Blogs Reunited

To make up for the fact that I might be a bit of a plank, I’m issuing an invitation.

You see, I quite frequently do my blog reading in bed with my Kindle. It’s less cumbersome than my laptop and I can pretend that I’m going to sleep when really I’m catching up and promising myself five more minutes. And, if it falls on the floor when I drift over, I haven’t ruined a laptop – done that one before. Drambuie. Hell of a mess.

Now, if any of you use a Kindle Fire for bloggy business you may be aware that the buttons for follow and pressing send on a comment are gie close together. This may have resulted in me unfollowing some people almost immediately after making a comment. Yeah, I always make a habit of commenting then unfollowing. Good practice. Not.

It may, however, be down to the WP gods, as some people I refollowed commented that the same thing had happened to them. And, right enough, I’ve been surprised, a few times lately when folk followed me – what, again? I thought. I don’t want to make false accusations and my Kindle is a bugger, at times, what with predicting my text wrongly and making me look like a moron. Of course, I know how to spell luvverly poest. I just don’t know how to turn off the suggestions that keep coming up. Also, it has this nasty habit of making whole other words up which would be fine if I lived in Gobbledygook but I don’t. Just talk it sometimes.

Anyway, I was on Donna’s Always On My Mind Blog Party. Don’t you just love a good party? And I kept seeing people’s names and going, I haven’t seen you around in ages in my reader or emails. Then I clicked on their blog and the little follow button, down there at the right hand side – why did they move it, I liked it where it was, up there, ^^^ – showed up and I had the red neck of refollowing people I didn’t know I’d unfollowed.

I could go into that dohickey page where all the blogs you follow are listed and check each one but that doesn’t help me know who’s not there. Only who is. And those ones show up in my reader and emails.

Do you see what I mean?

Well, the long and the short of it is that I thought I’d open this here page up to all who read my scribblings and any who do not, (if you happen upon here, welcome!)

Please feel free to link a post below and take the opportunity to make new bloggy friends. I will also do my utmost to read each and every one. And, if I come across another blog that I have inadvertently unfollowed, I’ll just quietly click follow without any further explanation. Deal?

Now, I was going to turn off comments on this so’s people would go to comment on other people’s sites and not here (watch out for that follow button, though, if you’re on a Kindle) but then realised that you wouldn’t be able to post a link to your blog post.

Tech, eh?

I hope you meet new people through this and that I get to catch up with those I’ve lost track of.

Bring your own booze. I don’t drink on school nights – well, not often. So, I can’t call it a party. More a reunion, I guess.

Oh, apparently, you’re better to just post one at a time so, if you want to link more than one, best do each separately. I don’t know why either. Maybe a favourite of yours or your most recent? Whatever you like. I follow lots of different types of blogs because I love lots of different types of things – photography, art, poetry, politics, cooking, crafts, travel, science, you name it, – so don’t be shy. You’re more than welcome.

Happy 1st February (when it comes, 42 minutes and counting). That has nothing to do with anything other than the fact that Spring is getting closer and January is a bitch. I’ll be glad to see the back of her. But very happy to see you here.x

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Household Tips #5 – The War Gene – it’s a thing

Why is it that the second most expensive item I own sits in the driveway next to the first? If I could put the car in the house I’d do some weather damage limitation and combine the value. But I can’t get the car up four steps. Or through the door. It’s a thing cars won’t do.

So it sits out there wondering why I don’t value it enough to give it shelter. I let the dog and the cat in. The weans all have a place to rest their wearies. But, poor car, despite faithful service and being one of my best friends – we go everywhere together – languishes in the great outdoors like an abandoned pet. I talk to him. Usually, it’s, ‘Don’t you dare make that noise!’ and ‘ Come on, boy, you can make it.’ Kinda the conversation I have with my husband from time to time. And I let hubs in the house.

The reason I am a wanton mistress to Ford is because my garage is full of stuff. Stuff it should not be full of. Some of that stuff doesn’t even belong to me or anyone else who now lives here.

There are china dolls with creepy faces.

No way are they getting back inside. Eldest daughter left them here when she moved out. Along with a collection of other dolls from far flung parts. It was a thing she did at one point. Years ago. So why are they still there?

That’s down to a thing I do. I’m sure I inherited what I like to call ‘the war gene’. My parents were both ten when WWll began. They lived through the bombs and evacuation, the rationing and the make do and mend years.  Couldn’t get bananas till the banana boats made their way back up The Clyde. Powdered eggs. Wtf! 

So they were raised to cut cuffs, turn collars and stitch repairs. Make your own. Reuse buttons and bits and bobs. Value everything. Waste nothing.

I’ve got that gene.

I recycle everything I can. Want to weep when I visit the recycling plant and see all the TV’s and fridges that have been discarded. I want to find out if they died or if they just became obsolete to a better model. They never answer when I ask.

Part of recycling involves not throwing things away if I think a) I might use that later b) that’s a bloody shame, what a waste c) that’s too good to get rid of d) that stuff’s not mine e) I’m so ashamed, I’ve hardly used that.

When my mum died my siblings and I had quite a time of what to keep and what not to keep. She had the war gene. Everything seemed to have sentimental value or intrinsic value. After attempting to go through them I stored them in the cellar. I now have a cellar with books and papers belonging to my mum and not the heart to go through them again. Still. Six years come St. Andrew’s Day.

Add into the mix two other kids who have flown the coop, left gear, come home again, left more gear. And, in the case of one, is still here because a) she really can’t afford it while at college b) thinks she can but is actually quite enjoying having all facilities for her and her cat c) can’t quite make up her mind. It’s a Mary thing.

The other one is definitely out but is currently in a furnished flat so we’ve got his shit too, including a) a microwave b) bits of furniture c) umpteen boxes d) fishing rods and equipment because he doesn’t want to get rid of them but isn’t fishing for fish at the moment. Bigger fish to fry. That’s a Joe thing.

Further to the mix, add my husband’s tools/gardening equipment/wood that he can’t bring himself to part with because a) he might use it b) he’s a dab hand at making and repairing c) it’s all perfectly good wood d) it’s my bolthole and I keep what I want here. Wood. It’s a Frank thing.

And, that’s a scooter hanging from the rafters. Because, maximise space. Clever, eh?

Into the cauldron, add all my paper work from schools (because, yeah, I’ll use that again), years of writing, household crapamailia that has to be kept in case one day I need to prove that, ‘I did so bloody pay that!’, books of mine, more books of mine, a wide variety of craft materials that I’ll definitely get back to using when I have time and little trinkets bought/made by offspring. Why is keeping that tat a thing?

University/college stuff that my kids want to hold onto but don’t want messing up their flats.

A pram. Yup. Beautiful pram that was Anna’s, in the cellar, waiting. I’m not having any more! But, seems a shame to get rid when I have daughters at that sort of age. I know!

Guitars that have been replaced with better models but I feel sorry for.

Poor buggers. They need to go. Nothing can save them now. Wonder if guitar heaven is a thing. They did nought wrong.

Um, what else?

Chairs – because we need extra ones for occasions. But not all the time. Why buy more every time? Common sense thing.

Bikes. Fair enough, they get used.

Clothes. Fecking clothes. Do you have any idea how much room (not to mention washing) clothes for a big household take up? Fortunately, hubs used those tools and wood and screws and savvy to build custom-made wardrobes in every bedroom. Begs the question why one or two of my crew still hang their clothes on the floor. That’s a thing I hate.

I’m also really good at recycling clothes and fill up bags on a regular basis. Put them in the garage till I’m ready to take them for recycling. Then my eldest daughter brings more in that she’s getting shot of, we all have a rummage and snaffle the ones we like. And I send the rest away. To the garage. Pending. It’s an Anne-Marie thing.

With determination, black bin bags and a hardened heart I’m back to asking, ‘Does this give me joy?’ If it doesn’t, it’s going. Apart obviously from the crap I have to keep for the purposes of a) I’ll definitely, maybe use that at some point, b) that’s not mine to decide on, c) aww! my mum/dad/weans/memories.

I don’t see the car having a place to shelter any time soon. What am I, Superwoman? But, I might manage to shift things around a bit, make a few phone calls threatening decapitation of creepy china dolls and I’m definitely throwing out all my school crap. That’s what the internet is for.

Well, that and telling you all about how I propose to spend my Saturday – opting to streamline my life. Again.

It’s a thing I do. From time to time. Genes, got a lot to answer for. Been proven. Real thing.

Another thing. Procratination. Not started yet. Thought I’d blog about it first. It’s a WordPress thing.

And the sun’s shining. Ford is calling to me – take me some place, far from this driveway. Leave all this behind. They do so talk!

Aye, ah wish. I’d make houseroom. Not the Hoff, bleugh! Here Kitty, Kitty.  Weird thing, saying that. I’m not even a cat lover. More genetically programmed for dogs.

The Horse’s Mouth

Your voice tells me

What I need to know

One among the many

Giving truths

Mainstream

Does not cut it

For me any more

I’d rather hear it

From the horse’s mouth.

I wanted to reblog this post here but I don’t know where the reblog buttons have been hidden on a number of sites now. WP glitch or me being thick?

Ashiakira writes beautiful haiku but today he steps out from that short form to write with the same truth and feeling on a situation of national and global importance.

I trust a man who has known the loss of war and desires peace. He speaks for his people even while his government rewrites their constitution. It is in posts such as this that I fully appreciate the real power and importance of blogging. Who else will tell us what we need to know with such honesty but a fellow human being living within the constraints of political machinations? We all know that place; the one where governments decide, press portrays its version but we don’t feel as they do. Please read these words from a beautiful soul.

Blog Tour

A very fine poet, Paul, a master with words and imagery, invited me along on a blog tour. I’m chuffed to bits that he reads my blog and makes lovely comments.

Now, I also feel a bit guilty because Ali invited me on a blog tour a wee while back and I agreed and then didn’t follow through on my side of the tour. My bad. But, here I make it up to her and, hopefully, send lots of new readers to these two wonderful bloggers. Both write fabulously well, leave me standing at the starting gate, so to speak. So I’m delighted that they each extended the invite and urge you to check them out.

This is my absolute favourite of Paul’s. I had to read it over and over again and eventually made a reading of it for my own pleasure. It’s a wonderful piece of work.

Ali’s writing is so often full of humour and this one appeals to the teacher in me and the love of a fine anecdote expressed just so.

 

The three questions I am to consider are these.

Why do I write what I do?

How does my writing process work?

How does my work differ from other genres?

 These questions  certainly got me thinking about how and why I write and when it all began. So I penned this. With a pen!

 

Poetic infancy, I guess,

began with a doodle,

a scribble on page,

just a mark

till letters’ formations

revealed their delight,

their sensory quality,

their spark.

 

Like moth to the flame

of the pencil and pad,

to the ink draining

out from the pen,

I scribbled and drew,

no clue what to do

but still the flow

raptured and then

 

I found out in books,

those worlds in the pages,

what magic

an author creates,

I gloried in them,

hid out in my den

while kids danced and larked.

My fate

 

was to wonder at words,

their meanings, their source,

to be spellbound

by even their spelling,

to capture each one

how they’d become,

connotations,

their secrets concealing

 

in Latin, in Greek, all the words that we speak,

in the French, in my own mother tongue,

I found that one word

may erupt as I think,

while feelings

course from

my lifeblood

to ink.

 

In angst of my teens,

I defined all my dreams

in writing,

who I was, the why of existence.

Years charted of life,

senses refined,

thoughts penned, but

only for my own subsistence,

 

to reveal who I am,

what I feel, what I think

how my mind

plays tricks in the light,

I wrote for myself,

filed the pads on the shelves,

opened new,

wrote into the night.

 

Till one day in June,

of two thousand thirteen,

at behest of my brother,

I clicked

on WP’s pages,

typed up some old stuff,

and haven’t looked back.

What a dick!

 

I now feel to have been

so shy to reveal

with the family of all

who love words

my offerings today,

as I make my own way,

not in forms recognised

but in floods

 

of joy that I’ve found

in expressing myself,

in floating, eyes gazed

to the sky,

that nothing is worse

than a tongue if it’s cursed

to a silence

that tells its own lie.

 

Now you’ll be sorry you asked

for a blog tour from me

‘cos bugger!

I just don’t do brief

but that’s just my style,

I’ve tried haiku and twitter

but syllable/character counts

feel like thieves,

 

reducing outpourings,

that I have to confess,

just splurge like

waterfall’d blurbs,

all the A’s and the B’s

right through to the Z’s –

no process –

just a huge love of words.

 

And pens and paper.

A bit of a fetish actually!

 

 

Why do I write what I do? Because I have to, always have.

How does my writing process work? Like a waterfall.

How does my work differ from other genres? Not a bloody clue! And don’t, frankly, care. They’re all words.

 

I’d like to invite a few others to this blog tour whose work I admire.

Cole, whose eloquence in words and thoughts on life and meaning entrance me.

http://colemining.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/poets-priests-and-politicians/#comments

She’s coming to Glasgow in September so we’re going to have a good old natter about politics and music and life. Over a couple of glasses of vino, of course. Looking forward to it, Cole!

I only came across this blogger recently and he has quite a distinct style that I really must try in that his poetry is prose is poetry.

Daniel at

http://danielswearingen.wordpress.com/2014/06/27/merle/

Now there are so many more I could mention whose blogs and words I love. But I figure you’ll have more than enough marvellous reading material when you visit Paul, Ali, Cole and Daniel.

