February calling

So the first month of 2011 is behind us this evening, and the shortest month is coming after it. Always a busy one, lots of birthdays in it, including mine - yay! - and this time I will be spreading it out more than usual. I am thinking curry........wonder why I always think about a Balti whenever it is my birthday?? Does it have to do with birthdays past I wonder, when I used to have all my friends round for dinner.......probably, but I also just lurve Chicken Balti!!

Did you watch Countryfile last night? I wish I had a euro for every time they said "Penistone"!!! It was filmed in South Yorkshire, and featured Sheffield, Wentworth, Barnsley and good old Penistone which is where I used to live! It was great seeing the railway and the imposing viaduct which spans the valley and the park where me and the children used to have our picnics etc. I lived in Bridge Street so the railway bridge was just a short walk from our front door. I think I caught a glimpse of the street when they were moving up from the viaduct but it was great to see Silkstone Common and all those places I used to go.
So beautiful around that part of England, so hilly!!! And they said that Penistone was the coldest station in the whole of the UK - I can believe it!!! Brr! Brought back many happy memories anyway.

So today is another ordinary working day - housework that is. Tim has a nasty cold so is not going to college today, the cats are already ensconced in their daytime bed cuddling up to the radiator. I am getting geared up to do what I have got planned in my head. Really I want to do something more creative so perhaps I will listen more to my essential self over my social self, and that will win! Tim has asked for a valentine's card to be made, and I am thinking about what to do...............so I am being tempted towards that over ironing - well, the order of doing more than choosing one over the other............hmm.

Only 7 days til the Geldof Album gets released!!! I am so looking forward to that, getting lots of plays in England but NONE here!!!
Ok, time to move. Have a good day,
Sue xx

Where do the days go?

It's now Saturday evening and the past few days have raced by. I even slept this morning until 9.30am which is unknown, really, but I just felt like staying in the warm. Tim has a terrible cold poor lad, so he is sneezing and coughing and blowing hot and cold, which is not nice for him. We hardly ever get sick so I am only hoping he doesn't pass it on................
Today I felt I needed to do something to cheer me up so I decided to buy some paint and make a start on the small walls. It is so good actually seeing what it is going to look like eventually, and although we are a long way off from finishing, I just had to start. I needed to keep my mind busy today, and thinking happy thoughts, otherwise I think I would have just ended up terribly down and I didn't want that. I am practicing what I am preaching to others, mainly because I know it works if you do it, but also because I need to stay strong and concentrated, and fight my demons to the bitter end!!
Isn't it awful what hormones can do to a gal?!! Me, I get clumsy and emotional, and seem this time to lose things - including the purse off my keychain! That is a real nuisance as I had things in it which I cannot afford to lose, but somehow in the last couple of days it has dropped off somewhere, and I cannot find it at all. I was hoping it might be in the car but no luck. Neither is it in my coat or anywhere else at home so it is definitely gone. So if you find a small black purse...................
Time for bed.
Sue xx

Study day

The majority of today has been absorbed with my study. Writing up essays and reading and preparing and generally working hard to stay up to date with my workload. It has been productive and I have made progress which is good. I am at a stage where I have said enough for one day, and want to stop, and leave it to settle before I go back for more. Sometimes the time we take to reflect is just as valuable as when we are being active in our learning. I have come to the end of my thought processes for now, and need refreshment!! Finka is awake and urging me downstairs as it is her time to move and eat, so I guess there
is no bigger hint than her meowing and sitting on my knee and staring me in the face to get me to switch the computer off and go do something else!!
Sue xx

Tim's Rainbow Cake

This is what Tim made at college today!! It tasted wonderful!!!
Sue xx

Already Wednesday???

The whole day yesterday was taken up with wallpapering. But, it all got done in one day which is amazing! Of course what the end result will look like, I have no idea, because that involves me doing a lot of painting first, but it is a vast improvement on what was there before. Everything is back in its place while it all dries out properly, and we have still to make the final decision on which colours - shades - we are going to chose. I have got 4 that it goes between, depending on my mood, and the light in the room at the time, and how I know they react when over a large surface.....and so forth. We want to keep it looking light and bright, and large; that's about it!
Today Tim went off to the bakery to help them out before school. So we were awake at 2.50am -yikes! - and he has not returned as yet, so only another hour before his train will leave for school. I'm sure it is fine.
My eyes are pricking rather, so I am not rested enough really, but I have got my student 'client' coming this morning so lots to do first!
Have a good day.
Sue xx

