Life, Ninja Killer Cat and Everything Else ...

Bloggy Woggy Dodahs

2013-05-18T15:54:00.001+01:00

"Bloggy Woggy Doodahs" as my husbands say when I embark upon a blogging jaunt , not quite sure he gets it?! He perhaps thinks (he doesn't really) that my heads up in the clouds...

So last week I went to blog camp.. What's that I feel a present of a blogging overlord who is telling me that my blogging soul is at risk if I don't correct myself and tell you it was Blog Summit . Please do NOT say "Blog Summit" in a streetwise voice.

I met up with a group of bloggers at Birmingham New Street , at first I wasn't sure where they were but Annie from Mamasurus who beaming ear to ear sporting a "Geek" jumper . I am not quite sure what you call a collection of bloggers ? If I don't mention you all by name please forgive me ...

So after arriving at Blog Summit there was cake ... cake is good , friendships confirmed new and old, a name to a face and a face to a blog. I spied my buddy Wendy Macdonald we had been to Blog Camp as it was then a long while ago, we were on the naughty row.

Blogging is fun, blogging is a mystery waiting to be discovered , shyness is my enemy but friendship battles forth and wins me over.

A beautiful collection of ladies I'll think you'll agree winning my shyness over with their friendship.

The first session was a how to use your camera properly even though I had forgotten my DSLR ( first blogger fail of the day!) but none the less I used my camera phone to capture a number of images.

Not bad pictures I think . I hijacked Geekdaddy and we had a long conversation , he really helped my photography (white balance was a problem in a number of my pictures) and he gave some very useful tips thanks Geekdaddy!! the other half of Geekmummy.

Sometimes life can deal you lemons ...

But you can go ahead and just make lemonade!

Another session saw SEO come into play and me asserting myself by asking a question, much nodding of heads and agreement that I am indeed unique and a anomaly ! Very insightful and much for my technophobic head to get around.

Last session was brand awareness which pretty much speaks for itself culminating that both blogger and PR must show each other respect. The farewell speech ended on a high with my old "mate" Andy (Motty) Cope, teaching us to be brilliant and that when we wake up in the morning being grateful that we don't have tooth ache. That we need to be BRILLIANT and ignore the "mood" hoovers we all know them it's how we deal with them that makes a difference to our lives.

We did a envelope swapping which saw us getting another blogger to write a guest post for hopefully in the not so distant future. Then it was farewells for some and knees up for others , I was in the knees up lot until my asthma kicked in and I didn't mention it so had to bail early. I have since learnt I should not keep my problems to myself !

I need a sign making that says "Bloggers at social media play do not disturb!"

Thanks to Cat Parrott for letting me come to the blogger shindigs!

Help I Am A Southerner Stuck Up North

2013-05-16T20:50:00.004+01:00

Help I am a Southerner Stuck up North......

When I arrived to live in Derby many years ago, my first impression was it was just as sleepy as my hometown of Bedford.

Please don't get my wrong it was lovely to change from the sleepy town of Bedford which has a river running through its heart. Sometimes Bedford was a heads down place as people battled to get to London on the train as part of their daily commute. I welcomed without wishing to sound stereotypical I welcomed the "hellos" and the "Aye up me ducks" having lived and been brought up down south this was not an aspect of daily life that I was used to.

I have always enjoyed the slower pace of life and where I live is just right in a suburb if Derby a sleepy village at the heart but has a sprawling suburb metropolis. I am the "middle bear" where everything is just right I am in the suburbia yet a hop , skip and jump from the countryside. Don't you find that in today's climate that no one seems to have time any more to just sit and have a coffee, do a crossword or watch the world go by or generally relax.

Derby itself is only a quick bus ride or car journey away, Derby though has been going through massive changes it has in nooks and crannies the feeling of a small town and this is what puts me at ease after all this years moving from a sleepy little market town and this is what I love about it.

And when and if I need a retail fix then I'll head into the Westfield where I can purchase everything from a spoon to completely refurbishing my interior. If I want to just browse I can do so without being jostled, shoved pushed and pulled.

There are numerous cafes, restaurants and wine bars where you can relax with a drink, meet up with friends for lunch and have a natter with, for that special occasion reserve a table at one of the hundreds of restaurants for an excellent meal with the special person in your life.

Entertainment wise there are cinemas, theatre shows, farmers markets, art gallery and museum, you name it that Derby has got it, its always reinventing itself. There is a 'Big Screen ' in the market place which is absolutely fabulous. It pulls the community together especially when the Olympics and Paralympics were on.

