Jilly's Blog

Tuesday, August 07, 2012

Entry for 02 October 2007

Well that's 2 down and 2 to go! Today did not go as well as yesterday. We had a livelier lot of children today, but the problems weren't actually really caused by the children. Unfortunately, we have a new member of staff who is some what over zealous!

Although we start with all children as we mean to go on, we do make some allowances for the year sevens. They are only 11 years old and just beginning in a new school. They have a lot to learn. For many of them, they will have come from primary schools of around 200-300 children. They are going to find it very different to be at the very bottom of the ladder in a school that has approaching 2000 children. You need to cut them a certain amount of slack. These are the first tests of this kind that they will have ever done. Hopefully this person will have been spoken to by tomorrow.

Anyway..... I am home now and have had some lunch, got some washing on and done some ironing. I need to hoover soon, but I am just having a coffee before Coralie pops in with her washing.

I mentioned yesterday that October is Breast Cancer awareness month. I was reading my friend Ali's blog today and I learnt something new. For the last few years, in fact since 2000, The Estée Lauder Companies have launched an annual "Global Landmarks Illumination Initiative", in which historic landmarks are illuminated in pink lights on October 1st to focus worldwide attention on breast cancer.

More than 200 prominent landmarks in more than 40 countries around the world have participated, including The Empire State Building in USA, Kensington Palace in London, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, Table Mountain in Cape Town and the Sky Tower in Auckland.

SKY CITY Auckland's Sky Tower was New Zealand's inaugural monument and each year is the first in the world to be lit pink, at the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The London Eye

Elizabeth Hurley is to light this year’s UK Landmark on 11th October. She says “We should tell every woman we know - whether our mother, grandmother, sister, daughter or girlfriend - that it is very important to check breasts and that they need to go to their doctors for a mammogram every year, if they are over the age of 40. Don’t leave it for an extra year, because if your get a mammogram every year, at the very latest your cancer is only 364 days old".

I can't actually seem to find out where this years UK land mark is, but I will let you know in due course. Whilst searching around this afternoon for information, I did come across a web site that claims some of the cosmetics Companies are selling special limited edition Think Pink items, which contain chemicals that might actually increase your risk of developing the disease. It makes interesting reading. The message is "Think before you Pink"

Right, it has taken me ages to do this as Coralie has been round and we have been sitting chatting. Simon has just phoned to say that he will be home soon, so I need to go and get dinner under way as he is going to his barn tonight and we need to eat early.

Entry for 01 October 2007

Well, I have survived my first day in school! One down and 3 more to go, this week! I am not in on Thursday. I have to say that the 2 classes of year 7 children that I had today were very good. Especially taking into account that it took 45 minutes to get them all logged on to the Test Wise website!!

The system had supposedly been checked, but what actually happened was that a pop up blocker was blocking Test Wise from loading. We started over again and told them to all go to the Windows link and to click on "temporarily allow pop ups". All seemed to be well until they got to the log-in page and poof! Pop up blocker kicked in again! We had to start everyone over again from the beginning, this time clicking on "always allow pop ups"!! Hallelujah .... 3rd time lucky.

Of course there were still a few problems with children who couldn't log-in, but it was always because they hadn't typed their password properly. Some children actually logged on to the wrong test, despite my continual reminders of which one we were doing, IE: the first one on the page! Doesn't matter how many times you stress stuff like that, or the fact that they have all information on a white board at the front showing them what each screen looks like .... you still get some that will do something totally different.

The resulting conversations are always interesting! Me: "Why are you doing test number 3?" Child: "Erm, I don't know". Me: "Did you hear me say to do the first test on the page, number 1?" Child: "Yes, Miss". Me: "So why did you click on the 3rd one down then?" Child: "Ermm. not sure miss, I thought it was that one". Me: " Did you not notice, that you have a completely different screen to the one shown on the board at the front of the room?" Child: "Yes miss". Me: "But you didn't realise that you were doing the wrong one?" Child: "No Miss!" It goes on and on!!

Anyway, although we ended up running late, I did manage to survive!! I had intended to do my food shopping on the way home, but I was in need of a coffee in my own peaceful surroundings! I did the food shopping this afternoon. Since then I have done a bit of washing and some ironing. I have to keep on top of it this week or I will get snowed under.

