Tuesday Thirteen (copy)

Today’s Tuesday Thirteen is thirteen things beginning with the letter " B ", that have some relevance or meaning for me.

1. Buick. He was my very first dog. All through my childhood, I had begged to be allowed to have a dog, but unfortunately my parents were not "doggie" people. Simon and I had agreed that we would get a dog when we got married and Simon wanted an Irish (red) Setter. We actually got Buick at the beginning of September 1979. This was three months before we got married so he lived with Simon for those first few months.

He came from The Cornevon line and had a long list of Champions in his pedigree. His pedigree name was Cornevon Holland Weekend. He was the most beautiful, loyal dog and he adored all of the children. Sadly we lost him many years ago to liver cancer. I have been promising myself that I will scan some old photos of him and then do a blog. Talking about him has motivated me, so hopefully I will find the time soon.

2. Birthdays. I love birthdays . My own, Simon's the children's, any ones really! When the children were little we always had the traditional tea party with cake, jelly and ice cream, fizzy drinks, party games and balloons. Nowadays we tend to have a meal out in a restaurant with who ever happens to be at home.

3. Baby. This is a special word. I obviously like babies having had 5 of my own. At the moment it is a word very dear to my heart as we now have Baby Ellie Grace in our family. Hopefully there will be many more to come.

4. Blue. After pink, blue is my favourite colour. There is nothing quite like the blue of a Mediterranean sky!

5. Books. I have always loved books. I could read very early on, even before I started school. Once I learnt, I never looked back. I can remember how cross my Mum used to get with me when she wanted me to do something and I would say "in a minute" because I had my nose glued to a book. I am still the same now. I read every day. I read books magazines, newspapers , anything really. I am quite put out at bed time if I realise that I haven't got any thing to read.

6. Blonde. In reality, I am a mousey brown streaked with copious amounts of grey. BUT, some years back I decided that blonde was more my colour and I have been blonde ever since!

7. Big. I am on the wrong side of big! I would prefer to be on the smaller side of big, but don't seem to have the motivation!

8. Breakfast. I love this meal and never miss it. I couldn't start my day without breakfast. I usually have either porridge, scrambled eggs or poached eggs. At the weekend we have eggs and bacon. I never get out of bed until I have my breakfast. Not ever! I got Simon trained early on and he always brings me breakfast in bed! Thank you Simon for 27 years worth of breakfasts!!!

9. Baths. I am a real "bath" person. I much prefer a good long soak in the bath to a quick shower. I always have some kind of smelly stuff and bubbles in my water. My current favourites are the bath bombs from Lush. Just recently I have started to take a glass of red wine in with me and then I catch up on my phone calls. Kills two birds with one stone! The only thing is that the bath water goes cold!

10. Ballroom dancing. I had ballroom dancing lessons from the age of 5 to 17. I loved it, although the man that taught us was always a bit weird and sometimes seemed to hold on to you just a bit to tight. His wife used to sit in on the lessons because she took the money. Many years later the man was "done" for sexual abuse so he was obviously a pervert!! I won medals for my dancing and still have them in the back of a cupboard. I would love to take this up again with Simon. Maybe one day!

11. Belly dancing. This always looks like such good fun, so sexy and exotic. It is supposed to be jolly good exercise too! I would like to find some classes so that I could give this a go.

12. Blogging. I have said before, that my friend Ali got me into blogging and I am so glad she did. I get withdrawal symptoms when I can't blog! It's kind of like my online diary with a few other bits and pieces that I like thrown in. I keep copies of all my entries on my hard drive and I have begun to print some out which I am keeping in folders. They are nice to look back through.

13. Belfast, Bali, Belgium. These are three places that I have never been to. I would like to visit all three and maybe I might even get to Belfast this year.

Well that's it for now. Next week I will do the letter " C ". One last thought, a sort of unofficial number 14 if you like....... Believe. If you believe in something enough it will become your reality.