car parks and supermarkets; and my personal religious beliefs don't include Christ being the son of God born to a virgin to save us from our sins - aside from all that, I just find it a hugely disappointing and anti-climactic thing.

I do enjoy celebrating the solstice with my friends. There is no obligation to give any other than your time and your love and good company. There's usually plenty of mulled wine and mead, and lots of laughs as we mull over the events of the past year. In that respect, solstice celebrations do incorporate elements of both Christmas and New Year. We drink to the year just gone, and drink to the year about to start, and light a candle (or a fire!) to ward off the dark night. That's what we'll be doing tomorrow night.

But Christmas just doesn't suit me. I'll quite happily spend all day cooking various delicacies - but I don't eat big meals so by the time I've tasted everything I'm not hungry! I always end up leaving half of what's on my plate. I'm not really bothered about Christmas presents or cards - it's nice to hear from people that don't otherwise get in touch (and this year a lot of Christmas cards are doubling up as Handfasting RSVPs) but I just can't get excited about it at all.

This year I'm really looking forward to having a lazy Christmas day with Tracy and the animals, with a good long walk with Mollie dog; and I love throwing balls of Christmas paper at the cats. Mollie will probably enjoy "unwrapping" her "chocolate" bone and pretending that the cats are trying to steal it. I'm also looking forward to seeing Tracy's folks on Boxing Day - although it'll be strange without their dog, Zoe - and I'm really looking forward to going to see The Golden Compass with Tracy's niece and nephew on the 27th. They're great kids. After that we'll be visiting some good friends on the Notts/Derbys border on the way home. When we get home, the cats will obviously claim that we've abandoned them with no food in a freezing house for weeks, and demand immediate restitution, but if we give them a tin of tuna and switch the gas fire on we'll soon be forgiven.

Anyway, regardless of how I feel about Christmas, I'd like to wish you all a Happy Holiday season - whether you've just celebrated Hannukah, St Nicholas or Eid, or you're building up to Solstice, Christmas or New Year - and may the coming year be full of joy, prosperity and good health for all of you. Cheers.

Pre-"wedding" nerves - but not cold feet!

2007-12-10T14:56:00.000Z

The handfasting is drawing ever closer. Whenever I think about it, I come over all tingly, which is a good thing. I'm excited about the party, I'm excited about the day, the ceremony, the possibility of a honeymoon, the prospect of spending the rest of my life with the woman I love...

BUT, I'm incredibly nervous. As it draws closer (only 7 months to go!) , I am starting to panic, ever so slightly, about every aspect. Will we have enough food - will there be too much? Will everyone get on OK? (My Dad has never met Tracy's parents) Will the weather be fine (in July)? Will we be able to memorise our lines OK - will I stutter and mumble as I am wont to do when nervous? Will I blush lots and clash horribly with my hair? Will all the guests be OK about joining hands in a pagan ritual circle? Will we be able to meet all the costs? And last, but definitely not least - what on earth am I going to wear?!

The ceremony itself is probably the least of my worries, we're going to sit down and work it out at some point soon and we're confident, deep down, that it will be amazing. Of course, by the time the handfasting happens, we'll already be legally hitched (what is the verb for "civil partnership"??), but the handfasting is more important both spiritually and emotionally. Plus that's when we're having the big party!
In fact, I'm sure, when I think about it, that everything will be fine. Except possibly my clothing. I'm not very good at dressing up..

My imaginative family

2007-11-19T21:39:00.000Z

Hello. Sorry I've not been around, I've been a bit stressed with work and in the evenings I've had no brain.... not that that's a particularly good excuse, but you'll just have to make do with it for now.

Anyway, I thought I'd share with you a snippet of information about part of my family, just so show how imaginative one particular line is/was.

One of the surnames in my mother's line is Martin. In 1843, John Martin was born to his parents Elisabeth and John. In 1868, he got married and in 1871 his second (surviving?) son was born, and he was named... John. This John got married in 1894, and in 1897 they had a son, who they named ... John...

There are a couple more generations with the same name, and in nearly 200 years there is only one John with a middle name!! Can you believe it? To date, that's SIX generations of John Martin! I'm hoping to get back a bit further with the help of some parish records, in the New Year, and I'm fully expecting to find yet more Johns...

Ten random things about me

2007-10-31T21:34:00.000Z

In order to try and get back into the swing of things, I'm lifting a tag from Flowerpot. So, here are ten random things about me that you probably never wanted to know...

