tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44349037802981347312025-07-29T04:42:45.215-07:00Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-59607443998117410392022-08-01T09:18:00.000-07:002022-08-01T09:18:08.521-07:00

THE BACKGROUND:Recently, we visited Georgia (the Country, not the US state).We are now fascinated with this country & have fallen under its natural beauty spell but, full disclosure,  largely ignorant of its History, Struggles & What her people have lived through & experience(d).Obviously it is patronising to try to even imply that 10 days was anywhere near enough to even scratch

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-30553054968504410482020-02-22T05:17:00.002-08:002020-02-22T06:09:55.515-08:00

For many a little girl, the cliche Pony Obsessive Years start around, perhaps 7 or 8? Earlier, obviously if One is lucky enough to have Pony Folk as Parents. Some of my earliest, strongest friendships (and I realise now, the bulk of my current, most profound friendships) may have started with but were certainly cemented by Ponies. Myself & my Young Pony Gal Pals bonded over: 🐴 'Have

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-11860689980904333782019-01-22T19:58:00.001-08:002019-01-22T20:01:49.981-08:00

Keep your friends close they say, but your Enemies closer. Lucky me.  Mine Enemy is close.  Very very close. Like, Mine Enemy is 'right up in my face'-kinda close and has been for years. And yet it seems, familiarity has definitely bred contempt. Even from the earliest days our relationship has been troubled: Would you just LOOK at that thing? Granted, the actions of a 3rd

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-77693610729960649392014-09-07T04:27:00.004-07:002014-09-07T04:27:49.459-07:00

These are Chips: Also: Pomme Frites or, French Fries And these are Crisps: Both are good. But today, we are talking about Chips. Over dinner, myself and some friends spent the best part of an hour discussing, ruminating and debating over the best kind of Chip.If the length and volume of our conversation is any measure, it is apparent that many of us feel

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-89569255287261652892014-08-31T22:53:00.001-07:002014-08-31T22:53:23.163-07:00

"The achievement of bringing someone to tears, is infinitely greater than the achievement of bringing them to laughter" "We laugh all the time. And easily" (Malcolm Gladwell, Canadian journalist, bestselling author, and speaker.[1] He has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1996) ############################## Lucky me, I also cry easily. But I cry easily at

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-24538857420060766342014-08-15T01:39:00.002-07:002014-08-15T01:39:20.169-07:00

Of Magpies & friendly grass. Of newspapers, magazines and radio. Clouds and blue skies. Wish I could wriggle my toes in all. Last year it was the trees. This year, whilst Trees maintained their Significant Significance status, out of nowhere, Grass stepped it up. Perhaps Grass got wind of Trees' 2013 rave reviews. Whatever its drive, clearly Grass has a competitive streak.  Its

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-34394619960524600702014-08-10T03:11:00.001-07:002014-08-10T03:11:32.473-07:00

Scattered around the world are Happy Places. My Happy Places. Some, but not all, are bookshops. My Favourite Bookshop, just FYI, is Waterstones on Piccadilly, but I am blessed to have a 2nd AND a 3rd favourite. I wish I could say that one of them was an Indie but sadly, no. If I had regular (read: any) access to an Independent Bookshop though, I have no doubt it would be a contender. All this

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-60182195350722880352014-07-29T03:14:00.000-07:002014-07-29T03:14:19.054-07:00

All this sunshine in the UK will not be without its consequences. All ye Climate Change Nay Sayers, you need only look around your nearest Tesco's hypermarket, as the mercury starts to creep up and UV levels head past 'Burnt to a Purple Blistered Mess' & towards 'Irreparable Damage' to see that something is about to happen. And that Something isn't going to be good. And, it isn't going

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-63045238528880904472014-07-20T00:57:00.001-07:002014-07-20T00:57:50.208-07:00

