diary of a 70s teen

off on holidays

2011-07-10T23:19:00.003+01:00

In true 70s style

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7aPp-4z-uw

:)XX

Blimey !!

2011-06-19T22:11:00.000+01:00

I have been away this long .......

Home Cinema Update

2011-04-09T18:40:00.001+01:00

I can't believe it has been 5 weeks plus since I last posted !! Where does the time go?

In these past 5 weeks I have watched, courtesy of Cinema Paradiso, 'The Time Travellers Wife' and 'The Girl Who Played with Fire'... I have now waiting in my lounge 'Inception' and 'Lovely Bones' to be viewed.

My Teen bought me 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' for my birthday so I had to watch that before the 'The Girl Who Played with Fire' I watched them back to back... a fabulous Sunday 'chillaxing' viewing :) .. I have not done 'back to back' viewing since 'The Matrix' and 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy. There is something to be said about watching sequels in one go, you become so immersed in the plot... much better than waiting a year for the next instalment !!
'The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest' is out on Blu-ray on the 11th April.. that is so added to my account.
The final installment of Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy, following The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played With Fire, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest finds Lisbeth Salander fighting for her life in more ways than one. In an intensive care unit and charged with three murders, she will have to not only prove her innocence, but also identify and denounce the same corrupt government institutions that nearly destroyed her life. Once upon a time, she was a victim. Now, Lisbeth Salander is fighting back.

'The Time Travellers Wife' was a great film .. I got more than past half way through the book but due to my only reading on the train into work it got sacked as it is so complex (with the time travelling and needs more than a 15 minute read) but what an achievement to write a book like that.. very clever indeed .. the film sorted out the book in my head albeit I know it has cut out loads of detail.

The service from Cinema Paradiso has been superb, no sooner have I posted the DVD back then another returns and they send you an e mail to say what film is on the way ... liking this and may well stay on beyond the 3 month trial....

I did promise myself to view the last 2 DVDs this weekend ,,, however, the sun is shining and my £20 greenhouse arrived (I bought it off a friend up the road and it was delivered for free)

part of my garden I giving over and sharing with my friend 'up the road' this is the beginning of a raised bed

I have moved the greenhouse this morning and planted on the left.. onions/ peas and beans ... on the right Delphiniums, Hollyhocks, Lupins, Lavender and Daisies ... blimey I have just become a grown up ;)

Home Cinema

2011-02-27T21:09:00.000Z

Anyone who has followed my blog for the past 4 years (blimey almost 4 years... medals will be given out for those who have stuck with it! mwah xx) will have read about the many films I went to see in the 70s ... Jaws, Towering Inferno, Close Encounters, The Great Gatsby, Murder on the Orient Express (which I thought was rubbish apparently) to name but a few. It seemed I was always at the pictures ... I can only think they were a lot cheaper 'back in the day' than they are now for me to have gone so often!

I am not a great TV viewer but about 9 months ago I treated myself to a large flat screen TV and a Blu-Ray player as now-a-days I love nothing better than curling up on the sofa with a good film.

So when I saw that those lovely people at FuelMyBlog were looking for volunteers to test drive for free for 3 months an online DVD rental site I jumped at the chance..... and thank you so much for selecting me :)

The online site is Cinema Paradiso.

I followed the instructions sent to me and I was really happy it was so easy to sign up. I had to enter my card details but I was assured that no money would be debited from my account during the 3 month trial.
The selection of films is great, there are less films available on Blu-Ray but I expected that anyway. It suggests that you select around 10 films for your play list .. I chose just 7 but will be logging in shortly top up.

As part of the trial I am allowed 4 films per month, which is fine as I probably couldn't get through more than one a week. Oh and just to mention there are no 'late fees' unlike DVD rental shops and the postage is free....

So after signing up and selecting my films 2 DVDs arrived 36 hours later..... The Time Traveller's Wife and The Girl Who Played with Fire. I fully intended to have a cinema fest this weekend but time has run away with me ....

Just looking in my diary for when I have a free evening this week, so I can order in the pop corn :)

New Year New Start .....2!!

2011-01-17T21:43:00.000Z

I am not being hostage to the cause but I am trying to eat less and exercise more [although the Wii is a no go area as I don't want my 'mini me' or the Wii itself to groan under the strain of the extra pounds I have gathered over the Christmas fest].

I have cut down on bread and cheese and and and and ... and am feeling the benefit of that ..... now don't laugh but I have started a 'class'.... I could have done pottery, DIY, mechanics for beginners along with a plumbing course.. but no I have chosen belly dancing

My first attempt was last week .. and I was handed a waist scarf full of jingly coins. I learned a 'routine' where I was okay with my feet doing it but add in hands it was a disaster.

At the end of the session the instructor said 'have you done this before?'

I replied 'no'

she said 'but you have such good isolation'

Translated that means the top half of my body moves and the bottom half doesn't and visa versa ... apparently in belly dancing terms this is good... I put it down to having a bad back ..

so I thought yeah I am on a winner here!

Got talking to some gals at the class and asked how long they had been doing this?

One gal replied '6 years' ... SIX YEARS !!

OMG She was as round as she was tall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Year New Start .....1!!

2011-01-03T23:19:00.000Z

One of my good intentions this year was to take up above the ground and fly to places .... after seeing this I reckon I should strike this location from my list of first flights.....

New Year New Start ..... !!

2011-01-02T22:52:00.000Z

I am not really someone who does resolutions (despite my list in the last post) ...I have more of a head full of good intentions. Those good intentions I have decided not to think about until I go back to work on the 5th Jan. Although I have already bought my Special K so I can get into that (or any) skimpy red number in the coming months.

Well here we are in 2011... I was reflecting on 2010 yesterday and the most prevalent thing that sprung to mind was the speed the year passed by and the fact in the 12 months we had almost 3 months of snow, around 2 months of sun so the remaining 7 months must have been 'nothing' weather days.
This year I am going to keep a written diary again (due to the fact I have been bought a gorgeous one by my teen)... so when I reflect on 2011 I can be more accurate in my assessment of the year.

I was surfing around the interweave earlier as one of my 'good intentions' is to get visiting blogs on a regular basis again (I know I have been rubbish).... and I came across an interesting 'ickle image of me in a side bar of someone's blog ....

I so love it ... thank you GitWizard and your timely nudge has spurred me on to include in my blog going forward 'Knitting pattern of the month'.

Here is January's ... and every couple should have these......;)

Happy New Year 2011

2010-12-30T21:43:00.003Z

Wishing you all joy, luck, health and wealth in twenty eleven or two thousand and eleven (depending on your preference)

When you read this I will be in a place in the world that is interweaveless... a rare part of the planet these days ... sipping sherry and watching mindless stuff on the TV .....

My New Year Resolutions are probably (or should be) as long as this list

humpf the scheduled posting of this didn't happen and I can't get it to work ... so Happy New Year and I am still here ... just adding to the resolutions list 'must get with it in 2011 with technology' ;)

Happy Christmas

2010-12-25T00:09:00.014Z

Just to wish you all love, happiness and a perfect Christmas ... and hope it is the real thing alternatively just cringe a bit and enjoy the god awful Christmas sweaters with this .....

70s xxx

Day 24 of Advent

2010-12-24T20:45:00.000Z

YIPEEEE only one more sleep ......
There has been a bit of a hic-up on the 70s family Christmas ... the snow has prevented the family from travelling over :( so it is just me a Teen all day. It is a bit of a good/bad feeling ... bad as I won't see my family but good in the fact we can slob around all day in our PJs and eat when we like and lots of it too as I have catered for a house full!! Quite looking forward to it :)

So for the last day of advent there is a bit of an animal theme....I am loving this You Tube clip ... it must have taken them ages to do

The next animal thing is ' Awkward Family Pet Photos' there are some classics in there lol

In case you have some spare time to kill over the festivities ... not one game but 95... laid out like Windows... wish I could play these in the office particularly the throwing the paper in a waste bin (with Government cut backs they have removed the real ones from our office .. taking with it hours of fun ;) )

Day 23 of Advent

2010-12-23T22:04:00.000Z

I am so excited only 2 more sleeps until Father Christmas empties sack !!

I have been to my Mums house today, she has been snowed in for a week, managed to clear the snow from the front of her house so I could get the car in and she can get to the bin... saw the most amazing icicles on more or less every house surrounding where she lives. It is a seaside resort and snow is such an unexpected thing in those parts ...

So for today's advent if you don't click on anything else today click on this simply amazing photography.

Now the game I have not been able to load ... maybe you will have more luck than me ... my cuz CKX has said about this 'My favourite game of the year.You are a pigeon flying and walking around a city – it’s so relaxing just flying about, swooping and soaring.'

Views of Southport today

Day 22 of Advent

2010-12-22T22:06:00.000Z

I seem to have skipped a few days here.... but it is no wonder as I (like most people this time of year) have been zipping about preparing for the 'big day'. I finished work yesterday, did a whistle stop shop around the Lowry Centre, picked up Teen from the Trafford Centre (it was horrible the roads were car parks), nipped in to Makro, cooked tea and then went out to the local pub with some girlie mates for our Christmas get together ... very nice indeed. Today has been spent sorting out the Christmas fayre (food shopping with manic people who seem to think there will never be food again ... sigh!), crockery, cutlery etc ..... I am am exhausted.

The games for today are

An annoying Time Waster game (some may say all games on the net are time wasters)... it has potential if you have time to waste which I don't at the moment

A puzzle solving game that is quite good and Blosics2 which is excellent

Weird websites ..... celebrities with short legs - BIZARRE??!!! Animals with their tongues out and a not so weird web page ... click on the buttons and let Google Earth take you on a mystery tour ... I have been around the world in 80 minutes ....

Day 18 & 19 of Advent

2010-12-19T21:15:00.000Z

The snow is still here but managed to dig the car out (it took me half an hour)... I am not looking to Monday morning rush hour tomorrow! I think all this white stuff is effecting the interweave as it is soooo slow just now ...

For today we have kittens on screen (just click on the screen), a lovely Ferry Halim game (I actually did quite well on this one), a weird thing I have not tried yet as I need to take some photos (quite looking forward to seeing how I look as a mask), someone who takes the decking of the house in lights far too serious and LloydTSB are looking to create a new character ...

I went to buy a watch, and the man in the shop said, 'Analogue.' I said 'No, just a watch.'

Some one has stolen my dog and put a Farah Fawcett wig on her.... she does look kinda fetching!

But I think she looks more festive in this photo .. albeit a bit fed up

Day 17 of Advent

2010-12-17T19:33:00.000Z

A week today is Christmas Eve ..blimey it is coming along fast!! I am almost done with the pressie shopping but still have few bits to buy and post.. not relishing the thought of queuing up at the Post Office tomorrow though.....

Q: How do we know that Father Christmas has passed his sleigh driving test?
A: No-el plates!

I am just loving this news report blooper.. the voice over so fits the footage...

I have seen this before and may have sent it to a few of you but it is worth another look... it is awesome [and scary] to see the extent of 'stuff' over your local area ...

