New years eve

Posted on December 31, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Blogging, End of 2019, End of the decade, Fun, Happy New Year, Life, Quiet night in, Time3 Comments

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I’m not bothering with 🎇 fireworks tonight, or going out. I’m staying in so I know our cats are safe. I visited some friends last night instead. I will cook a nice meal for us and we can have a quiet drink.

I’ve never really been a party person. It sounds sad, but I like my own company and I don’t really socialise well, I always feel nervous and unsure of what to say.

I hope everyone here has a brilliant day and that you have a wonderful 2020. Life is astounding and amazing, I’m sending warm thoughts to you all.

The lake

Posted on December 29, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Busy, Fun, Leek, Light railway, Near Leek, Rudyard, Rudyard lake, Staffordshire, Train, Visit, WaterLeave a comment

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A view of late summer. Riding on the Rudyard lake light railway train, along the length of the lake. I saw this sailing boat over the other side. Too far away and slightly misty to get a clear view. I love the romance of the scene. Its a long, thin lake. Sheltered by hills on either side. Actually a reservoir for the canal system. I don’t think it ever gets stormy on there. No tides, no rise and fall of water, unless there is a period of drought. A lovely, if busy, place to visit.

It’s out in the hills on a little side road, we have cycled there down steep gradients when I was a lot younger. One road to it is very narrow, with passing places. The other is on the far side of the town of Leek and means an extra twenty to thirty minutes travelling to get there.

One day I will take paints and a canvas to capture the views.

Pensive Elf

Posted on December 28, 2019December 28, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Apps, Art, Artrage oils, Blogging, Draw, Elf, Fairy, Fun, SketchLeave a comment

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Digital sketch. What is she thinking? Who has she left behind. She had thought about staying in the world of men but had seen wisdom and realised that it could not work.

It’s funny how things appear in your mind and what you end up doodling. I was playing with an idea of someone looking back over their shoulder after seeing an image on the TV.

Various problems with this but it’s nice enough.

Hand painted jug

Posted on December 27, 2019 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Art, Cat, Ceramic, Design, Fun, Jug, Life, Painting, Pottery, Stoke-on trentLeave a comment

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My hand painted jug. I chose to paint it with a tortoise shell cat (black white and ginger). With added daisy type flowers. I gave it as a Christmas gift last year. I like keeping my hand in by decorating pottery. I don’t get the chance to do this very often. It came up on my Facebook memories page. I think I did it on a visit to the Emma Bridgewater factory in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.

Cat in a box

Posted on December 27, 2019December 27, 2019 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Box, Cat, Catty, Fun, Humour, Jump, Life, PounceLeave a comment

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Jumped in,

Sitting pretty.

My box now,

not yours.

Peeping out,

watching for

the Queen,

his sister

who might turn mean.

Pounced in,

now jumping out.

Biting the sides

of the box.

He slow blinks,

plotting his next move.

A few more…

Posted on December 25, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Chilly, Fun, Life, Poem, Poetry, Seaside, Walk, Warm, Weather, Wet2 Comments

With a cold sea breeze,

I started to freeze,

My feet getting wet,

A few dogs we met,

The waves were crashing

The sea was smashing,

Beach holiday?

Not today!

Back inside

By the fireside.

To get warm

Away from the storm.

Christmas walk

Posted on December 25, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Blogging, Christmas walk, Dog walking, Fun, Sea, SeasideLeave a comment

I took lots of photos of our walk on the beach but the WiFi I’m using isn’t very good so here are just a few shots. Obviously the dog walkers like the beach. It was clean, with lots of sea shells and stones and we didn’t see any plastic there which was great.

A lot of sand had washed up onto the promenade. I asked a local and they said there have been some severe storms recently. Luckily today there were white horses on the sea (rolling white waves) but the tide was out.

Yule in the Yurt !

Posted on December 25, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Den, Festival, Fun, Visit, Warm, What's that?, Yurt5 Comments

On our way to visit relatives we stopped off to look at a Yurt. Yes a real one, with tables and chairs inside so you could sit down and get warm. There was even a huge Christmas wreath that was placed around the two carved wooden poles holding the Yurt up.

Merry Yurtmas x.

Squabble over a basket.

Posted on December 23, 2019 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Cats, Chasing, Fun, Jumping, Playing, Pounce, RacingLeave a comment

My cats do like play fighting, at the moment they are either squabbling over a basket or trying to be top cat on top of the settee. Seeing them running backwards and forwards is great, or hiding under the coats by the back door and pouncing from underneath them as the other one runs past. It can be very funny. But it is only play fighting. They make little purring noises as they chase. Its like they are talking to each other. Leaping over each other. Flying, skipping, jumping. Fun.

Join a choir!

Posted on December 22, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Choir, Choirs, Community, Fun, Joining, Languages, Learning, Music, Singing1 Comment

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I pinched this image off my friend on Facebook. I really agree with it.

About 14 years ago I decided to have singing lessons, I’d always wanted to sing, but I had a loud, untrained voice. I could deafen people but not entertain them so I thought learning to control my voice would help.

The lessons were good, they helped, and I went on to get a grade one in singing. But it was expensive. My friend kept saying come to the choir she was in. So I decided to go to the choir one week and the lessons on the following week. It was a great way of getting in to it. I realised I was enjoying learning new songs, and in different languages. Eventually I finished going for lessons because my tutor was going abroad. I stayed with the choir and am still with them. In the meantime I also joined another choir, and have performed with other groups. I have to say it has helped my mental well-being and boosted my confidence.

The choir I joined does not do auditions. You don’t need to be able to read music. You just come along and have a go. So like the picture says, join the choir, you’ll be glad you did!

Mallaband-Brown

Tag: Fun