Mortified

Right, I don’t know which to be more embarrassed about.

You decide.

I had to check back there but it would seem that I started this blog on June 13^th this year. And I have posted 215 posts. What a red neck! My family have always said that I could talk for Scotland. I just thought I liked a good natter and I love ‘heavy’ discussions. It would appear, however, that they know me better than I know myself. At least, with regard to my ability to rabbit on about everything and nothing in equal measure.

A few people have asked me to thank my brother for setting up this blog for me which is probably one of the nicest compliments I’ve ever received.

I am now beginning to suspect that he may have set it up so that he wouldn’t have to listen to me yakking on interminably.

Notably, many others have not asked me to thank my brother which I choose to take as them being remiss rather than being too polite to tell me that I should slap my brother on their behalf.

So, Phil, thanks again. If you’re out there reading this. Chances are he’s got his headphones on as he cycles hither and thither, thanking his lucky stars that he is no longer obliged to listen to my drivellings.

So, that’s embarrassment number 1. Just how verbose am I? Answers on a postcard to an address that I will not be disclosing. Do you really think I’m going to dry up now? Not a chance. I have found an ear and it’s a big one. I’m going to bend it like Beckham.

Embarrassment Number 2 is actually an embarrassment of riches.

I am mortified to post here the numerous awards that I have not yet answered although accepted. A bit like accepting a present, thanking for it and then not using it.

But, in order to maintain my flow of prattle, I’m going to post them all here as one otherwise I’ll never get to garble on again.

I am sure I am in no way as deserving as these awards would suggest and it’s going to look like a big raspberry and a, ‘Nah, nah, nah, nah’, moment.

It’s in no way intended to be that.

But I go back to work in exactly one week. Shiiit. I don’t know how I’m going to teach all day without running to the computer to check for posts and comments here. But, I’ll have to.

This little time I have left I have so much to do with so, yes, I am cheating.

Below are the awards and I will add them to my award page. Have you checked it out? It’s smoking. And it’s smoking because it’s been lit by the fire of generosity from so many others who have liked and passed on their approval in a heartening and much appreciated way.

Suzie at  http://suzie81.wordpress.com/ nominated me for the Versatile blogger award and the Medallion of Awesomeness. Suzie, big hugs and kisses. You have been a source of support and enjoyment. Fellow teacher and new friend.x

 

http://klsullie78.wordpress.com/ at Winding Road awarded me the Bouquet Of 3. A mum on the journey as so many of us. Having fun on the way and a few tears. Thank you.

Goldy Gal at http://goldyigal.wordpress.com/2013/07/30/super-sweet-blog-award/ said I deserved the Super Sweet Blog Award. This young lady is one of the sweetest. Great pictures and sincere  with it.

http://belsbror.wordpress.com/2013/08/04/delight/ has outdone himself in generosity here and awarded me the Quintet of Radiance. He’s a lovely chap with a gentle, endearing humour that is so charming. He makes me giggle too.

  

Bdh63 at http://friendlyfairytales.com/2013/08/04/lets-party-like-teenagers/ had a party and invited guests to take an award from those displayed. Since I’ve never had the Loyal Reader Award I’m snaffling that one. Thanks.:)  

EJ over at http://whimsicaleclecticist.wordpress.com/2013/08/06/best-moment-award-for-meeee/ has awarded me Best Moment.

EJ has a lovely solution which I think I’m going to adopt to cope with the multitude of awards. More on that at the end.

Shaun at http://prayingforoneday.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/shine-on-award-6/ has awarded me the Shine On Award for which I am very grateful.

Now, I’m supposed to put a song in here. Not personally, although you never know. I have been known to. It’s a James Blunt song called Shine On but I’ll be buggered if I can work out how I’m supposed to put the video here. So, to check it out, look at Shaun’s link.

And, that’s it

If I have omitted anyone who kindly nominated me, ping me and I will correct it.

I want to thank everyone for all these awards. I am stunned to have received them.

Now, back to EJ.

EJ has had the idea of distributing these awards over a period of time which I think is a fab idea.

As you can see from the above, I wouldn’t surface for days, maybe weeks if I tried to link to answer all the requirements. So, I’m thinking. How about if I distribute these as and when I read someone that I think deserves it and who is totally new to the game (unlike this old hand here of 8 weeks or so)? I know that I felt so encouraged when I received my very first one. And they are a lot of work. So, I’m going to look out for newbies to pass on the encouragement and the love.

I go back to work exactly one week from today. Those teacher holidays certainly fly in. *Ducks*

Once, I’m back I’ll be up to my neck in work and the flow will probably slow down. Aww. I know I will not be able to answer any awards in full. Should I receive any more (hint, hint) I will link them to this page and pass them on whenever I meet a new blogger.

Is that ok? Can I do that?

Well, let’s see. I’m putting in a poll. I’ve so wanted to do this.

Advertisement

Awwww, I’m wasted

Wonderful Team Membership Award

Actually, I was slightly.

Yesterday’s afternoon tea with champagne started off beautifully by hubby and I being too early for the occasion. Having organised child care,

‘You, 15year old and 18 year old, watch and monitor six and eleven year old.’ Sorted.

One reasonably short train journey later and husband and I were in the centre of Glasgow.

Time to redeem the voucher from last year’s wedding anniversary. Being too early and it being a surprisingly, rare sunny day we toddled off to a lovely outdoor café to partake of a cold one. One pint of Tennents for hubby and a bottle of Bud for me and I was feeling quite mellow. This is what happens when you partake of alcohol at 1pm and have breakfasted on Nescafe and cigarettes. He, at least, had had his porridge. So, shoot me, I’m trying.

We were received at said café with a warm hug from a special friend of my 20 year old daughter’s. Small world.

Nearing two o’clock we ventured to the Corinthian Club. (My one and only time in this club previously was when I had been called for jury service. It used to be the Sheriff Court. Justice now measured out in alcohol and casino chips!)

A lovely glass of chilled champagne was presented to us, followed by a three tier plate of sandwiches and cakes. No, we did not – could not – eat them all. I tried but my threshold has obviously diminished somewhat from a previous afternoon tea with my mother where I am sure I shamed myself and her by consuming practically everything on all three tiers. I can’t resist meringues. Coffee accompanied the platter and was enjoyed, although not as much as the champagne which, by now, was well-scoffed.

A return journey home saw us passing our local. Only, we didn’t pass. We thought, ‘Let’s be hung for a sheep,’ and entered to find some old friends gathered. These people obviously have a social life when I’m not there. How unfair is that?

The Wimbledon tennis final was on and many patrons were quite engrossed. I’m afraid I may have disturbed them by talking. Well, who goes to a pub and watches TV? We had a grand old natter and two more beers.

And I felt ever so slightly wasted.

Not a lot. Just a bit.

We were urged to remain but couldn’t. A text from my 20 year old to request a barbecue could not be ignored. Now that she is in a flat, I don’t see as much of her as I would like. I miss her. No, twenty years was not enough. Maybe she’s just using me for the garden but I can live with that. Easy.

I had a fab day.  But the real reason I was wasted had nothing to do with alcohol.

I checked my phone on the train on the way home and I had a few e-mails. One was from http://belsbror.wordpress.com/2013/07/06/community/.

It said I had a ‘Wonderful Team Membership Award’.

Well, the other day, I got a ‘One Lovely Blog Award’ and now I receive a team award and it’s wonderful.

So, I’m pathetic and in need of huge doses of approbation.

But, for team membership? Seriously?

You’ve obviously never seen me play netball and duck as the ball headed in my general direction. You’ve obviously never been in one of our staff meetings where, ‘I’m sorry, but I just have to say,’ too often escapes my sellotaped lips. (It takes something stronger than sellotape, I assure you.)

Anyway, I don’t care. I got another award and I’m chuffed. Like your man who nominated me says, ‘Fellowship.’ And, I have to admit, that since I joined this lovely community of bloggers, this is exactly what I feel.

We’re all talking on paper, we’re all reaching out in some way, we all have our ideas. We may not always agree. But. And it’s an important but. I feel the connection and I know I am already on the way to making friends whose faces are not always known to me but whose hearts are on their sleeves and whose honesty and integrity shine through.

There’s one below that is going to be really pissed at me because it means more homework. But, I can’t not nominate her. She has already fulfilled all team membership requirements in her life by being there as part of the team in her work with people who hurt.

She was there for me when I was having my first week of school holiday rant. (Can’t switch off, unload, move on.)

So, my Whispering Insights friend. Tig. You’re it.

1. http://tracesofthesoul.wordpress.com/category/whispering-reflections/

I don’t know if this blogger will appreciate this. He’s a bit of a maverick. But, he has this huge following, so he I think he’s something of a team leader. Read his posts, if you haven’t already and you’ll see what I mean.

2. http://aopinionatedman.com/2013/07/07/a-few-quick-things/

You might not want it, OM, but you’ve got it. So there.

3. http://butterflysand.com/more-stuff/

My kind of woman.

4.   http://valleygirlgonecountry.wordpress.com/2013/07/07/we-need-a-bigger-pool/

5. http://reowr.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/the-hermit/

6. http://mummyflyingsolo.com/2013/07/08/i-won-that-damn-blog-competition-so-now-im-published/

7. http://geosans.wordpress.com/2013/07/07/blind-faith/

8. http://mythoughtsonapage.com/2013/07/07/ireland-if-only-you-knew-what-my-family-has-done-for-you/

9.   http://tworiversblog.com/2013/07/08/the-fathers-legacy-7813/

10.   http://howtoruinatoddlersday.wordpress.com/

11. http://journeytothesunblog.wordpress.com/2013/07/07/sunshine-girl/

12. http://suzie81.wordpress.com/2013/07/07/a-wonderful-wimbledon-weekend/comment-page-1/#comment-2280

13. http://thingsthatgobumpinmymind.wordpress.com/2013/07/07/popping-the-bubble/

14. http://poetryonaroll.wordpress.com/2013/07/07/bitterness-battle/

So, these are my fourteen nominees. I follow a fair number of people and it was not an easy task to select only fourteen. (But, you’re right, WI. It is a lot of homework. And I thought I was on holiday!)

It may be too time-consuming for you to browse and select your fourteen. Even so, I would like you all to accept the Wonderful Team Membership Award as testimony to what you are doing with your lives and your blogs.

God bless.x

Thank you Vanilla Housewife for this lovely award.

Thank you Vanilla Housewife for this lovely award.

I knew there was a catch!

(Right-click image, save as jpeg in Pictures folder. Check that it’s in Pictures folder. Check.

Open new Word Document. )

Share seven things about me. (Are you sure you want to know?)

1. I hate teaching symmetry if it has more than two lines. I go cross-eyed and get confused.
2. When my waters broke with my eldest, it was green and for a brief moment I thought I was having an alien. (There is, actually, an explanation but I won’t go into it here).
3. I weigh more than my husband. He’s a running fanatic so that’s alright, though. Pass me a Mars Bar.
4. If I’ve had too much to drink my children ask, ‘Have you got sweaty ankles.’ Again, I won’t elaborate. (Might post on it one day. Might not.)
5. I have a stationery fetish. Nothing sexual. I love browsing stationery shops. I get all excited and enthusiastic about pens and lovely paper.
6. I still love my husband to pieces. And sometimes, when he’s not looking, I check him out.
7. I taught in Greece for a year and can still speak a bit. (See number 4. More fluent when lubricated.)

(Save document while having a think about random things.)

1. I snore. (I can feel a post coming on about that one.)
2. I sing. (Quite well, actually!)
3. I enjoy dancing in the living-room with my kids.
4. My favourite flowers are carnations.
5. I still have a jotter from primary school.
6. I don’t like killing insects. They’re squishy and crunchy. Euck!
7. I trained to be a nurse for six months, then checked out several convents, then got married and had seven kids. Funny old life, eh?

Now for the fun bit.

My nominees, in no particular order, as they say, are:-

1     http://lessonsfrommydaughter.me/

2    http://tracesofthesoul.wordpress.com/

3       http://suzie81.wordpress.com/

4       http://miketerrill.wordpress.com/

5       http://imightbetheproblem.com/

6       http://littlegirlstory.wordpress.com/

7       http://thepolarzone.wordpress.com/

I don’t want to colour anyone’s judgement about the above bloggers. Suffice to say, I admire all of them and am humbled by many of them.  They have all had me close to tears for one reason or another.

(Now, posting on other people’s blogs? Does that mean I sort of sabotage their page? Can you do that? Or do I just post it on mine? Or do I make a comment on their page? This is tricky. It’s nearly as cross-eyed inducing as teaching symmetry. Have I missed a ‘how-to’ page somewhere on WordPress? If the Blog police come and get me I’ll be looking for revenge.)

(Posted it, made an arse of two of the links, changed them, just about to check them.)

(OK, sorted. Phew! Now to go and infiltrate the nominees’ blogs. Camouflage? Check. Running shoes? Check. Wish me luck.)

(Mission accomplished.)

Thanks again Vanilla Housewife. I know you said I didn’t HAVE to do all this but it was kinda fun.x