an aaah moment and another award, twice over ...

This isn't my photo, but it's a cute one!



This is mine! An award from Michele at Cowboys & Custard, and Funkymonkey. I really appreciate you choosing to award it to me, and thanks to everyone else for tuning in to my pic 'n mix of lifes adventures, or lack of them as the case may be at the mo.

Winning this award again twice, gives me the opportunity to pass on to another fourteen worthy recipients on my blogroll! This makes me feel a lot better, as I really do love all the blogs I visit, and the good thing is, no two are the same! I honestly dislike having to choose names, but rules is rules.

Right quick smart, cut the drivel, and get to those all important Oscar nominations:

Tracie at All About Whatever
Ally at Born to Read and Knit
Jayne at Country Cottage Chic
Marie at Dreaming of Wild Roses
Jennie at Falling Down the Rabbit Hole
Heather, Katherine and Samantha at Four Friends and a Blog
Indigo Blue
Niesz Vintage Home ... and Fabric
Lisa at Periwinkle
Rhondi at Rose Colored Glasses
Kristina at Shabbily Ever After
Suzie at Suzie Sews
Becky at Sweet Cottage Dreams
Margaret and Noreen at The Homely Year

and one for good luck Funkymonkey!

I know some of you have already won this award, but if you feel you could pass it on again, here are the rules, again!

1. Please put the logo on your blog.
2. Link the person from whom you received your award.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put the links of those blogs on to your blog.
5. Leave a message on their blogs to tell them!

my photo

rain, rain go away ...

To sum up in one word, today has been wet and in two words, very wet! We did manage a difficult cycle ride into Worthing, peddling through a stiff wind, drizzle and grey. The kite surfers were out in their droves, this being the best possible weather for them. I had planned to take photos on our return, but decided best to keep my camera under wraps, as the rain was getting progressively more heavy on the journey back.

Like a couple of drowned rats we stopped off at the Wild Bean Cafe for a cappuchino and once there nothing could stop us, we bought a bag of three jam doughnuts too!

At least now we have Blogthings for those spare moments on these kind of days. I ended up discovering what being named Louise stood for. I have italised what I believe to be true, the majority of what they say turns out to be!

You are relaxed, chilled, and very likely to go with the flow.

You are light hearted and accepting.
You don't get worked up easily.
Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is.
You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life.
You are solid and dependable.
You are loyal, and people can count on you.
At times, you can be a bit too serious.
You tend to put too much pressure on yourself.
You are a very lucky person.
Things just always seem to go your way.
And because you're so lucky, you don't really have a lot of worries.
You just hope for the best in life.
You're sometimes a little guilty of being greedy.
Spread your luck around a little to people who need it.
You tend to be pretty tightly wound.
It's easy to get you excited, which can be a good or bad thing.
You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly.
You don't stick with any one thing for very long.
You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time.
Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.
You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong.
You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know.
You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak.
Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do.
You are friendly, charming, and warm.
You get along with almost everyone.
You work hard not to rock the boat.
Your easy going attitude brings people together.
At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible.
But for the important things, you pull it together.

What's" Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

oh I do like to be beside the seaside ...

Remember this?

How I used to love these public information films back in the 1960s/1970s, and this couple Joe and Petunia proved extremely effective in raising awareness that HM Coastguard is a 999 emergency service.

Petunia is enjoying her Mr Whippy, I love them too. Did you know that Margaret Thatcher worked in the laboratory of the factory perfecting Mr Whippy icecream technology. Her job was to establish how much air you could pump into the mixture before it collapsed!

six unimportant things about me ...

Gina from Gingerbread and Christy from Sweet Tidings have tagged me with this one.

Thing no 1.
I can't wear earrings, any metal earrings. My ears are completely allergic to them!



Thing no 2.
I only really like eating cheese if it is grated or melted or if it is cubed with a piece of pineapple on a stick!



Thing no 3.
I paint my toenails, but not my fingernails!



Thing no 4.
I don't like Monkey Puzzle Trees. Apologies now if you have one!



Thing no 5.
I love all lemon products and will choose them over anything else. A real treat for me is Bronnley Lemon Soap and L'Occitaine Lemon Verbena handcream. I just can't get enough of the smell!



Thing no 6.
I always carry smelling salts with me in my bag. I take a whiff if I come over a bit dizzy. I learned this clever trick from my Mum!

For those who haven't yet done this tag, you know who you are? Go on have a go!

happy fathers day ...

I love this picture, it is taken from a vintage Ladybird book.

It shows a bright new modern suburban home from I would imagine the 1960s? A perfectly manicured garden, well you can't have the neighbours complaining can you! A perfect child who plays quietly while Mum and Dad are reading the Sunday papers! Mum on one of those camping chairs that if you weren't careful would take your finger off! And Dad relaxing with pipe in hand, all the rage you know! How spending Sunday morning has changed over the years?

I hope all Dads out there are having a great day, including mine!

Thanks Funky Monkey and Country Cottage Chic for reliably informing me you can buy Ladybird prints ready to frame. I had discovered it, but for anyone out there who hasn't, click on the link!

a girl with many attributes ...

These are my entries for Sal of Sal's Snippets competition.



... you didn't know I was Lionel Blair's sister did you? I bet your all jealous!

... and don't I look so much like the Foo Fighters drummer!



... and I belong to the ministry of funny walks!



... and I can bend it like Beckham!

It really couldn't get any better!

bargain books and a book tag ...

I picked up this book for a £1 the other day, in unused condition. Likely another present someone has been given and hasn't read before giving away?

Has anyone else had any bargain book finds lately?

Do you know all there is to know about Jane Austen? Such questions as -

Who was the Irishman who stole her heart?
Why was their affair doomed?
Which Austen heroine most resembled Jane?
Who were the real Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy?
Why did Jane never marry?

About a month ago! Sal from Sal's Snippets chose me to do a book tag.

The rules are -

Pick up a book of at least 123 pages
Open the book to page 123
Find the fifth sentence
Post the next three sentences
Tag five people

So I've picked up 101 Things you Didn't Know About Jane Austen, opened at page 123, found the fifth sentence down, and this is what I read from the chapter entitled 'Drawing' -

But this is one of the rare instances when the Tilneys are themselves being gently satirized, for embracing a trendy theory and its jargon. Catherine's 'ignorance' in this case is equally the common sense that sees that the emperor is not wearing clothes: 'It seemed as if a good view were no longer to be taken from the top of a high hill, and that a clear blue sky was no longer a proof of a fine day.' After Henry's lecture to Catherine on the picturesque, however 'she voluntarily rejected the whole city of Bath, as unworthy to make part of a landscape'.

Tag five people? This is just for fun, so only take part if you have some free time -

Charli and Me
Mille Fiori Favoriti
Posted from Home
Red Dirt Ramblings
Rose Colored Glasses

favourites meme ...

I have been given a tag from Ginny at The Flour Loft. Thanks Ginny.

4 places I’ve been
Barcelona
Brugge
Cologne
St Tropez

4 people I e-mail
Fiona my oldest friend
Stella at Life Limitating Art and Florence Hope
Michele at Cowboys & Custard
Daffy at Approaching 40

4 things to eat
Milk chocolate
Pain au raisin
Cheesecake
Rice pudding

4 movies I’d watch again
Grease
JFK
Saturday Night Fever
The Elephant Man

4 places I’ve lived
Angmering
Clapham Village
Lancing
In a dreamworld

4 TV shows I watch
Gardener’s World
Hotel Babylon
Springwatch
Wife Swap

4 places I’d rather be
Living in the country
Running my own shop
Sitting in a café with a cream tea in front of me
Working in a visitor attraction garden

4 things to look forward to
Earning money
Having the garden just so
Retiring
Seeing the sunshine

4 people to tag
Moogsmum
Periwinkle
Sal's Snippets
The World of Twiggypeasticks

The image above courtesy of Celia's post at Purple Podded Peas.

how was valentines day for you ...

I couldn't resist posting this photo of this cute piglet, born well in time for sharing Valentines Day with us, well at least he did, more than you can say for me! Look at those cute heart spots, I think he/she is so sweet, hope you do too?

Click on Holy Cuteness to see more great, amusing pics from all around the world.

i couldn't believe what i was seeing ...

By strange coincidence, the other evening shortly after publishing my mini post, J was flicking through the channels and caught part of Top Gear, I stopped in my tracks as they were showing this item. Well I don't usually watch Top Gear but on this occasion I couldn't stop myself, I couldn't believe what I was seeing, and did I laugh!

Click on Rocket Mini to see this hilarious stunt. So glad I didn't have to take my driving test on the ski run at Lillehammer!