Sunday, June 21, 2009

Summer Solstice on Father's Day

Today a lot of people celebrated the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge by watching the sun rise. I did take a peep out of my window just after 5am this morning but it was quite cloudy so I couldn't actually take a picture of the sunrise.
I always look forward to the longest day when it will stay light until around 10pm. It would be lovely to be able to sit outside and watch the sun go down but I have to say it's actually not that warm today and the sun is not even showing itself at the moment. I don't know about you but I get to this time of the year and feel that we haven't yet had that much good weather, I'm sure we were promised a heatwave this year!!!!!

Embee was delighted to get this little anecdotal book and some diabetic mint truffles from Beccy he's just said:
"I will have to have a choc to stave off my hunger" OK I can take a hint and as it's Father's Day I'll let it pass.

I was practising with my photoshop elements this morning after taking a picture of this Himalayan Honeysuckle which is looking very pretty at the moment.


Wishing all Fathers a very Happy Day.

Archives:
2008: No Archive
2007: My Mate + Summer Solstice

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Friday, November 07, 2008

What's happening today...

.....not a lot as it happens, so this will just be a snap shot of my day!

I got up really early because I was due to have my Kirby vacuum cleaners serviced first call this morning. That was a waste of time because, of course, the guy arrived over an hour after I expected him and I was pacing up and down feeling very frustrated.
However, during this time, I did manage to catch up with plurk! I also happened to look out of the window and what did I see.....the local council lorry sweeping the road something I haven't seen being done for a very long time. The trouble is the road didn't actually look any different after they had finished.
The young man who finally arrived is, as I type, sitting on the floor making a good job of servicing my vacuums he even let me take a photo for this post!
He put a lot of effort into the service and even polished the vacs; he wasn't pushy like some I've had in the past who are more interested in selling products than doing the job they came to do. All done and shining bright as you can see below.

The other thing I had to deal with this morning was a rotting pumpkin. I have been keeping this pumpkin, grown by my friend Tina, to make pumpkin soup for us both. She is currently on holiday so I wasn't planning on making the soup until next week. The pumpkin had been fine when I looked at it earlier in the week (when I took the picture) but this morning it had dripped liquid everywhere including into my mothers shopper. Luckily I was able to clear it before she saw it. There must have been over a pint of liquid in the lid of the shopper, but what the eye doesn't see the heart won't grieve and it cleaned up very well as the bag part is plastic. Panic over! I even managed to salvage enough of the remaining pumpkin to make the soup and it is safely stored in the fridge.

About an hour ago we had a brief storm and there was a beautiful rainbow but in the time I ran to get the camera it had begun to fade and this is the picture I managed to snap.

The final thing to show you for today is this book that arrived in the post. It came from my very good friend Daffy who has already sent me several books recently. I love her choice of books and so does my mother; I know we are going to enjoy this one as much as we did the others. So thank you Daffy-my mother has just got up from her rest and is looking at the book right now and she also says a big thank you..

Well that's it folks, in between this I did a few chores, chatted to a friend on the phone for half an hour and had a toasted cheese snack for lunch. I did not get to go for my usual Friday swim, but that can't be helped. Now it's off to do some vacuuming and ironing..boring! Hope you all have a good weekend.

Archives:
2007: Witty Weds 26

2006: Sam's Toulouse Sausage

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Friday, September 19, 2008

Booze 'n' Book

Just thought I would show you a picture of the alcohol Embee brought back I assure you I don't need to attend AA. This will last us a nice long time and it's lovely to be able to offer family and friends a drink when they visit.

Yesterday my post (mail) did not arrive until 6:30pm; this is very late in the day although I know someone has to be last! Anyway there was a package for me and it was from my friend Daffy. She has sent me another book which I am looking forward to reading when my mother has finished with it and this will then go on to Beccy. I wonder if anyone else has read and enjoyed this book!
Thank you Daffy, we really appreciate your kindness.


Archives:
2007: Witty Wednesday-20

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Saturday, September 06, 2008

How to keep a man!!!!

I read articles in both the Daily Mail and the The Telegraph about the following book:



From The Daily Mail By Annette Witheridge

Male author set to top bestsellers list with book telling women how to get a man - keep slim, stay home and cook dinner

A self-help guide that tells women to follow their man’s orders if they want to keep him has become an unlikely hit.

The book, titled The Re-education Of The Female, also says women should wear sexy clothes while doing the cooking and cleaning.

'The Re-Education of the Female', by single father Dante Moore, puts the blame for women being unable to find a good man squarely where he says it belongs: 'On the female'.

Stay skinny, cook, clean, wear sexy clothes, and do whatever he says because men are here to command - that is the way to catch yourself a good man, says Moore.

And with chapter headings like 'Appearance, Appearance, Appearance', 'You Knew He Was a Bum When You Met Him', and 'Are You an Indirect Prostitute?' he aims to force women to re-evaluate themselves and - ahem - clean up their acts.