No game tonight but a musical interlude .. it did make me smile

As this is 70s blog I thought it was time I posted a 70s type thing ... this advert is classic... every child should have one this Christmas

Day 16 of Advent

2010-12-16T21:54:00.000Z

In 10 days time we will have been stuffed with turkey and chilling out with old films on TV or hitting the sales in order to beat the VAT rise iIn the UK) ... I for one will be doing the former in the comfort of my mums house. Tomorrow I am doing my last dash for pressies at Manchester's Christmas market, it is HUGE this year. Every where you turn there are fabulous Continental stores ..

This is amazing... I have always wondered how you fold a fitted sheet ... I have a heap of them rolled like the left hand image on the video.... I must try what the lady suggests ... it looks far too simple ...

Not on your nellie ever would I ever be tempted to try this ... are they mad???

Maybe these kittens would like to try it out?

I don't do golf, play PC well, fly and I certainly can't fly a helicopter ... I did try this game ... I got it in the air... flew across to the island and crashed, then I over shot and drowned in the ocean ... another game I am rubbish at but I think it could be good in the hands of some less 'PCgamphobic' than me!

Day 15 of Advent

2010-12-15T21:48:00.000Z

In 10 days time Santa will have been and emptied his sack....I do hope he wipes his feet when he comes out of my chimney ;)

Now I don't play golf and I am rubbish at games on the PC as you know ... but this game will have me coming back for another go ... when I have more time to plot my trajectory....

Rumours about this chap have abounded .. to the extent that he died in 2003 and had been replaced by stand ins ... well here he is as large as life 'looking at things !!!'
I can envisage a few bloggers who would suit this kind of coverage ...you know who you are!!

Q: How do you make Lady Gaga cry - at Christmas?
A: Poker face

Can you believe the lengths car thieves will go to ... be alert when washing your Ferrari..... you have been warned

Just in case you don't know what to ask Santa for for Christmas ... may I make a suggestion

Get your orders in fast it may take me some time to knit this

Day 13 and 14 of Advent

2010-12-14T22:15:00.001Z

Day 13 & 14 of Advent only 10 shopping days til Christmas. I remember years ago that it would only be 9 shopping days and you would have to get those presents in the hours of 9-5 and not open on a Sunday. Today the shops are open until 22.00 hours 6 days a week and 6 hours on a Sunday. When they started opening on a Sunday and late night Thursday that is when I got out of 'retail'.

There are some cool sounds to be made with this ... I did try and open this in work today to entertain everyone but 'big brother' wouldn't let me :(

Q: What is Father Christmas' cat's favourite fizzy drink?
A: Fanta Claws!

Every car should have one of these

Shaun the Sheep is is so cool in Wallace and Gromit but this game will want you want to see a plump lamb chop on your plate

Shuddering at the amount of info on this black board .. how on earth could you follow this ??

Day 12 of Advent

2010-12-12T21:59:00.001Z

Day 12 of Advent and only 12 days til Christmas Eve ..... note to self 'stay calm and you will get all the shopping done in time and write and post all the cards despite being maxed out in work and having to do long days in order to deliver before the Christmas break'

Been to the beach today ... just love the break from the 'hoo ha' that is fast forward life just now ... complete silence apart from the waves lapping up on the shore ... fabulous

Spotted these scary creatures on the shore .. this one and the others were about 2 foot in circumference ....

so back to the Advent stuff... if you are interested about how we were 'back in the day' and before were back in the day you will love this.

My cuz who puts all this calendar together described this game as a 'brilliant and simple game' .... yes it is brilliant but I am sooo rubbish at driving games I end up going backwards.. thankfully my real life driving is better!!

How cute is this pic ??

Day 10 & 11 of Advent

2010-12-11T21:54:00.001Z

Days 10 & 11.... had a great Xmas do yesterday ... we are new, small but perfectly formed team of 6 so it was great to socialise with the 3 that have joined us in the past few weeks..... I have spent all day putting up the Christmas decorations ... I can't believe it took so long ....but at least the pup is getting into the Christmas spirit...

Now this is a weird one ... it tells you how far your pooh travels from your house from the last time you flushed ... I kid you not!!! Fascinating stuff ....... mine after 20 minutes is travelling through the countryside (thought I would share that with you!!!)

I wish I had thought of this when Teen was growing up .... I have got a complete set of photos from her school days on the first day of the new school year and it is interesting how much she grew each year (and how I didn't decorate the lounge for years!!)

Now I love Tetris... it was one of the first games I played when I was first introduced to a home computer and I play it now on Facebook. But this version does make me feel a bit queezy ... have a go and let me know whether it has the same effect on you?

Loving these photos of the stars

sooo cute .....

Two drunken pebbles on the beach having a conversation.

Pebble 1. "Are you married?

Pebble 2. "No I'm shingle".

Day 9 of Advent

2010-12-09T22:16:00.000Z

Day 9 of advent ... not only is it the 50th Anniversary of Coronation Street it is Donny's Birthday too [mwah... swoon]... Happy Birthday Donny xxx

Blimey some people have so much patience and time on their hands... I could never imagine being so dedicated!! Very impressive though.....

I am loving this (it is similar to the design tool I posted yesterday given to me by GW)... I haven't managed to change the colours etc but the effect is wonderful

Oh and this chap also has too much time on his hands ... but at least you can eat it afterwards ....

And finally

Q: Why did Frosty go and live in the middle of the ocean?

A: Because snowman is an island.

oh and now finally I will not be posting the 10th day of advent until the 11th as I am on my Christmas do at work... a very traditional Christmas fayre... Spanish tapas and as the continental Christmas market is on there will be a few Glühweins consumed too (not sure how Sangria and Glühwein mixes ... probably not that well!!!)

Day 8 of Advent

2010-12-08T21:28:00.000Z

image from Aerojet General Corp

Day 8 ...... I went to a casino last night and was stood next to a guy playing Blackjack who kept having win after win after win. I couldn't believe his luck, then saw he was stood on what looked like a bit of bread.

I asked him, "Hey Mate, what's that under your shoe?"

He said. "Shhh! I'm on a roll."

I saw this on the tele a few weeks ago... I hate how people chuck chewy on the floor .. why can't they wrap it up and put in a bin, it isn't that difficult is it? I wonder what this guy would paint if everyone did that?

Who ever said the German's had no sense of humour??... a really fast car wash.

Some of us blogger's have seen this before and it is fun ... I have sent a head to a few of you who I have email addys for ....

Just off to play the Blosics game again it is soooo addictive.

Oh btw my pup is still collecting coal from the beach for those who have been naughty .... you still have time to be nice!!

Day 7 of Advent

2010-12-07T23:07:00.000Z

Day 7 and this time in 2 weeks I will be hanging up my mouse, bring my cup home for a bleach [anyone that works in an office with a minging shared kitchen will know what I mean.. [oh that sponge how can anyone even think of using that,,, shudder] and putting on my 'out of office' with 'I am not here til the 4th Jan. I can't be contacted. Merry Christmas'... I can't wait ....

This game today [tonight] I am absolutely rubbish at ... I never knew sheep moved so fast.. but they do!!

I am so loving this and I can see my cat falling for this too .. so if you get a cat in the post for Christmas you will know that Jess has been a game cat again

Now GitWizard sent me this for inclusion into the advent calendar if you want some R&R then look no further. I love it

And finally

Q: Where do cows buy their Christmas presents?
A: From a cattle-logue!

hee hee

Day 5& 6 of Advent

2010-12-06T20:29:00.000Z

Day 5 & 6 and 2 games to get your teeth into ... neither of which I have mastered.

The first one is a ickle game where you have to save a smiley face from being pelted by acid rain it would seem .... the second is helping a ickle penguin across the icebergs..... good luck

Now this bloke does know how to pack a bag but there is one or two flaws in the video... he has only 2 pairs of footwear (and one of those are flip flops) and he has no hair dryer,
straighteners, rollers, moisturiser, padded bras etc etc ... so easy peasy for him

Now this is quite something ... a map of Africa with parts of the world engulfed into it ... click on the picture to enlarge

and finally you know I phoned the local walkers club today, and this bloke who answered just rambled on and on.

Day 3 & 4 of Advent

2010-12-04T21:44:00.000Z

Day 3 & 4 ... sorry GitWizard for lapsing so soon into the month ... pretty poor if you ask me ..........but my excuse was I was playing games

A little joke to make amends

Q: What do you call a Tellytubby who has been burgled?

A: A tubby.

Oh I love this and goodness knows how it works......

What a job I wonder how many hours a day he does this and how many he lakes in a day .... perhaps he should have his own place on the 'worldometer'!!

This is the game that has me a wee bit hooked ... I love it, so do the teens

A the cute factor today is this .... all together now ... awwwwwww

Advent Day 2

2010-12-02T21:16:00.000Z

day 2 of Advent and the snow oop Norff has slowed down a bit but it is absolutely freezingly cold .... it will be -6 C overnight and -5 C when I am driving to work .. that should be interesting!!

Today's Advent consists of a really sensible website for those of you who 'stick things to things'.... if you ever wondered what glue you need to stick rubber to glass then click here !!!

Also an amazing advertisement ... part of which made me feel a bit sick... I think I so have vertigo!!

The game today I can access and it is quite a chilling game all bouncy, bouncy ..... you use your space bar to bounce....

Bad joke of the day ...

Q: What do you call a man with no shins?

A: Tony

Advent Day 1

2010-12-01T22:01:00.000Z

Suddenly it is that time again ... how fast has 2010 gone by??

Courtesy of my cousin CKX, who does all this research, I hope to post every day with the delights that he has found around the interweave....
There will be some games, jokes (bad ones), awww things and some weird stuff... so here we go on day one of advent .......is it Christmas yet ??

I do like this it is a sort of stress buster ... make your own beautiful flower garden ... open, click and create

A guy sacked from the dodgems is taking his employers to court.

He's claiming funfair dismissal.

These folk are awesome but absolutely barking mad

The game that CKX suggested wouldn't load so I found this one ... I did get bored and scored 42....

Just a reminder too that my pup is still collecting coal off the beach ... so if you have been bad girls and boys she will be sending them to Santa

Life's a beach

2010-11-09T21:07:00.000Z

I grew up at the seaside as many of my avid readers will know from my teen diaries. I now live inland and the nearest I get to water is the Manchester Ship Canal or the River Irwell adjacent to work (I have actually worked out I can get to work by water!! Interesting!!).... it is not the same as miles of sandy beaches.
Thankfully my family still live on the coast and take every opportunity to get onto the sands.

It is November and still it glorious to get out there and smell the clean air.....My pup was born in Southport and she is the happiest ever dog when let loose on the beach, you can almost see her laughing. However, she has developed this weird obsession of picking up shells off the beach... last time it was a clam shell

It was the first time that she wore her gorgeous coat courtesy of FuelMyBlog and Nutrecare.

Oh btw she ditched the shell and ended up with a piece of coal instead...

Swimming or is that drowning??

