Headhuntress in Hampshire

Instagram - A year in photos

2012-01-09T20:52:00.002Z

If you have an iPhone - you should be well aware of Instagram - best God damn app in the universe...! It makes crappy old pictures look super professional at the tap of a thumb.

And seeing as I haven't been blogging much lately I thought you might like to take a look at my Instagrid. A beautiful box full of a year's worth of Instagram pictures from my phone. What a year it's been. I might sit down and tell you all about it before too long. But maybe some things are better left unsaid ;)

Click here to view all my Instagram photos if you do not have an iPhone

One of my favourite Instagram pictures of the year, my daughter Zoe on the right and her best friend Molly on the left. The moustachioed ones in the background are me, my Mum and your mum before the hormone treatment...

Oh and just because it's January, here's a vid of my singing to cheer you up with...

Happy January and up you're bum. Much love, Headhuntress xxx

You Shall Go To The Ball With Love Southsea

2011-11-21T23:26:00.001Z

I'll be letting my hair down at this amazing night of fun, hosted by the brilliant Love Southsea. Come and join me. Want to know more? Then read on...

Love Southsea are inviting you to their fantastic Christmas ball, 7.30pm-1am on 3rd December 2011.

Tickets are £60 per head and all proceeds are going to the Falklands Veterans Foundation

So, what can you expect for £60? Well first up, ladies don your ball gowns and gentlemen, dust off those dinner jackets because you'll be spending the evening at the fantastic Boathouse Number Seven, set within the beautiful Historic Dockyard. You'll be surrounded by the national treasures of The Warrior and The Victory.

HMS Warrior

The venue will be transformed ready for the ball. Take your seats and enjoy a slap up three course meal. Ampersand Venues will be serving up starters, followed by a delicious Christmas roast dinner with a selection of four roast meats, veggie options and a plethora of vegetables followed by dessert, coffee and mints.

Boathouse Number Seven at last year's Love Southsea ball

This will all be served up banquet style onto the tables so you and your friends can feast to your heart's content.

Half a bottle of wine is also included for every person, to help along with the merriment. There will also be a fully licensed bar, because you won't want to stop there!

Sit back and be entertained by the hilarious Scott Charlton, he's the king of after dinner stand up.

Scott Charlton

Be wowed by Manic Stage productions as they put on some terrific cabaret for you courtesy of their beautiful and talented dancers.

Once your dinner has had time to digest a little, you can have fun at our casino with roulette tables. You could be a winner!

The casino at last year's Love Southsea Ball

Sir Simon Weston gave a moving speech at last year's Love Southsea ball

Make sure you buy your raffle tickets as we have an incredible array of superb prizes to be won at our silent auction...

A small section of prizes from last year's Love Southsea ball

As you'll be dressed up in your finery, why not have your photographs taken with Hamilton Studios who will be attending with their pop up professional studio. You will be able to buy your photographs and take them away on the night at a very special discount price.

Photoshoot by Hamilton Studios

Finish off the evening by working off that dinner with dancing to the finest soulful party hits from Big Love Soul, Southsea's grooviest band.

There's no party like a Big Love Soul party!

Do you want to know more about Falklands Veterans Foundation? Here is a short paragraph about where the money will be going...

This April coming 2012 will mark 30 years of the conflict. The Falkland Island war was the biggest naval action to take place since World War II.

Over 900 soldiers lost their lives in the short 74 days of conflict.

The Foundation need to raise a great deal of money every year to keep their project going and Love Southsea really want to do as much as possible to help.

’Liberty Lodge’ is a small comfortable dwelling the veterans charity have built on the Falklands Islands. They raise money both to keep the lodge running but also to pay for the men/women & families who were caught up in the conflict to be flown over to the lodge for a small break to help give them some of closure. This is a proven way to help the mental anguish our-service personnel have to deal with in their day to day jobs through fighting for our Queen and Country.

What a great reason to have a wonderful party, full of fun and laughter whilst raising lots of money for a superb cause.

If you book a table for ten you can get one ticket free - so ask your friends and family along and get Christmas

To book your tickets you can pay online using Paypal (small processing fee)

Or for any other type of payment or to just find out more;

Email: lovesouthsea@yahoo.co.uk

Or telephone Love Southsea on 07729294137

Some pictures from Little Johnny Russell's 29th October 2011

2011-11-03T12:37:00.001Z

I hosted our first market in a pub last weekend. It was blooming awesome. Great atmosphere - although a little bit dark and in the perfect spot on Albert Road. I couldn't be more pleased.

It was my birthday the night before so I had the hugest hangover...

This is the jewellery I make to sell at the markets I run.

But luckily, hair of the dog was very close to hand!

I'm busy getting ready for the next few markets we have on our agenda. One is a three day event at The Victorian Festival of Christmas. www.christmasfestival.co.uk and the other is the country's biggest free entry indoor market at Portsmouth Guildhall on 20th November. www.boutiquemarket.co.uk

We're back at Little Johnny Russell's on Albert Road on 10th December - can't wait!

Photos From My Last Market

2011-10-06T11:50:00.004+01:00

St Swithun's Church Hall in Southsea is where my market had it's humble beginnings earlier this year. Now I run weekly market's at the Guildhall and I've been asked to host a market at the fantastic Little Johnny Russell's as well as running the grand monthly markets in the Guildhall itself. So it is always lovely when we go back to St Swithun's for my Southsea Boutique Market.

Here are some pictures below that I took at the last market:

The Boutique Market at St Swithun's, Sat 1st Oct

The sun was out but our loyal followers still turned up

Cup of tea?

Mary from Second Best Furniture amidst her emporium

Gareth Bowen strikes a pose behind the Vintage and Very Nice stall

Vintage & More Than Very Nice

Even more Vintage & Very Nice

Fabulous home ware from Vintage & Very Nice

Blanche & Lola's vintage reworked hairclips

Blanche & Lola's brooches, earrings & necklaces

Blanche & Lola bags

Amy, owner of Blanche & Lola

Lily Belle's knitted & handmade bunting

Fleur & Bird's bargain shabby chic fun

Jan owner of Fleur & Bird

Tina surrounded by her handmade creations with local photographer Paula Bailey

Tina clearly cracked a funny

Local artist Richard Oakes & his beautiful partner

Superb art work and books for sale

Retro Rascals

Huge decoupage selection at Retro Rascals

Sarah of Retro Rascals talks to an excited customer

Nanny's Attic is full of exciting trinkets

Morgana's Fudge, undeniably the best fudge in the world

Marie Pousardin and her creations

Love At First Sight with Steve Byrne

Pat Ellerby owner of Love At First Sight

The vintage jumpers went down a treat despite the searing October heat!

Urban Alchemy, stunning handmade jewellery

Add caption

Shabby Chic Arts & Craft

Gorgeous Baby Gifts

Bunch of Baby Vests Anyone?

Cutey cutey cupcake socks

The Perfect Newborn Gift

Amy Swanton and her handmade accessories

Pansy & Cha Cha

You can't help but smile

It just makes you so happy!

Tree Decs by Naive Crafts

Fab & Festive for the home

Lisa from Belle's On Her Toes

Retro Designs by Lisa

Boutique Market Hanmade jewellery is always popular

Our cheeky tea girls love to rearrange, "Let Them Eat Cake" into "Let cake eat them..."

The cheesecake gâteaux's are exceedingly popular

Happy Shoppers

Those cheeky tea girls get more beautiful everytime

Winner of The Boutique Market Vintage Outfit Competition

2011-10-05T10:49:00.000+01:00

Boutique Market Scrabble Rings

Here are the much anticipated photographs from September's Guildhall Boutique Market. As you may remember we were running a competition to award a prize to the person best dressed in a vintage stylee.

Ruby and Izzy Whitmore - "No more pictures please!"

So many people walked through the doors that day, that we ended up being incredibly busy and didn't get a chance to photograph everyone that we wanted to.

Winner Natalie Tompkins looked fantastic decked out in full on charity shop chic

Natalie Tompkins looked truly terrific and the fact that all her clothes were sourced from charity shops in true thrift style - a girl after my own heart, guaranteed her the first prize!

Morgana's Fudge

Pansy and Cha Cha

Jennifer Cook of Pansy and Cha Cha pictured above was wearing a superb dress, which you can't see in this picture, I really wanted to capture her outfit too, but we just ran out of time.

Ruth Gaunt's Jewellery

Zoe rocking vintage 50s bought from Hideout on Albert Road and her Mummy, Boutique Market owner - Abigail

The naughty photographer Johnny Buxton only took a picture of our top halves so you can't see Zoe's super cute 50s dress in all it's glory. It's probably just as well, you couldn't see my pencil dress as I looked more like a marker pen in it.

Bean Vampies in a range of retro and hand printed fabrics

Crochet by Miranda and Bespoke Glassware by Andy Greentree

Retro Rascals sitting amongst groovy decoupaged homeware

Tinker's Tea Cosies

Ian Sutton striking a stirling pose - T-shirt by Phigment, hat "borrowed" from a friend

Shoppers enjoying the Member's Room

Pretty Cushions to add some extra fun to your home

Cute Little Monkeys

Loretta May in a top from TK Maxx had her hair done by sister Leah, while Tilly was sporting vintage stolen from "Mummy's" wardrobe!

Paula Bailey looking strikingly wow in lime green dress with matching bag

Sandra Lohmann looked stunning in vintage dress, handbag and brooch. That fabulous hat is from Etsy

Daryl Bowen from Vintage & Very Nice rocking the vintage britches, hat and stall!

Ruth Gaunt modeling one of her own necklace designs and wearing a French Connection top

Sarah Clay wearing a dress from a stall on Spitalfields Market and Gemma Vaughan in a cute necklace by Tatty Devine and a Topshop skirt

Original art work by Gina Simmons

Lust-Have Objects

Look out for more pictures from the Boutique Market on my main website: www.boutiquemarket.co.uk - the next date is 29th October at Little Johnny Russell's pub on Albert Road, or you can catch me every Friday running a mini-market at Portsmouth Guildhall Cafe.

Boutique Market Vintage Competition

2011-09-14T20:35:00.001+01:00

This Sunday you can visit my fabulous Boutique Market at Portsmouth Guildhall as usual, we are open from 11-3pm.

Vintage Nix

VIntage And Very Nice's Jacket Collection

But as a little extra, whether you are a seller or a shopper - we are asking that you wear vintage this Sunday - you can wear anything from medieval to the 1990s.

