While upping some summer bye-bye's and downing some winter wonderstuff from the attic, I saw that our Christmas tree had been stood there uncovered all year! I didn't want to try and wriggle and squash my way through the loft hatch as usual, as scars from the boob surgery are still tender. I did manage a head up for a sneaky peek, though. Feeling sorry for the fairy, I decided to bring the fully decorated tree down (God knows how they got it up) give it a light dusting and test the lights. Operating. Little Fairypoops,Chrissie, is almost 20 years old and you can see how threadbare and 'holey' her dress and wings are getting. She's had all sorts of coloured lights rammed up her lacy skirt every year for added effect, and a replacement doesn't bare thinking about! The tree is stopping in my bedroom for now but its mini-illumination has boosted the winter-chick in me no end.
Earlier on, I picked the remaining blackberries in the garden that were still clinging on to life and decided to make a bramble and apple crumble. Yes, there are a few recipes that I don't always balls-up on! Later, as we sat with a portion each, I remarked on how ideal the deep and heavy steel dish I made it in was, only to be told that PrettyBoy had 'borrowed' it from work to use at his last festival. It's amazing how much more filling you can get in a placenta dish.Oh, well. At least I know it cooks beans, too. Eventually.
Anyhow - I'm sitting as I type, watching some absolutely cracking fireworks! It may only be November 3rd, but there are a lot ofweekend parties going on around me. What a blessing patio heaters are! It's freezing, dry, andthere's a beautiful, starry sky. It will, absolutely, piss down in Scotland on Monday night. November 5th, Guy Fawkes Night, is celebrated greatly and widely in Britain. Organised displays everywhere. Oh, how I wish old Fawkesy would come back and do a number on Cameron and his cronies! I took a couple of snaps out an upstairs window, but they more resemble wayward ribbon and ectoplasm than fireworks! But I love where my house is situated. So many free displays from the comfort of your own window sills. Tough on the old elbows, mind. My cat has retreated to his usual place of behind and under the television unit. I think he thinks I do this on purpose every year.
Anyhow - quite a week, what with days of significance highlighted in them. Halloween, Guy Fawkes and Christmas. I'm a ruddy big kid! Actually, I'm getting quite excited at the thought ofpicking up and continuing our topic of conversation over the turkey and crackers. If giving birth with no pain relief hurts more than a solid kick in the nuts. Welcome to Winter Wonderland! *****************************************
We go through earphones like crazyin our house. Music, in whatever way it's delivered, is now a vital part of sole journeys. Earlier today, I sat and watched PrettyBoy open a new set from it's welded, plastic casing. The seal was a nightmare and after two slit finger tips and some tough scissor work, they were blissfully released. Despite my protests at costing him over £30, he refuses to listen to music without clear, accompanying bass.He was vainly listening to his own band and I guess I could excuse him slightly for the practicing diva bit!
His band Hotel India have confirmed that that they will be greeting Hogmanay as the headlining band at King Tuts - the most prestigious (despite the bogs!) venue sought after by bands in Scotland. I was so excited to see their name on Tuts' gig list and at that very moment discovered that you can actually make whole sentences using just swear words! As yet, the venue hasn't picked the support bands, but if my younger son's band makes it on the same stage, the same night, I'll be in Band-Member-Mum Heaven! Not only that, it's my daughter's birthday on Hogmanay, too, so I'm hoping she and hubby make it up from London. What a start to my New Year that would be!
After both radio airplay ( huge thanks to Trish at Whatever Rocks Your Boat for referring and believing in them) and their nominated video and appearance at the Scottish New Music Awardsin September, things have been moving swiftly. The owner of music company Feast Records have been checking the guys out and want to release Black Eyes as a single. Talks with their manager about this offer are taking place soon! Oh, and two new songs are being recorded this month. Meantime, temporary names for the songs kick out as: Boom Boom Schnardy Schnar and Dukebox!
Huge thanks to those here and on Facebook that voted for the guys. The lads appreciate it so much - especially Jace who played the video on the big screen on the office wall! There! See? Told you I could update a Hotel India-basedblog/journal in under 500 words! And for those who couldn't give a shit - here's a picture of an adorable puppy up some bamboo shoots:
Nice to be back, just gutted that I missed Willow Manor Ball.....*sigh*
Come outside, dare oily puddles, paint some love across the sky Cast away the rainbow's beauty feel the magic of her cries
Cleaning corners of the mindset, little children hurry by Car engines roast in mid Atlantis, hailing down from heart and eye
Worries soaked through, sighs diluted, city building, way too vain We use the ferrule of umberellas to burst through clouds and bring the rain. **********************************
It isn't often I whap up a video but I was both in stitches and shame at the same time with this one. Here's the leader of my country, in all his political swinery, making a shambles of himself on The David Letterman show. A little cutting jest to Letterman went something like:
'We interfered in your (America's) politics roughly 200 years ago, sailing up the river to burn down the White House.'