The first vehicle I ever learned to 'drive' was a boat. The second was a tractor.

I took a certificate in German subtitling as part of my degree. I think subtitlers are probably underpaid, it's a hugely tedious and precise job - although very rewarding when you get it right.

Until I was around 5, I was apparently left handed. Then I swapped. No-one knows why but we suspect it was because I could already write when I started school and the teacher wasn't impressed, so I started over. It explains so much about my handwriting. And possibly also the state of my head.

I am a voracious reader and was one of those kids who would read anything - cornflake packets, anything. I even read Edgar Allen Poe when I was 7. I think it possibly scarred me for life. I've certainly been suspicious of church bells and orang-utans ever since.

According to family legend, I'm descended from Huguenots on my Mum's side. They were definitely Silk Weavers, and the surname 'Jaques' is definitely French-sounding, but I haven't yet found any proof. Mind you, I've not really got back far enough yet, so maybe time will tell.

I'm addicted to Marmite.

In the run-up to my first year exams at university, I contracted a bad case of tonsillitis. The doctor didn't want to risk giving me antibiotics as I'd never had them before and literally had an exam the next day, so instead he suggested I drink Vodka Tonic - Vodka for the infection, tonic water for the temperature. It worked. I had two every evening for a few days, with a slice of lemon. Perfect.

I get bored incredibly easily, but paradoxically I can sit staring into space for hours and not get bored at all. Especially if that space involves the sea.

In 2004 we went to Newton Abbot, Devon for a few days. I felt very comfortable in that area and didn't want to come home. Later that year I was doing some research into my family tree and discovered that I had several generations of ancestors in the area, as well as in other towns and villages we had visited while we were there.

About the only breed of dog I absolutely never wanted was a Jack Russell. So now, obviously, I have one.

There, ten random things. It was actually quite hard to think of anything - I mean, there are obviously lots of things, but that makes it hard to pick out just ten.

I might write more about the family history research tomorrow. It took a slightly interesting turn today.

Is it bedtime yet?

2007-10-19T12:03:00.000+01:00

Yep, it's that time of year again. Anyone who's come across me on forums, care2, facebook etc will know that I occasionally have the picture to the left as my avatar. I have bushy red hair in a ponytail, and used to climb trees, which is how I originally got nicknamed 'Squirrel' - although it didn't really stick as I'm just one of those people who doesn't suit nicknames! But there are other things that make me similar to a squirrel other than the hair colour:

1) I hoard. Seriously, I find it really hard to throw things away, even though I like the concept of having no clutter. All that sea-going blood in my past makes me want to stow everything away, but it won't fit in the available cupboard space, which means my 'office' looks somewhat as if a bomb's hit it. I am going to rectify that soon. Honest.

2) When the nights draw in, I get sleepy. I spend most of the Autumn eating as if there's an impending food shortage, then I go off my food a bit and go into energy conservation mode for probably 6 months. On sunny days, I'm quite happy to mooch round, but if it's raining or snowing I find it really hard to muster up the energy to do anything other than eat, sleep and walk the dog.

Getting into work gets me particularly stressed in the Winter - the daily lottery of whether the car will start, which roads have been gritted etc gets me really worked up. One of the nice things about my 'new' job (I've been here 7 months already!) is that I can take a computer home and, on yukky days when there's snow around, I can work from home. Fantastic. OK, so it means I'll have to have the heating on low, or put a heater in the office, but at least I won't have to worry about the car or the roads. Maybe that will help alleviate my S.A.D. this Winter? Let's hope so..

BBC ON THIS DAY | 16 | 1987: The great October storm

2007-10-16T09:38:00.000+01:00

BBC ON THIS DAY | 16 | 1987: The great October storm

Twenty years ago, I had the privilege (although I didn't see it like that at the time) to be living in a stately home in Kent which had been converted to a girls boarding school. I was there when the hurricane devastated the South East.

Many years later, I wrote about the experience on the BBC News 'On This Day' page, for which I have included the link above.

At the time, it was very exciting. 'Lime Avenue' was strewn with the corpses of mature limes trees for months - we had to jump over them or run round them when we went for cross country runs, as they were mostly lying across the avenue. Staff couldn't get to work, so for the second time that year (we had had very heavy snow in January) it was the students and resident staff who rustled up breakfast, which gave the whole thing a kind of holiday feel.

I assume that some girls just curled up somewhere warm with some revision, or in front of the television, but many of us wrapped up warm and did what we could to help. The drive was blocked in places, so we helped to move fallen branches where we could.

For places like Cobham Hall and Sevenoaks, it will take hundreds of years to repair the damage caused by the storm. Windows and roofs can easily be mended and replaced, but it takes hundreds of years for a lime or an oak to grow to full size. I'm glad I had a chance to see the lime avenue at Cobham while it still had full size trees.

Tread Softly

2007-10-15T16:19:00.000+01:00

Today, I signed up to write a post about how I'm trying to help the environment. I can't in any way claim to be perfect - I have a 14 mile commute to work every day, and although it would just about be possible to get to work by public transport, it would take around 3 hours and at least that many buses.

We don't go out of our way to save the world. But we've changed our lives in little ways. We recycle or compost most of our waste - our dustbin gets emptied every two weeks and is usually only half full at most. We use energy efficient lightbulbs. We clean with white vinegar, bicarbonate of soda or biodegradeable detergents. We never use any chemicals on our garden. We try to buy local, in season foods, and preferably in recyclable packaging. Last year, during the drought, we ran up and down the stairs with the watering can, using the bath water to water the garden. We haven't had a holiday abroad for years. We avoid taking medication unless we need to. It's all little things, none of it's hard to do.

The Cat Sat On The Mat

2007-10-10T22:45:00.001+01:00

It's making it somewhat tricky to operate the mouse.

Why do you blog?

2007-10-10T14:21:00.000+01:00

Because my parents live in France, I e-mailed my Dad the urls for both this blog and Mollie's Blog. When I spoke to him on the phone a couple of weeks later (which is an interesting experience as he's quite deaf), he said he'd had a look, but he didn't really understand what blogging is all about, and that blogs just seem to be public diaries.

Well, yes. BUT...

One of the things I like about blogging is precisely that it's NOT like writing a diary - in so many ways. What seems like a monologue is actually usually a dialogue, or sometimes even a full-blown debate. Have a look on Tracy's Blog under the post that begins "Response to.." and you'll see an excellent example of this.

For me, the whole thing is about SHARING opinions and experiences, whereas in a diary you write your deepest darkest thoughts, stuff you don't want anyone else to know (except I never write anything like that down, really, just in case).

You can also use a blog to let people know what's happening in your life instead of writing 20 e-mails or sending letters - as in this blog. It was created for a specific purpose, and served that purpose well. Or some people write blogs linked to their jobs, for example programmers writing about new coding techniques and methodologies.

I started Mollie's Blog because I am one of those people that naturally writes about stuff, but I write for other people, not myself. I was hardly likely to land a column in a doggie magazine or anything, and anyway I'm not sure I'd like the restrictions that would entail, so a blog was the obvious answer. Mollie is such a funny dog that I wanted to share the experience, and although I was (and still am) writing about her antics on the D For Dog forum, it's just not the same. Once I'd got into the habit of writing about Mollie, I started thinking of other things I wanted to write about, to invite opinions on, to share with people (such as the handfasting preparations!) - which is where this blog comes in.

The really interesting thing about blogging is that you can, if you want to, make it almost into a community thing - make new friends and possibly even meet them for real. I have quite a few virtual dog-owner friends that I've 'met' through their dog blogs, and many of them also have a second, more personal blog, like I do. Things like tag-games and peer awards help to cement that feeling of community.

So, if you're reading this and you have a personal blog, or even a dog blog, why not leave me a comment and maybe even put a post on your own blog saying why you do it? Is it because you just HAVE to write (and use it to get away from your half-finished novel!!)? Because you have family/friends abroad and it saves writing endless e-mails? Because it links to your job? Or because you have loads of opinions on stuff but the only way you can get anyone to listen is if you write them down...? Do share.

Honey moon

2007-10-03T18:23:00.000+01:00

World Wide Words: Honeymoon

Shame. I was rather hoping that the theory of the father of the bride providing enough mead to last a month was true. Imagine how much mead that would be, with two brides! Or would the fact that there's no groom cancel it out? How strict are these completely fictional rules, exactly?

Why oh why?

2007-10-03T11:16:00.000+01:00

Damn. Damn damn damn.

I made the mistake of perusing the BBC News website and saw that Lily Allen is taking up acting - which is great, honestly: especially if it distracts her from making more music for a while!!

Unfortunately, my mental jukebox took it as a prompt and instantly started playing 'LDN'.

I say 'unfortunately' because, although I can sort of understand (maybe) why some people might enjoy her music, I find it incredibly banal and irritating; and it's especially annoying this morning as I was still rather enjoying the repeats of various Kinks tracks in my head after listening to 'Story of the Kinks' last night.