2010-10-05T21:54:00.000+01:00

Can't believe that all this time has past since my last post. Working on a new project and having so much to read and learn has meant that most evenings my brain is about to implode.
I am just about managing to chillax on FB and play some mindless games ...

Another chillax remedy I have tried to keep up since my hols is to visit somewhere every weekend (not just the supermarket and family).

A few weeks ago it was National Heritage weekend which allowed folk to have open access to places not normally open or usually you have to pay. My mates & I decided to go to Manchester's Victorian Baths. Built in 1906 as a flag ship swimming baths with Turkish baths and a laundry, it truly is a great reminder of Victorian opulence. A time where people didn't have bathrooms and went to public baths to wash ... eeeewww!!

Growing up in Southport we had our own Victoria Baths (or the Viccy Baths to us locals). I never realised they were salt water baths ... I recall in the early 70s that it was bloody freezing, old fashioned with cubicle changing rooms on the side of the baths and the swimming teacher would have not looked out of place barking out orders on a parade yard.

Many, many times I thought I was going to drown being dragged along by a rope around my waist and on one occasion I dived in the shallow end and smashed my head on the bottom of the baths ... and yes I really did think I was going to drown then. I was never keen on swimming after that and skived off as many times as I could....

The Victoria Baths in Manchester are awesome. They got a grant for about £3 million and the restoration is quite something although there is still loads to do....

Is this an oximoron btw ??

06:07 08:09:10

2010-09-08T07:00:00.065+01:00

This morning at 06:07 I was in the shower and then off on my first day back at work after being off work for 3 weeks ... blimey 3 weeks of brain in stand-by mode (okay I know some may say that is where my brain is most of the year).

I feel like a kid on the first day back at school after the summer break.. briefcase (check), butties (check), freshly pressed work gear (no name tags in my clothes ... that comes in a few years time.. I am so glad I taught my teen to sew ... lol)

I have thought about work whilst I have been off, as in the concept of I need to go back at some stage, but not actually thought about the actual project I am working on. There has been not much point really because I know what ever I left behind will have been moved on at mega speed , there will be at least 100 e mails to deal with and what ever direction we were going on will have changed. Ahhh the joys of project work.,, hitting the ground running (I just so don't DO running!!!)

Today is 08/09/10
Just figured in my life time I have seen
4/5/67
5/6/78
6/7/89
7/8/90

The 'noughties' have had loads
01/02/03
02/03/04
03/04/05 etc etc

I was just figuring out whether I will be around for 1/2/34?? and still blogging ?? !!!!

Thank you Gitwizard for the nudge that made me remember to post :)

make do and mend

2010-08-31T20:41:00.000+01:00

When I started up into real adulthood (C1984) and had to furnish my first real home [with my boyfriend who became my hubby who subsequently then became my ex ]... and had little money.....

These guys where our first 'sofas'.... years on lanquishing in the shed and latterly year in year out outside they have gone to wrack and ruin.... so much so my teen used their images on a textile piece featuring 'urban decay!!'

But with a little spray of WD40, a coat of Cuprinol (country cream) and some canvas from Habitat..... behold ... it is a miracle

Just need to find my staple gun so I can enjoy the last of the summer sunshine sat in a deck chair with a glass of Pimms

Strange deliveries

2010-08-15T20:52:00.000+01:00

I meant to post about this yonks ago .......

My teen texted me to say 'you have a parcel... can I open it?'
I replied 'okay if you must'
Teens reply 'already opened it ' (is nothing sacred)
'what is it?' I asked
'A cow!! It has no head ...It is all too weird .. I am going out .. back for tea xxx'

A headless cow!! WT....??

it looks ok to me ..........

or maybe not!!!

My teen said later she thought it was 'like one of those 'anthax type things' people send through the post!!'.... she surely watches too many horror films

Thank you Daddy Papersurfer... I have finally bought some super glue and Colin is now complete again .... however I am not going to risk stuffing him with money as he may explode ,..... So if you could do me a favour DP, if it is not too much to ask... could you please start saving for my retirement fund dear 'devoted savant'?....

I would like to empty my pedestal and retire early in say about 7 years... that should be enough time to stash away enough to keep me in shoes and other ickle essential luxuries .... (p.s tell Bernard, Colin says hi and not to make him laugh as it could have dire results)

Thank you

Corset Friday

2010-07-30T21:37:00.000+01:00

I have joined in with dear Nurse Myra on a number of T-shirt Fridays but never Corset Friday ..

Came across this photo'age' from an 'age' ago .... when the thought of wearing a corset never crossed my mind

Firsts

2010-07-25T18:18:00.000+01:00

I love 'firsts'... that first time you visit somewhere, the taste of a new food or a fine wine, meeting new and interesting folk .... well I had a first this weekend

I slept in a VW camper van!!!!!

My friends bought it last summer and I have been itching to have a trip in it for ages. This weekend was that opportunity..... we were off to Wales to celebrate a 50th Birthday.
I first met this group of friends in 1977 .... I had started going out with 'Sam' (some past stuff here ) and he was at school with this crowd ... and 33 years later we are still all good friends ........

The journey in a camper van is certainly different than my comfy saloon car ... you can see things high up and twisty, turny Welsh country lanes are a challenge.... and as for the track up the side of the mountain to the party venue .... eeeekkkkkk... white knuckle stuff. The picture below is the only flat bit!

The party was ace ....

The views were even better ... waking up to this every morning must be a dream

Mother Nature

2010-07-11T19:21:00.000+01:00

Things are coming along............

All grown from seed after the harshest winter I can remember killed off most of my plants.

The rose trees survived they must be hardy little divels......

I was gutted when the freezing conditions finished off my eucalyptus.... he was a very handsome tree once...

But Mother nature has come into her own and given him a second chance.......magical.

Lucky Pup

2010-06-11T20:45:00.001+01:00

What a lucky pup Layla is .....

...... she is about to get a lovely surprise through the post........

A while ago (and apologies for my tardiness!) those lovely people at FuelMyBlog asked for volunteers to test ordering from a pet supply company called 'Nutrecare'.

The company supplies 1000s of leading brands for your cat/dog/horse and/or rabbit and deliver it straight to your door ..... all hassle free. There is everything from food to flea stuff, toys to beds.....

The only hassles I experienced with this were 'what on earth do I order?' , 'Should I get something for Jess (our elderly cat) as well as Layla?' and 'where the heck have I saved the voucher '

I deliberated for ages on this ........ and finally I made my choice but alas Jess has missed out .... she is happy though to just lie in the sunshine and sleep in the dog's basket to wind her up.......

Once I had located my £20 voucher I opened up the site and selected my items

a lovely warm coat for those icy winter walks

and a bottle of 'Pet Head' deorderiser as teen says 'the dog stinks' so now she will smell like 'Asian Pear'

I saved these to my basket and I went through the ordering process which was absolutely 'easy peasy'. It really couldn't have been simpler... I popped in my voucher code which instantly registered and said I had a balance of £2.47.... my selection came to £19.98 so I just had to pay the postage and packaging. I thought the P&P was very reasonable.....
I put in my card details and 'voila' the job was done.......

I have had a good old look around the site and I will certainly use it again in the future ..... it even has details about different dog breeds, information on pet health and suggested dog names ... btw the top name for boys is Max and Maggie for girlies ....

So there will be an updated post about the products when I get them next week ... hopefully it won't be too hot and I can persuade Layla to model the trendy jacket :) & to placate Jess I will challenge her to a game of chess,,,,,,I hope she doesn't beat me again!!!

For more piccies of Jess & Layla (oh and poor Wallis who sadly parted company with us last year) click here

Hair Raising

2010-05-31T19:58:00.000+01:00

Ah gone are the days when I was 'Rebel Raising'.... all I can do now is raise my hair lol.

Those of you who have followed my blog diary for the past 3 years will have seen a wide range of hair raising hairstyles though the decades,

an 80s bad hair day mullet

an 80s bad hair day perm

'76 just a bad hair day

'72 and another bad hair day

a New Romantic bad hair day

why could I never get my hair this good??

A couple of months ago I was delighted when those lovely people at FuelMyBlog were looking for volunteers to test out a new hair accessory.... yeahhhhh no more bad hair days !!

The product was 'EZ Combs' by JML ...... How exciting I have bought a number of JML products in the past and have always had great value for money ...

When it arrived, teen opened it up and we found that there was a heap of stuff/styles to do with it in your hair .... 'Classic', 'Up-Do', 'Pony tail', Fountain effect', 'butterfly twist' to name but a few and there were two combs (a silver and brown one)

Instantly the silver comb was in teens hair ..... so easy to do....

However, I did have two slight problems ...

Firstly the comb elastic had snapped on the brown comb (if I had bought them I certainly would have taken them back and I know with JMLs reputation it wouldn't have been a problem to refund or exchange)

And the second problem was that 2 days previously I had had my hair cut into a jaunty choppy bob style!! I struggled to get the comb to stay in.

Not to be out done I waited a few weeks for my hair to grow a bit.

So for the test drive ... two weeks ago I put the comb in before I went to work... I must say it is the most comfortable thing I have worn on my hair ever. It felt light and didn't pull your hair like a bobble or claw clip does.

It stayed in wonderfully until 10.00 am then it started to slip. I wash my hair every day and it is fine and very silky so I wasn't surprised that it slipped out.

I have tried it since at weekends when I haven't washed my hair and it stayed in beautifully. What I liked the most about the comb was the fact you can actually sit in an arm chair and rest your head back without something prodding in your skull.

I have seen it on sale in our local supermarket and have seen people taking a close look at it ... unfortunately I did hear someone say '£14.99 for a hair slide!!! no way!!' I think the price is something that would put folk off when you can buy clips for a fraction of the price ...

It really is a quality product and I am still practising the styles now my hair has grown enough to use it ...

Thank you for the chance to test drive it JML :)

3 years and counting

2010-04-30T06:00:00.002+01:00

I simply can't believe I have been blogging for 3 years ... where the heck does the time go?

I realise of late I have been a bad old blogger and not getting myself out there and doing... sometimes real life just takes over (how darned inconsiderate of it!!). Work has been manic since October, been running 2 homes for a few weeks following my Mums breast cancer op (she is doing very well though) I have worked out I have driven around 1000 miles back and to over those weeks, I have also got back into doing family history research again which had been sadly neglected.

On Saturday I'd helped arrange a 'meet' of fellow dead people hunters in Liverpool and was greeted by a chap who said 'are you diary of a 70s teen?'... lol ....it was Enumerator who followed me in the early days.
.
Also in this last 12 months I have had a photo exhibition and been on a photo walk. One of the photos I took on the photo walk I shared with Liverpool Museums blog and lo and behold this week it was featured on their blog ... wow how chuffed am I ... do click here to see the post :)

So here is to the next 12 months where I hope I will be a better blogger and I am sure there are some snickets of life in the 70s you have not yet seen (incidentally I am bidding on a great vintage coffee table on e bay from the 70s .... it would be so cool in my lounge )

& cheers to knitted toilet roll holders in all of your bathrooms

70s xxx

Chocolate Luuurve

2010-04-26T22:14:00.000+01:00

When those lovely people from FuelMyBlog contacted me and asked for volunteers to product test chocolate... I thought all my Christmas's and Birthday's had come all together.