Moments later, Letterman left him with egg on his face after he couldn't answer a few historic, British facts. His ignorance in not knowing who wrote 'Rule Britannia' probably summed up the guy in that useless little hesitation before he replies 'Elgar? I, at least, knew it was a Scots and English joint effort of some puffs in ruffs!
Cameron has raped the economy, failed to support the health system, the rich are being taxed less, our soldiers in Afghanistan are dropping like flies and as for education - he's abolished travel expenses for further education students and threatening to cut the student loan. These are just some of the things effecting me personally, but the list goes on. He's labeling the unemployed and single mums in his swine-ful own way as 'adapting to a culture of disruption and irresponsibility ' What he really wants to dub them are "Families from Hell!" He's an Etonian and will never put the condiments on the sitting room table. Never has.
I've never experienced so many tumbling blocks and brick walls and basic rights being arsed with, in any government before. Besides - when a PM takes time out from G20 talks with Obama & Co, to focus on a shit comedian's (Jimmy Carr) tax dodging, reassures me no end that he's got his priorities right!
Back from a break to a delightful prompt. Just a simple little piece to get me back into the swing of things......! I suppose I gave more thought to the kind of artwork it is than what it said to me. I'm in lazy mode this week!.!
What makes sense to some flies too high for others Caught in mid-motion angst proportional druthers
A sense to be soaring though be it with rage Let the score on the canvas hop on to the page
If a cleared head makes irony scale upon scale Who's to say that the tooth needs to follow the nail?
From binary, finery, take pieces apart And finish much later what thought pulled apart
As we gaze from the marble a flute in our hand Makes a welcomed envision for a brush to crash land A story repeated in hundreds of ways Tells not what the eye sees but a fuelled heart portrays
London was amazing. It ended up an extended visit but boy did it rock. I'm not going to go through the whole shebang here - just pop up the odd picture or two, until I get back into the swing of things. My breast cancer ultimate results showed the tumours were benign. I don't think I've ever held on to my daughter so tightly in all her life. I can look forward to Christmas now, celebrating in the usual unashamed and immature nature. Anyhow - some post-London pics, where the sun shone for ten glorious days and I didn't complain too much at that!
On our first day just chilling.
Back Row : Me, me twin, me son-in-law, James, and niece Layla. Front: Me daughter, Kerri, and her brother, Ross.
A Harrods visit: Kerri finding the department that REALLY mattered! What a store - you could spend a whole day there just browsing (no choice in that matter). We mostly took pictures of price tags and had a game of find the most expensive fish!
A magical traipse round London. God, did our feet hurt after the tour! Still marvelled over the simple statue of Eros.
Here's me in South Hill Park in Bracknell. My son-in-law James and his landscape company turned this place from shit to a hit! He guided Prince Edward round the whole park and gardens on it's re-opening! And the manor house is renowned for it's ghost stories!
This picture is soooo endearing! Gorgeous Freya is my daughter's friend's little girl and she absolutely loves the bones of James! She's force-feeding him her crisps here. I pray that one day the IVF treatment will work and he and my own little girl are blessed with a kiddy of their own! This is the church Kerri and James married in. The organ pipes in here and celestial paintings are the most beautiful I've ever seen. I visit it every time I'm in Marlow to relive the event. It was my proudest moment watching her float down that aisle! The Vicar was the funniest little guy, ever. He kept stopping and asking James if he was sure he didn't want to know where the quick exit was! On my last day there James' parents held a cracking barbeque - what a menu! It was my first taste of Pimms as well. I adored their apple tree - just ripe for the picking and eating! Left to right: Margaret, my twin, Layla again, Vicky, James' sister and moi!
This is the mat that sits proudly at my daughter's door! Taken from the Scottish hit comedy, Still Game, (a Barra's buy!) these mats are often commissioned for Xmas and New Year gifts. Some companies need convincing that you actually WANT it misspelt!
Okay, guys! This snap is the piesta resistance! I just had to have a piddle in a Harrods bog! My nutty twin sister took this snap before the toilette-clerk caught us! And what a lavatory it is! Towels like cherub clouds! There was even this little circular trolly with a selection of designer parfums if you fancied a free scoot (sample) on your way out! Honest!
We were tempted to re-inact a situation that occurred when we were nine, involving twin distraction and a packet of Polo mints in McCluckey's food store, but we opted for more finger-linger time on the aerosol instead!
ps..........you can't tell it's me - can you? I think they've got security cameras in that place! ********************************** So there endeth the few pictures and precious memories that'll last forever. I'll make a little slideshow of each album of snaps taken for my sorely neglected sidebar soon! It's nice to be back. And even nicer to know that I can share this and future posts with a bit more ease. I plan to raise funds for those women and families who are affected by breast cancer. I just spent the last couple of weeks experiencing the time of my life. It doesn't bear thinking about how the last two weeks could have gone. *************************
On Sunday, I'll be traveling down to London on the overnight coach. Now all the biopsies are over with, I'm off to spend much needed time and cuggles with my gorgeous, kindhearted, baby girl. My oldest son, PrettyBoy, is accompanying me this time, but he'll return home a few days before I will. My daughter, Kerri, booked us the tickets for the journey (with National Express) and it was a simple case of printing them off via email. On my son's ticket she referred to him as * 'Dr. R. Kerry' and on mine 'Rev. H. Kerry'.* I can't wait to see the driver's face when he's presented with them! Add this teensy kinda thing as a starter for 10 and you got yourself some trouble-making, wine-nutted, shameless females, all on their own brand of HRT let loose on the streets of London! Gercha! Thankfully, for PrettyBoy, Kerri's hubby James is off work, too! I will also be spending time with my twin sis who resides in Buckinghamshire also. My baba wants to take us to Windsor. Of all the many visits down south, we've planned but never made it there. All that Beefeater and raven's stuff fascinates me. My biggest wish is to spend some time in Camden again. I love the gritty music and clothes shops, and the wheens of red buses and weird-savvy people that tread the street - oh, and to have my camera on the proper setting to recapture Banksy's signature on the Thames' tunnel, instead of the crap I botched up last year!
Of course, I am not going back without a purchase from the most famous department store there is! Might need a miracle to afford what I'd really like, but since my newfound vocation in life, I simply pray I'll be able to fit it in: † Our Father, who art in Heaven - Harrods be thy name †
******************************** * in case there is a bit confusion title-wise, my daughter's Christian name is the same as my 2nd time round married name!
It's a good feeling when.........you've duped your hubby into thinking that you changed that light bulb you've been nagging him to replace for yonks, all 'dangerously' by your 5ft 2in little self, whereas you really got your lad to do it on an unexpected 20 minute visit home during his lunch hour!
Relying on the tips of my padded pink fingers helping anything (especially botanical) to grow is usually a no-no. It's not for the want of careful planning, construction and attention either, but my short-yet-successful list of things I do manage to grow fairly trouble-free include foetuses, leg hair, sea monkeys and impatience. So hopefully you understand my utter joy at these pictures:
The Cheaper Half bet me £10 back in May that I'd fail in growing some cherry tomatoes (from seed) before the end of summer. In all, I managed to grow 8 of the little buggers, half of which will meet their demise tonight between two slices of hot buttered toast. Sadly, however, TCH wrestled the phone off me as I was trying to get the local press involved.........¡
My breast cancer investigation is complete. Earlier on today I traveled to Glasgow for an excisional biopsy. It was the lengthiest and nippiest one of the previous four but I was lucky in such that the needed sample came out beautifully first time. I'm feeling really sore now and have been warned that I'll probably be swollen and bruised for a bit, which doesn't really bother me as I'm a regular Humpty Dumpty anyhow!
All I have to do now is wait on the results to see if the suspicious mass is cancer and what, if any, treatment will entail. But hey-hoe! I'm off soon to visit my daughter in London to spend some girlie and sightseeing time. If bad news does wing it's way to me then she's the one I'd be crying out for. Her strength floors me at times.