Today is the first of October which means that it is Breast Cancer Care month and the start of the Think Pink campaign. This is a charity close to my heart as my Mum had breast cancer some years back. I always buy the little pin to put on my jacket and I recently brought a Think Pink umbrella. Half of the cost goes to the charity. There are some very nice Think Pink things around this year so I may buy something else.

You will see that I am wearing a pink ribbon on my sweat shirt and that I have also changed my back ground to a Think Pink one. So it's bye, bye, to my little scarecrow! Right, I am off to see to the dinner now.

Michaelmas

I meant to get this entry done yesterday, but I didn't have time in the end. Yesterday, the 29th of September was Michaelmas day. Now hands up who knew that? I had heard of Michaelmas but didn't know much about it until recently when I got a new magazine (Country kitchen) and read all about it.

The 29th of September is the feast day of St Michael the Archangel and is the real start of autumn. In the old days it was one of the most important days in the calender. Apparently according to my research, it is still the date on which the Lord Mayor of London is elected. However although he is elected on Michaelmas, he doesn't officially take up his post until the Silent Ceremony in the Great Hall, Guildhall on the 11th of November! Bizarre!!

Michaelmas was a quarter day, which back in the good old days was a day for settling debt, paying rents and renewing contracts . The harvest had to be completed by Michaelmas. This meant many farm hands were out of work, so traditionally Michaelmas was also a time for "hiring" fairs.

St Michael's day was a day of feasting, often on roast goose. The tradition of serving goose goes back to Queen Elizabeth 1st, who was dining on roast goose on Michaelmas day when she received the news of England's victory over the Spanish Armada. She decreed that from then on the event was to be commemorated each year by the serving of roast goose!

After the harvest the geese were let out to fatten themselves up eating the left over grains in the fields. By Michaelmas they were nice and plump. Goose fairs were popular events held around the country. The geese were walked there and then sold. The most famous being Nottingham's goose fair which is still held today, but I don't think you see any geese there! It is today more of a fun fair.

Goose is said to be the tastiest of all domesticated fowl. The layer of fat melts into the skin making it very succulent. I have never actually tasted goose myself, so I guess it is something that I should try. I had hoped to do my own Michaelmas dinner but time was not on my side and now it has passed. Maybe a late Michaelmas dinner is in order?

Eating goose on Michaelmas day was said to protect you against financial hardship in the coming year. A common saying from the olden days was: "If you eat goose on Michaelmas day, you will never want for money all year"! I hope that I haven't jinxed my families finances by not serving it!!!

85 days

This is for Wendy and Willy in particular! Only 85 days to go. Don't worry, I won't let you forget!!

Entry for 30 September 2007

Well, I don't know where the weekend has gone to. All I know is that it has more or less gone! I went into school on Friday for a meeting and although I was only there for four hours and didn't have any contact with the children; I came home with a really nasty headache and feeling sick. It was threatening to turn into migraine so I took my medication and went straight to bed, where I stayed.

Not a good start to being in school next week, I am in school now nearly every day for the next 2 weeks. Fortunately, I should be finished by lunch time. I am really not looking forward to it. The new school is very big, with 1900 students! Scary!! Still it will earn me some extra cash for my holidays.

Yesterday, Simon and I went to Stevenage so that I could visit my Mum. We had a coffee with my Dad and then Simon dropped us at the hospital as he wanted to go and visit his own parents. He collected us at 5pm. My Mum wasn't too bad, but she did get very agitated towards the end of our time with her. I think my Dad stays too long really because this happens every time. Unfortunately, he wants to be there as much as he can and doesn't really seem to understand that maybe that's not the best thing for Mum.

We had tried to get Dad to go for a meal with us but he didn't really seem keen and suggested that we had fish and chips with him instead. Simon really enjoyed it but I was left feeling awful. Remember, recently I mentioned how much I like fish and chips but how bad it makes me feel half an hour later? Well I felt bad!

We left Dad about 7pm as we needed to get back for the dogs as there was no one home and they would be waiting for their dinner. Unfortunately, when we got in, I needed to lay down as I still felt rotten.