sometimes things don't go to plan -

and in our life that happens a lot! But I was obviously up and about so early because I was going to get asked to go into work, and I was able to do that immediately, and 'save the day' as my colleagues put it! Luckily I had already determined that no wallpapering was going to take place as our neighbour was gone before seven o'clock, and I now know that he is coming at 7.30am tomorrow morning to get a good start. Ok.......means I get up early, do the essential ironing for Tim, move the rest of the furniture, settle the cats, and be prepared all before seven am. I can do that!!! But what a strange day it was actually. A day for things to turn out to be not what we expected. I had several 'shocks' today whilst at work, one in particular that I don't really understand, and that makes me very sad and disappointed in others, and another that saw us having to make an emergency call and aid a client. That all ended well, so no worries, but that other? I am trying hard to decide what I want to do about that. Instinctively, I know what to do, and I will find a way to do what I believe is right, but it is hard not to have questions and want to hear the truth of the matter at the same time. Call it being left out of the loop because I am not regular staff, but I find that no excuse either. I'll talk to you about it tomorrow. You always know the right thing to say to me. How great is that, to know someone is going to be able to hear and understand and reply, and it will be all the things I really want to hear.
Right now I am catching up on the things I was unable to get done that  I had planned to do today, and thinking about what I need to shift to tomorrow so that by Wednesday I will be back on track!! I always loved time management!!! Part of that is my homework, preparation work for Wednesday, helping with the wallpapering, the housework etc......I need a 36 hour day probably.
Anyway, if that all happened today, tomorrow can only be better!
Sue xx

Early doors

Awake with the lark this morning!! Sitting at the computer at 06.15 which is absurd but I had things I needed to do before school. And I am not sure whether the wallpapering is happening today, and since he is my neighbour, he usually starts work at 7am! Don't want to be in my jimjams!!!
Yesterday we had our study group and it all went really well; back to normal. It has given me some work to do this week, so that is useful, and I enjoyed our discussions etc.
In the middle of the night I woke up to find myself singing The Phantom in my dreams, and lo and behold, when I opened my mailbox, there was the sheet music for Music of the Night - and in English!! In my dream I was singing it with the choir, in Dutch, and I was crying!! Our conductor had said we were going to sing it in Dutch and  I really didn't want to, so what a relief when I read those beautiful, familiar words this morning! I didn't realise it was bothering me quite so much.....oh, and later on I was with our Queen on a royal tour, and we were looking at fantastic pictures that were painted but also encrusted with embroidered jewels..............I suspect that is my subconscious playing with me for watching Antiques roadshow and the design on our cushion and my current obsession with decorating and BALANCE!!!!
Before I forget, Countryfile at 8pm next Sunday is coming from South Yorkshire so must watch that! I am sure they will show places we know well, such as the pass and the moors, and the Strines.......
Today is Monday which is generally housework day -( remember the old rhyme "todays Monday, todays Monday, Monday is washing day, is everybody happy? You bet your life we are")!!!! So better get on, and start the day on the right foot. You too.
Sue xx

What am I loving right now?

The Union by Elton John & Leon Russell. Great mood-setting CD which is one you either love or hate I think. I choose to love it!


How to compose popular songs which will sell by Bob Geldof. Reminiscent of his Vegetarians of Love CD but the single Silly Pretty little Things is superb. Wonder how long before it gets played over here????


Swedish Interior books that are inspiring my choice of decor in this home.

Coco Mademoiselle perfume - keep nipping into the store for a test!!! Am missing having my own bottle so much right now...

That the bulbs are starting to show through!

That I managed to achieve sanding and filling the walls yesterday AND even painted the coving whilst at it! Was completely shattered afterwards and slept 9.5 hours last night!!!

Off to my study group now...

have a super Sunday.
Sue xx

Good news.

I heard this morning that our choir has got a good sized subsidy from the council this year, so we are hoping this means we can at least buy some more time before we have to make the difficult decisions about our future. It is a huge relief anyway, and I think we will try to soldier on alone.........at least now we have this information we can discuss it properly and allow everyone to have their say. So, good news.
I am also happy because so many people have complimented me on wearing blue!! It is my favourite colour without a doubt, but now having grey hair to top it, I think it goes even better with my complexion. Anyway, I am really thankful for all the encouraging comments, cos it certainly helps me stay focussed on my diet etc.
Am whiling away some time right now, hoping for the best!!!
Sue xx