Protocol

I need a bit of help here. I’ve been blogging around seven months now. I admit I didn’t read all the WordPress advice, just some pieces that seemed pertinent at the time. I’ll have to go back and check on a few matters. There might be small print in it that I never worry about. And it could come back to bite me on the bum.

But I figure getting my answers from the horse’s mouth, so to speak, might be more helpful to me. And maybe not just to me.

The thing is, I write all sorts of things that come into my head. Sometimes the inspiration comes from other bloggers. When this happens I try to give credit where I think it’s due and therefore link to whatever prompted the thoughts in me.

It would seem that may not be the best way to go. Inadvertently, I may have done the wrong thing by linking to a challenge that I was not invited to take part in. My own fault for not reading the nature of the post properly. It did actually say that it was a guest post. I checked….afterwards……so it was completely my own fault. I was just so intent on responding to the post. As many of you will know my comments can be a bit long-winded. A bit like my posts. Who said that?

Anyway, I started making a comment to a post I read and realised I was in the process of writing a rather long poetic response. So I cut the comment, created a post and linked back to the originator to give credit where it was due I thought. But, in linking to the post it looked as if I was pushing in on the guest challenge without being invited. I was mortified. I wouldn’t presume.

But what to do? I feel not to give credit is somehow crass, pretending that nothing prompted nor inspired. And if I wrote without giving credit and the other blogger is a follower of mine and saw it they may think, ‘Oh thanks very much. Use my idea and don’t even mention me’. I just kind of think that it’s good manners to do so.

Instead, it may be that it’s rather cheeky. To link yourself to another’s blog without asking permission. I don’t have a problem with it. In fact, I’m always really flattered that something I may have said inspired another.

The thing is, I don’t know what to do for the best. My dearly departed mother would have a hairy canary if she thought my manners were lacking. Actually, that’s only partly true. Sometimes, she’d say, ‘Ach fuck it. You can’t please everybody’. She would you know. She was quite a woman. But I’m having a fit thinking I’m ignoring some blogging protocol I’m not aware of. I know I could go search the forums. But have you any idea how frustrating it is to find what you’re looking for in those places? Of course you do. So that’s why I’m asking you.

Now there must be loads of you out there who have encountered this before. Or have maybe read a WordPress document I have not. I’d really like your advice.

So poll time again.

Please help me out before I make an arse of myself again.

I must say here that the blogger concerned was in no way rude to me. In fact, he was a total gent the whole time. Simply pointed out something I was unaware of. He even invited me, very graciously, to take part in the challenge. I declined because it was never my intention to do so. I was just commenting in a post inspired by another’s post. I really am at a loss. The thing is, I’ve done this on a number of other occasions and now I’m wondering if I’ve been getting up people’s noses by doing so.

I know I might be behaving like a total woman in this – over complicating what others don’t see as a problem. But, bugger it, I am a woman. I do over complicate. Maybe that’s why I’m so fascinated with the idea of simplicity. OK, whole other post. But I sincerely want to do the right thing and some of you must know the answer. So spill. Please. 🙂

What is the correct protocol for inspiration born from another’s blog? Please feel free to add any other optional answer. I need to know this stuff. Maybe we all do.

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.

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

So good, I did it twice.

A big thank you to Suzie81’s Blog for her post http://suzie81.wordpress.com/2013/06/30/fabulous-acts-of-revenge/.

I have already linked this but it was so good I’m doing it twice. (It works for New York).

I follow Suzie. Her above post was timely and a much needed pick-me-up. Her link to ‘Happy Place’ and what I found there had me in my happy place for a good hour or more last night.

Inventive ways to quit your job. Roommates’ notes to one another. I was buckled.

I thanked her for sharing her humour and she didn’t just say, ‘You’re welcome.’

She said,’ If you want a laugh, try out this place.’ She sent me another link, to Fmylife.com. So I checked that out too.

When my kids stuck their heads round the door to ask what I was laughing at ( because, apparently, it is so unusual to hear me guffawing) I told them and they said, ‘Oh, yeah, that’s a good site. Pretty funny.’

That was fine. I’m sure they know any number of sites I have never come across.

However, when I came downstairs this morning and found the usual chaos in the kitchen and elsewhere, I decided to take a leaf out of the roomies’ notebooks.

I armed myself with paper and pen.

As each child descended this morning I could hear them pause at each piece of paper they found, outlining what was wrong at each place.

I won’t bore you with the details but I had four fabulous helpers today and we achieved so much together without me having to nag or whine. It would seem the written word is more effective than my voice.

So, Suzie, thanks on so many levels. A belting belly-laugh and willing workers.

I don’t know how the awards work on WordPress but if I did I’d nominate you for being a gem!

Many thanks again.x