I thought that before I moved here I wouldn't find the Derby people friendly how wrong I was, on the whole they are a really friendly bunch of people. You can find yourself having a coffee and then be chatting to a total stranger as if you have known each other years. When I have tried this in larger cities , I find that nobody has the time or they look at me as if I am from the planet Mars with a ulterior motive in striking up the conversation.

Like many a native born Derby deweller I take issue with the endless roadworks , the prospect of building yet more houses without using the ones that lie empty or developing the brownfield sites.
If I was offered the choice to move back to Bedford would I could .... No when I have all I need here as they say "Home is where the heart is" or is that heart is where the home is either way when I have all this countryside on my door step.

I am very happy to be a southerner in a northern city ..

Hamster Of Doom The Tooth Fairy Edition

2013-05-14T07:01:00.001+01:00

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Kids bless them.

They just love show and tell... Showing that diamond they found ( a stone ) the dinosaur tooth ( a stone) then there's the McDonalds toys the list is endless. It's a brilliant exercise to encourage children to talk about their toy etc, then there is the child who has stealth that you know is going to be prime minster one day.

"Next time I am bringing the Tooth Fairy to show and tell!"

Myself puzzled "How and why?"

"Ohh that's simple I'll take the hamster out of the cage , set a trap the fairy will rescue the hamster and then she'll take him back to the cage and then. I'll close the door . "

"But why?"

" So the fairy can answer questions at show and tell"

Fair enough.

I am not quite on their plans for Father Christmas mind.

Magpie Monday hitting the jackpot

2013-05-13T18:17:00.001+01:00

I regularly watch antique shows and think I'd love to spot one of those , but sometimes when you go into charity shops it's the same old tat, those copies of fifty Shades of Grey , knitted doll toilet roll holders (classy) and a pair of flares circa 1978.

But the other day as I waltzed into the local Charity shop I spied two items and I just knew I had to have them.

The items in question are a Victorian coal scuttle and an arts and craft table all for £20 the cat however is my own. I really think I need an Aspidistra plant to out into the coal scuttle I think it would suit it magnificently.

13th of May Silent Sunday

2013-05-12T15:20:00.001+01:00

Nuture nature #blogging4madeleine

2013-05-12T10:51:00.002+01:00

Nurture nature as you nurture children and you will see them/nature grow.

In my life time I have seen the bottom of human existence within my job many years ago at the Crown Prosecution Service. And the the things I read, saw and had to comment on are harrowing beyond belief. It left me with a complex of emotion ranger, disbelief ,sorrow, fear but you have to try and be professional you have to be detached its your job and and emotional involment could compromise or jupdise the case.

Children should never be denied a natural children but the sad true is that they are, its fact we don't really like to acknowledge because wear within our own safety zones in respect to our own families. Madeleine Mccann went missing in 2007 we are all to familiar with the case so the questions of could of?, would of,should of ?, are moot in the respect she was just a little girl when she went missing.

Travelling as I do I am always seeing missing children posters in airports some taken by their parents, some not some simply missing there are always and forever a myriad of reasons. I remember on one occasion my son saying in respect to the Madeline case "Don't they know that Madeline wants to be with her family?"

When and where Madeleine went missing from (whilst on holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal on Thursday 3rd May 2007)
The campaign #blogging4madeleine
12th May 2012 is her 10th birthday
Contact information to report any sightings or information
Your local police force immediately, AND +44 845 838 4699 or investigation@findmadeleine.com OR Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org
The Find Madeleine official website www.findmadeleine.com
The latest image released as she may look now
All this information is available from www.findmadeleine.com

So if you can please join in continuing to spread the world of Madeleine, Ben and all the missing children.

Like and share #blogging4Madeleine via Facebook, Twitter, Google + and any other form of social media.

If you are affected by this or any other missing person/child situation there are a number of organisations you can contact Missing Kids UK (http://uk.missingkids.com/) or Missing People (https://www.missingpeople.org.uk/)

Reasons To be Cheerful

2013-05-09T21:02:00.001+01:00

Reasons to be cheerful in particular a friend who keeps me on the straight and narrow and reminds me of who and what I am. Without my friend I don't think I would be the person I am today , one who stretches my mind and reminds me that my intellect is something that shouldn't be wasted.

I am by nature a worrier .. I try not to and there are those who seek to undermine me play on this . But my friend gives me a virtual slap and brings me back to earth and then the world is a harmonious place again.

So what have I learnt

To be cheerful

How to cook... Seriously I was rubbish before now I am surpassing myself and I am even eating Beetroot , though I am yet to eat to tomatoes.

And I have learnt that silly pictures of cats are never ,ever a waste of time.

Now and Then 30 years back and forth : Roy Castle it's all about the nuts!

2013-05-09T10:27:00.000+01:00

This post is an entry for the the #SpecialK30 linky on Britmums.

A lot has changed in thirty years one of these things is me and the other is Special K My memories of Special K that as a young child I didn't eat it but I do remember my dad really, really liked the adverts something to do with red swim suits I think..!

SO 1983 saw the introduction of Breakfast time television my parents muttered that will never catch on so thirty years later I am sat here munching my Special K watching yes you guessed it Breakfast television.

The Compact disc goes on sale in UK ... many people are confused as they mutter they can't hear a sound , it is pointed out to them they can't listen to on a turn table ( it is not a record !)

The introduction of the one Pound coin see a decline in people ironing one pound notes ....

Wheel clamps are introduced in London to combat illegal parking thirty years on are they are still at it !

And in 1983 birthday parties were all the rage along with silly hats , fast food eating establishment that will never catch on .. will it ?

Also 1983 was an era of bad hair cuts notice mine below I am the little girl top left .... what a bad fringe.

Me top left in 1983!

Sir Clive Sinclair is knighted for his computing endeavours I had a Spectrum 48k and I hero-worship him for this, other people however thought different things about the Sinclair C5 a failed mode of transport . But without triumphs and failures we would never evolve !

The blame for this post is due to the fact I got to reading about buying the Guinness book of Records for Christmas this got me to thinking about my letter from Roy Castle.

Yes my dad found two nuts joined together and as you do I wrote to Roy Castle believing it to be a World record. He wrote back ! would the modern stars of today have the time to do that for a child nowadays.

Now Roy Castle didn't have to send me that letter he just did it out the kindness of his own heart. I wasn't trying to blag a free book off him or anything!. A genuine man who had a real talent as a presenter, musician and a human being. And I saw him in 'Singing in the Rain' as well, and met him at some fete or other.

So this is what I was doing thirty years ago .... a memory made and one that will last forever.

And today Special K The new recipe contains three grains — rice, wheat and barley (previously there were two) — and is made with wholegrain, for a source of fibre as well as 8 vitamins and minerals. It gives health-conscious, weight-watching women a tastier breakfast.

BUT special K is far more than a cereal it is also a useful ingredient for recipes from chicken nuggets to taking the old fashioned crumble and swapping the topping to something more healthy.

May 2013 I do smile ! but taking your own picture is quite hard !

And as for the cereal I throughly enjoyed it and I am currently planning my summer holiday swim suit .. red I think don't you ! And also 30 years old I am hoping I can be a Record Breaker and finally get to lose that 6 stone in weight with the aid of Special K.

Disclosure ( I wrote the letter to Roy in May 1983 I was 10 years old and probably used Basildon Bond note paper and envelope. I used of course a first class stamp!)

This is an entry for the BritMums/Special K “How I’ve changed Linky challenge”

Roasted Beetroot , Garlic and Thyme

2013-05-08T21:51:00.003+01:00

The other day I ate something that I had not eaten before usually I just see it popping round in vinegar o after pulling everything out of the cupboard. After which I ceremoniously dump it on my husbands plate either at Christmas or during a madcap moment when its summer.

What I hear you cry is it ?

The master chef audition hasn't come calling yet but I am on my way..

You still haven't guessed what I ate yet ?

The clue is in the title ......

I ate Beetroot..

Hard to believe , I thought I hated Beetroot but it seems that hate is a strong word in no uncertain terms.

But this week I roasted organic beetroot with thyme and whole garlic & balsamic vinegar.

Walkers Hoops and Crosses The Review

2013-05-07T16:03:00.001+01:00

Today a package arrived.

Which in this household is not unusually culminates with " Oh its for you again " and the family goes about doing their usual routine. That is except when it comes to food and this package was food. I am meant to tell you how tasty the package is , except I can't ..

The child ate them.

SO in a game show voice " have a look at what you could have won"

Each bag has 85 calories
Hoops and Crosses are made from wholegrains, have no artificial colours or preservatives
They come in three flavours – all suitable for vegetarians (prawn cocktail, roast beef, salt and vinegar)

Crisps are not a regular in our household they are a treat , its important to have a healthy diet and do plenty of exercise.