I am fine today and we have done all the house work this morning and Simon is now at his barn. I have a little bit more ironing to do and I have one last load of washing to get on. Simon is going to cook a pork tenderloin in a prawn sauce for dinner. It's one of his specialities and really yummy. We have strawberries and cream for after.

Simon also planted a whole load of daffodil bulbs in the edges of the lawn this morning. So hopefully they will come up next spring and the dogs won't trash them. We are going to get some to plant in the lawn at the end of my Dads garden as we were talking about it yesterday and he liked that idea.

I am going to catch up with a few blogs now and then enter some competitions, after dinner we are going to watch a DVD and I will do some embroidery. Then it's an early night as I have to be up earlier that usual for school. Hopefully, I will be able to find time for my blog tomorrow, but I do have to go food shopping on the way home from school and then when I get in, I will have to start on the days round of chores, so I will have to see what time I have. Working really interferes with blogging time. Thank goodness I don't work very often!!

Just realised that it is not only the weekend that has gone but also the month! So it's bye, bye September and hello to October. Gosh that means that it must be only ....................85 days to Christmas!!!!!

Entry for 28 September 2007

I am just having a quick cup of coffee as it is nearly time for me to leave. I have to be in school at 1pm for a meeting regarding next weeks year 7 CATS tests. Hopefully the meeting won't take too long as Peggy and I are hoping to have a bit of a gossip over coffee afterwards!

It is a thoroughly miserable day here in Peterborough. It has been pouring with rain all morning. Even the dogs don't want to go out! No birds or squirrels again today.

Yesterday, I spent a fair while on this new Multiply site and I think it is probably the best of all the alternatives I have looked at. So much, so that I have not only posted a blog there, I have begun to copy over all my old blogs.

Don't worry, I am not deserting 360, just copying over my stuff, just in case. I will still be here as I believe this is the best site. If you want to take a look at my Multiply then please do. All my old blogs have (Copy) next to their title.

If you read my Friday 5 blog today, you will see that I mentioned the Osmonds and their self written album "The Plan". It was released in 1973 and the following is an extract from the All Music Guide Newspaper:

The 1970s saw the release of countless concept albums, but few were as unusual or unexpected as this 1973 magnum opus from the Osmonds. Anyone who thinks of this family group as a ,bubblegum soul outfit will be bowled over by this incredibly ambitious outing, which attempts to explain the family's Mormon beliefs through a series of songs that cut across a wide variety of pop genres. The end result is a testament to the group's versatility and skills as musical craftsmen. Ultimately, The Plan comes off as a thought-provoking epic .

The Osmonds - Are you Up there / I believe

Well, that's it, coffee is finished and I need to go and get my shoes ready to leave.

Friday Five for 28th of September 07

After the last week with Yahoo, I think we all know what our *least* favourite things are.

Now how about some of our favourite things:

1. Name one movie you think everyone should see. Dirty Dancing because it has the incredibly sexy Patrick Swayze in it, great music and dancing and the feel good factor! Yes, I know it's a chick flick.

2. Name one song you think everyone should hear. Are you up there by The Osmonds. Taken from their own album, The Plan. this song is really haunting and asks some hard questions. If you haven't heard it then you should.

3. Name one place you think everyone should see. Gosh, I have been to so many awe inspiring places that I don't know which to choose. Yosemite National park in the good old US of A is wonderful. The sheer height of the trees is amazing. Or you could just come and visit Peterborough which is a great city.

4. Name one book you think everyone should read. The dictionary.

5. Name one thing you think everyone should experience. The love of a husband. There is nothing on earth to beat it.

--remember these are opinions and as such are very subjective. I know it's hard but you can just pick one - honest. If you want to explain *why* that would be great as well.

If you would like to participate copy the questions and your answers in your blog, leave a comment on The Friday Five with the link to your blog and I'll put the link to your answers on the blog. Fun, easy, and no time limit.

Let's Play !!

Celtic horoscope (copy)

I found this on a website while I was browsing. Apparently, I am a Rowan Tree! I quite like the sound of my description. If you want to get your celtic horoscope click here. Celtic

You Are A Rowan Tree

You are full of charm and cheer. You light up a room.
And while you crave attention, you do it without ego.
You are an interesting mix of contradictions - and very unpredictable.
You are both dependent and independent, calm and restless.
You are passionate, emotional, gregarious, and (at times) unforgiving.

