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For the avoidance of doubt... Yes... I definitely have an opinion... |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Welcome to my Blog!! About me: I'm not really a blogger... But I do like to put the world to rights and you can bet I have an opinion on most things. I'm a little Welsh dragon that left the Land of My Fathers far behind me. I've flown far and wide.... and ended up in the land down under This blog is filled with all the stuff that's going on in my life, and in my head, which can be a little cookey on times, so you have been warned!! And let's not forget my opinions and musing - I have a few of those as well. So pull up a pew, grab a hot, steaming mug of something yummy, and maybe a cake to: Life is always better with cake don't you think. And read... ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I just starting blogging with the following groups: ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I also write a Xmas Blog that kicks off 1st December.... "Invalid Item" ![]() ....tag along for elvishness and merriment
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"30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" ![]() I think this is a great inspirational quote. To me it says, “at least I’m brave enough to try, to put myself out there, and that makes it good enough for others to read,” so it’s quite powerful. I’m the first to admit I’m not the world’s best writer. I’m still learning after all, and with each blog entry and prompt I get better. I think it would have been the same for Ethel Merman; each night she was on stage she’d have learnt something new, and grown in confidence. Her attitude was probably similar to mine - if you don’t like it you are free to leave the theatre, or stop reading, and if you think you can do better go ahead and do it; the people that stay, that continue reading, that enjoy it, they’re who matter. We can’t please everyone now can we and our audience will continue to change. I don’t have a particular audience in mind when I write, unless it’s for a competition, but that’s not to say that I’m not cognisant of the fact that others may read it; for example I’d put a trigger warning at the beginning if there’s something that may unsettle a reader. For competitions, I think you need to be aware of what the judges are looking for, and to understand the rules; if the prompt is about zombies will another dead rising story peek their interest? Possibly not, but a voodoo based story that includes zombification might. Other than that, I definitely write for me. I write the stories I like to read and honest blogs based on my opinions. Yes, I’d like it if others also enjoyed it, but that’s not why I write; it’s a happy by product. I have to be honest about who I am. I accept that everyone will have different opinions and perspectives on a piece of writing – the world would be boring if we all liked the same thing. My writing, and opinions, certainly evolve with each comment/review I receive, whether it’s a case of “yeah I see what they mean,” “hmmm, good point I might try that next time,” or “nope they completely missed the point.” I’ve learnt so much from WDC because of all the reviews, and I love hearing/reading other people’s perspective on the blog prompt for "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" ![]() In life I’ve found that it’s sometimes just as important to disagree, as it is to agree, especially for personal development and growth, as long as I'm always respectful to others and honest about who I am, I’ve done my part. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
"30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" ![]() I think this is an insane story. I mean it could have so easily ended in tragedy - and over battered chicken... seriously...I honestly don't think there's anything I'd continue eating if someone put a gun in my face. I'd more likely hand the nuggets over and offer to get them a chocolate shake. This did get me thinking: if I had to pick, what would be my last meal/snack on earth? Lets face it, it probably would be if I said no to some nutter with a gun. I love my food. I should be about five times the size I am. So, with so much to choose from what would it be? Would I go fancy and french, spicey and asian, or rustic and Italian... I can tell you now it wouldn't be jacket potato (I had to stay in hospital for six weeks prior to having Theia and I had to have jacket potato every other day). I have flashbacks when I see one now. Guy loves pizza. He was in heaven in Rome with all the street pizza stalls. Me, I could take it or leave it. Most likely leave it. I think I'd keep it simple. BBQ tiger prawns, with the heads and tails still on so I get the pleasure of pinching and twisting them off. They wouldn't have to be coated either. I once had a bucket (an actually bucket/pail) full of them in a side street cafe near the waters edge in Spain. So yummy. If anyone did approach me with a gun and demand I hand them over, maybe I could just throw the heads at them.... ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
"30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" ![]() Resolutions are meant to be broken, I seem to fail before I start. Question - do you write through your fingers? Answer - No, I use my heart. I am my own person. The government does not have a say In how I live my life, or how a run my day. Welcome to my world, It’s full of tambourines and violins. But am I on the road? No, I’m happy in my own skin. If you put me in a corner, I’ll be positive and make lemonade. I love it when a plan comes together And all the demons’ I have slayed Calennig, Kalends, and Hogmany, I'll sing loudly "Auld Lang Syne" Why waste money on fancy tea cubes, When I have many shoes to buy. My final confession is simple, I want to travel the globe. But for now, it’s off to bed I go, As poetry hurts my frontal lobe. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
"30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" ![]() I've tried a number of instruments out over the years, but I never really stuck at any of them. I played the recorder in both my infant, and junior schools from about the age of six to ten. There were a couple of school concerts I played in - particularly at Christmas I seem to remember, and I even played the treble recorder for a little while, but my little fingers hurt from all the stretching. I got fed up or fell out of love with the recorder - in other words I got bored - which is pretty much how it went with the other instruments... I had guitar lessons for about three years when I eight. I originally learnt in Saudi and was taught Spanish guitar. I loved it. It was a group class and it seemed to work for me - although the guitar was almost bigger than me and this made carrying it to school and getting it on the bus interesting. When I went to boarding school I had to get a new teacher - obviously - and I never really liked him. He kinda creeped me out, so that only lasted about a year. I tried my hand at the flute around eleven or twelve years old and then I switched to the clarinet at aged thirteen; I even did an exam with the clarinet. I played clarinet for about three years - mainly to get out of school classes; each music lesson use to take place during normal school hours, so you could cut certain classes... somehow mine always seemed to fall on French... it's a mystery. And we got to have two 30 minutes sessions a week in the evenings to "practice", which got us out of homework/prep in the classroom block (the joys of boarding school). I wish I had tried harder and stuck with one of them. I still have my clarinet and guitar upstairs. I took them with me when I moved out of my parent's house thirteen years ago and I've been lugging them with me ever since, through every house move - maybe I'm still holding out dreams of actually learning to play them again someday. I want Theia to learn to play something - my preference would be the drums.... purely so I get to have a play, but Guy isn't so keen. I used to enjoy reading music. I actually enjoyed music lessons at school, and although I am VERY rusty I think I could pick up reading music again fairly easily. My memory would need a little jump start though. I was trying to think of a song that I liked with an instrument in the title.... Does "all about the bass" count.. probably not as I think it's about the sound and not the instrument, and anyway it's not my favourite, it's just good to sing along to in the car. I've settled on "Violins and Tambourines" by the Stereophonics, largely because I love the deep voice of Kelly Jones, and because they're a Welsh band and well I have to support the local boys right? Since we're on Fun Fact Friday I'm going to end with my own, additional fact about this song. The band actually collaborated with David Arnold for this record; David Arnold is famous as the composer for James Bond, and in typical James Bond fashion there was a 36-piece orchestra used on it. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
"30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" ![]() Well, like Fivesixer ![]() ![]() The first thing I think you notice in my port is that I like pictures. I have pictures for each item and folder. It makes the port more colourful and interesting; in my opinion. And it's quite small. There aren't mountains of entries. Just a few. My bio-block is short and to the point - I honestly don't know what to put in there, so it's very brief, and anyway if you want to know me a bit more there is extra info on the biography tab. And there's of course my picture of the little Welsh Dragon, which is what I am: Little. Welsh. And a Dragon - NOTE: I do not bite, however I have been known to scorch when provoked. That being said my invitation is genuine, feel free to dive in and read a few things - I'd love to hear your thoughts. I've my three highlight items at the top. I love this feature - it's such a great way of introducing people to your writing. I do change these sporadically, when the mood hits me. I probably should update it soon as it currently has my Christmas blog highlighted.... I'll add that to my to-do-list for January. The other two are short stories I've written. One:"Broken" ![]() ![]() ![]() I'm a folder person. I like organisation. Organisation makes my brain happy. So it's no surprise that I have a few of them in my port; there may be (definitely is) a few nested folders as well. The categories are simple and make sense, at least to me. I also prefer writing short stories and flash fiction compared to poetry so those folders are at the top of my port: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() I've loved this deep dive exercise into my port. I've discovered quite a few projects for 2017 to keep me entertained. Hopefully you'll get to know me a little better through this entry and my port, as I think you can get to know a lot about a person from what they create. I can't wait to see what's in other peoples port and how they organised them. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
"30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" ![]() This reminds me of something Jay O'Toole ![]() ![]() ![]() As small children we think we can do anything; we are only limited by our imagination. As we grow older we start to listen and believe what others tell us, and doubt and disbelief can easily set in as we are still easily influenced and manipulated by those we perceive as knowledgeable. It's not until much later in life that we come to the realisation that most of this "fact" and "knowledge" is just "opinion" cleverly disguised, but by then the damage has already been done - or has it...? I have many "you cannot......" moments that my voice of internal doubt harps on about, but I'm lucky in that I'm incredibly stubborn. When someone tells me that I can't have something just because (within reason of course) I have a habit of saying "Yeah... watch me." but I've only learnt to do this as I've grown up into adulthood and found my own footing. When I was about six I announced that I wanted to be a pop star. I loved to sing. I sang solos in church and at the Christmas services. I was in the choir at school. I was quite pleased with this career decision and thought it was a great idea. However, this dream was quickly squashed by my aunty who responded with "Oh don't be so silly. You can't be a pop star." There was no real reason about "why" I couldn't be a pop star. I just couldn't full stop. This had an impact on me. I really believed it. And, I believed that it was because I couldn't sing. Now, I'm sure that my aunty was just trying to "manage my expectations" , but instead, what she actually did was knock my confidence. It really upset me. I didn't want to be a silly little girl. I wanted to be clever. So, I stopped singing.... well in public anyway. It wasn't until I was about eleven, and was told by my music teacher that I had a nice voice, that I started to sing again, although my confidence was still shot to pieces. I was pushed for solos again, and landed a part in the school musical. I had to work very hard to overcome my insecurities - I didn't want people to laugh at me and tell me I was stupid for trying to sing. I did it. There were occasionally slip-ups or squeaks that got giggled at, but I also got a lot of support. I still don't like singing in front of people. I'm very "aware" of singing to my daughter when other people are in the house. It's not uncomfortable, just strained. However, when it's just me and her, and my husband, I don't care and sing away to my hearts content. I'm not a great singer, I will never be compared to Kylie, but I CAN sing. I CAN hold a tune. And why should I miss you just because I won't ever have a record deal. This feeling isn't unique to just singing, pretty much anything new and I have a level of apprehension about it, and I think that is a very natural emotion, but I try not to let that apprehension (or internal voice of doubt) get the better of me - usually this involves me "talking" over it, and giving myself a pep-talk - some times out loud. I always remember something my mother said while I was growing up "You will never know unless you at least try," and it's something I often say to my niece, along with "just because that happened last time doesn't mean it's going to happen this time, and if you do nothing, then nothing is going to happen." Trying something new is scary and you might not be great at it, certainly not straight away, but that doesn't mean you can't/won't learn, or that you won't find it fun. Why do we have to be great? Why can't we just be? Some times I think we concentrate too much on being perfect or brilliant, rather than just enjoying it. Why do you have to be the next Van Gogh to paint? Why do you have to write a best seller to be a writer? The answer is we don't - we just have to pick up the paint brush or pen.... Life is too short not to live it. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
"30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" ![]() Did someone say the internet was down? SOUND THE ALARM - PRESS THE PANIC BUTTON - LIFE AS WE KNOW IT IS OVER. It's hard to remember a life without the internet, especially for my generation and all subsequent ones, although I did in fact have an internet, and largely computer, free childhood. These days everything is linked via the world wide web, or that's what it feels like. Our lives are so deeply rooted in the ether that a downed internet connection can send us into a state of panic. I mean how will my niece upload the latest selfie to ![]() ![]() I use the internet for a lot - it's very convenient. The things that use to be time consuming and laborious now can be done from the comfort of my own home and at unsociable hours when I can't sleep, or while I am at work (on my breaks or down time obviously). Here is a list of the key things I use it for: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() All of this is before I even start to think about playing online games, downloading a new book, or streaming a new film or TV show. And as for going to the gym and losing the baby weight - there is an app to help with that... I've heard of digital detoxing and think it's great - in theory, and for small amounts of time... see the panic is already setting in... We are actually implementing elements of it at my house: ![]() ![]() We're also thinking about how we want Theia it interact with technology. It will be a huge part of her life... there's no getting away from it, but we still want her to enjoy the simpler side of childhood too; like painting, crafting, baking, playing outside, and swimming. I love to read. I can spend hours lost in the pages of a good story; that's probably my favourite pass time when the internet is down, that and playing board games. I want her to enjoy that as well. The truth is the world is so intrinsically linked to the internet, because of how easy it makes our lives, that we're all addicted to it. It's like amputating a limb. Our life is now a series of 1's and 0's. But, while it helps us, it shouldn't define us. Getting the balance right is difficult, but something I'm always striving for. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