Tying the knot

2007-10-02T14:33:00.000+01:00

In the summer of next year, my gorgeous and wonderful partner (she reads this!!) and I are going to tie the knot. Literally. We're going to do the Civil Partnership first, quietly in a registry office with a couple of witnesses and a minimum of fuss. Our handfasting will take place a little later, at a wonderful place in Derbyshire. We both love nature, so it makes sense to us to make our vows and celebrate our love (that sounds so cheesy) outdoors, and in the countryside. Civil Partnerships don't allow for any religious stuff at all, so having a handfasting also leaves us free to create our own sacred space, invoke Spirit, and jump over a broomstick if we so desire. There probably won't be too many long robes and stuff, but as we have a very eclectic group of friends and family, and we've not set a dress code, it'll be interesting to see what people do end up wearing!!

Anyway, in the spirit of blogging, and because many of our friends and family won't know what to expect, I thought I'd start to blog about the impending festivities.

We haven't worked out all the details yet, but the ceremony will almost certainly start with this calling of the corners:

Be with us here, O beings of the Air
With your clever fingers
Tie closely the bonds between these two.

Be with us here, O beings of Fire
Give their love and passion
your own all-consuming ardour

Be with us here, O beings of Water
Give them the deepest of love
and the richness of the body, of the soul and of the spirit.

Be with us here, O beings of Earth
Let your strength and constancy
Be theirs for so long as they desire
to remain together

Blessed Goddess and Laughing God
Give to these before you, we do ask
your love and protection
Blessed Be.

It's quite strange, I suppose, given that neither of us are strictly Wican, but for me at least the Goddess and God simply represent the duality of the Divine - female and male energy: yin and yang.

In the middle of the ceremony we'll probably have some kind of vows, and one of our friends will physically tie a purposely embroidered ribbon around our wrists, joining us together. When the ribbon is removed, the knot will stay tied, and I'm thinking we'll probably frame it and hang it somewhere as a reminder.

At the end of the ceremony, we'll probably have the Apache Wedding Prayer (I so nearly typed 'Apache Weeding Prayer'!):

Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no more loneliness,
For each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two bodies,
But there is only one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place
To enter into the days of your togetherness
And may your days be good and long upon the earth.

Nice, isn't it? Brings a lump to my throat.

Then some mead will make it's way around the circle, with people being encouraged to say a few words if they feel the urge, after which we'll leave the circle, followed by the guests, and the photo-taking and merrymaking will begin - a live band, a buffet and partying until we drop. Many of the guests will be camping over so hopefully there'll be some form of brazier and some drumming and jamming going on.

It's very strange for me: I've presided over three handfastings (one on my own, one with one other person and one with two) for other people and been to a fourth, so I know roughly what's usually included, but it all feels different. I suppose that's how it should be! Just thinking about it makes me go all tingly..

We're trying to plan in advance, partly because we're saving up for it, and partly because we have friends and family who need to know well in advance. So we've already got the invitations done and they'll start winging their way to people either this week or next week. Hopefully by the end of January we should have a good idea of how many people to expect.

When I were young...

2007-09-28T21:43:00.000+01:00

Sometimes, I scare myself and think I'm getting a bit like these guys. I increasingly find myself thinking 'When I was young....' and getting quite grumpy about things and people nowadays - but I'm not that old, and a little voice in my head tells me that anyway, the 70s really weren't that great - not to mention the eighties. Living in a Sweden that was constantly paranoid about Soviet incursions into it's waters, in a house that was surrounded by military bases wasn't exactly condusive to stress-free living!!

My most recent inner grump is about established artists who bring out albums that, to my mind, wouldn't get anywhere near a record label if they were created by new, unknown artists. The only reason these records get made is because the artist is so well known that they are a guaranteed money spinner, and the only reason the music is half decent is because they can afford to get in the best producers and musicians. One of the artists that's done this recently is someone whose early music I love so much that I have it on vinyl, tape and CD. But nothing they've brought out for the last 10 years has really grabbed me, and their once amazing voice has in my humble opinion really started showing it's age. I'm not going to name the artist in question as I'm not out to put anyone down, I just wanted to share my little inner quandary. Is it me? Am I really just turning into an old grump? Or are certain well-known but ageing artists actually bringing out progressively less meritous albums and getting away with it basically because of a combination of fan loyalty and mates in the business?