I just luuurve chocolate... so much so that when my friends children knew I was coming round they would hide it ... (you know when kids offer their chocolate most adults politely say 'no you keep it dear' where as I would say 'oh thank you don't mind if I do' ... well it helps them to learn to share doesn't it!! lol. Last month I went to the 21st of one of these children and she actually brought it up in conversation... she thinks it is so funny and is going to follow my example ..)
I have to say and I hate to admit it that now as I have got older my taste buds do crave savoury a bit more... but not the extent (thankfully) that I would turn my nose up at a good old 'nom nom nom' session.

A few weeks ago my postie kindly dropped through my letter box a brown padded envelope and when I opened it several bars of chocolate tumbled out ..... 'nom nom nom'.....

The company who sent me this glorious mail drop is Chocolate & Love .

Do check out this web site it is a choccy fan's heaven.....

The selection I was sent to sample where:
Coffee Affair: Crushed Diamonds; Orange Mantra; Filthy Rich and Conscious
(click on each of the names to reveal their inner beauties)

Now I mentioned 'sharing' earlier so I thought in true market research style I would not be selfish and share the product and get reactions to the products from others.. namely my Mum, Niece (what a chocoholic she is ... it must be in the genes), her boyfriend and teens boyfriend ... (teen did not want to take part as she only likes white chocolate ... mmm ?? that must be from her dad's side of the family !!)

The age range was 16 - 78... and these are the reactions to the products:

Coffee Affair ~ 'very nice', 'I think it is lovely very milky', ' sweet and full of flavour', 'very nice', 'it's coffee..ee with a bitter kick.. lovely'

Crushed Diamonds ~ 'I like that', 'funny after taste', 'nice, I do like that', 'very sweet, but very nice', 'not keen, don't like the texture'

Orange Mantra ~ 'quite nice, have tasted nicer, rough & sandy after taste', 'bitter and sweet', 'very poor, can't taste the orange', 'very nice', 'mmmmm nom nom nom'

Filthy Rich ~ 'Don't really like this one, too strong', 'best so far', 'extravagant!', 'okay, but a bit sickly', 'don't really like this'

Conscious ~ 'No, no, no', 'Awful, it is evil', 'yeah it is okay but a bit pasty'. 'disgusting!', 'horrible, awful texture and coconutty!' .... I have a feeling the 'wild blue algae' may have put us all off a little (it is okay in a face mask but to consume takes some getting used to) but also the softness and texture was not nice.

Overall the products where well received (with the exception of the last one)... my favourite was the Orange Mantra by far (yes my comment was mmmmm... nom nom nom).....I would order more and I think as Teen didn't product test and kindly volunteered to record the results of the family market research I treat her to a White Cranberry Bar'

Oh this is what 70s grew up with

2010-04-20T23:16:00.002+01:00

Came across this as I ~~stalk~~ ~~follow~~ see what Donny is doing on Facebook these days since those days when I had him plastered all over my bedroom walls and over a 1000 images cut out from mags and newspapers .. I must say he ain't looking bad in his 50s

http://ow.ly/1ANFc

Just cut and paste the link above to your browser ;-)

Happy Easter

2010-04-02T17:23:00.000+01:00

I hope you all have a fabulous Easter Time and you manage to chill out for a few days :)

2 more sleeps and then the choc fest begins

Fanzine X ~ DP Day

2010-04-01T09:20:00.000+01:00

Happy DP Day

Can you believe it is a whole 12 months since the last DP day??
To many around the world this day is also known as 'April Fools' Day' or 'All Fools' Day'. Surely it doesn't mean that this phenomenon is a 'fool' too.......???? Rest assured fanzine fans it is only a cruel co-incidence or so I am reliably informed strangely by DP himself !! ..........

How can anyone be classed as a fool when that someone single handily turned around the world market in ginger nuts .... his unhealthy ~~obsession~~ dedication, denture repair kit and modelling of the product has brought this biscuit back into the top 10 again ...

Independent Reports
Ginger nuts have to be the Chicken Vindaloo of the biscuit world. Not only are they often gingery enough to actually be spicy but they are also quite hard.

Once again McVities are head and shoulders above the competition, probably due to a no compromise approach to sugar content. However, that said you have to try hard to get a bad ginger nut.

Years ago you could get big bags of mini ginger nuts made by Jacobs I think. They were superb but you needed at least 20 of them before they began to work.

Finally due to their very crunchy nature, ginger nuts cause weird flashes to appear on computer monitors if viewed across a room, whilst being munched. Its true. (article found here)

Dear Sir/Madam,
I bought two packets of your original Ginger Nut biscuits from Waitrose the other day. I have to say, on reading the instructions on the side of the pack, my husband and I had a really good laugh.

It says, 'Once opened, store in an airtight container'. The reason this phrase made us laugh so much was that there were none left to store. A much better idea would be to say, 'Warning, once opened you will not be able to resist finishing the packet. If this should be late at night you will have difficulty finding a shop open to replenish stock.'

Joking aside these are the nicest ginger nut biscuits I have tasted since I was a child, and that is a long time ago. You have now spoilt me for buying any other ginger nut. I hope you are very proud of yourselves as well you should be.( it is a real letter!!!)

I just thought I would offer a little advice that worked for me and prevented morning sickness.
Ginger Biscuits! they were a miracle i kept a packet by my bed and every morning i would eat one before i got up...I also was travelling into work with my supervisor every day and it stopped me throwing up all over him!..... (w ow its uses are endless)

Just in case you want to take part in jolly old japes today and involve ginger nuts too then look no further...

*******************************************

I can only apologise for the lack of Fanzines in the last 12 months .... it looks like this fascinating read has become an annual event (a relief to some!!). However, this has not stopped DPs avid fans sending in a contributions to the mag.......

After reading DPs post yesterday it was suggested that TG could use some help .... so I sat up all last night to finish this ..... phew ........

You can win one of these handy masks .... just have a go at this quick quiz ... no cheating * & don't worry no ginger nuts were harmed in the making of it........

Back issues are available ......
Issue 8 November 2008 ~ DP has a significant event
Issue 7 June 2008 ~ an insight into DPs life
Issue 6 May 2008 ~ the Papersurfer family tree
Issue 5 April 2008 ~ the secret laboratory & long lost family members
Issue 4 April 2008 ~ Official DP day & celebration memorabilia
Issue 3 March 2008 ~ the Oscars & Gertrude
Issue 2 March 2008 ~ DP runs for Presidency
Issue 1 February 2008 ~ Introducing the phenomenon that is Daddy Papersurfer

T shirt Friday

2010-03-26T20:09:00.008Z

Can you believe we are almost through the first quarter of 2010?? Has someone speeded up the World and made the days/weeks/months pass rather quicker than I once remembered and not told us??

Hey ho I suppose it means that the summer will be here quicker.

I have noticed oops Norff that the buds on the trees and the normal activity that I would hope to see at this time of the year are not happening as quick as the world is turning. The laburnum looks dead but have seen a little sign of life.I have lost loads of plants over the winter including my beautiful English and French lavender and an enormous plant type thing ( I have no idea what it was but I know to buy one at the garden centre at the size it was would cost £90), it was the night of minus 16 that did it (along with my frozen pipes).

These guys are dwarf daffodils who dared to pop their heads out and got snowed on

These are the same daffs some 6 weeks or so on :(

On the subject of time flying by I am off to a 21st tomorrow (yes I am getting on down with the young 'uns.. lol). Good friends of mine who I have known since 1977 ( I was going out with Sam and Fi and Dand had started dating too) are opening their doors celebrating their daughters 21st Birthday .... Happy Birthday Charlotte

Anyway back to T shirt Friday with Nurse Myra ... I have had this T shirt on today all day to today so please excuse the smell I have sprayed before posting honest!! lol.... Love the faces and images on this shirt and is one of my favs :-)

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for Daddy Papersurfer re his comment below....

Okay this is the real deal

2010-03-20T22:09:00.004Z

In 2005 my brother asked me to invest in the refurbishment of a hotel in Germany....

It was a 22 bedroomed establishment which my bro had started to de-construct into 11 self contained holiday/short let luxury apartments.

I trotted across to Germany .. viewed the premises which is a 'cock stride' to the Rhine... and just along the way to the Loreley Rock . I did the Rhine cruise .. the views are awesome.. and I invested as I saw so many passing trade in the area (coach loads of tourists and walkers) and there are limited places to stay.

We did take on board some folk who assured us they could deliver (i.e. refurbish the building into the apartments) and didn't so we are now in that crap situ where we need investment or a buyer.....who do something with a building that has the interior dismantled ready to go ... if any one knows of someone who wants to invest in a European property which will reap huge rewards do let me know

Happy Mothers Day

2010-03-13T20:51:00.003Z

Tomorrow is Mother's Day in the UK .. it was chaos in my Tesco today with panic buying of cards and gifts .. it was quite amusing to see the look on some folks faces when they were trying to choose from a handful of rubbish cards left on the shelf!

I have bought my Mum a box set of 8 Hollywood Musicals it contains classics such as Irving Berling's 'On the Avenue', Betty Grable in 'Pin Up Girl' and 'The Dolly Sisters and Carmen Miranda in 'The Gang's All Here'......

Bearing in mind these films were mainly produced in the 40s I was shocked to see that the DVDs have a PG rating and 'contains mild sex references and horror'!!!! Surely not??? Wasn't the time before the 60s in films pure and wholesome family entertainment???

Happy Mother's Day to all us Mums :-)

I have noticed over the past few days someone has put up an impromptu gallery up on the wall near the car park I use ...... I wonder who it is ... it makes me smile as every day there is a new sketch ...so thank you..... I just hope the rain stays off

Charity begins at.....

2010-02-19T21:55:00.006Z

A few weeks ago I was helping Mum sort out a few things. She had some bags already to go to the charity shop so I said I would take them for her.

Many weeks on they were still in the boot (trunk for my across the pond readers) of my car. As I have had a couple of days off work this week I actually had time to have a look at what was in there.

Blimey most of the stuff was only fit for the bin, but my Mum the age she is and the era she was born in has the stock expression of 'some one will be glad of them'. Which is fair comment if you want well used stainless steel salad serving bowl and dishes, an old wicker basket to put your dried flowers, some lethal chopping device bought off a shopping channel, a snow globe that has lost half its water etc etc ........

However, in there was also this

a Commodore 776M I popped a battery in it and my god it still works. It belonged(s) to my brother as he has scratched his name and address on the back with a compass I guess.

The other gem that had me laughing my socks off was this

Nurse Myra has Corset Friday .. so I am having a Kaftan Friday (Circa 1980 bought in Thailand)

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I am having a wobble as to where I live... I thought we were at war the other morning when I saw this sign at my local train station (you know how they did this sort of thing in WW2 in case the Germans invaded?? I think my council are expecting aliens ...)... the sign is real not an internet thing!

Blimey.....

2010-02-12T22:03:00.002Z

... it is 15 days since I last blogged.. oops.

The work load has not given up like I expected since the 2nd February, the huge hamster wheel I am in is hurtling even faster ... tsk I didn't take a career change to be this busy... to add insult to injury I have been made 'work-stream lead'. Don't get me wrong I am pleased that my efforts have been recognised but I think I am going to have to get to the advanced class in plate spinning!!!!

Last month I celebrated another Birthday and the family and I went to a fabby garden centre where they do fabby food too. It is in Cheshire about 7 miles from where I live.

Willowpool is no ordinary garden centre, in fact I didn't spot any plants for sale!! Instead you can buy ex Blackpool illuminations, huge stone Buddas, red telephone boxes.. indeed anything that can be reclaimed is sold there. The prices are well 'pricey' but it is enormous fun.

It may not have escaped your attention but it is Valentines Day today. Bless my Teens cotton socks she bought me a card and a Thorntons chocolate thing with my name on it ... awwww

In return as she and her boyfriend have no money I said I would cook them a 3 course meal and they could pretend they were at a restaurant... there was me thinking it would be a simple case of soup, lasagne and ice cream. No it ended up with home made chicken goujons and dips to start, a full Sunday roast (but with Christmas dinner stuff too like cranberry sauce, cranberry and nut stuffing etc) and 2 types of cheescake... just as well I love cooking.

One thing I have learned today ... 'pigs in blankets' are not just for Christmas (yummeee)

Liverpool wheel and crescent moon

2010-01-30T19:27:00.002Z

Liverpool wheel and crescent moon
Originally uploaded by diaryof70steen

I am just 'testing, testing' from my Flickr account to 70s Teen ... I am so good at technology :-) *pats self on back*

Flickr

2010-01-20T23:37:00.002Z

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing... Just wondering how this darned thing works????

Resolutions out of the window

2010-01-18T20:52:00.002Z

One of my resolutions to myself this year was to get back to blogging more.... obviously I have failed in these first few weeks of January. My main excuse is the pressure that I find myself under at work just now. It is the first time in all my working life that I feel swamped and this not achieving anything. When I get home I feel brain dead (yes more than normal can you believe!) and I just want to do nothing but play mindless crap on the computer or watch mindless crap on the TV. Normally I work well under pressure but on this occasion I am battling against pressure that I know is not necessary and I feel I am in danger of not delivering a good job due to the nonsense of the unrealistic deadlines... I liken it to the 'Emperors New Clothes' every one (except me and 2 others) are hurtling on without a regard to the consequences, not realising the damage it may cause ... whilst saying how marvellous it all is!!! *sigh!!*

The project is building up to a crescendo and the end game is sort of in sight on the 2nd February...... So not long now I suppose ....

However, I gave myself a jolly good talking to over the weekend [hating how this job has made me feel and react] so I have developed 'PMT' not the usual PMT but 'Positive Mental Thinking'... and have had a great Monday .. thankfully if I felt today as I felt last week it would certainly be a Blue Monday for me

*******************************************************************

After my frozen kitchen pipes last Saturday (and burst ones latterly) I again became a Victorian housewife this week (I did all my washing by hand in the bath last Saturday!).

Came home from work on Thursday and we had a power cut .. it is a sharp reminder about how our lives are now a days... we had no lights, heating, cooking facilities, TV, computer, radio, phone (as it is a cordless it needs electricity).. to add insult to injury my mobile was on its last legs battery wise too.....

I sat in candle light until 23.20 hours ... playing stupid [off line] games on the laptop until the battery died on that too.... I may have to buy a piano if this continues at least we could have a sing song.

It did get me thinking though how did our ancestors cope in the evenings way back then ... maybe they told jokes to one another... taken from a book I have which was published in 1898

'why should the male sex avoid the letter A?'

'cos it makes a men mean'

'why is the letter U a most uncertain letter?'

'because it is always in doubt'

'why is an eclipse like a man whipping his boy?'

'It's a hiding of a sun'

'what herb is most injurious to a lady's beauty?'

'Thyme'

'why does a miller wear a white cap?'

To cover his head'

Please, please, please let me never have a power cut again ...............

snow, snow and more snow

2010-01-10T08:33:00.000Z

This time last week I had just returned form a fabby day trip to London. The sun was shining with bright blue skies albeit a tad chilly ... my friend had walked the dog for me and said it had snowed.

Yes there had been a dusting of it ...

Tuesday was my first day back to work after 2 and a bit weeks of festivities. I showered, pottered around getting ready for work and opened the curtains..... I couldn't believe it, over night we had had a complete 'white out'. It was one of those 'huh?' moments.

I then had the dilemma 'should I or should I not attempt to get to work?'.. it took about 10 minutes to decided that (I know what took me so long?) .... definitely it was going to be a 'snow day' off.

They tell us on the news that we have not had snow like this since 1981. I don't have a full diary for that year and noted an entry on 28th December...

'Bank Holiday. Thick snow. Took Sascha for walk along the canal. Canal completely frozen'

I wonder if this is when this was taken??

Oh btw ... whilst we are having such a cold snap .. don't forget to feed the birds. My shed roof has become a cool place to hang out if you are a bird and I spent ages watching the activities from my bathroom window as I did my washing.. (yes I had frozen pipes downstairs, so hand washed all my weekly wash in the sink and bath.... finished it all. I was just finishing the final load and the pipes defrosted and one burst. Panic, panic ... water gushing out all over the kitchen floor... managed to drag the very tightly fitted fridge/freezer out so I could get to the stop tap.... (what a stupid place to put it ...) ... Ah water stopped. Now find a plumber!!)

It was fascinating to watch the pecking order.. Seagulls are the bosses, followed by magpies, wood pigeons, black birds, song thrushes, starlings, sparrows and robins, finches and tits.. although there is a black bird that seems to have claimed ownership and even tried to chase the magpie.. not a wise decision....... for more info about feeding birds this winter pop over and see Claire please

4th January in a new decade ...

2010-01-04T20:41:00.000Z

Already we are 4 days into a new year and a new decade ...

I slept in until 11 am yesterday ...maybe that should be one of my new year resolutions... at the weekend sleep in really late like a teenager.

My Christmas break has been awesome.. I have so enjoyed my time out of the 'coal face'

Actually it has been a blessing that I have been off work as we have had such cold weather.. many times since I have been off my road has been a skating rink.. I thought we had seen the last of it but it is frozen over again today and we have a few snow flurries. mmm it will be fun commuting in the morning!!!

On Saturday Teen and I went on a day trip to London to meet up with my Cuz who is over from Australia. We were up at 5am and back at 9pm (that could explain the long lie the day after).

First stop was the Natural History Museum, just check out that blue sky.. it was snowing back home....

There were 3 things we needed to do whilst here.

The first one was to explore the dinosaurs bit (which was great as we were about number 30 in the queue to first step through the doors... so we had a clear go at it. As you can see by the time we left it was sooo very busy)

The second thing was to find strange things in jars

result!!

Lastely we had to find this chap (yes this is 'wee' Teen & the last time we came to the NHM )

we found him.. he hasn't changed a bit

I think we may have started a tradition for as long as the polar bear is there!!

We met up with my Cuz at the British Library where there is a fabulous 19th Century photo exhibition on .... there were some beautiful pictures ... there is a taster here.

It was a great day and a great end to a lovely two week break.

The Christmas decorations are back in the loft for another 11 1/2 months and reality hits in the morning as it is back to the old 9-5... roll on Easter :-)

Happy New Year 2010

2009-12-31T23:59:00.005Z

Indeed Happy New Decade .. out of the noughties into 2010/11/12/13 etc ... what are they to be called ?? Will 2010/11/12 be 'the pre teenies' and the rest 'the teenies'?

The past 10 years have gone by so quickly. It only seems like yesterday that Teen (when she was nowhere near a Teen) and I celebrated the birth of the Millennium in a friend's Mums cottage in a remote part of Wales with some very dear friends and we watched the New Year coming in across the World.

Do you remember the panic that the press would have us believe that all computers would crash etc ... seems so farcical now ... actually it seemed farcical then lol.

So what has happened in my life these past 10 years? I won't dwell on the very sad stuff that has happened as that is not me ... so I have......

~ watched my Teen grow into a gorgeous teenager

~ changed my career (that is a bit like the curates egg!!)

~ got divorced

~ bought a car from brand new on the day of a new registration release (ahh that new car smell)

~ got some wrinkles and grey hairs ... tsk!

~ bought a King Charles spaniel

~ had to do a hard thing and have one of my cats put to sleep

~ travelled across France, Germany and Spain on a train

~ bought a share in a hotel in Germany (any takers to take this off my hands would be

welcomed)

~ had my first photography exhibition

~ loved and lost (but better to have loved than to have never loved at all!)

~ gained far too many pounds (part of the change of career.. sat behind a desk all day)

~ hit my 40s

~ found and met new cousins through doing my family tree

~ found and met new friends through blogging

~ had oodles of fun

~ laughed a lot

~ loved every minute of it

So here is to the next 10 years and beyond (Blimey at the next decade I will be looking at retirement ... shudder!! ;-) )

Happy New Year ... and Health, Wealth and much Happiness

....Cheers everyone

28th December

2009-12-28T22:36:00.008Z

Ahhh Christmas Day has passed us by in a flash of the eye after weeks (in stores months) of preparation.

My family and I had a good one. I cooked for the family over at Mums instead of here ...which was a challenge to the patience at times to say the least.. (like I washed the prawns left them in the sieve to drain and they went missing... Mum had put them in the fridge... and if I was told once the roasties had to be crispy ("as that is how everyone likes them") I was told a 1000 times... and 'are they Maris Pipers as they make the best roast potatoes? What kind are they?" " They are organic local potatoes Mum".... "mm you should have let me buy Maris Pipers "... arghhhhh!!)

The meal was lovely the meat was succulent and thank goodness the roasties were crisp and tasty to perfection (2 years doing A'level cookery obviously paid off lol)

Father Christmas was very kind to us all, we were obviously on his 'nice' list... Teen got a Ninendo DSi plus a zillion other gifts and money. Teen (bless her) had arranged with Santa that I should have some extra nice treats .. she had saved some money she had got for passing her exams along with pocket money her grandparents had given her and she bought me ....

Some slippers from the Disney Store

The battle is on now for which slippers to wear... you see DP & LoTG saw these and thought of me whilst on holiday in Surfugal..... [thank you x]

Teen also got me Take That's Circus CD...

For the full version of a fabulous song click here

And the final pressie that she asked for me was a 'Zen Attitude' kit.

We had seen this on the Manchester Christmas market and I know just how much this cost her (oops Santa)...

It is all about relaxation and muscle soothing ... I am sure I have seen some of these over at Gimcrack... lol

Last but my no means least .. it is my Cuz CKX's Birthday today ... yes the cuz responsible for all the Advent fun over the last month..

Happy Birthday Cuz xxx

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T06:00:00.003Z

image found here

Well it is here.. C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S.... yipeeeeee :-D

I just want to wish you all the very best for Christmas ... here's hoping you are on Father Christmas's 'nice' list

Have fun... eat ... drink and be very merry ( I expect I will be )

Mwah xoxo

Christmas Eve

2009-12-24T09:12:00.000Z

Last sleep and in the morning Father Christmas will have been....

It is also the last day of advent and my bestest mates 50th Birthday ... Happy birthday 'J'.

For those of you who have followed my blog over the past 2 1/2 years you will have seen 'J's name mentioned a lot. We met up at Saturday Morning Art class in 1974. I was doing dress design .. one of the girls there was Bill Tidy's daughter (I actually bought two Punch annuals from 1973 & 74 from a second hand book shop a few weeks ago and it is full of Bill's cartoons... once I get my scanner to work I will pop a few up)

The course was good, but all we could hear as we went down the corridors was loud laughter coming from the pottery room.... it sounded like they were having so much fun and so I swapped over to do pottery... and that is where 'J' and I hooked up. We hit it off from day one and we discovered we lived on the same road too. We have been best friends all these years and we have never stopped laughing.

So 'J' I hope you have a great Birthday and I am so looking forward to us meeting up in January ... :-)

Take a break today from dashing about doing the Chrissy stuff... make yourself a cuppa coffee and take a look at these 2 You Tube clips.....here and here. Us humans can be pretty remarkable at times.....

Oh I am so loving this game... just got to level ten (CKX is at level 25!!) whilst finishing off my coffee.... the idea is to fine the key ... there is a puzzle to solve as you go along aswell as a bit old 'ping pong' ... (btw I thought the game had not loaded .... just click on the penguin.....).. I so wish I had more time today to have some more goes :-)

This made me chuckle... I know how pathetic lol

Q: What did the Kings of Leon say to Santa when he came down their chimney?
A: Your sacks is on fire!

22nd December

2009-12-22T21:44:00.004Z

I managed to catch up with Annie Mouse and CKX today in Liverpool. It was touch and go whether we would make the 30 odd mile trip ... it was blowing a blizzard when I got up at 8.. then it cleared up. Took the dog for a hike and the snow started again.. it was so bad the dog wanted to come home.

As you will know 70s is not for giving up so I scraped the snow and ice off the car, warmed it up [whilst Teen delivered Christmas cards to the neighbours] ... and off we went. We got 300 meters from home and I thought this is stupid.. (as I couldn't see a thing out of the car except snow)... so we turned around .. parked up the car and headed for the train.

We had a great day despite the battering hailstones that decided to turn the roads into skating rinks.

Liverpool has been invaded by Penguins this Christmas ... just like the Superlambanana and the Cow Parade in Manchester

Oh and I managed to get in the act with one of then

So day 22 of Advent!!

I am sooo loving this site ... make your own Bayeux tapestry... oodles of fun

now this You Tube Clip is about about 'poor Orphan Fanny'..... Oh those days before PC and using animals to perform .....

Some cracker humour

Q: What does Bob Geldof sing in bed?
A: Duvet Know It's Christmas!

Q: Which fruit does the Royal Family eat at 3pm each Christmas day?

A: The Queen's peach!

Love this as I was awaiting questions but it was not as simple as that .... take a look see

19th December

2009-12-19T23:02:00.005Z

You maybe wondering why I picked this photo for day 19 of Advent??

Well I put in the number 19 into the search engine on images and this came up.....it was number 19 on this web page ..... I love it as it has such great character (there are some fabulous photos on the link ... go take a peek!!

***************************************

I finished work yesterday and don't go back to 'Stressville' until the 5th January .. I can't tell you how great I feel about that [those of you that follow me on FB will know I am in the mood for dancing.

Today has been spent writing the last of the Christmas cards and wrapping presents. Blimey that latter takes up some time.... Teen came and helped out when she returned from visiting her paternal grand parents popping on the bows and curling ribbons. Anyway oit is almost all done on that front .. just a couple of light UK pressies to buy and post!

************************************************

Okay what have I/we missed on the advent since last I posted??

This first bit is dedicated to Daddy Pee Pee

I know this nail art form will especially appeal to him.... click here

He got a new game for Christmas but as he is so old he will love this blast from the past .. old Atari games .

And a he is of a certain age I think this may be a useful web site ... when to go for a pee during a film ......

Other things I have loved about the last 5 days of advent are these ....

A football made out of aid packages sent to 3rd world countries. I am in awe at the ingenuity of this and how footy crosses the globe... well done :-)

I love this game but I am bloody rubbish at it as I am with mot computer games ... do give it a go it will make you smile and groan at the same time

This is so a boyz game but some how with my 'sometimes' logical brain I did actually like this working out the velocity etc....

You so have to check out these photos of animals (some are disturbing nd I hope they were rescued and have lovely life now) .... the comments on the photos are quite interesting too ..

This game is lovely... and as CKX says 'may contain kittens'

some Cracker jokes

A Yorkshire man takes his cat to the vet:

Yorkshire man: "Ah've come to see thee abaht me cat."
Vet: "Is it a tom?"
Yorkshire man: "Nay lad, I've browt it wi' me."

Q: What does Cliff Richard do when he lands in jail during a game of Monopoly?
A: Miss a go and whine

15th December

2009-12-15T21:49:00.006Z

Image found here

Tomorrow is thankfully my last 'there and back to London in a day' for 2009. The next time I do the trip will be a social one on the 2nd Jan to hook up with my cuz who is visiting from Oz. I do love London but I may as well be in any city in any part of the world, as I get off the train... go to an office.. have a meeting all day ... then get back on a train home.....

I was hoping to be able on this last trip to take in a bit of shopping.. I so love Harrods and Liberty's at Christmas (oo just thought a reminder to self.. go to Harvey Nicks this week before I finish for Xmas, their mini mince pies are gorgeous)

The photo exhibition I was showing in came to an end yesterday... my how quick did that 4 weeks go?? I have no idea if I sold any of them (I think the answer is probably not) as my mate 'J' is sunning herself in Hawaii just now and a friend of hers is taking our work down for us...

However, as I have been wandering about Manchester I keep bumping into one of my photo subjects (it was 3 times yesterday!). So when I collect my work I think I will give him his print... btw he plays a great tune on that fiddle

Ok day 15 of advent

Love this website ... if Star Wars characters were on Facebook... but not liking this one that was on day 14 though .. those poor poochies ... if I was a poodle they would have been savaged to death by now.....

You have to watch this clip ... particularly the last one ... how lucky were these guys?? It reminded me of the keystone Cops lol :-)

Today's game..... I know I can do it but bloody well can't..... I blame the 'Hello Kitty' mouse we have on this computer .. but I will carry on trying .. it is good fun.....

I say I say I say

Q: What do you call a cow with two legs?

A: Eileen.

I have had cars in the past that I so wanted to let people know how rubbish they are .. so can really identify with this picture ... :-)

13th December

2009-12-13T21:55:00.009Z

oops I missed the days in between ... I had a hugely busy week last week. One day in London, 2 very long days in the office, my Christmas meal with work (we went to the Ox and it was one of the best ever meals I have had in many a long time.. highly recommenced).. then I was cast off onto internetless world.... aka My Mums house.

I spent Friday and Saturday cleaning outside windows, cleaning inside, putting up decorations and taking Mum shopping and having coffee and Cranberry and Pecan Pie in a cafe .. scrumptious :-)

Thankfully today I have managed with the brilliant help of Teen to get our decorations done for the Festive season..... unfortunately I do feel like my back is about to 'go'... whether it was the high heels on Thursday or the stuff I had done at Mums (she has been told by the consultant that she should not lift anything heavy, so that was one of my jobs!) who knows.. anyway I am fingers crossed that a week in the office my right it (any one who has a dodgy disc will know what I speak of!!)

The Main Tree

The Angel Tree

Oh this is how the studio is looking in the conservatory now it is finished... a great place to work

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So Advent day 13

The pick of the last few days are these gems.. the first is 'Awkward Family Photos'.

I would love you spend some time trawling this site.. I spent almost an hour going back in the archives and laughing way out loud.. a brilliant idea .. in fact I think I have photos that I coukld add on there ;-)

Secondly is this fab website 'men who look like old lesbians' .. I tell you if you are a bloke you should hope you don't end up on here lol

The You Tube clip could have come from the 70s but scarily it may not have been back in the day from some of our European cousins

The game today is this .. I have got up to 580 ....where as at the time of delivery of the game from CKX he had got 488.. so I am well chuffed.. [health warning it is addictive ]

And the joke for today is....

I phoned the local builders today, I said to them 'Can I have a skip outside my house?'

He said, 'I'm not stopping you!'

8th December (oops missed the 7th)

2009-12-08T21:45:00.007Z

I am so excited as I have only 8 working days until I finish for the Christmas holidays.... 2 of which will be spent in London, 1 day is my Xmas do and 1 day is time off in lieu for all the hours I have put in ... so really I have only 4 days in the office ... fantastic :-)

As you may know my house is letting the side down on the street as we have not embraced the Christmas lights yet (saying that where I live had a massive power cut tonight.. I put it down to the power surge of all the reindeers and Santas on roof tops).. nor have I written a Christmas card yet. I have had only one card to date and that was from the Royal Mail wishing me all the best for the season... so I don't feel that bad!!...

Today's advent calendar .. it is full of 'cute'

How cute is this ... awwww I wonder if these cute tigers don't think the chimpanzee is lunch as the grow up?

I wish I had thought about this when Teen was a baby.. saying that I do have some video footage of her shouting at the TV, when we linked the video camera up, of her shouting 'I don't want to see the baby' which was actually her! I think I wouldn't be Mrs Popular if I You Tubed that... ;-)

Now today's game ... CKX said in his e mail 'cute game.. or is it? May or may not contain Spiders '

Ah hem.... ...*shudder*

I am prefering to throw snowballs at Gary ... click here

6th December

2009-12-06T20:37:00.005Z

Day 6

I have been to my Mums today and got her decorations out of the loft .. which is more than I have done on mine. I plan to get them up before she comes out of hospital following her op next week. The plan is to have the house looking a bit festive and raise her spirits.

For the 6th day of advent I am so loving the images CKX has found from Time magazine . Loving the American Civil War images and the 1900s..... great stuff.

The game today is about clicking on the last circle in the sequence ... CKX got 17 I am up to 15 .. so in my book I ain't doing that badly.... Click here for the game.

Now folk think my pouch is pampered but now way she is pampered as much as this one !! Blimey!!

& the awful joke for today is ....

Man: Doctor, Doctor, I keep dreaming about my eyes changing colour!

Doctor: Don't worry - It's just a pigment of your imagination.

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Gutted tonight as my fav from X Factor ( Danyl) has been booted out in the semi finals ... He is such a great singer..