"30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" ![]() I think its very hard to turn your worst experience into something positive, especially when it's raw. I have had many experiences I would rather not have. But the one I've picked for this blog is the fact that I was bullied in school. There were only six girls in my year and because I wouldn't fall in and agree with this one particular girl I was picked on by the group... A lot... Add the fact that I went to a boarding school and so had to share a dormitory with them, meaning I sometimes had to fall asleep listening to them talking about me and saying why they didn't like me, and you get a very unpleasant time. In fact it was horrible for about three years. At first it really upset me. It was lonely. I would literally cry my self to sleep some nights. There were occasions I would walk down a corridor and get barged into. They thought it was funny. It was a group mentality. They used to egg each other on. It just so happens that a similar thing was happening to a girl in the year below me as well. This seems to draw me and Lisa together and we became best friends. It was still difficult during class and at night as we had to endure the bullies on our own but at least we had someone to walk to school with and talk to about it. I remember one school disco - haha those were the days - the bullying had been quite bad in the lead up to it, but Lisa and I decided to go anyway. The girls all sat in their groups, on the tables at the side of the room, and Lisa and I huddled in the corner on the opposite side. The girls were glaring. It was intimidating. Eventually we got bored and decided to dance. We could see the girls pointing and sniggering out of the corner of our eyes, but we held our ground and ignored them. So what if the cool kids were laughing at us... they were just standing there like lemons... Their faces suddenly changed when Lisa's brother and his friends came over to dance with us. They were a few years older and cute by 14 year old's standards. It was great. We had a blast. We learnt not to let others' opinions stop us from doing what we wanted and from having fun that night. A very valuable lesson. The bullying continued, but we realised we could cope with it and ignored it. It became sporadic when the girls lost interest. It's funny, but regardless of how unpleasant it was, after coming out the other side, I wouldn't change it. It shaped me into the person I am. I'm stronger for it. More independent. More empathetic to others feelings. I don't know who I would of been if I didn't go through it and I like who I am. I genuinely do. It's been 25 years and Lisa and I are still friends - that's another huge positive. So I think I have to agree with Mr Devner... I don't really have any worst experiences... Or at least none that's would give up if it meant changing who I am now. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
"30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" ![]() I have to be honest - I mostly just laughed and rolled my eyes with all of the "products" on this list. I mean do they really solve our problems or make our lives easier? I'd suggest that if the answer to these questions is "YES" then you may need to re-evaluate the way in which you live and GET A LIFE!!! Here are my thoughts... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() In summary - no, I will not be rushing out to part with my hard earned cash in exchange for any of these creations. I have shoes to buy, which seem more important and useful... ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
"30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" ![]() This is actually something that Guy and I have been speaking about as usually we don't do much to celebrate the New Year, but we wanted to start some type of tradition for Theia. Of course Theia is only little and wont be able to "see in the new year" for quite some time, so we have time to come up with something. Guy is Australian and most of his family live over there. We always get bombarded with early Happy Birthday's, Merry Christmas' etc.. and New Year is no different. This year we decided to watch the live feed of the fireworks over Sydney Harbour bridge - I have to say, I think they were better than the London ones, which felt a little flat. It was fun to sit around the TV and count down. Theia didn't have a clue what was going on. She just liked the music and the dancing. We plan on keeping that tradition with Theia, that way she will get to "see" a New Year in - sort of. I'd also like to do something from my Welsh heritage. Calennig is an old, Welsh, New Year tradition where a gift is given on New Year's Day. Years ago children would go door to door in the village, carrying a skewed apple pierced with corn and sprigs of evergreen, spreading good wishes for the health and prosperity for the coming year. Sometimes there would be singing involved. For their efforts the children would get small gifts of food or money. I'm not going to drag Theia around the street - as our neighbours would think I was strange and loopy, but I'll build a Calennig apple sprig with her, and Guy and I will give her a little gift of food and money. There is a very similar Italian tradition - Kalends - where sweets, honey jar, gold, silver, money, coins and/or lamps are given. Each gift has it's own meaning: honey brings sweetness and peace; gold and silver bring prosperity, and lamps illuminate the year ahead with light. This is something that might appeal to Guy and his Italian ancestry. And of course there is Hogmany - or more precisely "Auld Lang Syne" which is sung across the UK (although it is seen as a Scottish tradition) to remind us of old and new friends. It roughly translates to "times gone by", and my New Years', even a quiet one at home, isn't complete without singing this. We're not really that big on resolutions, but we always pick a few, and it's normally the usual - loose weight, get to work on time, and stop spending so much money. But rather than pick something that is wrong with our life or needs improving I would rather pick something new to learn or a new place to visit. So that is what I am going to encourage Theia to do: to try a new sport, to have a go of painting, or learn to swim. I'm really keen on traditions and want Theia to remember the fun we had with all of them as she grows up. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |