Sunday 30 December 2012

Silent Sunday 30/12/2012


Saturday 29 December 2012

Caption Saturday 29/12/2012


Looking back #snaphappyBritmums




Bet no one can guess where this is looking back on ! ?

Wednesday 26 December 2012

Zumba arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Well my friend persuaded me go to Zumba, then said friend rings and says she is ill. I still go on my own, what a brave inspirational soul I am!. I get there thinking am I wearing the correct things, will all the glamour ladies be shaking their thing. I needn't of worried till the music . Where was the instructor ?would she have a leotard riding up her... argggggggggggh the agony from the first go. The instructor was like a small hamster who had been necking several cans of Red bull and mega amount of Haribo's. I had stumbled into this class and tonight was all new routines. I had Jo Lo behind shaking at me all evening... I was hiding at the back. of course I am trying to lose weight, I might try and tell you the odd thing about my weight loss. That leads onto blogs being too personal. My blog is how it is, I change nothing . No blog is right or wrong, if you don't like mine then so be it. Though I am sure there is a blog out there you will. This is a picture of me a face to the blog see it is not all cats is it.


I have never ever gone back to the land of Zumba ... SO instead I'll do it (Zumba that is in the privacy of my own home ) I know I have weight to lose as its been pointed out to me on many occasion ! but proper motivation is the key. So I am going to trial a Zumba Wii game in the next coming weeks. 

Monday 24 December 2012

Alice in Wonderland a magical Christmas


Oh how wonderful, how absolutely magical I hold in my hand a book of promise , a book of wonder ,a book of childhood glee. A book given to a little girl exactly 80 years tomorrow , I wonder is she a very very old lady now ? I do hope she had a long and happy life fully of merriment and joy .





Are your curiouser and curiouser  ?


The book why its Alice in Wonderland & Alice through the Looking Glass.


"He dipped it into his cup of tea "







"The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame, Came shiffling through the tulgey wood."


LADY dear, if Fairies may
For a moment lay aside
Cunning tricks and elfish play,
‘Tis at happy Christmas-tide.
We have heared the children say—
Gentle children, whom we love—
Long ago, on Christmas-Day,
Came a message from above.
Still, as Christmas-tide comes round,
They remember it again—
Echo still the joyful sound
“Peace on earth, good-will to men!”
Yet the hearts must child-like be
Where such heavenly guests abide;
Unto children, in their glee,
All the year is Christmas-tide.
Thus forgetting tricks and play
For a moment, Lady dear,
We would wish you, if we may,
Merry Christmas, glad New Year!
Christmas, 1867. by Lewis Carroll

Saturday 22 December 2012

Caption Saturday 22/12/2012 #satcap


Be glad not sad !

There's a lot to be said for smiling ... isn't there? ..

I could quite frankly launch into a tirade of angriness but you know what .. I  won't.


So indeed I am going to "Be Glad not sad"


That's going to be my mantra on life .. what's yours ?



So go on try it .. go play the glad game ..

Thursday 20 December 2012

The Grinch that stole Christmas!

My husband is dejected ...

The fun has been sucked out of his universe....

He is holding his head in his hands rocking slowly forwards and back..

The shocking crime has shocked him to his very core ..... his eyes portray the inner torment that swirls and twirls within his soul ... eating and tearing him apart.

Offerings of chocolate,biscuits wine or beer are pushed aside as he stares out onto the wintry night shaking his fist angrily at the sky.

How could anyone I ask you be so so cruel how .. I ask you how could anyone stoop so low.

To be honest I really think his Christmas faith has been destroyed I fear he's going to be like the Grinch except this time his heart is going to harden to Christmas not defrost to it. And if the Ghosts of Christmas past visit him well quite frankly he is going to smack them in the chops. A harsh reality I think you will agree but understandable when a heinous crime against Christmas is committed.


He came home in a foul mood last night you see , a man is a miserable mood after work is not unusual I hear you cry. But this was a unique incident you see they have decorated my husbands office and they are all rather proud of the office Christmas tree, which has been lovingly decorated. They have stuck peoples faces onto the baubles, much merriment has been had., tinsel has artistically been placed upon the tree. Its a work of art that wouldn't look out of place in the National Portrait Gallery.


Except there is one small problem ... someone has stolen the Office Christmas tree fairy...

The whole of the office is very upset at the crime that has been committed ... no one know the fate of the fairy. No ransom demands have appeared as of yet! They are pretty sure the fairy hasn't run off with the Nutcracker soldier as he is still on the tree.


Nutcracker soldier.


So in my husbands Christmas works newsletter they are pleading for the safe return of the fairy.


So if you see a lonely Christmas tree fairy shivering in the a shop door way with no place to go .. please please contact me as my very Christmas is at stake and my husband belief in Christmas at the moment is but a faint ember ..

Have you seen the Christmas tree fairy ?

Tuesday 18 December 2012

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth #pktmnyparents

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth ..





I am a giant fail whale ....

It didn't last... it only managed a day ... My self imposed rest.


Why ...oh I don't know *shrugs shoulders* because my life is some what surreal sometimes things happen that are just plan weird and blogging is the only way to explain it.


What does my son want what is he saving up for? ... in the realms of fantasy ( bit like when he dreamed up the toe nail fairy) in would be a dragon as he is still young and there is a very thin line between reality and fantasy. But in the real world he is saving up for equipment for his Duke of Edinburghs award, his rugby trip to France and when he is old enough the sixth form trip to help orphan children in Uganda.


My son never ever does things by halves he goes skiing * gets airlifted off the slopes of Mont Blanc *breaks his ribs in a rugby game * and the best one ( but not in that sense of the word ) breaking his finer while wearing rubber gloves and playing rugby... Best you don't ask as my world as you see is quite , quite surreal.


So J needs a way to inspire him to save for all these wonderful events that are coming our way *slightly gritted teeth * but I keep telling my self its a wonderful opportunity and I really don't need that new pair or shoes and yes we really can have beans on toast one more night. Tonight is the school carol/band concert so you best sit down wind from us... *really I am not kidding*


So I stumbled upon PKYTMNY on Britmums and thought what a fascinating idea it was.


"  PKTMNY, who’s sponsoring the challenge, is a fantastic new website where parents can control their children’s pocket money, set goals for earning and electronically transfer pocket money or earned rewards onto a special card that they control and that kids can actually use at the shops. Kids use the site and the soon-to-be-released app to set savings goals, track their spending, manage their tasks or chores for earning, and create a wish list with pictures of the things they’re saving to buy. They’ll love learning to save before they can spend."


This is ideal J and for all his inspiration this is ideal, its that step between childhood whims and learning adult responsibility.


If only I could set the cat onto a path of rightousness with its anger mangement problems... but then again life would be boring wouldn't it ?



Rollie the cat has anger managment problems!


This post is an entry for the #pktmnyparents Linky on BritMums. for my childs, hopes, dreams and inspiration that will see him fly and becime the responsible adult that will emgere. Letting go of our children is the hardest thing we do as parents as we want them to stay young forever.




Monday 17 December 2012

Having a rest

I have decided to duck out of blogging for a while..

Only for two weeks... so don't panic.



 Doubt anyone will know I  've gone!



So that's it have a Merry Christmas!


Back in the new year like a bad penny but just sometimes you have to rest your soul, your bones and quieten down your mind.  Yes.. yes even I can resist the urge to review a box of cereal....


Thursday 13 December 2012

Scotch on the Rocks

Whilst entertaining the children in the play ground  I decided to play cafe's you know the drill I want an ice cream I want a coffee etc etc.


I asked one little boy " What drink do you want?

"Scotch" he replied.


"Scotch are you sure?" I enquired .. "Now come on tell me what drink you really , really want"

"SCOTCH" he said again.

"Really ? " I said !


I asked him one more time and then he said " Squash "

Either I am mishishearing and need hearing aids or there are some really hard core 4 years olds out there !


Tuesday 11 December 2012

Everything a pet needs except for the kitchen sink ! #catsinsinks

My name is Rollie I am  ever ever so slightly  loopy and SO very evil  my favourite way to relax when not being evil is to sit in the sink :

I am also waiting to see what Santa brings me so I have  compiled a list of things that I  want expect!.

1. A new scratching post so I  ( Rollie ) can survey my minions and laud it up over every one and  look down my whiskers at them.


2.  A new bed as my owner says I really, really, really have to stop sleeping on the sink.



3. An automatic cat feeder as my owner says mice are not part of my diet ... so unfair ... Anyway I picked out this automatic cat feeder ....




4.  My owner seems to think I have a champagne life style ..pah ... SO I am choosing  this drinking fountain for my drinking champagne water!






Rollies favourite place the kitchen sink!


My owner is taking part in a blogger challenge to create me  Rollie the cat the ultimate Christmas list from GJW Titmuss website

Sunday 9 December 2012

You have been loved ...

Life is too short for regrets but sometimes things happen that you cannot control if only you could control life the world would seem so much easier or would it. It coming up to 7 years since my beloved Nan died and so its this time of year I do get sad, especially as my Grandparent was a true love story played out.

I don't do sentimentality I am not over sentimental I am sorry to say alot has happened in my early years to put pay to that, switching off my emotions in time of troubles was a quickly learnt skill if indeed you can call it that.


My Grandparents my Nan was struck down first by leukaemia and bravely battled on with her treatments, then my grandad got eye cancer ( what are the odd of that tragedy) They helped each other in their times of need aided by myself and other member of the family.

Little did I know the summer of 2003 would be the last time I saw them together my grandad stuffed a £20 note into my hand and told me to ring when I got home , which you must certainly did if you didn't want to feel the gentle wrath of his tongue!

So just before my son started a school I got a phone call I got the phone call : he was dying , my Nan suffered a relapse due to her leukaemia and so they ended up in hospital together. My Nan as was her way got fed up with him, they bickered in the most friendly of ways. But she found some resolve and discharged her self to come home.


So he died but I know that he died knowing that people loved him sadly my Nan died 3 years later they had been together over 50 years and had lived in the same round for all that time.

You have been loved ..


Saturday 8 December 2012

My Ultimate Christmas Song and Memories are made of this.


My ultimate Christmas song is not your typical one that you might think , songs have memories that are personal to each person:





Love it " I'll tune into you, you tune into me" classic lyrics !


It was Christmas 1975 We had not long been in England having just come across from Scotland The Outer Hebrides as my dad had been in the army. I was only just three years old and I loved the Wombles. Well what happened in 1975 ?







Christmas 2012 Claire Bolton now Claire Toplis( age 40) still has The Wombles jigsaw.

The other Christmas tunes I love are"

2. Do They know its Christmas Time? As I grew up in the 1980s's and the impact of this song shocked me as I was so lucky to have all the things I had as a child.



3. I believe in Father Christmas by Greg Lake because it evokes the spirit and scene of Christmas and takes me back in time.



4.Fairytale in New York by The Pogues and Kitstie McCall because its fun and it lifts my 
spirits high.


5. Walking in the Air as this is a prerequisite to the ultimate Christmas cartoon that is tinged with sadness and joy. I love it because it is a true custom of Christmas.



Thursday 6 December 2012

@Bakerdays Keep Calm 40th Cake


I saw Baker Days offering reviews out and I thought mmm cake can I be cheeky enough to ask for cake .mmmm cake. Once my drooling had stopped I politely emailed them with a request for a cake but not an ordinary cake ooh nook.
They offer cakes that are small enough to slip through your letter box, but large enough to celebrate the biggest occasions.  They come in various sizes and many, many designs, and more that an amazing 400 plus to choose from!
And the cake  its arrived today.  it arrived in a box, which when opened revealed a Baker Days tin, with a two candles, some balloons and a noisy thing. All this was in course in celebration of my 40th Birthday if you can't blow your own trumpet once in a while when can you ?




I have to say I was worried as when I worked in the Post Office one Christmas they did tend to play basketball with some packages!. I needn't have worried obviously perhaps the Post Office are more careful nowadays with their packages as they cake was perfect no dents or imperfections.


I am thrilled with it I noticed also they do a Gluten Free option as well which is handy for me as my Mother in Law is coeliac. So what design did I go for there could be only one as I have a tendancy to panic about everything and anything .......

Tuesday 4 December 2012

The Lock of Love

Last weekend I was in Shoreditch and I was pleasantly surprised it just shows you that you should never judge a book by it cover when it comes to areas of London. London is constant reinventing itself and regenerating its what London does. So stepping out of Shoreditch High Street tube I was greeted by this site, at first I was suspicious and I am sorry to say my mind began to go into overdrive and thought what I was seeing had some sort of slightly sinister over and under tones.




This I learnt was the Shoreditch Love fence which has far from a Gangsta street mentality about it, it has a far reaching significance. It is in fact a custom wheruopn couples inscribe a message or their initials on a padlock and affix it to a fence or any other structure that is permanent. So as the couples are bound to each other physically and emotionally the fixing of a lock furthers the bond.

There is an  assortment of padlocks in different shapes and sizes, and the red, blue, yellow and green wool and twine woven in and out of the diamond mesh fence in the shape of hearts, is an art work in progress.

Where did it all start ?


An ancient custom, which is believed to have originated in China, where lovers lock a padlock on a chain or gate and then throw away the key, symbolically locking their love forever. Around the world cities from Moscow to Rome are filled with fences, gates, and poles adorned with padlocks.  These engraved padlocks are an expression of hope and humanity, connecting people around the world with the one thing that unites us all: LOVE.

And why not visit a special site dedicated to Love Locks.

Monday 3 December 2012

Colour in New York #TheGallery

Independent travel is the way to go sometimes but you have to plan what you are doing and do make sure you have the correct visa etc for where ever you are going.

A number of years ago it was my 10 th wedding anniversary and I decided I really wanted to go and see Macy's Parade . I had seen Home Alone and more importantly I had seen Miracle on 32 Street. I loved that movie both the original and the re make. 


I did my homework before I booked our New York Holiday and I did it all through Experia and I have to say I found it remarkably simple to do.

The hotel  We decided to go for was The New York Palace and it is a beautiful hotel with such stunning architecture and the views are to die for . With views of St Patrick's Cathedral and Radio City to name but a few.

I was also there for Thanksgiving and I was honoured to be part of an American tradition. And you can't get more colourful than the time honoured Macy's Paradde.




"Witness the extraordinary intersection of history and innovation at The New York Palace, a Manhattan luxury hotel located just steps from St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Rockefeller Center on Madison Avenue. The hotel boasts 813 guest rooms and 86 suites, including the prominentTowers accommodations, showcasing exceptional views of the city skyline, elegant furnishings and enhanced features. In addition to full concierge services and a lengthy list of in-room amenities, The Palace is proud to offer on-site dining at GILT, Istana and the Madison Room; a fitness center and spa; and a convenient location that positions us as the ideal choice among Midtown luxury hotels for business or leisure guests.
The New York Palace is home to over 22,000 square feet of meeting and event space for corporate functions, Manhattan weddings and other noteworthy events. For both grand and intimate occasions, our luxury hotel in Midtown features creative planning services, catering and a location your guests will never forget in heart of Manhattan.
Through the gates of the historic hotel's famed Villard Mansion and down the grand staircase, you’ll discover the understated elegance and rich history that has established The New York Palace as a truly iconic hotel. "




St Patricks Cathedral New York



Christmas Gift ideas for the whole family under £30

I just wanted to let you know its nearly Christmas I am not wishing to panic you or anything  buts its creeping up upon us.



I made this Christmas card!


1. Make or Buy your cards !


2. Make sure your address book is up to date. This adress book is ideal for all those names and adresses and keeping track of how to send cards to !





The FAMILY Address Book

£16.95


An address book for people who know lots of families.

There is room to include all the children’s names as well as everyone’s birthdays.  We say "an Address Book and Birthday Book rolled into one".
 So this going to be my saviour this Christmas you can buy  this from Mums Office and it makes a lovely gift for a family relative.




3. Don't forget the men !  why don't buy the the man in your life Tequila !

Patron XO Cafe is produced and blended in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. Jalisco is known for producing the finest tequila in the world.

Patron XO Cafe is created to very exact specifications by a small family owned distillery. The owners are known to produce some of the highest quality Agave tequilas of their type.

Patron XO Cafe originated from a very unique blend of XO Fine tequila and pure natural coffee essence. 

Patron XO Cafe is produced at 70 proof (35% Alc. by volume). Patron XO Cafe was conceived to be a coffee tequila more than an overly sweet coffee liqueur.

The product is blended to be "dry" not sweet as with most low proof coffee liqueurs. The higher proof brings out the flavour of the pure coffee essence and the XO Fine tequila. 

The sugars are kept to a minimum allowing the product to be consumed as a cocktail as well as an excellent liqueur or ingredient in gourmet cooking. 

Patron XO Cafe has tremendous versatility and Patron believe it is the finest tequila coffee liqueur .

Patron Xo cafe Tequila.


4. Don't forget the children ! What about this game from Drumond Spin Mania The Speeding, Spinning, Time Trial Challenge! An unusual and enthralling time trial challenge which is real heart- thumping fun for age 4+. It consists of a motorised spinning unit with an inset electronic timer, three helicopter-like circular rotary 'blades', and three cones on which to set them once they are spinning correctly. Children run from place to place to get their blades spinning one by one, and each time someone completes the task successfully, their time is recorded - and the next players then strive to beat the time.

Inside the box is a Spin Machine, 3 plates, 3 plate Stands , 1 Spin-Spike, 4 Marker pegs and instructions. It does require batteries so don't forget to buy this otherwise you will have disappointment! It take 2 C / LR14 batteries

Spin Mania.

Disclosure ( I was send all of the above items for review all thought words and opinions are my own )