Happy Christmas everyone

Hello! If you celebrate Christmas I hope you are enjoying the festivities :)

I blew up my computer so just when I thought I'd be getting back into blogging I had to go AWOL. I have no way to upload photos at the mo so things may be a little dull for a while.

I've Been a busy bee but have been trying to spend more time with friends too.

Massive new flash is that I've taken up climbing as a new sport!!! We hope to get our own gear soon as hiring it each time is proving to be expensive. This new interest is all down to my friends J and N who are VERY into the sport. They'd been threatening to take me for some time and one day after a spot of Christmas shopping and lunch together they announced that that very evening they were gonna take me for my first try at it...what a thrill! I am not good with heights so this is another way I hope I will 'evolve' and move forward :) Thankfully DH and DS are just as keen to join in so it will become a family activity!

happy Christmas everyone

Doxie x

Teaching myself how to make better pastry

I bought myself some loose bottomed tartlet tins and they called for a better pastry than my usual shortcrust, so I tried my hand at Sweet tart pastry French style. I am very pleased with the results, the  crust has a hint of vanilla and a more biscuit-like texture than the shortcrust, 'yum!' I just can't stop baking at the mo, it's addictive, and yes I have started to put on weight, 'ahem!' I'm telling myself I need a bit more fat to keep myself warm through the Winter lol!

Doxie



Owl always love you!

A cushion cover I made for DH the other day. Okay the colours are not very masculine, but he can't complain at the message lol.

Doxie



Ivor's apples

I've never met Ivor but I am fortunate enough to be given some of his lovely apples each year...it is something I look forward to. This year instead of making large apple pies I thought I'd try individual tartlets. I didn't cook the apples first,, just chopped them up into small pieces and added a blob of blackcurrant jam.

...a light dusting of icing sugar and they are ready for lashings of double cream, yum!

Thankyou Ivor.
Doxie, who can't wait until tea time! x

For my friend

I have a wonderful friend called Jan. I have known her for about 10 years and she is has been a constant throughout. She is one of those people that you can trust and rely on whatever the situation. She is fun but sensible, open minded but moral and a lady that is very dear to my family. You know those people that you feel uplifted and better for seeing, she is one of those!

I thought you might like to see this little clay heart I made for her. I rolled out some craft clay, dried it in the oven and painted it. The flowers are transfers and the message I wrote by hand, Sadly I smudged the lettering a little...but at least she knows it was handmade lol!

Doxie

overdue update!

Hello there! I know I owe you an update big time.What can I say?... There is a saying that goes...'life is what happens when you are making other plans'...so true, it has been busy and a lot of our plans have been put on hold...

I'll get the sad part out of the way first. FIL passed away from Asbestosis this year. Naturally it had a big impact on the family in many ways but we are supporting MIL the best we can and hopefully she will come through the other side of this okay. We never know what is ahead of us and it seems I have learned to drive for a reason and not a minute too late. My new found wings have been very useful in running back and forth to MIL... DS has been an absolute star and is spending a lot of time with her as she is not happy being alone and at the moment it is making her ill. I really am blessed to have a son that is so thoughtful and willing to give his time to help other people. He is spending more time with her than he is at home over this Summer holiday. MIL is only 20-30 mins away by car but that is far enough away when you are feeling alone.

We are really getting into the photography lark. I've had a real boost to my self esteem in that recently 2 peeps requested portraits and I have had exceedingly positive feedback from them. They have both said that the pics I did for them are the best they have had taken of them...they are people who speak their mind and wouldn't just speak to flatter, so I know they mean it. One is a photographer himself and the other is an ex-model! Okay I know I mustn't let it go to my head, but it is great to know that my own 'style' is appreciated. I go with my gut feeling which is something I haven't had the confidence to do in the past, and this time it seems to be paying off. Recently someone saw some pics I'd taken and offered to pay me to do some work for them. I declined payment but am going to happily oblige their request...at the moment I don't feel comfortable charging as this is very much a hobby but I hope to make my hobby pay for itself in the future.

On the non-serious side of photography, I've got myself a 'snappy camera' (for blogging and record shots) as my dear Uncle Bert used to call them...now I'm a driver I'm naturally going more places and doing more in my daily life. So often I was thinking I wish I had a camera I could fit in my bag...so I treated myself as a reward for passing my test. Much of what I blog on here will be with my snappy camera, it is small, easy and does the job :o)

DS had more exams and results and I am proud to say I am the DM of an 'A' grade student...I know that is not the 'be all and end all' of life, but as I home-edded him it is confirmation that we did good!!!!