Why does he feel such an overpowering urge to do this?

Because, Moore writes in his introduction: 'I want to express my anger and frustration as a man with the women I feel are mis-educated, misinformed, and ill-prepared about their responsibilities in getting and maintaining a relationship with a man of quality.'

Indeed.

Moore, a computer engineer and 33-year-old father of an 11-year-old boy, insists he is doing this out of love for women.

Growing up in America he only met his father a handful of times, he told the Washington Post, but was raised by his mother, two sisters, two aunts and two female cousins.

When he was a boy his mother told him he had to treat a woman 'like a queen'.

He tried that, he insists. For two years. And he lost every girlfriend he had.
Author Dante Moore, who claims he wrote the book out of love for women

So, he decided, it was time for a change. 'Once I started being myself and saying, 'look, I'm not going to do this, this, or that for women,' the phone didn't stop ringing,' he said.

It wasn't long before he decided to spread the wealth of his realisation.

Women, he insists, make it 'much harder than it is' to get a man. He distills a man's every desire down to three basic things: food, relaxation, and, of course, sex.

And all a woman has to do to fill those desires is stay skinny and sexy, cook, clean, and do whatever the man says.

'Here's a little secret, ladies,' he writes. 'Men never really ask for anything. They command.'

Echoing the sentiments of Beyonce's hit single 'Irreplaceable', he adds: 'And believe me, what you won't do, ten broads around the corner will.'

Size does matter, he says - very much. 'The fatter you get, the more you decrease your potential single-man pool.

'Let me give you an example. When you go to the grocery store to shop, do you pick out the nastiest-looking, most rotten, smelliest fruit or meat you can find? Oh, you don't? Why not? . . . It's the same with men when they see baby elephant-sized, out-of-shape women.'
************************************************
Similarly from The Telegraph

The Re-education Of The Female, by first-time author Dante Moore, advises women to follow their man's orders.

Despite the chauvinist opinions, copies have been flying off the shelves in the US.

One piece of advice reads: "Here's a little secret, ladies. Men never really ask for anything. They command. And believe me, what you won't do, ten broads around the corner will."

Mr Moore, a 33-year-old computer engineer, who has never married, continues: "The fatter you get, the more you decrease your potential single-man pool. Let me give you an example.

"When you go to the grocery store to shop, do you pick out the nastiest-looking, most rotten, smelliest fruit or meat you can find?

"Oh you don't? Why not? It's the same with men when they see baby-elephant-sized, out-of-shape women."

Mr Moore, who has an 11-year-old son from a previous relationship and has a girlfriend, says he has never found true love.

He insists all he wants to do is help women because he loves women. He grew up in a house with his mother, two sisters, two aunts and two female cousins.

Dr Gilda Carle, US feminist and TV therapist, has questioned Mr Moore's advice however.

She said: "He's never found the one, fallen in love and got married, so what make him an expert?

"Frankly, I would like to get any woman who has ever dated him on my therapist's couch."
*************************************

So what do you think readers:
Is this guy for real and does he believe what he wrote or is he very clever because his aim was to sell books and he's certainly doing that and probably making a fortune. The cynical me will opt for the latter, and I certainly won't be buying the book even though it sound like a good

.........when I read the article to Embee he said and I quote:

"I'm a tad disappointed you didn't cook dinner in a pink bra and frilly knickers" and we had a good laugh.

PS
on embees birthday he had this card I think it clarifies things in this household!!




Archives:
2007: Lavender Blue

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Thursday, August 28, 2008

Never mind Twenty Wishes....My wish was granted!

A couple of days ago I read this post over at my friend Daffy's. Now never being one to be backwards in coming forward (have I got that right!), I politely suggested that the book came my way. I had an email from Daffy yesterday, asking for my adress, and would you believe what arrived in today's post. I could hardly get the package open before my mother pounced on it so, being a dutiful daughter, I said she could read it first (I'm already in the middle of a book so it worked out well)! I will then pass it on to Beccy and tell her to do the same.

I'm sure we are all going to enjoy this book so BIG THANK YOU to Daffy.

Archives:
2007: What kind of frog or work of art are you

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Sunday, July 20, 2008

A Partisan's Daughter

I had fully intended to write about the health assessment I had yesterday, but I got rather side tracked when my mother (who most of my regular readers will know lives with us) called me tell me that she was reading a very 'dirty' book.......
....I wonder if any of you have read it! My mother said she was not sure if I would like because it really was awful. I asked her...why, if it is that bad, was she continuing to read it! Her response was...it is quite a good story but not what she has imagined when she ordered it, and she had nearly finished it!