You could win two pieces of jewellery of your choice from my stall

Bento box ring - you could choose this!

Johnny and Kirstie rocked the vintage look for their wedding

You also win tea and cake for two served on our gorgeous crockery

The best dressed will win tea and cake for two served on vintage crockery at any one of our markets and two pieces of jewellery of their choice from our stall - Rare Designer Must Haves.

Zoe my little girl rocking vintage stylee at The Boutique Market

It was turquoise ribbons and beige flared boiler suit for Headhuntress aged 6 in 1981

Fast forward to aged 13 in 1990 & it's all about the leather bomber jacket & quiff

Just add a black & white filter for a vintage effect despite sporting a Warehouse maxi dress!

50s style dress spectacularly hidden by a table for Johnny & Kirstie's wedding this year

Sometimes just wearing an ancient bowler hat or a hairpiece is all it takes for a nod to vintage

If you don't like tea you could always have coffee in a pretty coffee cup....

Everyone that we spot looking suitably fabulous - whatever era they may be depicting will have their photograph taken by our professional in-house photographer and published on these pages.

So make sure you come to:

Our Day Out To Vintage London

2011-08-16T19:38:00.000+01:00

I've been working hard on The Boutique Markets so this blog is rather neglected. But I thought I'd share some of the gorgeous pictures we took when I joined up with Love Southsea for a fun day of research at Vintage London.

My daughter and her boyfriend - on the train to Vintage at Southbank

Louise, owner of Love Southsea and Mary, owner of Mindworks Hypnotherapy boarded a train with us dressed in our bestest vintage-esque outfits!

Arriving At Waterloo was like arriving on holiday - the sun was streaming through the rooftop windows ready for a glorious day at Southbank.

Posers unite

I took this picture intending to Instagram it, the red and yellow paint looked so striking against the freshly laid tarmac, like road art graffiti, but not...

Getting closer...

I can see the London Eye!

Oh, to be this young, beautiful and hip...

Can you believe they're not even fifteen years old yet?

iLondon

Could it possibly be this way?

Can anyone see the entrance?

Fiddledy-dee it looks like we made it!

Bargain little nick-nacks

Decoupage madness

Get yer tats out!

Everybody loves this boy

Mary gets a vintage up-do - Victory rolls!

Pop-up vintage tea room

Louise loving the Helter Skelter

Now where can we get a slap up meal?

Ooh, look, retro tourists!

Aching feet and a well earned rest for the young folk

Obviously, I was having far too much fun to take pictures of everything and some of the pictures I took aren't good enough to publish. But we have been truly inspired by our day out, we're bursting with creativity now ready to bring new ideas to our markets.

To find out more about our indoor vintage style markets in Portsmouth and Southsea visit:

www.southsea.me for Southsea and Guildhall Boutique Markets

and

www.lovesouthsea.co.uk

for the stunning indoor vintage style markets at The Square Tower.

Making Time For Music, The Longest Wedding's Acoustic Set

2011-06-28T13:14:00.002+01:00

One of my very dearest and best of friends is getting married in August. She is planning the Longest Wedding Ever. Which was aptly presented with The Longest Invitation Ever. It is going to take no less than three days out of my working week and is not even going to be local. It's in Dorset a good hour and a half in the car.

Kirstie and Johnny are getting wed

She is having a civil ceremony on the Tuesday followed by an outdoor totally romantic and perfect sounding ceremony the next day. While around 150 of her lovely friends and family will all be in attendance as we are all camping. It is nothing short of a Wedding Fest and now that I know that I do not have to take the toddler with me, I am really looking forward to it.

The Venue Roebuck Farm (there will be a marquee and possibly some tents)

In keeping with the outdoor/natural theme, they do not want any electronic music. "In a field full of party people without some banging music? How can that be possible?" Was my reaction.

But really, it is going to be rather nice. Fortunately she knows some brilliant musicians including a bag pipe player and the wonderful Helsinki and although I am rubbish compared to the beautiful talented Hayley Alker, I am going to have a go at an acoustic set. It's so awesome to jam again for the first time in absolutely ages.

So, largely for the benefit of Xyphious and Design:bias here is the acoustic set list we are thinking of!

Heartbeats by The Knife
Kiss by Prince
Portishead - Roads
Maps by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

5. Hey Ya by Outkast but the Blanks version

6. Unintended by Muse

7. Don't Marry Her by The Beautiful South

8.Head Over Heels by Tears For Fears, but this stunning acoustic version:

So, what do you reckon? It's going to be rather wonderful, yes?

Your Opinion Please!

2011-06-15T12:15:00.002+01:00

Here is a poster put together for some A boards. I am just wondering if the swirls between the words look like "&" signs. What do you think?

The general consensus was that the swirls were not looking too great. So here is the finished A board sign:

Back Once Again

2011-06-09T17:37:00.000+01:00

Portsmouth Guildhall, the new venue for my Boutique Market and Rare Designer Must Haves' shop stall

I haven't blogged for an eternity. Largely due to setting up businesses and the end of my marriage. I did not want my blog to be full of strains and pains. I distracted myself. I am back now. Focussed but blurred around the edges. All will be well.

As I am feeling a little uninspired and there is such an awful lot to catch up on. I am just going to add some of my favourite photographs from the last few months to help fill the gaps.