Right now the main part of my days are taken up with homemaking, taking care of MIL's garden and developing a business plan. I work for DH some days but am happy to say I still have time to play...I am looking forward to a handmade Christmas this year, and want to make it as uncommercialised as possible.

Hope everyone is well out there is blog land.

Doxie x

Hopefully I'm back

I'm getting back into the crafting lark. Will post pics soon. Life is rather upside down...we've just gone 4 days with no bath or sink!!! The new bath has finally been installed...in fact DH has just finished and is running the first bath now. It's 10.42pm here, he gets first bath seeing as he's done all the hard work lol and then me, I don't care if it gets to midnight, I can't wait for a bath whatever time I have it!!!

Life is good...I will fill in the finer details soon :o)

Hope everyone out there in blog world is well.

Doxie :o)

I did it!

I passed my driving test today!

My friend invited me out to celebrate...dinner in my honor but I was the only one not drinking lol.

Another friend has invited me out tomorrow. It will be brill to just go and not have to worry about which bus I have to catch and if it's gonna rain!

Woohoo, my life begins here!

Doxie :o)

This started off as a little still life project

...but I am not sure what you would call it now! It started off very girlie but somehow I had a brainstorm and ended up producing this lol.

Doxie :o)

driving test tomorrow

Well the day is almost here. This time tomorrow night I may be a driver.

Stunned is the word

Both Mr Doxie and I entered a photography competition...I got 2nd and he got 3rd! I was stunned...I genuinely entered just to get critique from the judge...you can learn so much from that...when he said he wanted to hold my pic back and then held Mr's back, I was thinking hang on something is wrong...I nearly fell off my chair at the final review and he said 2nd and 3rd for ours.

Happy Happy Doxie. :o)

I passed my Theory and Hazard Perception tests

Now my instructor wants me to book the practical...eek!

Doxie

Excited

Tomorrow we go for a viewing at the exhibition. I have a few pics on display and Mr Doxie does too. I am wondering if I should have put them up for sale but it is my first time and I am clueless to know what is reasonable to charge. The chap who is running the exhibition says it is totally up to the individual and the sale is between artist/photographer and buyer, he doesn't get involved...he would just pass the buyer our details. The gallery owner would take a percentage of course. We worked out how much we would have to charge just to break even and I have to admit I wouldn't spend that much on a print so I chickened out of the whole selling side. I am just pleased at the moment to think that we were asked to take part...I guess I will get braver and wiser as time goes on.

Doxie, just wanting to share her excitement

What's on your reading list this year?

So what has taken your fancy this year? I started "Beyond Band of Brothers" but only got halfway through...I was really reading it because I thought I should . Not the best reason to read a book...I will probably go back to it sometime but it is a bit boyish for my mood at the mo.

I've had " The Reader" recommended to me and have just bought Mr Doxie "Atonement" so may nick that off him when he has finished.

I so enjoyed the P.G. Wodehouse for light hearted reading last year, so aim to track some more of him down.

Whilst rumaging through the charity shop I came across Brighton Rock on DVD the other day, but have told myself I won't watch it until I have read that again...so that's definately on the list. I studied it for GCSE all those moons ago, so hopefully I have forgotten ( no, not lost )the plot by now!

Top of my list however has to be "Shackleton's Boat Journey" by F.Worsley. I saw an AV presentation showing snippets of the story as part of a photography lecture earlier in the week and it was very thought provoking. When DH and I discussed it afterwards we both agreed that we would have died out there with the dogs. I couldn't shoot a dog any more than fly through the air, so if it came to keeping them or survival I would have been a goner ( is that a word???) I guess that is the difference between a survivor and a victim lol. ... if indeed it is true that they were shot...I shall find out if I read the book as it is a first hand account by one of the men who accompanied him.

Oh bum , there goes the vision...here comes the migraine, that'll be fun if I get it when I am doing my Hazard perception tomorrow...good job I can touch type.

What is top of your list?

Doxie

New Heading Banner

Did you notice my new look heading? I thought it could do with an update. I don't know if you can remember what the "old" banner was like ( the blossom ), this is the same basic photo with a bit of photoshop treatment. :o)

I nearly gave up, Blogger really did not like the format I had it in, but I got there in the end. :o)

Doxie x

Woohoo, new work area

I can't remember if I wrote about getting rid of our exceptionally large fish tank or not...I can't be bothered to check tonight, so if I am repeating myself bear with me.

We had a VERY large fishtank in our dining room. It was custom made and thus was not of average dimensions. We came to the decision earlier this year that it had to go because it was dominating the room too much and if we put the house on the market it would make the room look much smaller than it is.

Fast forward to fishtank gone and LOADS of space gained. Mr Doxie came up with a brill suggestion for now...why don't I make it my workspace? Tonight I have moved in my desk and sewing machines. It is perfect, I can leave my WIPs out and we still have the dining room table to eat on...no more having to clear my projects away to make room for food! It is a small thing that will make a massive difference to my days. I haven't felt able to get my needlework stuff out for ages because of the aggro...some days I only get a spare half hour or so to do "me" stuff, and a lot of that would be eaten up with setting up and putting away. I am now a happy bunny!!!!

Hopefully this means I will get back to sharing my projects with you. :o) You never know photos may even make a return to my blog LOL.

Doxie the contented. :o)

Making Sweet Memories

This piece of writing is BEAUTIFUL. When I read it this morning I felt compelled to share it.

"We are all making memories in our to-days for our to-morrows. The back-log in the old fashioned fireplace sings as it burns, and one with poetic fancy says that the music is the bird-songs of past years...that when the tree was growing in the forest the birds sang in it's branches, and the music sank into the tree and was held there, until now in the winter fire it is set free. This is only a beautiful fancy, but there is an analogy in life which is actual. Along the days of childhood and youth the bird-notes of gladness sing about us. They sink away into the heart and hide there. In the busy days, the fires of toil and care which follow they ofttimes seem to be lost and forgotten. Then, in still later days, the fires of trial come and kindle about the life, and in the flames the long-imprisoned music is set free and flows out. Many an old age is brightened and sweetened by the memoires of early years. They are wise who in their happy youth-time fill their hearts with pure, pleasant things; they are laying up blessings for old age."

Author J.R.Miller D.D.

Doxie

Spring is coming...

The sun is shining, the light has a wonderful quality to it today...it really feels as if Spring is popping it's head around the corner to ask if it is okay to come by some time soon. How I regret not buying the seeds I saw when I was out shopping last night, I have an urge to start some lettuce off on my windowsill!

I was saying to DS this morning how I long to sit on dry grass. I can't wait to pack a picnic and laze with friends in the sunshine. Funny, I don't usually get it when folks say it's been a long Winter...this year I do though, dunno why! Maybe it is my impatience as this year I have so many things planned with the thought that I will have my independence when I have passed my driving test...note I am saying "when" and not "if" :o)

Roll on Spring time, feel free to come and visit asap!

Impatient Doxie.

I have 2 teenagers now!

No, neither Mr Doxie nor I have a secret love child and we have not adopted...hang on, that last bit is not true...we did adopt...dear old Sharp End,when he was a puppy and tomorrow he turns 13!!!!

I didn't think he would make it to the Christmas before last and he surprised us by making that one and one more! He's only the 2nd one of his breed to have got to 12 that the vet had ever had on her books...so he is a anomaly! Perhaps he will be the first she's had that has got to his teens?

Dear Sharp End is full of lumps and bumps and snores like nothing on earth... but he is still enjoying life. Occasionally he gets a bit stiff thankfully tablets from the vet sort that out, but most of the time when he's warmed up he is unbelievably strong, nobody would believe his age if he wasn't greying around the muzzle. I think the average person would have trouble taking him for a walk such is his power. He's had the odd "accident" lately which we ignore and just clear up, he is not a "dirty" dog and demands to go out when he "knows" he needs to go. In his prime he was 9 1/2 stone. I used to road walk him for miles every day and he was quite a beast, solid muscle! He would take as much as I was prepared to give him. I think that and his good diet over the years must have helped his longevity, at least I hope so.