Nothing like ramping up the ol' pre-holiday fever, whilst driving along in, close to, 50degC temperatures, staring out at sand, sand, dust & sun. In this final run-up to our trip, I have been daydreaming about all the things I am looking forward to during our upcoming trip. It feels like it adds days to our holiday, which is a jolly thing. I have distilled them down thus: NOT being in

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-76351933742915182132014-07-04T00:58:00.002-07:002014-07-04T02:41:02.983-07:00

The back-story "Hey," I said to a Friend, "I found this amazing Spa deal on FB, must be a Ramadan Special. Fancy it?" She said "Sure". What happened next, I blame her for entirely. If only she had said 'Naaaaaaaaaaah." ************** So, turns out "I too much liking your body" will make you feel really uncomfortable at the start of a Moroccan Bath. Who knew. This, from very cheerful but

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-29266081310237050132014-06-30T01:16:00.004-07:002014-06-30T01:16:50.119-07:00

"Most people over the age of 10 have 4 to 6 dreams every night ......... which can range anywhere from 5 minutes to half an hour long." Find out more 'Shocking Facts about Dreams' We accept that a mere fraction of the Dreams dreamt will be remembered. And, we must ALL have experienced that Dream You Absolutely Will Remember and Must Share, only to find within 20 minutes of waking

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-84933308926973572252014-06-23T23:30:00.002-07:002014-06-24T01:08:30.554-07:00

Just a few more days till the schools are out & Dubai shuts down. Never thought much about it but, until fairly recently, the Life Punctuation Point known as: "End of School / Summer Holidays" that dominated my world for so long, was dead to me. But now, behold, the Resurrection! I am a Phoenix, thrust back into the world which is dominated by the School Year. *********************

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-63506432472493086492014-06-11T02:20:00.001-07:002014-06-11T03:30:43.976-07:00

 Dear New Cat, now known as Vera (not Rose. Long story) RE: Hunting, Murder, Killing Please be advised:1) we do not kill stuff in this house ..... unless it has a bunch more legs than 4. Also, 2) the means of dispatch should only be by Flip Flop.Seek The Havaiana Ender of Scuttly Things. And 3) it should not be for fun.In fairness, if it has a face and whiskers and stuff I am OK with it

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-68031033397181401732014-06-08T08:51:00.002-07:002014-06-08T08:51:31.192-07:00

I am uncomfortable.Tooting my own horn is not something that sits easy with me. It ain't no Pulitzer piece.It isn't the funniest, deepest or thought-provoking thing ever written.In fact, it is a bit of a BusMan's Holiday, me writing about pets. Again. Good Taste, June 2014 But, as I have said, Published is Published.  Onwards, upwards.  Maybe.

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-57393835411245987432014-06-02T23:01:00.001-07:002014-06-03T00:44:07.248-07:00

Connections are important to people. We are a social primate and connections are important to us.  Actually, oftentimes they are the difference between Life and Death. (Oh I say, things have taken an uncharacteristically dramatic & serious tone for a change)  So, when another Sentient Being enters my little World, I believe He/She/It has come to me for a reason. In truth, it

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-86629337702354549142014-05-21T08:11:00.002-07:002014-05-21T08:11:53.231-07:00

Show Yourself, Floozy! Bibiliophile. I like it. Doesn't it sound posh? It makes those of us living with this affliction feel a bit less judged. It is an enabling word.  Such a pretty elegant looking word.  All those tall willowy 'b's and 'l's. We aren't Hoarders. Dilettante? How very dare you. No. We are Bibliophiles, doncha know. We are BIBILOPHILES!!! damn you! Show some

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-72531642330573360542014-05-12T06:35:00.002-07:002014-05-12T22:32:41.812-07:00

I stepped through the back of the Wardrobe today. And what did I find behind the coats? A World with no snow, no Mr Tumnus. In fact, hardly any Fauns at all. Instead, I found Cooking, and that cooking is the Slow kind. Something else was uncovered .......... All sorts of people I know, people I thought I knew well, are SlowCooker-philes. They never told me.  They never 'shared'.