Southsea Seafront at Dusk

Three generations

It took months and many attempts, but we finally got James to the hairdressers

Southsea Bandstand, eerily quiet without band and crowd

Zoe taking on the role of one of Verity's personalities in the play Find Me

Silent Sunday - 13th March 2011

2011-03-13T11:08:00.001Z

If you would like to take part in Silent Sunday, one picture, no words. Then click on the button below to see Mocha Beanie Mummy's blog. Here you can also take a look at all the other brilliant pictures without words, leave comments and follow new blogs. Ssssh.

Headhuntress' Music Playlist 10th March 2011

2011-03-10T12:25:00.000Z

I haven't given my poor blog any tender loving care for a while. The reason being that I have been
working on my new indoor market, Southsea Boutique Market. But I have been dying to join in with Mumra's playlist, so now;s my chance. If you click the button below, you can join the linky and read other bloggers playlists. It's a great way to find out about other people and it's also a great way for potential new readers to find your blog.

I am obsessed by music and have a very eclectic musical taste. I'm also quite technical in the way that I listen to music and will often get side tracked by the way riffs move and harmonies work before I hear the melodies. This means that when I ever try and sing along to songs that I don't know really well, I get all the words completely wrong. In fact I usually just make my own words up, which has become a running joke amongst my children.

So, Mumra has shared her playlist for the gym. I take my Soulwax, Nite Versions CD to the gym because as well as being brilliant and full of beeps and whizzes, it's really fast pace and gets me running better. I like to do intervals on the treadmill, jog, sprint, jog, sprint, so this really gets me going.

This is a Soulwax mix taken from Youtube. They are blooming brilliant encompassing electronic hyperactivity and a live band. I always try and go to seem them if any of them happen to be playing locally.

I have a ridiculously huge music collection saved on various computers and MP3 players around the house and there's too much to choose from. So I'm going to share some of my favourites from my Youtube account.

I'm also a big fan of Air. I love their melodic low fi sound. I have all their albums, but one of my favourites is the soundtrack to the awesome movie The Virgin Suicides, you can view the video for Playground Love above which just captures the angst and mood of a 70s teenage love in my opinion.

This track, Mans Needs by The Cribs just reminds me of walking into Little Johnny Russells on a summer's evening with girlfriends and needing to dance before we even get to the bar.

The Cure are just completely brilliant, so moody, so cool. I was introduced to this track aged 15 when my friend who was at boarding school in York made me my first mix tape. The Cure are playing Bestival this year, I absolutely cannot wait. It's going to be something else. They have made some great tracks, all of them timeless, but I particularly like this one as it's one their earliest and so ahead of it's time.

Simian make incredible music. Well, I say make, they are no longer together. Such a shame. I play both their albums, Skin and Chemistry over and over. They have a unique sound, terrific melodies that hit the musical spot as far as I'm concerned.

I adore the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and I particularly like a good mash up, nobody does it finer than The Kleptones. They were only introduced to me recently by a friend, but since then I've been hooked. The track above sounds just gorgeous, perfect for a walk on the beach with your ipod playing.

I love the mood of this track. Bouncy yet melodic. Such great production, yes, that means nothing to most people I know. I just feel they have done a great job with the texture of the sounds, contrasting with vocals, guitars and layering. Fantastic.

As a vocalist myself, I hugely admire Minnie Riperton. She absolutely has the best vocalist of all time in my opinion. Controlled, a huge range and none of that Ms Aguilera warbly nonsense. If you are not familiar with this track, you will have heard of her other big belter. "Loving You." If you haven't, then look it up. Your ears will thank you for it.

So, I'm guessing this playlist will be a regular thing, so I'll wind it up for now so i have plenty to share with you next time! Till then I'll leave you with this XX remix of Florence and The Machine's, You Got The Love. I am not a fan of Florence. I admire her work, but I find her a bit shouty, but this track is totally brilliant. Yes it is.

The Kitchen Sink, Silent Sunday 27th February 2011

2011-02-27T09:31:00.000Z

If you would like to take part in Silent Sunday, one picture, no words, taken this week. Then click on the button below to see Mocha Beanie Mummy's blog.

Here you can also take a look at all the other brilliant pictures without words, leave comments and follow new blogs. Ssssh.

Silent Sunday - 13th February 2011

2011-02-12T23:51:00.000Z

My Meme - Seven Things You Don't Know About Me

2011-02-11T14:30:00.003Z

"I've been sent the same meme by @MamaMcCann, @ElsieAnderton and @SuperLuckyDi
I didn't know what a meme is, so I asked a few people. These are the answers I got. I am still none the wiser.

"Meme is a tautology of the word 'me' as a geek-spawn egocentric put- down."

"Abby, a meme is basically an idea or creative thing that flies around the internet at high speed. Mock motivational posters, LOLcats, owls going O RLY, people writing the same shit in their status..."

"Meme stems from the word memetic, which was what scientists jokingly referred to sounds or images which are passed on as a play on the word genetic and it stuck. Coined by Richard Dawkins no less."

So, yes yadda yadda, this is a difficult one, I'm a blogger, I regularly lay my gizzards on the table for all to see but here are seven things you probably don't know about me.

I never brush or comb my hair and I haven't been to a hairdresser in eight years. I snip the ends off when I remember and I dye it myself, because I am basically traumatised after a really revolting haircut that made me look like a small boy back in 2003. I did have my hair cut a few years ago by my tree surgeon (second) ex-husband with his bonsai scissors. I kid you not.

2. My left ear is pierced seven times. The first hole was done properly when I was ten. The other six were done by myself when I was sixteen and clearly going through a self harming goth phase. I also pierced my own nose. It didn't work. I used a normal stud, so when I put the nose stud in, it just sank straight into the massive hole that had been left there.

It was not an attractive look. I swapped it for a hoop, hoping to rock the Lenny Kravitz look, but instead, with my super wide Asian nostrils, I just looked like Miss Piggy. So, it was incredibly short lived. Six months later I stopped wearing all the earrings too.

This man is not my sixteen year old self, but it's a very similar look

3. When I was seventeen and living in Yorkshire I met my first ex-husband. A week later I moved in with him, he lived near Portsmouth. I told him I was twenty and I told my parents I had acquired a scholarship at a stage school in Guildford.

I kept the lie up for about three months, even though everyone sussed me out after about a week. What a big fat liar. It was truly horrible and mortifying, I do not recommend lying to anyone as you always get caught because it's just not the truth, especially elephant sized whoppers like that. Somehow, we stayed together for ten years and we had our first child just before I turned twenty one. I can't believe I am sharing this with you! Unfortunately, we divorced in 2003 coinci-mentally when I had the tragic boy haircut...

Pinocchio was the only person who lied his little arse off and still looked cute

4. Keeping in with the theme of my clearly being an over impulsive spontaneous-ist. I finished my open university exams for Health and Social Care, put my pen down and vowed never to work in that line of work again.

I only got into Social Work so that I can know everything there is to know about it for when it's my turn to take care of my highly dependent sister who has cerebral palsy. I think I probably know a bit too much now. So, anyway, I put down my pen and decided that I would set up my new business. Which has digressed muchly over the last five years, but I think I've found my niche now.

See http://www.boutiquemarket.co.uk to find out more about my business

5. I'm not just into writing. Check out my novel's progress here: Abigail Pallant-Sidaway... I am mad about music too. I don't talk about it much but I am a singer and really hope to find a new band to join soon. Here are a few songs from dodgy rehearsals...

6. I am obsessed by Charlie Kaufman movies. I love a lot of films, the stranger, the darker, the more interesting, the better, such as Tim Burton's and Quentin Tarrantino's offerings. But Charlie Kauffman manages to serve up a little pot of magic with each of his films. He manages to turn huge Hollywood actors into entirely different characters. Think of the beautiful Cameron Diaz in Being John Malkovich:

Yes, this is Cameron Diaz in Being John Malkovich if you haven't seen the film, see it!

His script turned Jim Carrey from a rather annoying over the top comedy genius into a sweet, sensitive complicated character and proved what an incredibly diverse actor he is in Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind. He also created a terrific mind blowing story line which makes me want to watch the film over and over and over and over again. Human Nature with Rhyss Ifans as a feral ape man is also genius as is Adaptation which turns Nicholas Cage into a balding tubby middle aged rather humble man. This reminds me, I have yet to see Synecdoche, New York. His imagination is huge, I wish my brain worked like that.

7. And for my seventh and final snippet of useless information that you might not know about me. Um, what can I write? I can only think of gross things that nobody wants to know, indiscretions I'd rather forget, habits that are best left unspoken of.

Hmm. What can I write that would be interesting that I haven't already said? I'd really like to go into greater depths about music and movies, but that wouldn't really be about me would it? Okay. I want to tell you that my favourite book is White Teeth by Zadie Smith.

But I also want to write something more in depth than that. Alas, I can't think of anything juicier than my previous revelations.

So, I will just tell you that I am a hat and high heel addict. I am usually sporting a cloche hat and platform shoes combination. two different periods of fashion, quite a contrast, which is me, Mrs Ambivelence Contrary-Juxtaposition should be my name. Anyway, I've been buying loads off the high street these last few years. I really am having a fashion moment as cloche hats and platforms are currently in. However, it's a look I have been sporting since my teens and a look I will be sporting for many years to come. It's my Winter outdoor look. It is not suitable attire for the mother of a fourteen year old. It is why I am mutton dressed as spam.

My latest inappropriate footwear purchase

So, in true Meme style, I am tagging seven more bloggers who have not yet been tagged by anone else, apologies if you have already done one of these, if you have, please share your old post with me.

Lowenna @Lowenna her blog: http://www.misscufuffle.co.uk/
Cecelia @imreallife http://homexalien.blogspot.comRory @roridge his blog, well I'm not sure if he has a blog as such, but he can scribble something somewhere I'm sure: http://roridge.com/
Bianca @Chib_ibi http://chibibi-chibibi.blogspot.com/
Erin @Erinehm http://www.mummyandmonkey.co.uk
Maricarr @southseascene http://southseascene.blogspot.com/
Denyse @DJKirby http://djkirkby.co.uk/

Children - The Gallery - Week 43

2011-01-26T08:31:00.000Z

This weeks theme for Tara Cain's The Gallery is "Children," which of course creates a huge scope. So I thought I would share this beautiful photo of when I was a ten year old. This was my recorder club, where for some reason I am posing with my clarinet. (I am the Asian one with the Linda McCartney mullet.)