I think you can play a game with these of noughts and crosses with the winner obviously taking all the spoils of war, this is perhaps what I should have done with the teen but then again I haven't won at tiddlywinks since 1982.

And Walkers Hoops and Crosses are baked not fried so are healthier and at only 85 calories I don't feel cheated or rather I wouldn't if I had managed to nab a crisp. I shall be putting these on my shopping list and maybe not declare to the child that I have indeed purchased them.

The cat also got in on the act and decided to try and sit in the box ...

The cat is rather daft ... do they say pets are like their owners ?

I was sent a packet of Walkers Hoops & Crosses to review along with a toy monkey. This is a sponsored post. We were paid for our time. All opinions are entirely my own and I am not obligated to give a positive review.

Mad hats ......

2013-05-06T17:23:00.001+01:00

It's Bank holiday ,its the Peak District .

Mad hats and Englishman come out in the midday sun..

So we ambled off to the rugby to watch the first team play ,winding through the countryside I am grateful if I am honest in never passing my driving test. Except as a passenger I do have the habit of look at that, and getting all giddy if I see stones circles , old buildings and the quite frankly quaint things.

We've been before except this time there was a throng of people ....

And when there's people ...

There's people watching...

A gentleman plonks himself near me, wearing jeans.

His only what I assume is to be his future son in law pipes up.

"Remember my stag do in October!"

"Aye"

"You'll need more than one pair of jeans , just in case you spill beer on it.

"Nay lad,I'll just wash them in the shower"

At this point all the male country folk and nodding and saying "Aye"

My teen was trying that thing when you are somewhere and you can't get a mobile signal. Giving up the teen admitted defeat with the phone signal,we settled to watch rugby as a family.

And then my eye was distracted again by the countryside ..

A perfect end to a perfect day....

Silent Sunday 2013 May

2013-05-05T06:50:00.002+01:00

What I love

2013-05-04T08:08:00.001+01:00

I love my family,

I love blue skies,

I love wet grass,

I love the last Rolo,

I love the calm after the storm,

I love ripples on the water,

I love being the only one in a secret place,

I love anticipation,

I love it when things go right,

I love it when they go wrong,

I love the not knowing,

I love seeing beauty in everything I see,

I love quite simply being just old me.

Insect tuff spot play

2013-05-02T19:33:00.000+01:00

Be a Forest kid ... Be a nature warrior .... Be a Insect friend.

There are simple things that you can do to encourage insects into your garden or if you don't have a garden space ( you can still encourage them in )

But while you are planning your garden ..

Why not drag your tuff spot outside and let your children have some insect adventures.

Tales From The River Bank

2013-04-30T18:54:00.000+01:00

Today its tales from the river bank , turning down the quiet church lane with view from the graveyard to rolling fields of green. I happened upon Georgian splendour , vast farm house , picture box cottages and a river view to die for.

My walks are very very extraordinary and I kept kept going that bit further each time to see where this magical journey will take me. Even when I will in time take this walk again even though it looks the same its isn't the light , time of year and mood will be different . You see things are never the same there is always wonder .

Mad Cat Monday Rollie Rules

2013-04-29T10:15:00.001+01:00

It s Monday again it comes around each week , I have a look in my eye and it is a look of hunger.

I like this brand of cat food but .......

My owner says I am not allowed to eat this ....

Apparently he's a pet or something and my owner quite likes him * coughs creep *

I often wait for the "Tesco" man fair game I say especially when he changes my brand of cat food.

No my name isn't Gary its "Ninja" but for pet purposes I am called Rollie, darn stupid name if you ask me.

So I sleep with a Teddy bear and a rubber Ducky ...

Say anything and I will find you ...

SEE I told you I would find you ... No You aren't crackers I would "Kill " you in your sleep.

Silent Sunday 28 Th April 2013

2013-04-28T14:14:00.003+01:00

A post less ordinary

2013-04-27T17:28:00.000+01:00

A post less ordinary , a simple task may appear ordinary but it can be something of an adventure. A simple matter of just posting a letter can turn into something of an adventure, what is that building that is hiding round the corner?

Look up once in a while and see the sky ..

And then I went to watch my son play football , a country kid in all it's glory as they battle hard to hopefully win the league.

The Not So Bleak Peak

2013-04-26T19:59:00.001+01:00

Rugby takes me to the most beautiful of places ,rolling hills abound and sheep, sheep as far as the eye will see. The undulating hills carry me to heady heights and I feel very much at peace with the world. Fresh air in the lungs is marvellous and sets oneself up for the trials of the week ahead ,I myself was recovering from a very nasty insect bite and was rattling with Penicillin. I was still worried about my leg a dutifully showed it to a Gynaecologist who after looking deeply into the situation said it was nasty but was on the mend.

Pumpkin risotto with Parmigiano and traditional Balsamic vinegar

2013-04-26T15:14:00.001+01:00

I am rediscovering Italian cooking and I want to embark upon a journey that begins with taste. I am entering into the entogastronomic spirit of the provinces with the Unesco quadrilateral which means embarking on a tour that revolves around taste, but it is also an occasion to discover a wealth of culture and history, Unesco heritage and unrivalled natural beauty, all with a warm welcome from the local residents who are always ready with a smile.

Ingredients

400g Risotto Rice
400g Pumpkin
1 shallot
1.5 L stock
60 butter
60g Parmesan
extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
1 dl of Traditional Balsamic vinegar

Method

The recipe I followed had no cooking times a little bit frustrating I know when sometimes you just have to go with the flow and uses your senses.

Brown the chopped shallot, then add the rough - chopped pumpkin ( a potato peeler is useful for this I have been told or get your husband to do it ) and salt and pepper and cover with hot water until cooked.

Blend the mixture until creamy, Reduce the Traditional Balsamic Vinegar to the consistancy of syrup.

Toast the rice with a little oil; add a dash of white wine and cook, slowly adding the hot stock and, finally the pumpkin cream.

Once cooked , remove from heat and season with butter and Parmigiano Reggiano.

Dish up the rice and decorate with Traditional Balsamic Vinegar.

The recipe is courtesy of Alessandra Buriani I was provided with the ingredients for this dish )

Just a little ramble

2013-04-25T18:34:00.001+01:00

This is what I see everyday I walk to work and I see something new everyday. I think it's beautiful , I think you'd agree.

What's cat all about?

2013-04-25T10:54:00.003+01:00

I really don't know what to write.

Awards are abound.

Sometimes its a case of who shout loudest .. sadly.

I would rather awards were decided by panels of assembled qualified folk.

But alas no.

Back to looking at cats on the internet then ...

I do like Mondays

2013-04-22T21:17:00.000+01:00

I don't like rude people for example when opening a door for someone manners cost nothing.

I dislike getting wrong items over and over again from companies there is only so much you can laugh at. The company rearranges to have said articles taken away ,you pile said items outside your house ready for the council to take away . You blink when your neighbours pull up and they scuttle into their house with their private school child in tow. Your husband calls you ... Head half cocked you swear you can hear "Harold " being called as the front of your house now Steptoes yard.

You go and look at the cat vacuum video doing the rounds on you tube.

You laugh ...

You cry when the cat leaves a friend in the kitchen ..

You wonder if Mrs Vole is waiting the return of Mr Vole.

You sit waiting for Tesco to call ..

Bing Bong.

Hurrah the shopping is here.

Is your substitution ok?

Well I thought its a lot better than when I asked for Coronation Chicken but got egg mayonnaise instead, or when they tried to deliver 42 tubs of ice cream.

You wonder why the shopping doesn't put itself away.

And why do cats like boxes ?

You see blue skies and remind yourself that you like Mondays.

Silent on Sunday

2013-04-21T19:04:00.001+01:00

Final Countdown

2013-04-20T19:09:00.000+01:00

Today was final day we had breakfast at the local pub in our local sleepy village expectations were high , minds and hearts were engaged. The boys were properly kitted out and were loving every minute of their experience.

It was like the preparations for a FA cup final including a super luxury coach , the only trouble was getting the boys to actually tuck their shirts in and stop worrying about wether or not they had enough gel in their hair.

We arrived early at Belper Town football club , Belper was and still is a very industrious town with a striking Mill at its heart. Stunning countryside surrounds it and today we had glorious sunshine especially for us.

The actual game itself was tough as both teams cancelled each other out till we scored first and we thought that was it. But as so often happens the opposition equalised , although slightly crushed the boys battled on. Alas it wasn't enough and the opposition scored again the final whistle blew and it was all over.

The boys had maintained their poise and maturity throughout it was only a shame that a fleeting comment of "ties don't win games " from an adult from the opposing team marred the minute for a nano second . We all shrugged our shoulders , reflecting on the fact that we had come from nothing to be something and no one can take that away from the boys.