The other day DS and I were discussing how Sharp End is really no different from when he was a puppy. He is still excitable, he still plays the same games, he has the same sense of humour ( YES, dogs do have a sense of humour, after owning Dobes for over 20 years you couldn't convince me otherwise!), it is just his body that is aging...he is the same character through and through. That is what we used to say about DM, her mind was just the same, it was the body which wore out,which reminds me of another conversation I had with someone yesterday... that is a subject for another day.

One thing that is worrying me a little is when he wakes up with a start from a deep sleep... just the last few weeks he goes straight into full guarding mode which can be very alarming. I think he gets a fright but is not properly awake yet. You can't really talk sense into him as it seems to be an instinctive thing and he only calms when he "comes to" properly. I guess it is akin to an older person becoming confused. As a result I have to be very careful when we are expecting visitors as the doorbell going may put him in hyper mode just as they are coming to visit. I am finding the best thing is to keep going over to him and fussing him to stop him going off too deeply if I think there is a chance that he may get snapped out of it with a start.


I was going to make him a birthday cake, a nice sponge, flavoured with beef oxos instead of cocoa, but I have thought better of it and will make us a cake. He will have a rawhide chew with a bow attached! I have also bought him a tin of the stinkiest wet food they had in the shop. He usually has dry complete food, so he will know it's his birthday, well either that or Christmas

Happy Birthday for tomorrow Sharp End. We love you! XXX

The power of music

My Dad died 10 years ago but tonight he was back with me. No don't worry I haven't lost my mind. Late this afternoon I popped into the local charity shop and to my delight found some of my favourite music...the very same that my Dad used to sing around the house. As I danced around the kitchen cooking the dinner it was as if he was there with me singing along by my side! I wasn't sad, it was so uplifting, It reminded me of lovely happy Dad. That said, there is one song I just cannot listen to ( not on the cds I bought today thank goodness ) and if it comes up I just have to, without fail, skip to the next track...that is "Somewhere over the rainbow". I don't know why this is, but it reminds me of him in a sad way...in the blink of an eye it can take me from cloud nine to the depths of despair. Gee how is that for power? Music is amazing isn't it?

Whilst on the subject of the power of music I can't fail to screech my appreciation of Hans Zimmer...but I am afraid I am not going to natter about "Black Hawk Down" or something so heavy, but instead be a complete and utter girlie and talk about the soundtrack to "The Holiday".

IMHO Hans Zimmer is an musical genius. If you have never seen "The Holiday" and are a romantic at heart you do not know what you are missing. Mr Doxie likes to tease me and tells people that all I am interested in is Disney films...gee he knows how to wind me up, that really gets my goat when he starts on that one LOL!For the record, one of my favourite films is The Pianist, and there aint no Bambi hiding in there Mister! ...Back to "The Holiday"... no, it is not a Disney film but it is a slushy feel good movie and I am totally gaga about it... Watch the film before you listen to the music and you will be blown away when you do sit down and listen to it, the music is great anyway, but if you listen to it in "context" it has such impact...it is better than therapy ( not that I consider myself to need it, but if I did, I wouldn't waste my money, I would just lie back and listen to Zimmer )It takes you through every emotion in the film and you come out of it feeling thoroughly fluffy, romantic and damned good. When I have learned to drive I plan to take up running again and I just know this will be my all time favourite running music...As I slog up and down the urban highways ( and hopefully more scenic routes ), passer-bys will see some middle aged woman trying to get fit but in my head I will be Cameron Diaz running for all her might back to that little cottage, feeling invincible, full of hope, enthusiasm and that "Yes I've found what I want in life" type of feeling that fills us with indescribable energy and zest for life! In my eyes there is very little to rival that soundtrack in terms of the feel good factor.

I like to think I am mostly a happy person and I do sing quite a lot every day, mostly without realising it until I catch myself or DS makes a comment. I wonder, in years to come if he will hear a song and say " That reminds me of my Mum" in the same way I felt about my Dad today?

BTW if you know me and want to curl up on the sofa next to me with a supply of drinks, snacks and watch "The Holiday" please shout... my family have been subjected to this more times than is reasonable, I think they know the script off by heart now! I could never tire of that film!

Doxie who is off to pop some Zimmer on

Out of my comfort zone again.

Mr Patience has been telling me that I need to build my confidence so took me out of my comfort zone and off to practice some city driving today. I hated it...no,that's not right, I mean, I HATED it with a capital "H". I know it is something I need to do. I want to be the kind of driver that can go anywhere, but I hate the city even on foot...this means that I can probably count the number of times I have been there voluntarily in the past 20 years on my fingers and toes...in truth probably, just my fingers, or just my toes!!!!!