I think we were an incredibly stylish bunch. I was wearing a blue jumper dress with my Mum's blouse for added pizazz and a hot emerald green socks and pointy blue shoes combo. Of course the winner in this photo is the curtains which take away the limelight from all of us.

If you click on the photo of the camera lens coffee mug above, it will take you to the Sticky Fingers blog where you can learn all about The Gallery, where hundreds of bloggers take part in sharing a themed photo from their collection.

Enjoy everyone else's photos, comment and follow new blogs. If you like my blog - then please follow mine too, then let me know and I'll follow you back if I am not already doing so. Have fun!

Stir Crazy - Silent Sunday, 23rd January 2011

2011-01-23T08:47:00.002Z

Check out one of my other blog entries here: http://www.abigailmansell.com/2011/01/like-mother-like-son-silent-sunday-32rd.html

Fun At Granny's house - Silent Sunday 16th January 2011

2011-01-16T17:06:00.000Z

Creativity and A Tortured Mind - In Response To: Are All Bloggers Mentally Ill?

2011-01-16T11:13:00.002Z

Inspired by Imperfect Pages' Musings on Creativity I am writing a blog post that rounds up a few of the thoughts I have been having recently. When I say a few, I mean just that, they are only a few of the thoughts I am sharing with you, because my mind has not shut up at all, it has been on overdrive and I've been Tweeting like a maniac to reflect this usually whilst doing a gazillion other things at the same time. I thought I was going to get away without having the January blues, then a bloody great nasty soul migraine kicked in rendering me useless to even finish this post that I started two weeks ago.

Thoughts about creativity were initially sparked off by The A Residence when she wrote a post about the great community that has been found within Twitter and blogging. I am continuously amazed at how supportive and talented people are within this community. Another post by the brilliant From Marketing to Milk - "Are All Bloggers Mentally Ill?" hit a familiar note with me as I keep seeing depression, tumbling out onto the pages of the most entertaining, sharp witted and hilarious voices, time and time again when I read blogs. I have written before on a similar topic Echoes of Talent in Art and War - Is Talent Genetic? The more blogs I read though, the more sadness and turmoil can be found simmering beneath the surfaces of the people that in turn create the best words and photography who's pages are full of adroitness. All my most creative real life friends are held back at times by crippling depression, huge doses of procrastination or just really bad days where they just can't seem to get anything done. I'm not just talking about a bit of PMT pissy mood time here. I see it in men and women, I see a lot of booze consumed in order to self medicate, I see a lot of prescriptions being handed out. I get a lot of phone calls with nothing but a sniffling sound coming out from the other end. Some of us are better at hiding it than others and some of us are able to share it in such a way that it is almost funny.

One of my friends and I used to really be into the Taoism and the Barefoot Doctor he suggests such meditations as "Scooping the loop," but if we were having a bad day, we'd look at each other or send a text just saying, "I'm scooping the poop." It just summed everything up, including a complete inability to even scoop the loop. There's a lot of people feeling the poo right now. It's January, it's miserable, it's dark out, we're skint and over indulged. January is usually my most creative month. Most of my poetry is written in January, granted it's all a bit Sylvia Plath. It's tortured, it's painful it reflects my inner being and not the happy go lucky person that I usually am. It does not make for light reading, but there's enough of it to make a book. Most people who have read it don't like it very much, it's uncomfortable and probably not very good. When I read it sometimes I feel the same, but there is a place out there for everything and the book is out there.

Sometimes, a soul migraine just takes over, it takes over your everything your very being and you can't remember feeling any other way or imagine feeling any other way. The creativity is hampered, it grinds to a halt, the bed, the sofa, sometimes the floor becomes where it's at. Distress and all those painful experiences we've buried so well bubble up to the surface and just don't want to go away. I think the most creative people are often the most sensitive people. I love people with multi-faceted personalities, they are the most interesting. I don't want to read a blog where every day was the most "perfect" day ever. Where the sun is always shining, where the children are always well behaved, where the writer has a fabulous wardrobe and a doting husband. Yawn. Life is just not like that. It's all the ups and downs we go through that makes us who we are. It's what makes us human beings able to share, nurture and amuse which is why I believe some of the best blogs out there are nourished by creative but tortured minds.

Body Parts - My Tummy, I loathe it, I love It - The Gallery Week 41

2011-01-12T23:32:00.001Z

If you click on the photo of the camera lens coffee mug above, it will take you to the Sticky Fingers blog where you can learn all about The Gallery, where hundreds of bloggers take part in sharing a themed photo from their collection. The last theme was "love" you can view my post here. This week, it's a tricky one, body parts. I am sharing with you one of those shots that should never be shared, a joke shot, an embarrassment so I hope you appreciate this Tara Cain! One of those daft pics that are taken on holiday, that you quickly edit from the photo album before you post your pictures on Facebook.

I have a really beautiful shot of my toddler breast feeding, which I wish I was brave enough to share with the world. There aren't enough shots of breast feeding toddlers out there, showing breasts in action, doing what they are supposed to do. Unfortunately because of the taboo inflicted by Western society, I don't feel it fair on my husband to share a shot of my breast with the world.

I would like to talk about my stomach. There's a lot of stomach hate going on at the moment, a lot of us are trying to reduce our tummies after the seasonal overload. I am that's for sure. I would have liked to have posted a shot of my tummy in it's current state, but taking a self portrait isn't very easy and I am sure my husband would think I was a complete loon if I asked him to take a picture of my tummy to share on the internet. So, here is one he took three years ago on Barcelona beach.