Well, I feel better with that off my chest. And since I'm such an old fart and it's 10pm on a Friday - I'm off to bed now....

I'm peeling...

2007-09-26T09:50:00.000+01:00

The scald on my left thigh has healed to the point where the dead skin is now peeling off. This means that there are bits sticking up which catch on whatever I'm wearing and make the scald itch LOTS, so I peel them off without thinking. But then the new skin underneath isn't quite ready to be exposed so gets sore. I am trying to resist the urge to pick.

Meanwhile, Tracy has finished her Shiatsu exams and just has to finish and hand in her dissertation - hooray!! I'm confident that she's passed, and I'm very proud that she's stuck with it.

And, in other news, the pet flap in the kitchen door broke in two on Monday, during the day - I don't know how, but I suspect that strong winds and a high speed pet were involved. I've got a replacement flap, but when I tried yesterday morning to get the old one out all that happened was that another bit broke off, cutting my thumb in the process. I have e-mailed Staywell, hopefully they'll send me some instructions. In the meantime, the remaining bit of flap, with it's disturbingly sharp edges, is held open by resting on a chopstick balanced across the bolts that I luckily didn't get round to sawing off! It's draughty, but I'd rather have a cold kitchen than lacerated cats. Hopefully I'll get it fixed at the weekend, if not sooner.

I lead such an exciting life!!

Eye of the storm?

2007-09-24T11:17:00.000+01:00

Well, I'm back. Not that I actually went anywhere, it's just that my Mum was over for a couple of weeks, Tracy has been cramming for her final Shiatsu exams (which she's taking today and tomorrow so please wish her luck) and then last week I managed to throw a (very) hot cup of tea down my leg, which has made a bit of a mess of my left thigh and resulted in me having to wear a skirt to work. I think that about covers it? Oh, and we've finally got the 'wedding' (it's actually a handfasting) invites sorted out. It's a bit early, given that the do isn't until July the 18th next year, but Tracy wanted to give some to her Shiatsu pals before they break up for good tomorrow, and also we want to get the rest of them out sooner rather than later as well. There are two main reasons for this - the sooner we know the numbers, the sooner we know how much it's going to cost us; and we need to ask many of our friends and family in advance as they have a nasty tendency to plan holidays and in some cases Dark Age re-enactments for that time of year.

In light of the above, I'm finding it tricky to follow my usual rule for this blog, which is to pick ONE subject and just write about that. And preferably take up less than a page doing it. I don't quite know what to write about! I'm not sure whether this calm is going to last or whether we're just in the eye of the storm, before the mass of birthdays followed by Christmas and bankruptcy hit us, so I feel like I ought to write just because I Have Time.

I'll just go away and have a think about it....

BBC NEWS | Health | How older siblings stunt growth

2007-09-13T14:34:00.000+01:00

BBC NEWS | Health | How older siblings stunt growth

Hmm... they obviously didn't study any of the families I know, where younger children are in fact progressively taller than their elder siblings (of the same sex)! In fact I'm a whole two inches taller than my older sister, and I was a third child, so imagine how much taller I might have been if I'd been an only child!!!

2007-09-06T12:33:00.000+01:00

Having quoted it in the title of my last post, I got it stuck in my head. Time to share!!

I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony

2007-09-06T09:57:00.000+01:00

Sorry, long post. Bear with me.

Yesterday, I got sucked into a heated blog discussion about what constitutes alternative or mainstream therapies, on Tracy's Shiatsu blog. I won't go into details, you can read it and even contribute if you want but suffice to say that I get a little annoyed by the narrow mindedness of some medical professionals when it comes to the validity of complementary therapies and, in this particular case, the existence of Chi/Qi.

Today, I was slightly shocked by a comment that a certain animal rescue has many enemies because they don't fight puppy farming, rather they content themselves with taking in, caring for, rehabilitating, training and rehoming some of the ex-breeders. As well as rescuing other animals off death row, and running a boarding kennels. No, you're absolutely right - giving up their lives for the care of animals and working all hours of the day to that aim is not enough. I should add that I believe 100% in the integrity of the person who made the comment - she was just informing me of the views of other people.

So my question is - if we are all working toward the same goal, whether it's the welfare of animals or the care of ill people - whatever method you choose to try and make the world a better place - why are we fighting amongst ourselves, when we should be fighting cruelty, famine, disease, pain, poverty? We should be fighting together.