I did a "turn in the road" on a hill...last time I did this I cried ( cringe ).Today I wanted to, but I don't "think" I did...I just felt on the verge of it for most of the lesson...it's odd how I get like that when driving. It usually takes a lot for my eyes to spring a leak...in fact there are very few people on this planet that have seen me cry, so it surprises me that I get like this when I am driving... I guess since I have been an adult not much has really SCARED me to this extent. I should be thankful for that I guess. :o) Anyway I did the turn in the road in spite of this horrid feeling that the car will tip sideways and roll with us in it, LOL. It sounds daft when I read that, but that is how I feel at the time, strangely disorientated.

A couple of days ago I wrote a list of some of the things that scare me when driving that I need to push myself on...I had "level crossings" written down and lo and behold, today I did my first one. I am sure Mr Patience is psychic...or Mr Doxie is secretly texting him telling him what scares the pants off me and where I need practice! Nah, maybe not, Mr D knows his life wouldn't be worth living if he did that,I guess Mr Patience is just a damned good teacher.

Anyway, I survived the city. I don't think I did very well being in panic mode most of the time, but I did it. Doxie, feeling challenged...but still happy

What to call this post?

Shall I call it "Learning a new perspective" or perhaps "There are some awesome people out there"?

My recent pursuit of new interests and wants has introduced me to all sorts of folk...but what has struck me most just lately is the kindness, caring attitude and generosity of some people. People I barely knew six months ago have helped me progress so much. People have even given up their free time to teach me ( and Mr Doxie ) new things we want to learn. When I have struggled they have stretched out a hand to help...on a few occassions when I have stepped out of my comfort zone, I've found myself in fight or flight mode...I have really wanted to run ( to say I felt traumatised a few times just lately is no exageration ) but I haven't, because people have recognised what was going on and stepped in to help... teaching me that if I take a deep breath and work through my fears I can get through the scary stuff and I WILL progress and get somewhere. When I later thanked one guy and confessed to him that I wanted to leave and never come back, he said " We wouldn't have let you!" I don't know how that reads on the page, but how it was said was really quite lovely and then I realised that you should never let the *obscenity*'s
get you down ( or take you down with them ) because there are far more beautiful folk out there who are willing to catch you when you fall and not only that, but hold you up high afterwards.


I am in a very happy place just now. Apart from having recent good news about health in the family, I guess it is all part of the evolving Doxie. I feel blessed to have met some of the folk I know... and they are teaching me a new perspective on life ( or maybe it is the old perspective that got buried somewhere along the way ) basically I am focusing on the positive, I am learning to see with "new eyes" ( as my friend Min would say ). I am seeing what I want and like, learning that to get there I need to ignore the spanners in the works... As I write this on one subject, I realise this applies to everything... including something my driving instructor has been trying to get into my head...don't focus on the fact you made a mistake, focus on putting it right! :o)

Woohoo...now I know what to call this post...

Accentuate the positive, Eliminate the negative!!!

I think I have just chosen myself a signature tune for 2010.


Doxie, loving life!

It gave me a fright...

...so goodness knows what it did to her!!!

Whilst on my latest driving lesson we were zooming along the dual carriage way ( well I felt like I was zooming, Mr P would probably say I was tootling lol )...I could hear an odd noise and thought maybe I had done something wrong and the gear box was arguing with me... but as we got to a bend at the bottom of the hill,I realised the noise had been people sounding their horns in the distance...what were we confronted with ?...an elderly driver going the wrong way!!!!!!That was an eye opener...that phrase "always expect the unexpected" comes to mind.

...Anyhow luckily where she had got to, if she drove along a short distance she could have zipped across to another road when some traffic lights changed so I don't think she was somewhere she couldn't have escaped from...but either way it was a shock.

I totally mucked up my bay park today. The bays were on a curve, I dunno if that started me off on the wrong foot. That said however, Mr Patience did word something in a way that clicked today... I think I may be beginning to understand what I have been doing wrong with the steering wheel when trying to go from full lock to straightening up.

...Oh by the way I have booked in for my theory test...I am dreading that more than the practical, but it is a means to an end and can't be avoided. :-/

Doxie...Ho hum.