I don't like my tummy right now, it hangs at the sides and protrudes further out than my no-longer-breastfeeding breasts. Dizzy grabbed it the other day and went yuk, a fine opinion coming from a toddler, "From the mouths of babes as they say."

But really, my stomach is not something to be despised. it is something to be celebrated. It may be covered in stretch marks and has a line of nigra that's been there for fourteen years since baby number one. When I look at these marks that show up as imperfections, they really are a reminder of what perfection can be. They are the reminders of the beauty of life, which I nurtured and grew within.

I have new marks on my belly, scars from the removal of a fallopian tube that took place two weeks after this, which granted was keyhole surgery and scars from my appendix being removed. Now, that was keyhole as well, but as they couldn't go through the same spot again, I now have an extra large Frankenstein style belly button. My stomach really has let me down on occasions.

I will probably not ever wear a bikini again. But I will not lament. I will celebrate the wonderful people it has created by sharing this shot, for the human body is an amazing thing. I am fascinated by it as I have said before and will always take surreptitious glances at other people's bodies if I think I can get away with it, so I am loving the chance to sneak a peak at everyone else's posts and body parts over at the Sticky Fingers Blog. Thank you Tara!

Belly

Silent Sunday - 9th January - Happy 12th Birthday Sonny Boy!

2011-01-09T10:22:00.000Z

If you would like to take part in Silent Sunday, one picture, no words. Then click on the button below to see Mocah Beanie Mummy's blog. Here you can also take a look at all the other brilliant pictures without words. Ssssh.

New Year New Body - Losing that last six pounds

2011-01-04T12:37:00.003Z

Lots of people have made it their aim to get a new body this year. This has been my quest all year round for the last twenty years. I go up and down like a yo-yo. Whenever Oprah is pictured looking a bit squidgy round the edges, I empathise. When she is pictured looking lean and mean, I know how she is feeling then as well. I have had a rock hard six pack and I have been four stone overweight with a billowing belly.

July 2009 Big and 37 weeks pregnant

I am a trained fitness instructor, I used to work at the Taro Gym in Petersfield and I used to teach Spinning Classes. I did a personal trainer course with Future Fit. Although I haven't worked in the industry for the passed ten years there isn't much that I don't know about nutrition. I have had pretty much every diet/fad book on my bookshelf at one point or another because I like to learn all the latest theories. Or tut at the same diet ideas repackaged. I am fascinated about how the human body works, how it looks, how it can be trained and what foods do to your body. I used to have an iron will.

August 2009 - In-between - Dizzy was 9 days old when this picture was taken - our 2nd day out of hospital - notice the tartiness can't disguise the eyes wide shut knackeredness

But somewhere along the way I developed a fault and my guarantee seems to have run out because I can't exchange my body for a new one it seems. Somewhere along the way, my subconscious mind began over riding my conscious mind and even though I had made a decision to eat healthily, I would get to the end of the day and realise I had rammed a ton of unwanted crap into my mouth all day long. How could that be? I used to have an iron will! but everyday, the same thing kept happening. I'd make a decision to eat healthily. Then I wouldn't be healthy at all. I downloaded hypnotherapy CDs to retrain my thinking and they used to work too. But now, I put one on and pass out within the first 30 seconds due to the relaxation hypnosis. Somehow, my unconscious mind has over-ridden my conscious and my subconscious mind!

Dec 2009 - Skinny Again

Because I am determined to be really determined about this healthy eating malarkey I am going back to basics. In order to really start thinking about what I am eating and to over ride my sub-conscience I am going to make a record of everything I eat. I have written bout this before on my fitness blog here. Now, there isn't a lot of time in the day, I have three children and businesses to run. Writing things down is time consuming and tedious but it is very effective, because you start to make better choices about what you eat just by analysing your eating habits. So, I am going to photograph everything I eat before I put it in my mouth. I am not going to go on a diet I will just eat as I please and photograph things. Of course, I am pretty sure that I will start eating more carefully because I won't want to photograph my grosser eating habits such as drinking spoonfuls of last night's gravy straight from the jug as I was serving dinner or snaffling that stray square of toast that the toddler threw on the sofa from his high-chair. I will picture everything. Everything for a week or two! I will record it all here: http://www.bestfitnessdvds.net/category/abigails-fitness-diary/ as it will make for a very boring feed on the Rare Designer's Facebook page where this blog appears automatically.

Dec 2010 - half a stone heavier

I know I don't look much different, but I have a wardrobe full of clothes that do not fit properly, I'd like to lose six pounds so that I can sit on the sofa wearing my jeans without cutting the circulation being cut off to my entire lower body. I was expecting to have to do this. I ate and I drank like a loon for the whole of December, I've been walking less and I haven't been to the gym for a month.

To get things started though, you can see what I have consumed so far today. You're not yawning are you? No? Hmm, okay. Here goes.

Macchiato latte

I have drunk three of these. What is it? It's a Tassimo macchiato which I added Starbucks toffee nut syrup to. Total calorie count, um. About 339 cals on coffee, plus about 35 cals per teaspoon of syrup. So that's 444 cals wasted already on three little drinks. Brilliant, I can see where things are going wrong already!

