Every now and then, I come across something that touches me deeply.
Today was one of those days.
Never can I recall being so affected by an advert, especially one that lasts less than ninety seconds. I cannot stop watching it, even though I end up covered in goose bumps and in tears every single time. And if you've seen Tangled, I also do that teary-smiley-sob-sigh-thing that both Rapunzel and her mum do at the very end when they're reunited.
This time next month, I will be a Lancaster airfield, and will either have jumped already or be getting ready to jump (AAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!) but without your help, there will be no jump at all.
GULP!
I have to reach £500 in sponsorship within the next three weeks and, as it stands right now, I am nowhere near. If you can spare a pound, euro, or dollar, in support of Rainbow Trust; a children's charity that supports children with a life threatening or terminal illnesses, it would be very much appreciated.
To sponsor me, you can text ROWL99 £5 (or amount of your choice) to 70070 to sponsor me or go to JustGiving.
Forgive me for the self-indulgent post. It doesn't have a single thing to do with writing, expect perhaps for highlighting my romantic and soppy tendencies.
Today is one of my favourite days of the year!
Yes, I realise that Valentine's Day is a day that is heavily exploited by the likes of Hallmark, and allows restaurants and florists to charge a premium, but it is still very special to me.
And here's why...
It's my wedding anniversary.
It's also the anniversary of when we got engaged, one year earlier.
Looking back at our first Valentine's Day together, I knew I was onto a winner when he whisked me away to Wales for the weekend, taking me somewhere very special to him, as well as buying me a dozen red roses and a dozen creme eggs (huge thumbs up!).
Who could have known that less than a year after our wonderful, intimate wedding up in Scotland, there would be another man in my life?
A little heartbreaker indeed.
But it's okay, rather than usurping my new husband, my heart got even bigger. I mean...look...how could it be any other way?
On our first anniversary, I had my newborn baby boy asleep on my lap whilst trying to eat our celebratory Chinese takeaway one-handed, from a tray placed beside me on the sofa. A little unorthodox, but lovely all the same.
Fast forward two years to our third wedding anniversary, and we had our first 'family' anniversary day out...heading to Haworth for a steam gala weekend. The boys got their steam train fix...
And the girls - okay, just me - got to walk in the footsteps of the Bronte's, revelling in the world created by Charlotte, Emily, and Branwell in their stories and poems (and Anne, of course, but I must confess I haven't read her yet)...
Every year, we try to do something to celebrate Valentine's, but aside from cards and maybe a token gift, we don't go in for the whole buying gifts thing but tend to go out for the day somewhere. Memories and family time are far more precious than anything that can be bought.
With this year falling on a weekday, I'm the throes of cooking my husband's favourite meal - which involves cooking meat and hoping I don't poison him! - and baking a heart-shaped cake. Okay, you can put the sick bowls away now. Honest. Sorry about that. Then we're thinking a trip to Chester Zoo on Sunday with the kids, and I can't wait.
So there you go, that's why today is special to me. Which just leaves me to say...
Happy Valentine's Day!
Whether you're young or old, single or attached, take a moment to think of those you love, and smile. Remember a romantic moment, or have a chick-flick marathon session, or lose yourself in a heart-warming novel, because, ladies and gents, today is all about the ROMANCE.
Take hold of your sick bowl once more, as I leave you with the song I walked down the aisle to...
If Thanksgiving stems from an old English tradition (see wikipedia), why don't we still celebrate it here? Or has it been combined with Harvest Festival and Guy Fawkes Day?
Regardless of the whys and wherefores, I wish all my US friends and family a very happy Thanksgiving.
I happened to be looking at a photo just now and found it quite staggering how different a person can look by just changing one or two things. To prove it, here is a trio of pictures of me, so it's the same person, even the same dress, but three very different images:
Left = August 2010 / Centre = August 2011 / Right = June 2012
How bizarre!
Do you have a set of photos that 'should' be similar but make you think, "Yikes!"?
Youngest has been off for over a week already and eldest finished on Thursday. Most of the time they play really nicely together but there's already been a few outbreaks of war and toys smacked over heads. Sigh. The joys of running around after a 5-year old boy and a 3-year old girl!
I really want to get my WIP finished so I can get it submitted but writing 'as the bullets fly' isn't working out so well, plus it doesn't seem fair on them... they're only little once.
So, for the next six weeks, my writing time is restricted to occasional DVD-time, after bedtime (assuming I can keep my own eyes open of course) and weekends when we don't have any other family plans.
I'll still be around online, mostly Facebook, as I can do that easily off my phone when I get five minutes to collapse in a chair.
Happy holidays!!
If you have any tips for surviving the holidays AND getting some writing done, please please share them...
Somehow, we're already halfway through 2012 (don't ask me where the time has gone!) so I thought it was about time to catch-up with where I am on my New Year's Resolutions. If you missed the original post, you can read it here.
I have removed the photograph at the request of the family - if you can recall the image and happen to see it elsewhere e.g. Facebook, please do not share it and spread it even further.
The poem itself, although beautiful, was a fabrication and the details can be seen here.
Oh dear, it's been a month since I said I would get back into the swing of things on here.
Whoops!
But in my favour, at the time of writing it, my deadline was June 10th and I thought I'd have more time. Instead, the deadline got changed to July 10th and I've been a busy bee working on a special Christmas & New Year related story.
At the beginning of the month, I went on holiday with my family and my in-laws, staying in a gorgeous villa in a lovely resort in Majorca soaking up some much needed sunshine and we all had a lovely time. The laptop went too so I could carry on with the WIP (still thinking I had to submit the day after I got back) but didn't have internet so couldn't do any updates.
So where have I been? Nowhere glamorous, I assure you...
April saw us moving house, only one end of the road to the other, and we did it all ourselves courtesy of our estate car and a couple of days van hire. It was exhausting!!And then there was one nightmare after another trying to get a landline and the internet up and running, finally getting back online this time last week. Hallelujah!
Since my last post, my youngest has started at Nursery School, going 5 afternoons a week and loving it. I hoped it would be enough time to get some writing done but it's not as simple as that. Instead I have been doing housework, or getting out with our dog for the first time since my eldest was born - rather than subjecting hubby to the late night walk - but at least the weather has been glorious for it. Here's a pic of our usual walk, virtually on our doorstep:
I am proud and delighted to announce that my five-year-old son and I completed our 3 mile challenge for Sport Relief on Sunday and we even managed to run it - okay, so I jogged the whole route and he had to walk a few times but hey, it's a long way for little legs. We were only intending to walk it so it's a massive achievement for us both - I'm still in shock, haha!
I'm even more delighted to announce that as at 9pm Sunday, we had raised £260 in sponsorship!! Donations have ranged from £1 to £20, including a couple of trans-atlantic sponsors. We are extremely grateful for every pound raised so THANK YOU if you were kind enough to sponsor us, it means A LOT.
Crossing the finish line and collecting our medals
There's still time to sponsor us if you'd like to, by the way, just go to our Sports Relief page.
It's kind of nice to feel proud of myself...
Did you get involved with Sport Relief over the weekend, either by taking part in an activity or even just watching the show and making a donation?
I still can't believe I have done this - it seemed like such a good idea at the time!
On Saturday 23rd June 2012, I will be hauling myself to Tatton Park in Cheshire to take part in Race for Life 2012 in aid of Cancer Research UK.
I would be hugely grateful if you would consider sponsoring me - even £1 would be great - and I have hopefully made it as easy as possible by offering many different methods of donating so you can scan, click or text it through!
Scan to donate
Text LAUZ75 £1 to 70070 Text LAUZ75 £2 to 70070 Text LAUZ75 £3 to 70070 Text LAUZ75 £4 to 70070 Text LAUZ75 £5 to 70070 Text LAUZ75 £10 to 70070
And a huge happy 5th birthday to my son - and a little shout out for my daughter too who turned 3 on Sunday - their joint party is tomorrow but we're cheating this year and having it at Wacky Warehouse :o)
Funnily enough, Friday the 13th is usually a good day for me; it's generally Thursday the 12th that gets me but so far this year, every day has felt like your typical Friday 13th. From fallen trees in the garden to broken heating, cancelled birthday orders to not been able to place an order and then the delivery coming on different days. Then my purse got stolen from my friend's house and the following day my daughter's birthday trip to the zoo didn't go to plan. I could actually keep going as it's been that kind of year, it really has, but I won't bore you. I'm hoping that this is just some kind of karma balancing exercise and that something REALLY good is going to happen this year to make up for the rocky start.
On the upside, my family are well and happy; my creativity is still flowing so my WIPs are coming along; I am on a role with winning books to read and I have my fab new laptop that is small enough to slip in my handbag and take out with me.
Onwards and upwards... now then, who's for birthday cake? (made by my very talented friend)
