What's Going On?

Oooh lots and lots.

Least that's the way it's seemed.

Let's see what's occurred. Obviously in no particular order as my brain is random, and doesn't work in any real order. Despite my OCD leanings!

On June 20th I turned 33. I wrote last year about how much I hate birthdays and wasn't really looking forward to another one. Damn their annual occurrence. But you know what? It really wasn't so bad. Who knew?!

I even got to go for High Tea... check out the sandwich and cake selection - I couldn't even see my fellow diners for cake. Pretty much heaven. Although it was quite a fright to establish I DO have a cake limit.

That's my sister hiding behind the second pic, she travelled down from Orkney for a wee visit and it was really lovely to see her and even better that she made it just in time for some High Tea adventures!

Then the day of my picnic rolled around and it rained. And rained. And rained.

It had to be decamped to my mothers house, which was good that it was possible to do that, but made me really sad in the morning that the weather had, rather literally, rained on my parade. But worse things happen!

It was really good to catch up with everyone that was able to make it and braved the barbecue under the big brolly!
I can't quite believe I didn't take a single picture, I was wearing my super-cool dress too!

***

I had my weekend away at The Big Session and it was really good. If you ignore what felt like arctic temperatures overnight. I did wake one morning and briefly fear that the numbness in my nose indicated it had frozen and dropped off.

We called this the Tree of Death.

Chairs are strangely frowned upon you know. They cage them these days.

That's my tent that is! See that brown lump? It's retro kitsch.

Well, it's old anyway. And I love it! Although it's about due for a bit of patching and the gingham ribbon that holds it together might be due for replacing...

Mmm, pizza. The Big Session is a really green festival, they insist that all plates, cutlery and napkins are compostable or recyclable. Even the plastic 'glasses' drinks are served in are biodegradable and gone in 2 months. This was even better though, my pizza came on a wooden board. Zero refuse. And damn it tasted fine!

I got to see plenty of folks that I really like and have a good dance and have a good chill out. I didn't partake of the ceilidh, I'm far too clumsy to Strip The Willow! I established however that one pair of jeans is not suitable for jumping up and down, as they slowly started to migrate I had to hold onto them whilst bouncing around. I'm not known for my elegance and that was very inelegant!

***
I've also been out there doing a bit of walking, I didn't think I was going to make it to the top of this hill and two gentlemen stopped to wait with me whilst I reassured my heart that there was no need for it to give up and I really WAS nearly at the top. When I finally made it, this view greeted me. I am so proud of where I live, it's beautiful.

***
This last weekend I went, with Mum and Tim, to visit my little sister in her new house. Now, it's well known that I don't really like cities and I've never been especially fond of Bristol, but she has a really lovely house. We hacked and dug and chopped and pruned and planted in the garden and it's gorgeous out there. We finally rested and made a lovely barbecue, which was obviously smelling so good to Louis that he practiced his best pleading face:

Go on, just one sausage. Look into his eyes.
I think he forgets my vegetarianism. He definitely had little interest in my vegetable kebabs. By the way, buying Halloumi cheese in Bristol is like a treasure hunt gone mad. We failed.

I also got to meet some friends while I was down there, old and new and it was really lovely to have that opportunity. When there's three hours between you it feels like halfway across the world. And with petrol prices hovering between £1.15 & £1.20 it's expensive to drive for three minutes, let alone three hours!

****
I spent a lot of time last week doing some overdue spring cleaning. I attacked, in earnest, my garage. I got rid of an amazing amount of crap and decided that I may as well burn a number of boxes I'd found as my recycling bin was full. I looked around at my neighbours. No washing to be seen. It was a weekday in school hours, I figured I'd be disturbing the minimum amount of people. I figured wrong. The peace of my village was somewhat ruined by a neighbour (I haven't exactly established which one) screaming that having a bonfire was a very stupid thing to do. I had apparently missed some washing. I contemplated shouting back, but the tirade was so vicious, I opted to hide behind my garage. I'm brave me.
So, more gardening is in order, I have been slowly attacking the weeds that are prolific, Mifford is helping as much as she can by laying on them, I'm not entirely sure these attempts at suffocation will be effective, but they say it's the thought that counts.

***
I can't remember if I said this, but by the time we'd finished the walking festival we'd done nearly 40 miles, which I'm pretty pleased with really, considering I'm incredibly unfit. I'll try and work on that this year! Maybe!

***
Tomorrow is July and the countdown to the Cambridge Folk Festival. It's very exciting! Well for me anyway!

***
I got myself an ice cream maker with money that I got for my birthday. The bowl of which refuses to fit into my freezer. Damn. Is it a little OTT to get a new freezer so you can make ice cream? No, I thought not.
I also got myself some extra foodie stuff, a piping bag for icing and the like - I'm enjoying cooking and am going to try my hand at some baking. I bought myself this little book: Cupcake Magic and I love it, I just wish there were more pics in it! Got a fab cookie & biscuit book too.

***
So there you go, that's some of what I've been up to. It's been a busy old time, but a lot of fun too. Just as it should be!

Ass or Elbow?

I previously mentioned that life is so busy I cannot tell my ass from my elbow.
I would like to direct you here to illustrate how easy it can be to confuse the two.

I got sunburn.
I am a numpty. When will I ever learn?
Damn it stung in the shower this morning.

Tomorrow I am going away for the weekend. Oh yes, there will be merriment. And dancing. And shrieking. And whooping. I'm also hoping for rest and relaxation, and maybe to finish my book.
Big Session here I come.

A List Of Wishes

When Birthdays or Christmas starts to poke their heads above the horizon, the question always becomes "What would you like?"

I've been thinking about this and have now decided to keep a list of wishes, material and otherwise, boring and exciting, impossible and feasible.
Well, it never hurts to dream does it?

Little wishes

• Other Books, CDs & DVDs
• Perfume - Noa Noa, Eau d'Issey, Truth - Calvin Klein, Pure Poison,
• Droopy memorabilia
• Sylvac
• A green cone
• Tattoos
• Lea Stein brooches - Attila being the Number One choice!

Big Wishes

• A trip to San Francisco
• A trip to Alaska
• A flight in a bi-plane
• Learn sign langauge (more of an ambition than a wish, but it counts!)

Unrealistic Wishes

• A winning lottery ticket
• A genie for my personal assistant
• A time machine

Birthdays

It's my birthday in a couple of weeks.
I'm always bleating about getting older, but then I read this news article.
Can you even imagine getting to be 112?
That pretty much blows my mind.
It's nearly 40 years since he lost his wife.
Both of his children have died - in their 80's and still he carries on.
He's almost 80 years older than me.
80 years. It's almost too much for your mind to try and wrap itself around.
He wasn't even born in the last century. No, it was the century before that.
1896.
He's seen two new centuries and a new millennium. There can't be many people in the world to have achieved such a feat.
I find myself sitting, in a stunned silence, imagining what changes have occurred in his life, all the things he's seen, more stories than he has time to share.
I bet his biography would be an amazing read.
Happy Birthday Mr Allingham!

Song Of The Week XXV

Things have been more than a little manic of late, it's been hard to recognise my arse from my elbow - despite the obvious size disparity.
I've yet to tell you of the last couple of walks I did, as the walking festival is now over and done. I'm starting to miss walking so am thinking about where to walk next, and maybe even join the ramblers.

Anyway, this song hadn't made it to the list of potentials for Song of The Week, but it popped up on my mp3 player and I was reminded of how much I like it.
Some years ago it was dedicated to me, so I guess it'll always have a special place in my heart for that reason.

Aqualung - Strange & Beautiful: