Randomness...mmmmmm

I've been tagged... again... this time by Sophie Honeysuckle... the task... well I have to reveal eight random things about me.

so here we go...

1: I absolutely cannot work pencil sharpeners, don't know why... just can't
2: I'm a soppy romantic and it takes very little to make me cry with happiness.... an old couple crossing the road hand in hand... a kitten sneezing... its a curse let me tell you
3: I have an absolutely filthy mind, I tell jokes that make grown men blush which I blame on my father and my uncle for teaching me rugby songs.... (so does my mother)
4: I have a huge crush on Stephen Fry, he is my ideal man..... apart from the fact he takes the train rather than the bus
5: I love really bad action films, Steven Segal, Die Hard, Lethal Weapon...
6: I worry I have OCD... I have set routines for doing strange stuff including the fact I check that I have all my cards in my purse every night before I go to bed... I've even practised getting out of my house with my eyes shut in the dark in case there was ever an emergency... (I can't believe I've just posted that...)
7: Despite the fact I'd love to have a houseful of children I've never pictured myself married or with a partner, its always just been me and the children...
8: I've done well in my career up to this point, but other than applying for jobs I've never, ever actively planned it out...

I hope that they aren't too bad, but they are indeed random so in that respect fulfill requirements!!! I will post tomorrow about the FABULOUS Mbira bag mum has knitted for me, its a karmic thing - I knitted Sopher's!

I'm having trouble thinking of people to tag, so if you read this and you fancy having a go, please go for it!

I wanna be in the double-ewe eye !!!

It has been a source of discussion in the house of Ma that we wanna join the WI, especially after watching the WI series that they are showing on BBC 4...(did you see it - oh the power struggles!) One of Mum's neighbours is in a local group and if she agrees she might have 4 new members, Sophie, Mum, me and another local blogger (what say you Jo????) We'd be great at cakes and mass catering....am I being wierd wanting to join the WI when only 30.... (is Sophers mad at 26???!!!) They might not want us yet.... Watch this space!

As of daft o'clock this morning Sophers was winging her way to Togo, via Paris. I've added the link of the group leader under Togo watch, he has promised to blog lots so keep your eyes peeled for news!

Thanks for all the cheer up well wisher commenters and e-mailers, I've now pulled up my socks and I'm ready to take on the world one cup of tea at a time!!!! (poor world!!!)

http://www.womens-institute.co.uk/

Does it do what it says on the tin???

It has occurred to me after reading the fabulous posts over at the winemakers wife that I have not, despite what I have named my blog, not actually posted anything about tea (well one post early on but that doesn't count really) I feel therefore I must explain. To me afternoon tea is a philosophy. I like to stop everyday at about 4 (even/especially at work if I can) to have some tea. I think it is important to stop, refresh and give yourself 5 mins or longer if you can manage it, I've known afternoon tea sessions last over an hour at my Mum and Dad's. I like to go the whole hog at the weekend too and have little sandwiches and perhaps a scone or a cake or a biscuit (I'm really into Sainsbury's organic oat biscuits at the moment...mmmmm) a pot of my fave Royal Blend (from Fortnum's so a bit of a treat) or Glengettie tea, a book and the radio or a nice film, usually in the chair in this photo! In that way, this blog also provides me with a little break, a chance to chat about my day, what I'm up to, what is making me angry/happy/sad/excited so that's why there really isn't that much about tea.... although its got me thinking for my next post!!!!!

New York

I have recovered my composure now and normal blogging service shall be resumed.

I spent Saturday night with my mate Louie. We are both 30 this year (she's slightly younger and takes every opportunity to remind me!) and to celebrate we are taking ourselves to New York. As you can imagine we are both rather excited having never ventured out of Europe before! OBVIOUSLY we shall be frequenting the garment district, but what I want to know is, does anyone have any tips on places we HAVE to visit? Favourite restaurants, button shops, clothes shops, museums, galleries.....etc We'd be very glad to hear any advice!!!!!

To leave you with a great photo I found of me as a punk for a charity "dublin dash" weekend. 7 of us went in costume from the year we were born - 1977 seemed a great opportunity to have a chain from nose to ear, black lipstick, a studded dogcollar and a backcombed, greenhighlighted mohawk!!!

Would you take Library books from this woman?????!!!!!

missing weirdness

My lovely sister Sophers wishes me to add an 8th to my list of things......

She wishes you all to know about my ability to "switch my ears off".... (not nearly as odd as it sounds) Ever since I was a little girl I've been able to "switch off" and not take any notice of the world around me. I can go off into my little world not hearing a thing or seeing anything other than the internal machinations of my tiny mind. This has been infuriating to lots of people and is partially one of the reasons I was not allowed a bike as a child and why I don't drive now. In short when I switch off I'm a liability. It happens in meetings, on the bus when I "come round" in the wilds of Speke or Runcorn, at home, in the car when I'm supposed to be giving directions. Once many years ago whilst doing the washing up, Sophie came into the kitchen, took her boots off by the back door, had a conversation (one sided granted) with me, I turned round, saw her and screamed as I didn't realise she was there..... not good. I was left not once but twice as a child at school (there was a minibus as we lived in Hale just outside Liverpool) in the corner reading, not having realised ALL the other children and most of the teachers had gone half an hour ago.... I don't do it deliberately... honest....