She then said she was going to give it to Rebecca (Beccy) to read when she visits next week.
Hmm, so it's OK for her granddaughter to read but not her daughter. She then said that I could read it afterwards! This from the woman who I remember having a copy of 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' when I was a teenager~ yes she did. I sneakily found it, and read bits, but someone at school also had a copy so it was no big deal. But why would my mother want to read it, parents shouldn't enjoy this sort of thing!!!

I then decided to look for a review of the 'dirty' book and found this one from the Independent newspaper. I actually think it sounds a good read so we'll see if Beccy thinks it's suitable for her mum to read!!!

Archives:
2007: Gifts from France

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Sunday, July 06, 2008

Meme

While I was away I got tagged by swampangel over @ A Florida Journal

So this is the task:

1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123
3. Find the 5th sentence
4. Post the next three sentences
5. Tag five people, and acknowledge who tagged you.

Soooo...from the book I have just started to read......

On page 123 of this book there are very few sentences so you are getting the whole page as it is written......

TWO QUESTIONS
Would the gates shut behind her?
or would they have the goodwill to let her black out?

As Liesel would discover, a good thief requires many things.
Stealth. Nerve. Speed.
More important than any of those things, however,was one final requirement.
Luck.

Actually.
Forgot the ten minutes.
The gates open now.

And what is the title of this book......
It's Marcus Zusak's The Book Thief... It has, as I'm sure many of you will know, had very good reviews. Beccy, who passed the book on to me, enjoyed it so I'm sure that I will. I only started it yesterday so am just getting into the story.......

Now I wonder who might like to do this meme!

I have seen it around for a while so I could be tagging someone who has already done it and I haven't checked!!

Beccy reads a lot and this could be an easy post for her but I don't know if she will take up the challenge

Julie @Abbilyeverafter
Daffy @Approaching 40
Alison @RDH Mom
John @ life in the pub
Elena jane who might do this under a pink umbrella~ you shouldn't have said you rarely get tagged!!

No pressure and only do it if you feel inclined.......I won't be crossing you off my Christmas card list if you ignore the challenge!

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Sunday, November 11, 2007

The Other Side of the Bridge by Mary Lawson

When Alix over at DC Days reviewed this book, I decided that I would look for it next time I went to the bookshop. I thought it would be a story that my mother and I would enjoy. Alix then decided she would pass it on by having a draw from the people commenting and guess who was lucky enough to get the prize.
When the postman rang twice (yes he really did) on Friday and I saw he had a package I was quite excited as I guessed it was the book. I'm not usually a winner in draws and I was amazed how quickly it arrived. Why you might ask~ well I joined in a summer swap and never did get my parcel which is very disappointing both to the person who took the trouble to send it and to me who gave up long ago of ever receiving it. I know some parcels do get stolen on route so if someone has taken this parcel I trust they enjoyed the content not that I have any idea what was actually in the parcel. As usual I digress so back to the book~ my mother is delighted and she has already started reading it and I will read it after she has finished and then I expect it will go to Beccy when she is here at Christmas.

Alix thank you very much for sharing this book.
Archives:
November 11th 2006: Inspiration

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Saturday, October 27, 2007

Childhood Book

I was at a bit of a loss as to what to write about today and decided to share one of my early childhood books with you. I can't remember exactly how old I was when I had this book but my guess is we are talking some 57 years ago. I just loved this book and would spend hours looking at the pretty dresses, reading and dreaming. Doesn't every little girl want to be a fairy princess, I know I did.
I wanted to do a bit of experimenting so I am presenting this as a slide show, sorry if you find it a bit long and tedious. (4 mins approx)

PS If anyone does watch this slide show please will you tell me if jumps or runs smoothly thanks.
Archives:
October 27th 2006: Do you serve Cocktails

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Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Baked Salmon en Papillote or my version of Salmon Parcels

Looking through the cookery book Sam gave me for Christmas I came across this recipe for 'Baked Salmon en Papillote' this recipe was not dissimilar to one that had been in a Sunday supplement about a year ago for Chicken parcels. So using these recipes as a guide for cooking times, I decided that I would make my own version which is something I rarely do as I am a follow the recipe and you can't go wrong type of cook (and despite this is still does).

The vegetables I used are potatoes, turnips, courgettes and carrots. All chopped into small sticks and into boiling water for 5 mins before draining and placing on the baking parchment (I used greaseproof paper; this needs to be large enough to make the parcel). I skinned the salmon and added lime juice, seasoning and some olive oil brushed over the salmon.


The paper is then folded exactly like a parcel and the joined ends are placed down onto the baking tray to keep secured. Bake in oven 180c (fan) approx 30 mins. I think for fish this was slightly too long so next time I will probably try around 20mins.
You can serve in the parcel and allow individuals to open the parcel when turned up the other way the fish will be on top of the vegetables.


This is the end result a simple healthy meal which I garnished with parsley before serving. Verdict 'clean plates' so draw you own conclusion.

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