5th December

2009-12-05T19:18:00.005Z

It is the 5th of December and loads of my neighbours have lit up their houses already.. mine looks like Scrooges house in all the illuminations ... due to lots of things I won't be able to put any decorations up until I finish work for the festivities on the 18th.. I am thinking I should just do this in the mean time

So here we are on day 5 of Advent.

I have a Twitter account [70steen] but I didn't know that Big Ben had one too .... BONG .. maybe I should follow but BB is not much of an interactive conversationalist??

Love this You Tube clip ... big squirrel trying to teach 'ickle squirrel to climb... [click here]

Not sure about today's game as I am rubbish at quickie clicking on the mouse .. tried it a few times and got way eliminated by aliens ....

Yes there really is a Lion in that side car..

and finally the joke ............

Q: How do find Will Smith when he's lost in the snow?
A: You look for the fresh prints.

I like that one lol :-)

4th December

2009-12-04T20:53:00.005Z

day 4 and it is Friday thank goodness ... I am working on a new project that is full on so I yearn for the weekend even more than I have ever done previously. I don't think that the powers that be have actually taken on board the fact I am a free creative spirit and I don't do filling in of forms and project data plus the fact I do always deliver what is required (like today I did what I was asked to do then out of the blue a new template arrived in the format that 'someone' had decided it should be in...although this was not spelt out at the initial request pahhhh}.. mmm some education needed there from me I think ?? After a month on the project I am already 30 odd hours up on my normal hours too .. pahhh again!!

Hey ho only 14 days until I shut up shop for my Christmas break....

For the advent to day I will start with this.... do you know your cheese from your font... it is a huge guessing game unless you are a 'cheesey font'. I got 65% which was more guess than knowledge

As a Norvern gal I am loving these ferrets .. annoying as they are ;-)

Now after the week I have had I NEED NEED NEED this in workplace ... drum away .. I love it .. VBUM is great in any combo ....

2 not so cute images.. firstly Tiger Woods Christmas card

and secondly a time when Health and Safety just didn't exist!!!

And finally.......... a joke I don't understand

"Carlsberg don't do Alzheimer's. Just exceedingly good cakes."

3rd December

2009-12-03T21:20:00.006Z

Day 3 of Advent and I have been Christmas shopping with Teen in Manchester this afternoon... the weather was rubbish [freezing cold, wet and windy]. The plus side was that I managed to grab a Gluwein at the Christmas Market in St Anns Square. It is fabulous ... I must take my camera down there soon.

image from http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/shops/markets.html

Ok for today's calendar

This makes a change from 'stone cladding'... as it is 'cork cladding'... yes a house that is clad in cork.. not any old cork but wine corks. I bet it is way warm in there [note to self .... maybe I should keep the corks from the occasional wine bottles that still have them. It seems to be screw top or plastic corkage these days]

Now this DID impress me. I am pretty good at drawing circles free hand but this chap certainly is The Master . I think I may practise this weekend and I could be world champion!!!!!

I love the 'Drench' game and I am thinking this may take over from 'Drench.... the one today is easy and odd at the same time. I got up to level 10 [CKX at the time of posting was up to level 15].... just do as it says in the instructions.

I am loving this dog .... my dog before the current dog would have certainly had a go at the toothpaste tube ... he ate soap so this would have been a real treat for him

and the rib tickler today is .....

Q: What do you call a Mexican who has just

recovered from Swine Flu?

A: Manuel.

2nd December

2009-12-02T21:20:00.009Z

Day 2 ... is it Christmas yet??

As you may or may not know .. I love knitting (or rather the concept of knitting). The Teen is becoming a knitter and weaver as she is doing Textiles at college. Obviously I am encouraging her as I want warm pullies for my dotage..... This website has hit the mark with me I would so love to do something like it .. so cool and so wacky.. Urban Knitters

Today's game is called Drench.. you have to 'drench' the screen to become one colour, starting top left. Once you get the hang of it it could be a bit addictive ,,,,

Not sure how cute this is as it could be a scene I witnessed in my garden recently (feathers and half eaten pigeon) .. but I like the composition :-)

and finally the joke for today

Q: What do hippy horses eat?

A: Hay, man

1st December

2009-12-01T21:00:00.004Z

Image from http://blogs.zappos.com

Well it is here .... the 1st of December ... & what does that mean???

Yeah the advent calendar... courtesy of my cuz CKX.... who incidentally still has not been persuaded to blog.

There will be a mixture of cute pics, odd and interesting websites, games and 'jokes' (they make you titter and groan at the same time... just enjoy)

So off we go the first website is 'My Parents were Awesome'. Superb makes a change from 'My Parents were Embarrassing' lol

How many of these guitar riffs can you identify.... I got no where... I know some the tunes but don't ask me what they are called

Great Christmas idea that didn't get in the calendar .... Handerpants love 'em :-)

As those who have followed my blog ovr the last few years you will know I am completely r-u-b-b-i-s-h at the games CKX puts up for a challenge. This game I can't actually get into as there is a problem with Shockwave Flash tonight so the game won't load...... if you can get in let me know how it is and how rubbish will I be at it ... it is can you tell if the hand is a rightie or a leftie (I am so hoping there will be snowball throwing games lol )

aww how cutie is this piccie ???

& finally the joke ... a Christmas Cracker special

Knock knock
"Who's there?"
"Doorbell repairman.”

********************************************************************

As the month progresses I may or may not keep this up (you may be grateful if I don't lol) ... work is mad and mother is having an operation so that means lots of time in internet freezone... I will see how it all pans out

29th & 30th November

2009-11-29T20:23:00.003Z

Tuesday 29 1977

Revised English Literature

Didn't do much.. (that is why I got a 'C' then??)

Phoned 'J'

Andy sat next to me in Maths

He asked me to go to the school disco with him

Bev is going with Brags

Friday 30 1979

Sam is coming up at 7.30 pm

Went to the flicks to see 2 films

Went to Follies (a night club) with my bro and g/f

Went for a walk along the prom = cold (how many 'went's can you get??)

Home at 1.30 am

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I am feeling very festive .. I have no idea why as I am a stalwart to not let Xmas come into any month except December !!

maybe it is because this weekend I have been sorting out the pressies I have bought along the way for folk ... maybe it is the 'loop' Xmas tunes in the shops or could it be that my Cuz (CKX) has sent me those items that will not be in the Christmas advent calendar??

so for your delight and expectation .. a few Xmas gift ideas ....

a slant on the old gift of slippers ... and edible too !!

These are my faves ..............how cool

and I actually like this idea that your ass winks at folk lol [crap video though]

21st & 22nd November

2009-11-21T21:40:00.005Z

Wednesday 21 1979

1 Year since Sam joined the QS job

Went to Liverpool and bought a jewellery box for Mar for Christmas

Bought material for a skirt

Sam phoned at 11.00pm

He finished jury service.

1 fella got 3 years, 1 got 18 months and 1 got 3 months

He asked me to get engaged again!

Thursday 22nd 1979

College at 9

Bought a £5 gift voucher for Bros Girlfriend

Home at 4.00

Phoned Sam

he'd been home all day I don't know why (mm I know why he was skiving pretending he was still on jury duty !! )

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I have been Christmas shopping today in Liverpool some 30 years on. When I say Christmas shopping I must confess to buying some Estee Lauder perfume [apparently the smell of Sensuous has men smelling it first!! ooo la la ] and getting a complete makeup set for £44 worth £312.... result !!

I love visiting Liverpool it has transformed into a great place to hang out .... I do feel very lucky to live between two happening cities .. Manchester and Liverpool ....

Also today I have hung out with a mate of 30 odd years too .. so all in all a wonderful Saturday.

What struck me today was that Liverpool has got hold of a 'big wheel'.... I am used to seeing the one in Manchester and thought it was unique .. that was until I visited Sheffield... I wonder who has the franchise for these big beasts .. they must be doing a roaring trade, the queues where huge today in Liverpool [mmm why didn't I think of that??]

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The next two weeks of my life are completely hectic... I don't like hectic particularly when it is hectic because of work... but soon it will be December and the advent calendar that my cousin does every year will be here ... so by default I will be posting more regularly I hope!! ;-)

a quickie post

2009-11-17T21:08:00.004Z

The private view of the photo exhibition 'Music through the lens' was fabulous.

I had to travel to London from Manchester that day (up at 5.00 am) then have a 5 hour meeting and then make my way across country to Ledbury ... managed to arrive there with 20 minutes to spare and did a reverse 'Wonder Woman' thing by changing out of my business suit into 'funky' gear in the train toilet... yes I did get some odd looks lol.

The owner of Icebytes Cafe took a video of some of the night and you can see it here

Do take a look :-) Oh and you will see Musikow and Jigsaw Blues too :-)

Music through the lens ...

2009-11-07T08:33:00.001Z

So here it is .. 70s first photo exhibition.

It is all very exciting .. I love taking random photos, capturing life as I see it but this was a challenge as the theme of the exhibition is music. I did have a wobble as I realised over the past few years I have only listened to music on the radio, looked tracks up for 70s blog or, as my Teen sees it, listening to 'sad' tracks on CD in the car....... and my last concert was Cliff Richard!!!

However I have managed to selvedge something to produce some exhibits. I have sourced all the frames from the local charity shop (£7 for all of them .. bargain) and my mate has printed them off for me. If I manage to sell any then I will donate 20% back to the local charity shop... so here are my exhibits.................. (oh it is running in the Icebytes Cafe in Ledbury, Hereford UK from the 14th Nov to 13th December)

Fire in your Belly

Soul

Playtime

The Best and Cheapest House Music

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

In the Window

And these are 2 that didn't get through

Musikow

Jigsaw Blues

My cousin sent me this fabulous link/idea through ... it is Credit Crunch Art... I am so going replicate some fine pieces of art .... so who is playing along ???

Happy Birthday 'sub fanzine edition'

2009-11-06T06:00:00.000Z

Fanzine Editor has been so maxed out with her real life she has been unable to do this important day justice... apologies all round for this..

But I could not leave this to go by as the 6th November is the 'phenomenon that is the supreme 'GOG' aka our dear Daddy Papersurfer's BIRTHDAY.

Currently he is taking the 'waters' [read that as a fine malt] in the sunnier climes of Surfugal.. I do believe that he has actually for the first time ever relinquished his English ways and turned native by discarding his socks when wearing sandals. This is an unconfirmed report but I did get it from a trusted source (I think??).

I know readers it is hard to take in ... what an Englishman abroad without socks???? How shocking is that!!

I have also heard that he is returning to these shores very shortly and normal balance to the interweave will be restored...... I am sure all his ardent readers will be relieved at this revelation ...

If you are in need of some therapy due to his long absence then do click here to get some instant relief... [however for some it may just have the opposite effect]

Any way all together now.... after 3 ... 1---2---3

Happy Birthday to you

Hippy Burpday to you

Hoppy Bathday dear Daddy Pee Pee

H-a-p-p-y B-i-r-t-h-d-a-y tooooo ewe

Halloween ..... T-shirt Friday

2009-10-30T17:54:00.006Z

HaPpY HaLlOwEeN

I am afraid I am going to have to cheat this last Friday and use the Halloween T~shirt I featured last year {Dear Nurse Myra please accept my apologies for being so tardy}... you know I was amazed it was 12 months ago when I posted this shirt.... where has the bloody year gone to ???

So no one can accuse me of not getting into the spirit of this weird festival... I have bought a wig to scare the Trick or Treaters.....

I think it may just work .... what do you think??

If this fails I have one in reserve lol :-)

I am quite pleased that Teen is now an older Teen and is not obsessed with me carving out a pumpkin. For one it is jolly hard work and two I am quite frankly rubbish at it. However I came a cross this little kit on the interweave and I was almost tempted......

I think I may just stick to what I know!!!

24th & 25th October 1977

2009-10-24T16:15:00.003+01:00

Monday 24

Half Term

Maths Tutor @4pm

Did equations YUK!!!

I am not going out with 'new boyfriend any more, that is definite.

'J' met Mark R in town and he told her so. (Don't you just love teenage romance when you get dumped through the grapevine lol)

Not very upset.

Went to Fi's house this afternoon.

Tuesday 25

'new boyfriend' phoned

He said he still fancies me but it would be better if we finished (lol)

I could always go back with him in a few months (are you mad girl... erm no don't do it!!)

Fi came round

Took Kelly for 2 walks as 'J' and her family are in York (Kelly was the most amazing Irish Red Setter.. )

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I am being a really bad blogger of late. No excuses except that I seem to have no time to spare. However, I have become a bit hooked on Scrabble over at Facebook. If anyone fancies a challenge who follows me over there let me know, unfortunately it isn't available in Canada or the US.. dunno why????

image from http://flagstaffphoto.blogspot.com/

You can tell winter is on it's way ... on Thursday I started with a god awful head cold. Don't you just hate them? It is only a cold but it makes you feel so wretched, my stomach muscles are aching through sneezing so much. Teen reckons it is good and I will end up with a 6-pack ... lol.

To cheer myself up I thought I would take a look at what was number one in the record charts in October 1977. fancied a bit of discotheque musak..... how disappointing .... number one on 24th October 1977 was .... DAVID (bloody) SOUL with 'Silver Lady'

I won't inflict him on you here but if you click on the words 'Silver Lady' it will take you to an awful recording on You Tube .....

I will leave you with a bit of Rod Stewart ,,, number one in May 1977... quite apt as I had just been dumped by my first boyfriend lol :-)

12th, 13th, 14th, 15th October

2009-10-16T21:13:00.005+01:00

Wednesday 12 1977

'new boyfriend's 18th Birthday

Went to Blackpool for the day

Saw all the Conservatives going into the Conference (This year it was in Manchester.. it was chaos and I have never seen so many Rozzers in one place (or 'Scuffers' as we called them in Liverpool)

Day = bitterly cold & windy (mmm it has been quite mild of late)

"New Boyfriend" liked his Brut and shirt (hee hee I bought him Brut)

Thursday 13 1977

Went to school after skiving yesterday (how bad was I??)

'new boyfriend' rang to ask if I would stay over after his party tomorrow

I said no

Did French homework

Friday 14 1977

Had a blazing row with 'new boy friend' about Julie C

Mark C said that Andy fancies me

Home 1.15 am

Saturday 15 1977

Blackpool Trip 6.30

'new boy friend' bought me a panda as a peace offering

Mike F asked me to go out with him when I have finished with 'new boy friend' (lol how funny ...)

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Doing these dairies does amuse me as I have come across names I had completely forgotten about and it is also funny because I am in touch with many still ... like Sam and 'new boy friend' both from 1977, Mark C, 'J' from 1973 etc oh and Annie Mouse who went to the same school as me but we only became good friends 7 years ago ...

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In the comments Dear Frac made mention of a certain 'intimate' moment between Donny and one of the male judges. I really couldn't believe that Donny would be unfaithful to me so I had to 'You Tube' it ... thankfully I could tell he was only kidding and no tongues were involved ... phew (but thank you dear Frac for the confirmation)

Spookily as I was typing this up Annie Mouse texted me to tell me that Dancing with the Stars is on 'Watch TV'... I have no idea if we have that on our cable ... but I have no chance as Teen is deeply engrossed in some Chic Flick!!

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I had an email the other night from 'J' and she reminded me that we are due to exhibit next month in a photography exhibition .... blimey that has come around quickly!!

I have worked on a few photos to get printed up... the theme is 'music'. The ones from the Cliff concert are not clear enough to use and I have been to very few concerts of late. I captured these folk at a local festival and these are some possibilities. What do you think ???

There are a few more I am working up though ... will let you have a sneak preview...

7th & 8th & 10th October

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Friday 7 1977

Brother's 18th Birthday (Happy 50th Birthday Bro!)

He got a chess set, a 3 piece suit, a table tennis bat and a calculator (lol blimey they were shocking pressies )

'new boyfriend' phone 2x

He went to a party

Monday 8th 1979

Nephew's 4th Birthday (Happy 34th Birthday Nephew )

Only in college 2 hours as lecture was away

Bought a dress pattern for £1.49

Went to night school = good

Sam phoned at lunch time & at 10.15

He had been playing footy at Keele Uni.

Tuesday 10 1978

College at 9.00

Everyone is tired after the Tech do

Drew £2.00 from the bank

Sent off my film it cost £1.00 (ah this was the age of 'Truprint' and rolls of films. I must say £1.00 31 years ago seems a lot ... it is only about £2,50 to have them developed now !!)

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Well I went and been and done it .........

It wasn't as bad as I thought.................

I don't think anyone recognised me......

& I have not been converted .................

Yes on Wednesday night I went with Annie Mouse to see Cliff Richard and the Shadows at the Liverpool Echo Arena.

It looks like that Annie Mouse didn't want anyone to know she had gone to see him either..... how strange as she claims to be a huge fan of his .....?????

I sang along when I new the tunes ... Summer Holiday, The Young Ones etc and tapped my foot to the beat of the ones I didn't know..........& was on my bestest behaviour.. I sang along only a few chords in the style of a pub singer and I only mentioned a couple of times that he was miming ... which of course he wasn't I was just being mischievous ;-)

All in all a great evening which started with a lovely meal at Wagamama.

Followed by a fabulous sunset over the Mersey and then a dessert of Cliff .... Annie really enjoyed it and I think she enjoyed it more as she kept saying .... 'who'd of thought after all these years you would be sat next to me at a Cliff concert!!!''..... Yes indeed who'd of thought it ??.... never ever me in a million gazillions years............

30th September

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Friday 30th 1977

Day off school

Went to Liverpool shopping with Bev

Bought 'new boyfriend' and brothers 18th Birthday cards

Also a cream dress £6.99 from Chelsea Girl and an underskirt for £1.99

'new boyfriend' came round

Sent off for Thin Lizzie tickets

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You know I don't know if I actually went to see Thin Lizzie after all in concert ?? I suspect not....

Love this track though from 1977

You will never guess who I am going to see next week live.... [Annie Mouse no clues here if you are watching or if you follow me on Facebook shuuush]... answers on a postcard or in my comments box!!

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I have been neglecting my knitting obligations of late on my blog (not to mention my blog too)... blame the fact old PC died taking all my scanned patterns with him .. humpffff

How ever all is not lost ...check out this blog [found by CKX] ... what a great idea & clever knitting at it's best

image from cakeyvoice:knitting

This is Life on Mars which is mentioned in my first ever blog post

24th & 25th September

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Saturday 24 1977

Richard B's 16th Birthday party 7:30 = ok

Gill & Jacko battered each other

Fi argued with M

Jane went with Robbie

£80 table broken

(yep all in all a good party .. a house full of 15/16 year olds.... mmm must note 'no teen parties in this house' lol)

Sunday 25 1977

Got up at 11.00

Mum went to Rhyl to visit my Auntie

'new boyfriend' rang

So did Bev

'J' called round for 10 minutes (mmm that's a point I haven't spoken to 'J' in a while!!)

Tidied my bedroom, made dinner, did my homework

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Well Teen is now well into being at college. Her least favourite subject is Textiles and she is looking to drop this after year one (they have to drop one subject and concentrate on 3 to A'level (Advanced Level).

It is hectic at home as she is now in full days ... leaving home at 8:00 and getting home at 5:00 most days ... not like school 8:30 -3:00 and a very short walk from home.... but I must admit she is buckling down and getting on with the work. The creation of a studio in the conservatory is not working too well as she still prefers to work at the dining room table ... mind you that is my fav place to work too. I think this stems back from when I was a Teen and me and my mates would sit round our dining room table drinking tea, eating toast and generally putting the world to right ... it still happens now many years on.....

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Whilst I have been a bad blogger ... my cousin (CKX ) has been sending me some brilliant stuff that he knows I would love to share on my blog ...

I am so loving this concept

This guy got 1200 kids to draw pictures with crayons ... he then sifted through them and recreated their images using 60 high school students to act them out. What a brilliant art project ... do enjoy the images

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Well this last Friday in the month has snuck up on us as it is only the 25th of September ... mmmm!!

So here is my contribution to Nurse Myra's T~shirt Friday.

I bought this T~shirt last year and haven't actually worn it out of the house as yet. I love it but I think it looks a bit strange on ... particularly where the eyes are!!

The art work on the inner labels is cool too.....I do love attention to detail

Terribly sorry, I seem to be lost ......

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....... 'ello darlin' .......... tee hee hee

this is how it should look....

Friday 5 through the ages

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Ok I started this over here

60's

70's

80's

90's

00's

Plus some others over here

as it is Friday I figure this shot could be included in Corset Friday too over at dear Nurse Myras place

No diaries .. just chaos

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I figure that some one has speeded up the world so it is spinning faster... there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day just now.

Went back to work last Monday after 11 days or so off and hit the ground running..... tight deadlines alround....

Had my NVQ 4 (degree foundation) 4000 word assignment in Management and Leadership to complete by Friday close of play.. managed to get it done by 16.45... phew!! (why oh why do I volunteer for such stuff I have enough qualifications already .. plus I type so slowly plus have typo problems !!

Home from work on Friday then off to Mums in Southport to be ready and up and at it to decorate her lounge next day .....

Saying that it was a fabulous drive there was the most amazing mackerel sky and awesome sunset... I drove the whole way 'ooing and arring ' at the colours and the photo opportunities I missed whilst on the motorway. I got to Southport at 20.00 and hurtled to the beach and caught the last of the sunset

Saturday was spent covering myself in paint ... oh yes and the ceiling (ceilings seem to be my thing apparently !) in my Mums lounge whist my brothers did the walls and skirting boards...

Had a nice lie in this morning then Teen and I went to the Lowry Centre. I needed a new work suit and she needed a sketch book for college.

Managed to capture some great reflection photos whilst we were there though!

I know I have been neglecting the decade that is the 70s ... but never fear I will be back at it ... in the mean time whilst emptying cupboards etc at Mums I came across these 2 LPs ... classic early 70s

surely their teeth must have been painted in ???