What's Your Celtic Horoscope?

Sometimes.......... (copy)

Now I have done a posting for Alfie and one for Josh, perhaps my critics will be silenced! I have been on my own "Lollygagging" for most of the half term week and the little poem here sums up my feelings!!

myspace layouts, myspace codes, glitter graphics

Alfie (copy)

Myspace Text Generator, Myspace Graphics

Here is a picture of my very special boy!

Joshua (copy)

Joshua Thomas Glenn-Sansum

Born 18th February 1988.

Joshua was 18 this year and he finished his studies at Peterborough Regional college in July. He got a Diploma in Sports science. Currently he is continuing with his part time job in Mcdonalds, Bretton until he works out what he wants to do next. He is considering the police force.

He passed his driving test when he was 17 and drives a Corsa. He is looking forward to a holiday next month in Lanzarote with his girlfriend charlotte and her family.

Further conclusions (copy)

Further to my previous posting, I have done another count and realised the following: Simon has no personal entry although he is mentioned in various others. There is one joint entry for doggies, 5 for Rosie, 1 for Loulou and none for Alfie!!

Poor Alf! I promise I will put that right.

Now, before I upset anyone else, I wonder who I should do an entry on first? Josh or Alfie??

Upset bunnies (copy)

I have received complaints from Joshua and Coralie. They claim that they are not mentioned in my Blog as much as certain other family members!! Well I have done a quick whizz through my entries and a quick count.

The results are as follows:

Samuel = 3

Coralie = 3 (3 or 7 depending on how you view it! One of the entries from my old blog had to be transferred as 5 seperate entries in the new Blog)

Verity = 6

Saskia = 8

Joshua = 0

Conclusion is: Saskia is the winner!! (So far)

I should point out that Coralie can't count! Joshua with a score of nil does seem to have a valid point and one that I will rectify soon. You are in the wedding photos though Josh!

Don't forget (copy)

DON'T FORGET.................British summer time officially finishes at 2am on Sunday 29th October. So put all your clocks back tonight before you go to bed. You have no excuses now because I have reminded you all!

An extra hour in bed....yipeee!!

Virus alert (copy)

Virus Alert

Just got this message from my friend Kaz.

Kaz's friend Jack09 just posted this on his blog with instructions to pass it along. If someone with the name of Ashley Marc James invites you as a friend, don't accept, as it is a virus and will kill your computer. Pass this along to your friends as well.
This time I have actually looked it up. There's no "Ashley Marc James" BUT if you separate the names THEY are ALL VIRUSES so maybe this was done in a way to confuse people to open a link so you have all been warned .....
http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2002-011511-0444-99
and the above address is where I found them...
I recieved this from my friend "madmom" so thanks

Desiderata (copy)

Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

You tube (copy)

experimentation with You Tube today. The video is of Saskia (she's the one in the middle). It is not good quality as it was taken about midnight on an ordinary camera at low resolution!. They are doing "All That Jazz" which is all Saskias own choreography. August 2006, Puerta Pollensa, Majorca.

Poor Loulou (copy)

Poor Loulou has had a very traumatic day. She had to go back to the Vet today to have her skin scrapping done. She now has a very sore patch on her back and we have got to wait, possibly up to ten days for the results. They still don't know what it is and in the mean time it doesn't seem to be any better.

Simon stayed with Loulou and he says that she was a very good girl. Alfie was a different story! He howled for nearly an hour and then stood at the window crying until they got back. Nothing I can do makes any difference.

saskia has a blog (copy)

Saskia has got a Blog

I have been teaching Saskia how to Blog and she now has her own so please have a look. I think it will be pink and swirly and very, very, dancing girlie!

The address is: uk.360.yahoo.com/saskia_glenn

Make sure you have a look as it will be great fun and I think she will explain the rules of her very own club: THE BLUE TEAM

Nocturnal meanderings or Minister for transport (copy)

Nocturnal meanderings

I have just purchased a paper shredder.  It was kind of an impulse buy resulting from an email from Tesco.  I have been meaning to buy a new one for ages as our small, plastic, manual model gave up and died a while back.  Anyway this one was a bargain.  Originally £40, reduced to £25 then again to £17 and finally £12 as an internet purchase with free postage.
I ordered one and it was delivered 2 days later.  It is a fine specimen and well worth the money.  You would think that would be the end of the story wouldn’t you?  Unpackage it, decide where it will live and put it away ready for when it’s needed.  I did that.
Then at 3am in the morning when as usual my mind was going over lots of stuff and refusing to shut up and go to sleep; I started to think about my paper shredder.
What a strange world we live in now.  Only 20 years ago paper shredders were things that you had in your office at work.  Nobody would have ever dreamt about having one at home.  Unfortunately with the ever present threat of identity fraud the paper shredder has now become almost a household necessity.
I then moved on in my befuddled sleepy brain to think about how Tesco can do internet sales so cheaply.  You would think that if anything it would cost more because of the transportation costs.  This led me on to thinking about our shopping habits today and how, maybe, internet shopping contributes to the congestion on our roads!
I think weird stuff in the middle of the night!
Think about it for a minute though……in the good old days of the corner shop and the High Street you didn’t need a car.  You could walk to the corner shop, maybe even to the High Street.  If the High Street was a bit too far for walking there was always the bus.  Now you need a car to get to your local “Retail park” some 6 or so miles away. (Why do buses never seem to go to retail parks?)  Or the alternative is,  you stay at home and use your trusty computer to order your goods via the internet.  They are then delivered direct to you door in either a van or a great big lorry depending on the size of your order.  This must mean that there are lots more Lorries and vans on the road delivering all of our orders.
SO………..if you order goods on the internet for home delivery then you are inadvertently adding to the country’s gridlocked roads!  Makes sense to me.
At 4am, I realised that I know how to sort out this country’s problems with roads and transport.  We close all the retail parks and shut down the World Wide Web (at least for shopping) then we bring back the corner shop and the long lost High Streets and we all walk everywhere.  No need then for so many Lorries to be thundering along our roads.  I am a genius!  Move over Mr Blair and whoever is the Government Minister for transport.
At about 4.30am, before finally managing to still my over active brain long enough to doze off, I had 1 final thought………………………………
Why are they called “Retail parks”?   Isn’t a park a place with grass and trees where people go for leisure?
4.37am. Got it!  They are called Retail parks because retail therapy is the new leisure activity of choice!
5am. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

SASKIA IS HOME (copy)

How do I know this?

1 Every surface, including the floor in my bathroom is liberally covered with assorted toiletries and vast amounts of make up. The air is scented with exotic scents.

2 What we call her bedroom, now resembles a very messy back stage dressing room

3 It is impossible to have a phone conversation due to the constant loud singing and laughter. This is assuming I can find the phone in the first place!

4 Cooking has become a much more dangerous pastime. I now have Saskia twirling and spinning around me at all times. Try removing a roasting pan from the oven while someone is practising their high kicks over your head!

5 I have been into town in the last few days more times than I have in the last few months

6 The constant refrain of the word “MUM”. This will be followed by the immortal words…. “Can I borrow”…….

7 Our phone bill has increased by about 400% in 3 days.

Despite all this, it is so nice to have her back even if it is only temporarily. She will probably be here for a few weeks before returning to Majorca. She is hoping to go to Senegal for Christmas with her boyfriend.

Bless her, she’s our Star!

cookery lessons anyone? (copy)

A few weeks back I saw a programme on the TV about how bad the British diet is and how much we rely on convenience, junk foods and take aways. Did anyone else see it? At the end there was a bit about a group that had been started to teach parents and children how to cook properly as this is apparently a lost art.

I was intrigued by this programme. In particular the way they were denigrating the likes of McDonalds and the local take way. According to this programme the fast food and convenience food industry is solely responsible, not just for all the fat people, but for a great many of the sick, unhealthy ones too.

Forgive me for not understanding, but how exactly does this work?? Do McDonalds kidnap people from their cars and force them into the restaurant and then force them to eat loads of big Macs? I think not. What about your local “Chinky” or “Indian”? Do they round up passers by and drag them kicking and screaming inside, where they are force fed onion bahjis or prawn balls? Again, I think not. What about your local supermarket? Do they surreptitiously slip all those packets of convenience foods in to your trolley when you are not looking? How then, exactly are these industries to blame for all us fat unhealthy people??

Instead of constantly critising these industries, shouldn’t we start encouraging people to take responsibility for themselves? It is up to us what we choose to put into our mouths. There is nothing much wrong with an occasional McDonalds or take away as far as I can see. Nor the occasional quick frozen dish. But, note the word occasional! If you eat these foods 2, 3, 4, 5…..times a week then you will almost certainly be fat and unhealthy. Your choice.

Now, something else in this programme was, that so many parents give their children these foods because they are quick and easy to cook and apparently cheap. With the numbers of families today where both parents need to work, that in part may be true. But it is only part of the equation. Many young people today simply don’t know how to cook. They think it is difficult and expensive, because they have never been taught.

This brings me on to my second rant! Young people are not taught to cook either by their parents or by their schools. Many parents now are too busy with other things and may have lost the art themselves. The days when Mum was at home all day and would patiently teach her children to “bake” as a fun activity are long gone. This is another issue isn’t it? Maybe a debate for another time?

What about schools? When I was at school some 20 odd years back, there was a subject on the timetable called “Cookery” in which we were taught about nutrition and what was required for a balanced, healthy diet. Then, beginning with the basics, we actually cooked. We ended up with a proper cooked dish of some sort to take home, which the family would then eat for dinner that night. Well sometimes, depending on how successful the dish turned out! There was the occasional disaster. The point was though, that we did learn to cook and bake.

Cookery has had several reincarnations since my school days. It has morphed through, domestic science and home economics to its present day food technology. Now I have nothing against the change of name, although quite what domestic science is supposed to convey is beyond me. But the whole subject has changed. Food technology is no longer about nutrition and how to cook. It is more about food manufacture and packaging and marketing techniques. How often does the average student bring home from school an edible dish?

So instead of blaming the food industries for all that ails us, why don’t we begin in school and teach our young people the art of cooking for themselves. At least then they can choose what to eat. A proper cooked meal made with fresh ingredients and cooked from scratch or a quick packet from the cupboard because today they need something quick. Maybe if we taught this in schools there would be no need to set up special cooking groups like the one in the programme.

When Verity first went to University she lived in halls and shared a kitchen with 5 others. None of them could cook except Verity. One of the boys on his first night actually put a frozen dish in a plastic tray in its cardboard box in the oven! He didn’t realise you had to remove the packaging first.

A recent magazine poll asked 5 year olds where milk came from. Without exception they said from a bottle. Ok, that’s quite funny, but what about the year 7’s (age 11-12) who were asked how do you make gravy? What about custard? Well, you make them the same way don’t you? A few spoons of powder from a packet pour on boiling water and stir. None of them had any idea about the making of proper gravy or custard.

Now, I do recognise that not many of us have time to make proper custard; I even use the Bird’s powder stuff myself. BUT….I do know how to make the real stuff if the occasion requires it.

I wonder what other people think about this. Do you think we have lost the art of cooking? Do you think we should go back to basics and teach this in schools? Do you think I am just ranting on and talking a whole lot of rubbish? I have had my rant now, but if anyone wants to tell me their view then please do.

Now I am going to be very smug and pay tribute to all 5 of my children who are all very competent cooks. They are competent because they were taught at a very early age by their parents! (That’s the smug bit). Just a week ago when Verity was home from University for the weekend she cooked a delicious, American themed, 3 course meal for 10 people. Everything was cooked from scratch using fresh ingredients. It wasn’t expensive and she had a wonderful time cooking and serving. How many other young people can do that?

Stonhenge underlined. (copy)

Just in case any one thought that I had underlined my previous posting on the ancient wonders of the world for a reason...............................I'll tell you a secret. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THAT HAPPENED!! It wasn't like that in my preview and I have tried to change it but I can't. As I can't be bothered to delete it and re- post (because I didn't save it and would have to retype it) you will just have to try to read it as it is.

A special message for my friend Debbies husband, Doug: " think yourself lucky that it's only underlined and not in yellow as well!

7 Wonders of the ancient world - or not. (copy)

THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD

Do you know what the seven ancient wonders of the world are?  Actually that should say “were” not “are” as only one of the ancient wonders of the world still survives.  (The Pyramids of Giza in Cairo.)  The other original seven wonders of the ancient world were the Hanging Gardens of Babylon; the Statue of Zeus at Olympia; the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus; the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus; the Colossus of Rhodes and the Lighthouse of Alexandria
Now history lovers are being invited to choose a new list of seven. Among 21 locations short listed for the worldwide vote is Stonehenge, the only British landmark selected.
The 5,000-year-old stones on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, will be up against sites including the Acropolis in Athens; the Statue of Liberty in New York; and the last remaining original wonder, the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo.
An original list of nearly 200 sites nominated by the public was narrowed to 21 by the organizers and experts, including the former director general of Unesco Professor Federico Mayor.  The list of finalists is as follows:
1 Acropolis, Athens, Greece
2 Alhambra, Granada, Spain
3 Angkor Wat temple, Cambodia
4 Chichen Itza Aztec site, Yucatan, Mexico
5 Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
6 Colosseum, Rome
7 Easter Island Statues, Chile
8 Eiffel Tower, Paris
9 Great Wall, China
10 Hagia Sophia church, Istanbul, Turkey
11 Kyomizu Temple, Kyoto, Japan
12 Kremlin/St.Basil's, Moscow
13 Machu Picchu, Peru
14 Neuschwanstein Castle, Fussen, Germany
15 Petra ancient city, Jordan
16 Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
17 Statue of Liberty, New York
18 Stonehenge, Amesbury, United Kingdom
19 Sydney Opera House, Australia
20 Taj Mahal, Agra, India
21 Timbuktu city, Mali
The vote is organized by a non-profit Swiss foundation called New 7 Wonders which specializes in the preservation, restoration and promotion of monuments, and the results will be announced on July 7, 2007, in Lisbon.
About 20 million votes have already been lodged, including many from India, for the Taj Mahal; China, for the Great Wall and from Peru for Machu Picchu, the fortress city of the Incas. The only criteria for the new list is that the landmarks were built or discovered before 2000"
Now, I don’t know what anybody else thinks and I don’t know what the original list of 200 entries contained before it was reduced to 21.  But ………..Stonehenge?  Is that the best we can do??   I wonder if the organisers have visited there recently.  Many years ago it was quite a nice place.  That of course was before you had to view it from miles away behind a fence.  Even to reach the site nowadays is not easy.  You have to park ages away and walk under an underpass.  (Stonehenge being sort of in the middle of 2 roads).  I have only visited 6 of the 21 listed but they have all been preferable to a visit to Stonehenge.  Sorry but it's not getting my vote.
Let me know what you think and why, we could have quite a debate going before long.
Votes can be made online, at www.new7wonders.com.
For further information on Stonhenge: http://www.stonehenge.co.uk/
NB. My Html links need to be opened in a new window as I have got the coding wrong!!

Purple Wearers Book Club (copy)

THE PURPLE WEARERS BOOK CLUB

It's here at long last. The online book club / reading group idea which was conceived by myself and my Kiwi friend Ali is now up and running. The web site is great and is courtesy of a "techie" friend of Ali. The name is all Ali's own and I think it is great. Her inspiration comes from the poem "Warning" by Jenny Joseph.

The clubs tag line is: A book club for fantastically talented, intelligent, like minded people who enjoy books and discussing litertaure.

If anyone is interested in joining us then please let me know and I will see if Ali can send you an invitation. Unfortunately you do have to wait to be invited, as, in the words of Gina, " We are, after all, an exclusive club here. We can't have any old riff raff you know."!!!

Seriously, if you love reading and would like to join us then please get in touch. We are only just starting out so we are making it up as we go along. Now for those people who don't know the poem that inspired our name ......................and for those that do and love it..................here it is:

WHEN I AM AN OLD WOMAN I SHALL WEAR PURPLE
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

Taken from the book
When I Am An Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple
Editd by Sandra Martz
Papier Mache Press--Watsonville, California 1987

Breast cancer awareness month (copy)

Are you supporting Breast Cancer awareness month?? If you know, or have known anyone with breast cancer then please give your support to the"WEAR IT PINK" campaign. All you have to do is donate £2 and then wear something pink on the 27th of October. All the better if you can get all your friends and work colleagues to join in.

You never know if you could be next. For more information have a look at http://www.breastcancercampaign.org/ or wear it pink day

The nanny club (copy)

The Nanny Club

We have just found out that Samuel and Lisa are expecting their first baby. We are really thrilled for them.

This will be our first grandchild so it is all very exciting. The due date is 6^th of May 2007.

Expect updates over the coming months!!!!

Congratulations Sam and Lisa.

UPDATE ON VERITY (copy)

Verity came back from Belfast last weekend. She came home on Friday to see us all as we hadn’t seen her for months. She is fit and well and determined to do her very best for her final year at Uni.

She is just beginning on her final dissertation so she has a lot of very hard work ahead of her. She has just put in an application to do a PGCE next year once she has her degree. (For those that don’t know, a PGCE is a Post Graduate Certificate of education!)

She would like ultimately, to go into primary teaching. We think she will make a wonderful primary teacher and wish her all the luck for this years studying and the next!!

She returned to Southampton on Sunday ready for the start of term on Monday.

Good Luck, Verity.

Ba***rds in Majorca (copy)

Sunny Majorca has turned out not to be such a "green and pleasant land". In fact it's the same as here....... it has it's fair share of low lives.

Poor Saskia and the other girls had their house broken into and all their personal belongings taken. The Spanish police beleive that Saskia came into the house and disturbed the theif. That was a scary thing for her and us. The girls were quite vulnerable as the house is set on it's own, out of town. They have now moved back into the Duva Hotel, where they started before the house was built. Hopefully they will be safer.

A word about the Spanish police......... they were excellent. Miles better than their English counterparts. The house was finger printed from top to bottom and staff at all the hotels the girls work in were questioned. The police have 2 suspects, so maybe they will eventually arrest the person or persons resposible. Sadly, I am sure the girls belongings will have long since disappeared.

What a world we live in.

Entry for 07 October 2006 (copy)

NEW BLOG

I have finally got around to getting myself a new Blog website. I was never entirely happy with my first one at Blogger.com. It was dreadful trying to upload photos and so slow.

I did give MSM my space a go as well but I wasnt thrilled with that either.

Hopefully this new one at BT Yahoo will work better. Hopefully if you are reading this you will know how my address! But just in case........................

http://uk.360.yahoo.com/bty173589

I shall try to update it more regularly now I have found a better site.

My first Multiply blog

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.

I was directed over here by my very good friend Anne, aka Little Weed. I have a blog in Yahoo 360, which I have used for over a year.

Yahoo have just launched (albeit in invitation only beta) a new site called Mash. There are a lot of rumours suggesting that this will take over from 360 and that 360 will be closed.

Personally, I don't think that will be the case as they are 2 different platforms. 360 is a dedicated blogging site whereas Mash seems to be a social networking site primarily for the younger generations.

However, a lot of 360er's have begun to look around at other sites in case we all have to jump ship. I tried other sites before settling with 360 in the first place. Blogger.com which is hosted by Google is ok, and that's where I begun; later putting all those first entries on 360. I prefer 360 for it's ease of use.

I also tried MSN Live Spaces, My Space, Live Journal and Facebook. I didn't really like any of them. It didn't seem possible to change them around to my liking, maybe I didn't learn enough about them. Anyway 360 is the best.

I do keep copies of all my blog entries on my hard drive in the form of Word documents, so I am not worried about loosing them. It would be nice though to have another home for them should 360 disapear. To that end, I have taken Annes advice and I am giving Multiply a go.

I will see how I get on and what I think in due course. There endeth my first blog on Blog stream!!!!

Friday, July 06, 2012

Olympic torch.AVI

A small part of the parade. Not the torch though!

Tuesday, July 03, 2012

Dancefit Studio.mp4

This is a small clip from Dancefit Studio's in Leicester. My youngest daughter Saskia is the instructor. The one at the front in the turquoise top and purple leggings, with a pony tail......just in case you don't know her!

At the moment she teaches, Zumba (that is what this class is) Bokwa, Contemporary, Ballet, Burlesque and 80's street dancing.

She has just auditioned for and won a place in a new company who will be going on tour later this year so I don't know how that will fit with her teaching. Looks like she may be going back to performing.