I'm going to leave you with weekend piccies from Mum and Dad's to try and make up for my madness.....(if that's possible!)

Hamish, isn't he cute!!!

Lovely old school desk (£1 car boot sale!)

Fabulous Liliac!

I've been tagged... oh dear.....

The lovely angel jem has tagged me.....

I have to post seven weird/unusual things about me....

apart from the fact that I think I'm perfectly normal (ahem) I was quite surprised when this list took shape.....

1: I'm a great queuer... point me in the direction of a queue and I'm happy, I don't know why its no good asking me.

2: I once frightened myself with my own elbow, quite a feat I must say it really isn't that scary most of the time

3: I cannot name any object when I'm completely flapped, in fact my sister tries to make me which causes much hilarity for her and makes me even worse!

4: I will happily ask for train tickets in Italian, in Italy yet will not order a pizza from the takeaway in English in England (phoning for takeaway scares me, I have no idea why)

5: I have NO shame. I'll sing and dance anywhere my speciality being pubs, supermarkets, car parks.... (anywhere really) And mostly its only me who knows the songs in the first place

6: I still try to look after my "baby" brother and sister and organise them, when in reality its (probably) me that needs looking after and organising.

7: I didn't actually come up with any of these myself, I asked friends and relatives for their opinions, as I actually think I'm very normal!

Right I'm going to tag....

Vintage Pretty http://vintagepretty.org/
Primrose Hill http://primrosehillinteriors.blogspot.com/
French Toast Girl http://www.frenchtoastgirl.com/weblog/blogger.shtml
Nonnie http://nonnie.typepad.com/

I just hope that I haven't frightened too many of you away!!!!!

Days in May

Well,

I won't bore you all with why, but I've been a very busy girl again! I'm now going for "as many days in May that I can humanly manage!

1st of all..... a thankyou, and that thankyou would be to Alison from Foxgloves... she knows why!!!

I had a lovely Trip to Leeds on Saturday with the glamour puss that is Steve... here he is looking very dapper outside Harvey nicks!


He likes shopping as much as I do, so we spent many happy hours trawling Leeds finding lots of lovely things (I did take photo's they just look terrible when I downloaded them - I'll have to take shots again!) I studied in Leeds so its always nice to go back, I wish I did it more often, I keep thinking that some of us bloggers should have an "away day" and meet up... Leeds would be a fab place.... anyhow....

We particularly enjoyed the Corn Exchange where I found the most fabulous stall selling handmade bags. Of course I spent some cash there.....We were very glad to sit down for some light refreshments....

before.......
and after....

He may just kill me for that!!!!!! (please don't!!!)

The Corn Exchange Clock

Present for our friend Bec who unfortunately couldn't come with us

Front....

and back....

Present for SophersThe website is http://www.jolaby.co.uk/ they are well worth a look and the lady on the stall was lovely too!

(special mention to Mum's Armoire for providing background.... I have made it something to show my appreciation...)



I hope it likes them!!!!


I've also been working on a little something for the bloggers I couldn't get bookmarks to on time... (with lots of inspiration from Molly Chicken!) here is a little sneak preview!



That's all for now!

Meet Doris

I'd like for you all to meet Doris! Doris is my Librarian action figure (with realistic shushing action!) who sits and looks over me whilst I work. Doris was given to me by my cousin who picked her up on a trip to the states. Isn't she great! She's even based on a real life Librarian by the name of Nancy Pearl.

I'd also like to thank you all for your kind comments on my photo's! The mbira sounds almost unique, a little bit harpish, a little bit windchimish... I really can't think of how to describe it! If you check out amazon, they let you play excerpts from some of their mbira cd's!

Wikipedia has this link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mbira

And this is our teacher Chartwell Dutiro http://www.africanmusiciansprofiles.com/chartwell.htm

First Swap Excitement

I've started the prep for my first swap thanks to the Lovely Angel Jem! I'm still not sure what it will entail properly, however I know which route I'm going to take with my bookmark(s) they shall be experimental (so apologies to the poor person/people that receive them!)

In other news I saw some AMAZING fireworks along the river mersey last night. There were 20,000 set off in three minutes to celebrate the opening of an exhibition at the Tate Liverpool. When I FINALLY remember to have my camera and the cable to download to the PC in the same location I shall post some pics!!!

I'm very much looking forward to the weekend, I'm going to finish the bunting (I hope) and get working on some surprises for my Mum's upcoming birthday and retirement party and drink pots of tea!. I still have no idea what I'm going to get her as a pressie though.... I'm hoping Sophers and Bert will have some bright ideas although I'm open to suggestions!

Have a great weekend everyone!

I know I promised

I promised a photo post extravaganza... unfortunately I neglected to bring the disk with the software to download the photos.... (silly Sarah) so it will have to wait until my next post.

I'm looking forward to a nice civilised weekend. I'm off to the Lark Lane Farmers market on Saturday with my Mum and Sister where we shall buy lots of nice goodies and have a lovely lunch with what we get! There is a stall that sells homemade preserves and jellies and jams and chutneys - I got some medlar jelly there last time - GORGEOUS - especially with cold cuts. They go to all the farmers markets including Hope St I think so if you are of the scouse persuasion get thee to see them!! (they even give you a little discount when you bring the Jars back!! - how cool is that!)

Have a good one all!