I am five foot nothing and in order to maintain my weight I only need about 1700 cals a day. Any more than that and I will put weight on. In order to lose weight I need to eat about 1200-1400 cals a day, but I am also quite active so all movement counts towards that calorie goal. I plan to burn an extra 200 cals at least through activity.

Cinnamon and raisin bagels

For breakfast I had one and a half cinnamon bagels with butter. See how my subconscious mind took over while I was getting ready to photograph them? I took a bite already. Hopeless! These total to: 540 cals plus the butter: an extra 36 cals. I tapped them into "My Plate" on The Livestrong website which records and tallies everything up for you. In fact it's even better today since I last used it. Very fast and everything I searched for was stored on there, although I cheated and used an American brand of bagel, but they are roughly the same.

So, it's 11.45 and this morning I have already consumed 1040 cals! Brilliant. It tells me I can eat a further 413 cals to stay within my limit today. Oh dear, I still have lunch and tea to go. I will continue to eat as I please and chronicle it, but I am certainly thinking about and realising where I am going wrong.

New Year's Eve Tomorrow - The End of 2010!

2010-12-29T22:21:00.000Z

How has your year been? I absolutely cannot believe that yet another year has flown by already. This year has been a blast. I've forced myself to stop being shy, made loads of new friends, met some truly amazing people and learned so much along the way.

I've got lots of ideas up my sleeve, maybe too many, which is why I haven't achieved the one new years resolution I made last year. It was to finish my book. I've had the storyline and basic ideas written down for two years now and I've written nearly 65,000 words, so, go me. Some books are that long, but I've barely got into my epic tale. Being a writer is all about the discipline, something which I seem to be lacking. There's too much work and play to be had, along with more excuses the length of my intestines and so, I will once again this year commit to the same resolution. I need to write 100,000 more words and then the tale will be told.

Back to partying though. Tomorrow night, in a rare display of nocturnalism, my husband will be venturing out to play with his band Tuned to D.E.A.D. at The Fat Fox for the Sumo party, so I will be there.

But I also have tickets for the amazing sounding Miss Cufuffle night at The Kings, Albert Road, which will be fantabulous, so i'll be nipping over there too, take a read all about it here: http://misscufufflepresents.wordpress.com/

It's my first time out on New Years Eve for three years, so I'm really looking forward to it. I hope you have a wonderful evening and all the best for 2011!

Love Headhuntress xxxx

Silent Sunday - 26th December 2010

2010-12-28T20:16:00.000Z

Fashionably late as always. I present to you, Silent Sunday - on a Tuesday.

And I know, it's all about the silence, but I'd just like to say - that this is not my house!

The Gallery - Love - is it possible to keep finding room in your heart for more love?

2010-12-22T18:59:00.005Z

This week on Sticky Fingers Blog the theme is "love." It's a toughy because so many pictures encapsulate love because we really do experience it in so many situations.

Imperfect Pages and Sticky Fingers have photographed sibling love. Mumra posted a great picture showing the love she shares with her girlfriends through thick and thin. And Mummy Mishaps and Alexander Residence with their extra sensory perception both went for the love of their baby's favourite toys!

Here are my closest loves.

Love is patient

This is my Mum with my beautiful big sister. She is eleven months older than me and lives with my parents still. She has cerebral palsy and requires round the clock care, which my parents have patiently given her for thirty six years. I went into social work so that I can be the best that I can be for her when it is time for her to move out and me to take over from my parents. She is unable to talk, so she has never told me that she loves me. But I know that she does.

Love is kind

My three beautiful children - so special each one of them - of curse I am thoroughly biased!

It does not envy

This my best friend and I, she will not appreciate me posting this picture. But I love it. I love her too and we have been best friends for eighteen years now, through thick and thin, through all our ups and downs and she is always there for me when I need her.

It does not boast

Here are just a few of my many beautiful cousins with my children and I taken in 2003. They live on the island of Borneo on the edge of the rainforest. When I am with them, I feel a real sense of love and belonging. There are a few language barriers, but we still manage to communicate perfectly! I do not love this picture. I was the 27 year old boy in the St George's cross top!

It is not proud

Here we have brotherly love. I was so worried about having more children. My little boy would become the "middle" child and coupled with his Asperger's and his lack of ability to get on with other children, I was worried that all the change would be a bit much or worse, that there wouldn't be a bond between them. But I couldn't have been more wrong, Aspie Boy adores his little brother and Dizzy adores him back. Between them is a real love.

It is not rude, it is not self seeking

Here is a moment of love between my eldest two and our dog Caleb when he was just a puppy. He is huge now and very muscly, so we all keep our distance.

It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs

Here is out beautiful ginger tom Mr Schneebly. He is a greedy self centred little cat, but we all love him none the less, even Caleb the dog loves him. It's all about the cuteness.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

This is my little girl. My first baby, she really is special, so thoughtful, full of love and wisdom. When she was born I couldn't imagine the possibility of loving anyone more than I loved her. But when her little brother came along, my heart grew bigger like the womb that nurtured them and made way for endless love for them both in equal measures. When baby number three began to grow, I knew that nature would work it's magic and create room in my heart and mind for all three of them.

It always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always perseveres.

Parents, grandparents, an aunty, sisters, brother, and grandchildren. The many roles in which love is fulfilled.

This hangs on my loo wall!

Love never fails.