I'm getting there...

My driving instructor was pleased with me today...I was making progress in a couple of manoeuvres I had been finding difficult and apparantly I am planning ahead much more.

I was nagged nicely about getting the theory out of the way, something Mr Doxie has been telling me to do for quite some time...I think I am confident enough to book that in now, so it looks like I could be driving solo sometime in the Spring, fingers crossed! :o)

Dox

The question is...

... What is the worst time to be asked to be a photographic model?

I know the answer to that question...When you washed your hair the day before and let it dry naturally whilst wondering around the zoo. Then the next day (the day in question ) the only pressing things were a driving lesson ( and I am sure my instructor doesn't care whether his pupils look like they have been dragged through a hedge backwards) and a shoot where you are thinking everyone, including yourself are going to have their lenses pointing at a pretty young model ( note not a middle aged housewife!) so you didn't bother styling it!!!

AND

You are knackered and look it...the reason being you didn't go to bed until 3 o'clock in the morning because you were getting pics ready for an exhibition.

AND

You have makeup on at 8pm that you put on at 8am and just plastered a bit more on top to at least give the impression that you might be human and not something that just crawled out from the crypt!

AND

When you are wearing jeans with dobermann footprints on

AND

Worst of all you feel extremely nauseaous as you are fighting a migraine and really only attend that night thinking when you've given your pics in you can go home to bed.

...oh and I forgot when you are wearing a frilly top with snowboots!

Well if all that made sense, you can guess what happened to me during my first group portraiture session.. There were 2 mobile "studios" set up and only 1 model so I was asked to fill in...now don't get me wrong... if I was prepared and none of the above I would have thought "what the heck, just have a go for a laugh" but, well, erm, CRINGE! What's the betting they won't ask me again? LOL.

Doxie who is not about to make it big in the modelling world

Spring is only weeks away...honest

Guess what we saw in the shops today? SEED packets. My friend was looking forward to growing veg, that really made me think "the time to plan is NOW". We may have yucky weather right now but that doesn't mean we can't start thinking of sunshine!
Another thing on the to-do list. I will grow different things this year though. This year I will be thinking of architectural shapes in the garden for the photography side, maybe Sea Holly, Teasles etc. Any suggestions on good plants to grow with this in mind gratefully recieved!

Doxie, looking forward to Spring. :o)

Action man will never be the same!

Okay, you remember quite some time ago I posted under the subject of storage? Well, all Action Man fans leave the room now or skip to another post...either that or prepare for years of counselling...You have been warned...

... the solution was a fishing tackle box to store my cosmetics in...well I found I had the closest thing already indoors without having to go out to the fishing shop...DS was throwing out his army green Action Man assessory box!!! It is perfect! I didn't see the irony in it until DH commented that Action Man would be laughed out of town if anyone saw it...I was going to take the stickers off but have decided against that as it amuses me silly every morning when I plonk it next to me to do my face!

Sorry Action man, I hope you have a sense of humour!!

GI Doxie

Being spontaneous

So often I think...Wouldn't it be nice to XYZ but something stops me and I don't for some reason. Well today I thought "What the heck" and phoned LB to see if she wanted to meet for a cuppa...well I am so glad I did as the answer was yes! She had an appointment and I had a few chores to do locally which she accompanied me for on foot...this meant we both got a little exercise which is always good...then we zoomed off to the appointment in her car, she did her thing and we ended up going for lunch and a spot of shopping rounded off with LB kindly treating me to a yummy cup of coffee in the bookshop! :o)

I thoroughly enjoyed my spontaneous day and I think LB did too... She is a naughty girl though...I ended up buying myself a new top, drinking coffee when I'm trying to give up caffeine ( though it was worth it, yum!) and buying stuff for DH in the chocolate shop which she lured me into ( I didn't even know it existed until today!)!!! I told her my good friend should be called my bad friend as I gave into temptation when I was with her LOL. Taking responsibility for my own actions, moi? Nah, that's boring lol.

Be spontaneous today you never know someone else might just be in the same mood...and that's another happy day in the memory bank to look back on! Even Mr Doxie will have benefited by my spontaneity when he finds the chilli flavoured chocolates I have left on his pillow. :o)

Doxie :o)

It's snow joke trying to...

...drive in Winter weather! (Sorry couldn't resist!)

We are having the worst Winter weather for 25 years and today I ventured out in it for a driving lesson. Some folks might think it rather mad but I felt it was a great opportunity...there will eventually be a time when I get caught out in the slippery white stuff on my own and I would rather my FIRST time be sat next to someone who knows what they are doing, or what I should be doing. It was a bit scary at times but mostly not the horror I thought it was going to be. I learned about getting the speed up on the downward part to make it back up the hills ( something I would have chickened out of if I was on my own and it was the first time I was out in it ), I learned how to get out when stuck in a rut in the snow by inching forwards and backwards continuously. I also learned that my instructor is way better at making a snowball than me!...in my defence, I did not have gloves on!

All in all it was a good experience and I am pleased to say the only casualty was one of my false finger nails...I just hope I lost it lobbing a snowball back and NOT in his car or that would be a gross find when he next hoovers it out, eek!

I do hope I can remember all he taught me today and it keeps me safe in the future.

Save driving and keep warm everyone.

Edited to say when I went out again it was quite scary when I didn't have the guts to get the speed up when approaching a hill...we slid all over the place, but somehow I managed to get to the top, only just though. It was a BIG learning experience and yes now I know that sometimes you just HAVE to do things even if it scares you. Phew!

Doxie :o)

Quality friend time

Last night ( or early this morning ) we came back from a super evening round at my friend's new house. After a delicious dinner we retired to the sitting room for some serious catching up and general silliness and laughter.

I did wonder if we might have to stay the night...the weather was so cold and icy when we came to leave in the small hours the car doors were stuck closed...when we did get in and got moving there was sheet ice all over the place. We did get home safely, no thanks to the local council who had yet again failed to grit the very steep hill we had to get up to get home. :o/

My friend did say something which quite upset me when I got to thinkng about it...she told me that when we stopped spending lots of time with other on a regular basis ( We used to see each other a few times a week, but had a change of circumstances ) she felt bereft. Now that is strong wording and I know she means what she says because of the type of lady she is. Isn't it sad that life should get so crazy that we let really important friendships and fun times get squeezed out. Yes I missed the 3 of them terribly but if you are like me you never think that other people could possibly be missing your company as much as you are missing their's. I think there is a lesson to be learned here, and I will try my utmost this year to always have a date set in my diary when we will next be seeing my much loved friends.

Keep up with those who are special to you, just knowing some people makes the world a better place, and you always feel better for seeing them. life is too short to let these friendships slip.

Take care all,

Doxie

Best Wishes for 2010

Well it's here finally! Happy 2010 to all.

Our lovely neighbours invited us in to see in the New Year. They thoroughly spoilt us with homemade cooking and lots of booze. I took a few homemade bits around too and by the end of the evening or should I say 3.30am when we left we were stuffed but happy. :o)

It's funny how you can live right next to someone and not know that they share the same interests as yourself. It seemed what ever subject came up, it was something we had in common. Life is so busy, usually we just find time to say a quick "hello" on the doorstep or drop a parcel off...these guys live right next door and yet we didn't know that we spend alot of weekends doing the same things or at least dreaming of doing the same things. I feel a New years resolution coming on...get to know the neighbours better and make time to spend some leisure time together!

On the subject of resolutions, I wonder what you dear reader have set yourself up for? Myself, well it is a bit of a one off for me...by my birthday I want to have a six pack and ask one of our portrait photographer friends to paint me in light and take a pic as a record that once in my life I looked after myself!!!( okay you can get up off the floor and stop laughing now!) The day after I will start letting it all go again probably, but I know from experience that when I am working out I feel at my best, I have boundless energy, my skin clears and I feel like a teenager, pain free and care free...which begs the question, why don't we keep these things up? Oh if only I could answer that.

I do feel that this is THE year. I will hopefully have passed my driving test which means I can really start being me! I am so looking forward to having that independence, and I can't wait to pay back all the little kindnesses that friends have shown to me...I will enjoy kidnapping them for the afternoon and taking them out for surprise dinners and such.I will be able to persue my business plans which I have been playing with for the last couple of years. I will be able to start running again, sounds odd I know when you don't need a car to run, but this means I can drive to more scenic and suitable places. I plan to entertain at least once a month, with certain changes we have been making this seems very do-able.Life begins in 2010.Happy happy, happy!

Doxie