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-31929551305153661832014-05-10T07:59:00.001-07:002014-05-11T05:58:10.746-07:00

* AMENDMENT Since originally posting this, I have been corrected, several times, of the popularity of the Game among the World's Daughters.I only have a Boy, who has Boy friends. Girl Children do not enter our world and so, I am deeeeelighted to now stand corrected. For those of you with Girl Children* , No Children or Grown-Up Children, this will mean nothing. You people, celebrate

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-10931479364997401092014-05-04T09:08:00.000-07:002014-05-05T01:10:22.584-07:00

I thought an Epiphany was a good thing. I recently had an Epiphany, and it wasn't. I have come to realise that I live with Fear. I am fearful. Alot of the time. Maybe everyone is. Maybe we all just choose NOT to have conversations that start with 'hey, what you feeling afraid of today?' Except I do. Feel afraid. Or, maybe, it is Fear's less needy but similarly neurotic cousin, Worry? Worry

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-36248877637373672832014-04-28T07:39:00.001-07:002014-04-28T07:39:47.436-07:00

Evil. Not Drunk.I love Drunk Octopus.But DO I wanna fight Evil Octopus. (Or ... Don't Fly with a Cold.)Inside my head is an evil Octopus.Evil Octopus is inside my head. It has all its feet on the inside of my skull, and, it is pushing.PUSHING.andPUSH. ING. There are 2 feet against my temples. They are Pushing. Another 2 are behind my ears, the bony bit. Pressing. Hard. 2 more are either

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-23561278276097092192014-04-20T09:21:00.000-07:002014-04-20T09:21:37.798-07:00

Foot Massages: 95%    ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ......  3%     OOOO! Hey, that is a bit sore. Must be doing something good though.  2 %    Holy cr#p, that hurts!!!!!!!!!!! Stop! STOP! The pain!! Oh, the pain!!            Mustn't move. Mustn't move. In a recent census (By me. Of my

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-76168907367300943622014-04-16T08:55:00.000-07:002014-04-16T08:55:04.255-07:00

Where to begin. Last Summer I wrote of how refreshing it was to be back in the UK ( see Hug A What Now?) & oh my, it was.   But, to get my feet back on to, or into, the place, where I truly belong, well, there ain't nothing like it. Whilst I am at home in the UK, HK IS Home. Not home (with a small 'h') right now, but Home.   It is a cruel twist that in order to know

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-81003800639293878742014-04-11T18:03:00.003-07:002014-04-14T07:53:17.478-07:00

I have been using toilets for some time now. Oh yes, I've used them all. Foreign and Domestic. (Home - mine & at the homes of others) On Aircraft. Trains, Restaurants (posh, smart casual and fast), Malls, Service Stations, Pubs, Clubs. You get the idea. Always the 'Ladies'. Almost always, the 'Ladies'. And one thing, one thing, remains constant and has remained a mystery. The

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-75030947796234583762014-04-02T09:05:00.000-07:002014-04-02T09:05:21.591-07:00

I am going to punch a fly in the face.I am, y'know.  And I am not going to be sorry. As a rule, I am not given to violence esp. physical, esp. against non-humans, but these guys are gettin' on my last nerve. I don't know how this is going to go down but, if I end up in Court, I shall plead Provocation. *************************** Yes. It is Fly Season in Dubai.It might have escaped your

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434903780298134731.post-91137787620459083722014-03-25T00:08:00.000-07:002014-03-25T00:10:11.356-07:00

We've all heard them.Many of us have heard the same ones. But I bet you lot have got some crackers of your own to share!I'll kick us off: "Careful, if the wind changes you could stay like that" Dual purpose. Standard Usage: in an ACTUAL face-pulling scenario. But also, somewhat unfairly, even for the Sulky Face. The Sulky Face that comes when you feel you ARE the most badly-done-by kid in the

Caroline Lloydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01013455258527741935noreply@blogger.com0