Complementary therapies often step in and help where conventional medicine is struggling or has even failed. They can't remove a diseased organ or set a broken bone, but they can support the whole body in it's recovery from an operation, and they can act preventatively to combat stress et c. In China, TCM (traditional chinese medicine) is being used in conjunction with Western medical procedures with remarkable results, particularly using acupuncture, but also using Qigong exercises to support the body during the recovery period. As far as I'm concerned, if you can cure the patient, that's great. I don't care if you believe in Qi or in endorphin stimulation, if it gets rid of the pain without killing my liver, I'll take it.

And animal welfare needs people with different talents. Some, like me, can't cope with the physical, day-to-day reality of abused animals. So we write. We write letters, we write blogs, we post on forums, we spread the word. Others are prolific and talented fundraisers and perform amazing feats of physical prowess or hold endless jumble sales and fairs to raise money for their causes. Still others quietly take in the animals in question, deal with the physical and emotional aftermath of a life of abuse, and transform scared, undernourished, flea-ridden and worm infested animals into loving family pets. And then there are the slightly more militant people, who take on the Fight for the Cause. Sadly, every cause also has it's share of people who believe that violence and aggression can solve problems, which means you get the inevitable graffiti, arson and even assault. I don't have time for those people - my gut tells me that puppy farmers should be kept in small cages, in the dark, in their own excrement, with no food and water for a few days and that rapists should be emasculated (either physically or chemically) - but my brain and experience tells me that violence turns people against a cause rather than bringing them in. If peaceful protest and publicity worked for Gandhi, I'm sure it can work for us, too.

If we can't agree amongst ourselves, how can we get people onboard? They won't know which side to join because nobody can agree what method is best, and they're not just agreeing to disagree or even presenting their arguments for and against - they're name-calling in some cases. No sensible person wants to step into someone else's crossfire. If we can all agree that we're aiming for the same goal, and talk to each other rather than just seeing who can shout the loudest, maybe we can actually achieve something. In any good team, tasks are delegated according to people's ability to carry them out. So, work out what you're good at, and what you're aiming for, and do it. And stop shouting at each other, no-one can hear what you're saying above the din. One voice please.

One site that illustrates perfectly what I've been ranting about is Puppy Love , in that it hopes to rise above the bickering and in-fighting and get everyone pulling in the same direction, in this case against puppy farming. Three cheers for common sense.

New kitten!!

2007-09-04T21:09:00.000+01:00

Ok, I'm fibbing. We haven't got a new kitten. This is actually a picture of one of the Old Gits, Sammy cat: 13 and a half going on 10 weeks, taken not ten minutes ago! Maybe he's having his second kitten hood?

Sammy has just helped me have a bath. He takes baths very seriously. They have to be inspected carefully before a human gets in (I have no idea what for), preferably from several angles. Then he likes to sit close to the bath and keep an eye on the proceedings. If I'm under water for too long while I'm rinsing my hair I might get a pat on the nose and a stern look. I think he finds the whole concept of taking one's fur off and submerging oneself voluntarily in warm water very unsettling. He certainly seems to be relieved when I get out, and I get little 'ecks' and one paw air-snaggling while I'm drying myself, and all the while he tries to catch my eye - when he does the air-snaggling intensifies, and if I hold his gaze a little then blink slowly, he chirrups and flips over onto his back, flashing his fangs. He's such a flirt, my Sammy cat.

Mr Monster, as he's also known, is now on the windowsill in my, ahem, 'office'. he hung around on the desk for a bit to make sure I uploaded his photo properly, and then settled down behind the curtain to watch the dark world outside. He enjoys being up here, away from the other animals - it's hard work being the boss when everyone else is bigger than you and you're not getting any younger!

I have just been informed, via a tail up the nose and some pointed purring, that it's time to go back downstairs for a snack.

See ya later.

Jane Tomlinson dies age 43

2007-09-04T11:29:00.000+01:00

The inspirational cancer sufferer and fundraiser Jane Tomlinson has finally shuffled off this mortal coil, six years after being told she had only six months to live, and after raising £1.5 million for charity. What an amazing and inspirational woman she was.

You can read an obituary here and more about her achievements and aims here.

Rest in peace Jane.

Hurdy Gurdy?

2007-08-30T11:14:00.000+01:00

Thanks to my Swedish friends Helena and Susanne, I have been practising my Swedish. I lived in Gothenburg for many years in my youth, and have an O-level and a degree in it, for what it's worth. I hadn't really used it, except for interpreting IKEA flatpack assembly instructions and reading food ingredients, for several years until I started reading Helena's blog last year. Then my school friend Susanne found me on StayFriends ( a bit like FriendsReunited) and got in touch, and we settled on corresponding in Swedish - as much as anything because we always spoke Swedish, once I'd learned it, so it would've seemed weird to go back to corresponding in English. In contrast, Helena and I nearly always correspond in English because we just always have from when we met at University (in Gothenburg, in my sandwich year).

I'm finding it quite hard to write in Swedish: I've noticed that I can't remember the proper endings for words; or which prepositions go with what noun; or indeed which verb to use sometimes. For example, a mistake I made today was to say something had been sitting in a box, whereas in Swedish it would be lying in a box... I remember having a similar problem with German many years ago, when I told my friend I had been in the shower. In German, that would mean I was at one with the shower cabinet. I can't remember what the proper way of saying it is now, I hardly ever use my German either!! What a waste of a degree...

Every now and then, Tracy asks me to say something in Swedish. She finds it very funny. Very occasionally, I'll hear people speaking it and it might take a couple of minutes for my brain to 'tune in' to the language. For that short time, I can sort of see why she finds it funny. I'm sure (and please don't be offended if you're from there) she'd find the accent from Dalarna even more amusing than mine though. I suspect my accent has faded back to being a dodgy English one, although at one point, when I was at school, I spoke super fast with a broad Gothenburg accent.

When I've got a bit more time, I'll write a bit more about how I came to be in Gothenburg in the first place, and what it was like. In the meantime, if you get a chance to visit, go. It's an amazing place. Especially if you like fish, and lots of it. And prehistoric remains. And architecture. I'm homesick just thinking about it.

Really Saying Something

2007-08-30T10:27:00.000+01:00

Today's random soundtrack?

"Really Saying Something", as performed by Bananarama feat. Fun Boy Three.

Whatever happened to dungarees? Why couldn't they have come back in the 80s revival instead of shoulder pads?

This will never be me

2007-08-29T14:18:00.000+01:00

Emalyse had me in stitches after she pointed out this video at Dolly Mix.

I plan to get hitched in something I can walk in...

The monster has returned

2007-08-29T11:35:00.000+01:00

When Sammy cat was a kitten-mitten, he got flu. He also lived over a dry-cleaners for a few weeks, and he had flu again a couple of years ago. This year, he was snuffling a bit for weeks but was otherwise fine in himself. Then last week he started to struggle a bit with his breathing, so I whipped him down to the very nice vet, who correctly assessed that it would be difficult at best to give him a course of tablets and so gave him a long-lasting antibiotic jab, and a long-lasting anti-inflammatory jab.

That was Thursday.

Well, I knew the monster was feeling better as he's eating for England, but I hadn't realised QUITE how better he was until he jumped onto a guest's shoulder last night.

From the arm of the sofa.

He was very pleased with himself.

I didn't think 13 year old cats did that kind of thing...

Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)

2007-08-23T20:40:00.000+01:00

Van Morrison. That's the answer to the question I asked the other day. Luckily Tracy is a Van fan and as soon as I hummed it to her this evening she knew who it was and pointed me at her CD. I had to flick through, but there it was, and now I have the whole song going through my head instead of just the first few bars. Thank-you Tracy.

Dingalingaling, dingalingalingaling indeed. Phew.

PS, couldn't find a good version of it on vod:pod so can't link to it. If anyone knows where there's a good-un stashed somewhere, let me know :D

Three Beautiful Things

2007-08-23T08:34:00.001+01:00

Yesterday's entry on Flowerpot Days challenges us to list three beautiful things or count our blessings. For me, the challenge is actually narrowing it down to just three!! I'm a very lucky girl. Years ago, when I had wild adolescent hormones which sent me on a rollercoaster of manic depression, I started trying to list three good things at the end of every day. To begin with, there might just be one - being alive! But then gradually I'd be able to list more and more, and to find joy in little things like the way the sunshine reflects off a drop of water on a leaf - and then suddenly the depression would be gone. The sense of wonder and gratitude that comes with counting your blessings every day has never really left me, although obviously as I get caught up in the work/eat/sleep cycle I do lose it for a few days. But I do try to be grateful for what I've got!

Sooo...

1) First and foremost has to be the sheer joy of being with the person I love, and who loves me, and waking up with that person nearly every morning. It's not always easy, sharing your life with someone, but any bad things are easily outweighed by the good things; and I know it's a cliché but sometimes I really could just fall into those beautiful blue eyes.

2) I can't split the pets up, or put them in order, they all bring me such joy. Mollie with her acrobatics, her funny little noises, her refusal to get up in the mornings; Charley cat with the way she sits under the bedroom window and shouts at us if we get up late, and kisses our bare feet, and her fluffy belly; Sammy cat with his ability to sense when you need a cuddle, and the way he will systematically throw everything off the coffee table to get your attention; and last but not least Seth, who wanders lonely as a Bear, serenades the fridge and absolutely worships the sun. Seth and Sammy have been with me for 12 years and helped me through some very difficult times.

3) OK, I had written this bit, and was quite chuffed with it, when Firefox decided to crash and I lost it. Grrr. So here goes - again. The area of Leicestershire where we live is beautiful. The view from our bedroom window stretches right across the valley and the woods to Coalville and we get some beautiful skies. We have lovely woods and hills within walking distance. And on the road from Whitwick to Copt Oak, there's a spot near the crest of a hill where I often want to stop in the morning on the way to work. You can see for miles and miles, all the way to Loughborough and beyond in one direction, and to Nottingham (well, Radcliffe Power Station) in another, across a patchwork of fields, towns, villages, lakes and dry stone walls. When the early morning mist is burning off in the sun, it's breathtaking.

Here's a picture taken from our bedroom window in April this year. See what I mean about the view and the skies?

Amoureuse

2007-08-22T21:59:00.000+01:00

Continuing on the music theme... I wanted to share this song with you. It haunted me for years, I knew it was Veronique Sanson but didn't know the title. I finally found it, thanks to the wonders of the internet, so now I can go and buy it, put it in my car and play it very very loudly indeed. Hope you like it as much as I do!!

Amoureuse
Uploaded by Bruno-Lucas

Incidental music

2007-08-20T09:46:00.000+01:00

One of the things I want to do with this blog is to occasionally make a note of the music in my head, and what triggered it.

This morning's random tune was "Band of gold" - the Bonnie Tyler version.

It was triggered because I found the pewter ring that I wanted to show T, as I'd quite like a gold ring in the same style for next year's festivities.

I'd tell you what the current song in my head was, but I've only got the chorus, which is "de dooby de do DOO, de dooby de do" repeated and I can't make my mind play the rest of the tune... sigh...I think it's at the beginning of a song, and it's male voices, and there may be some finger clicking in there as well... anyone got any idea?

Let's start again, shall we

2007-08-17T21:43:00.001+01:00

Writing a blog about our dog is easy - it's a narrow subject, relatively speaking; she's photogenic; she's dynamic; and on the days when she doesn't do anything exciting, I can randomly use a photo from when she did.

I've tried a few times to write a blog of my own, and inevitably ended up deleting them. But then since I've been writing about Mollie, I've been forcing myself to not write down mundane things from my life that aren't dog-related - which has been really hard.

I'll start by telling you about this new beginning. I had been using barefootdeveloper before, but deleted it in frustration a few days ago. I didn't want to use it, i wanted to use mirror shards because it appeals to my love of wordplay - if you break a mirror (don't, at least not on my account) and look into it, your reflection will be broken up into little pieces - fragmentary reflections. But it can also mean disjointed thoughts... and hopefully that's what this blog will end up as. Anyway, so I typed in mirrorshards.blogspot.com - it was in use. I had a look at the page. And that got me started - instead of just typing in a name and clicking on the 'check availability' button, I started actually typing in different names in the address bar to see if they were taken. These ones were:

mirrorshards.blogspot.com
shards.blogspot.com
fragments.blogspot.com
slivers.blogspot.com
pieces.blogspot.com
excerpts.blogspot.com
livingwithit.blogspot.com
living.blogspot.com
livingwith.blogspot.com
mentaljukebox.blogspot.com
pinkbananas.blogspot.com (I was playing by this time but have a look, it's bizarre)
emma.blogspot.com
faulkner.blogspot.com
emmajane.blogspot.com
amazon.blogspot.com (amazon was my www nickname when I hosted a chatroom 10 years ago, before a bookshop of the same name came along and trademarked it. Schnozzles was my other nickname but surprisingly it doesn't seem to be so much in demand!)

Some of them haven't been updated for 6 years and don't even have one post!! So I assume that Blogger never does any major housekeeping then! Oh, I haven't made any of those addresses above into live links as I don't want to be linking to random and in most cases unloved and unused blogs.

Enough for now. Tomorrow i shall no doubt be back with something equally uninteresting...