The guys have been really supportive and let me flibbertigibbet on and on through the tetchy times. I really don't think they believe me as to how uncomfortably squished you need to be for mammograms ect. Maybe a screening of something similar for them would get you that cup of tea with extra milk now! ********************************
Decidedly wary, unusually calm Who opened the package that's me? Sought by abusers and everyday hurt Whose secrets dilute in the sea
Can you fathom the coldness, the annual crawl Make a vow to a pearl so crisp Washed up on a shore complex with aspersions To cast away doubt in the mist Still clutching at whispers, an idyllic like shell Nereus prophecies turned then they fled Tear the wrapping and bathe me in promises sweet Then take me and denial to bed ******************************
Was a bit of grump today as Scotland hit 81°, and I'm more of an 'innings' than 'outings' gal in the summer, but the sun (and a few beers) seduced my hubby enough for him to take on the task of cutting the back hedge, giving me a bit of peace and Judge Judy time. Yes, Judy is a guilty pleasure of mine, and I haven't missed an episode in 15 years! The woman's flawless and her patter is short, sweet and nippy in all the right places. So that's that one outed........☺
By late afternoon, I agreed to venture out for a food shop and to pay our council tax and ended uppercutting myself on the chin at the counter of the tax office, as my elbow slid due to the thick layer of sunblock I applied. As my face is 'menopausal-red' most of the year, the assistant's giggles wouldn't have made my blushes any deeper!
And the bank was a nightmare too! This kid from Hell circled around the queue time and time again, singing in-audibly what could very well pass as a chant, while mummykins entertained herself by listening to her iPod. To make matters worse, the bank's air conditioning was down, so to tolerate slow service with this devilkin wannabe before my big-shop-with-red-face, was difficult. I had to restrain myself from tripping him up on his 55th lap! The only thing that kept me going was the thought of my feet (they go really hot in the summer regardless of what kind of shoe I wear!) sliding into the freezer a cool water bowl for 10 mins on my return........
Back home sat I now, feet in bowl of perfumed water in front of the TV. Not having the greatest of memory......what was I saying again.....oh, yeah....I wrongly punched in the numbers on the control and ended up with the God TV channel, which so happened to be airing an "Understanding Male Homosexuality Conference" whose understanding in context seemed to mean 'judging harshly'. Shouting my protests under a deeply frowned brow, I had given myself a worse headache than the acolyte did and pruned feet in a neat shade of bluish-purple to boot. It didn't help either, when the powder I'd used to help thoroughly dry my tootsies, turned my kitchen lino into a skating rink.
I was given a little reward, helping to make up for my day's slips, bips and gips though. GingerJesus emailed me from Edinburgh with some fabulous snaps. His band No Need For Idols have been invited to take part in the annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival
celebrations for a few days, performing cover songs from 60's - present day material. As exciting as it is, he says he's spotted and conversed with quite a few celebrities - particularly comedians - but it's this snap of him with the world's most pierced woman, Elaine Davidson that he's absolutely raving about!! Bet she's easy to buy for each birthday........! See ya's soon!
Not had much time this week to 'pie but I've managed a quick nonsense entry. Will catch yours tomorrow!
Gladys started changing into frills and smelling sweet When Old Ally at short notice said he'd take her out to eat!
To the new Grande GreeDee Mansion, with it's first class restuarant Where all gentleman's companions give a fox fur fancy flaunt
Dining in a cosy corner on a splendid velvet chair He sipped his malted whiskey - she felt rather debonair
The meal was just delicious culinary do-delight If only apple-strudel lasted long into the night! The piano gently tinkled something pleasant, a la mode Tobacco clouds did thicken and the French wine freely flowed
Chatter slackened, food digested, time to bid a fond goodnight Until stark realization made his eyes pop out with fright He changed his mind and wore a jacket - not as chilly as he thought Left his wallet in the pocket of the coat that he forgot?!
He tried his best to reason even Gladys tried a plea But the boss of posho-noshings insisted on an exchange fee
Well, old Ally was left fuming - lo, they wouldn't take his word! That he'd call back in tomorrow - pay the bill that he incurred
He was marched into the kitchen told to stand before a sink Forced to wash the finest china - and dareth not to cause a chink!
The soapy-debt now over, he sighed a sigh resound While tucking in his baggy shirt his wallet tumbled to the ground! ********************************
You saw it too, right? In the mean sodium light - that demon or freak in the rays? To spawn me with birthmark, gunfire from the sweet lark Forever entoiled in this haze
You heard it though, boy? That pitch to the decoy - luring us into our crime Pickling our senses, forced over sharp fences Jocund and into the sublime
You felt it too, friend? The hard, bitter night's end - striping day's light across sky Where we're not understood, hiding face into hood As the other me challenges why
You tasted it too, huh? The fear of another - as city growls out it's debate Antecedent evenings, for acolyte's feeding Young veins and young pupils dilate
You caught the scent, Bud? An oncoming flash flood - windowshoppers in their street attire Shines the lies of the rich, with a bitch of an itch Smithereen hopes and no chance ceasefire ********************************
From all the competitive challenges over the next 17 days, only a few will cater to my Olympi-likings:
~ Gymnastics ~ (female only)
~ Synchronized Swimming ~ (which is women only anyhow)
~ Equestrian ~ female riders only.
~ High Diving ~ (women's - but don't mind the occasional bloke-dive)
I'm not being deliberately sexist here, I merely find the female of the species naturally attunes to such events far more artistically than that of their testosterone counterparts. I suppose it's down to grace and a taste, that divides the line for me.
Anyhow, keeping on track * groan*, I'm dying to see our Olympics Opening Ceremony. Beijing's was astounding in 2008 and if Britain is wanting to equal or top it, then they better HAD bring it about via the rumours hopping from tabloid to tabloid. But dancers, prancers, fireworks and massive groups of entertaining youths with flags is a must.
One other aspect of the British madness right now, is the cost of erecting 17 (last minute) sandstone boulders, sitting on top of 8ft high steel poles. This is in association with where the Olympic Sailing Events will take place (in Dorset) and a marshy field is 'hosting' the sculpture. This has cost the taxpayer £335,000 which, needless to say, has angered the public given our economic meltdown. Government uses this halfhearted attempt to try to convince us it's mainly been lottery tickets sales and direct arts councils that has funded this future 'landmark'.
A mystery guest will be settling the torches' final journey flame for the next 17 days. So, I would be mega delighted if that important flame to start the games was lit by my biggest heroine, the little Olympian Goddess of all time:
While upping some summer bye-bye's and downing some winter wonderstuff from the attic, I saw that our Christmas tree had been stood there uncovered all year! I didn't want to try and wriggle and squash my way through the loft hatch as usual, as scars from the boob surgery are still tender. I did manage a head up for a sneaky peek, though. Feeling sorry for the fairy, I decided to bring the fully decorated tree down (God knows how they got it up) give it a light dusting and test the lights. Operating. Little Fairypoops, Chrissie, is almost 20 years old and you can see how threadbare and 'holey' her dress and wings are getting. She's had all sorts of coloured lights rammed up her lacy skirt every year for added effect, and a replacement doesn't bare thinking about! The tree is stopping in my bedroom for now but its mini-illumination has boosted the winter-chick in me no end.
Anyhow - I'm sitting as I type, watching some absolutely cracking fireworks! It may only be November 3rd, but there are a lot of weekend parties going on around me. What a blessing patio heaters are! It's freezing, dry, and there's a beautiful, starry sky. It will, absolutely, piss down in Scotland on Monday night.
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This is the church Kerri and James married in. The organ pipes in here and celestial paintings are the most beautiful I've ever seen. I visit it every time I'm in Marlow to relive the event. It was my proudest moment watching her float down that aisle! The Vicar was the funniest little guy, ever. He kept stopping and asking James if he was sure he didn't want to know where the quick exit was!
On my last day there James' parents held a cracking barbeque - what a menu! It was my first taste of Pimms as well. I adored their apple tree - just ripe for the picking and eating!
On Sunday, I'll be traveling down to London on the overnight coach. Now all the biopsies are over with, I'm off to spend much needed time and cuggles with my gorgeous, kindhearted, baby girl. My oldest son, PrettyBoy, is accompanying me this time, but he'll return home a few days before I will. My daughter, Kerri, booked us the tickets for the journey (with National Express) and it was a simple case of printing them off via email. On my son's ticket she referred to him as * 'Dr. R. Kerry' and on mine 'Rev. H. Kerry'.* I can't wait to see the driver's face when he's presented with them! Add this teensy kinda thing as a starter for 10 and you got yourself some trouble-making, wine-nutted, shameless females, all on their own brand of HRT let loose on the streets of London! Gercha! Thankfully, for PrettyBoy, Kerri's hubby James is off work, too! I will also be spending time with my twin sis who resides in Buckinghamshire also.
My baba wants to take us to Windsor. Of all the many visits down south, we've planned but never made it there. All that Beefeater and raven's stuff fascinates me. My biggest wish is to spend some time in Camden again. I love the gritty music and clothes shops, and the wheens of red buses and weird-savvy people that tread the street - oh, and to have my camera on the proper setting to recapture Banksy's signature on the Thames' tunnel, instead of the crap I botched up last year!
The Cheaper Half bet me £10 back in May that I'd fail in growing some cherry tomatoes (from seed) before the end of summer. In all, I managed to grow 8 of the little buggers, half of which will meet their
Every day or so, they say
I was given a little reward, helping to make up for my day's slips, bips and gips though. GingerJesus emailed me from Edinburgh with some fabulous snaps. His band No Need For Idols have been invited to take part in the annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival 
