Been spending again. Just couldn't resist this Edwardian writing bureau. Should I start writng letters again instead of texting and e-mails? All I need now is a quill.





"I am in the garret with my papers round me, and a pile of apples to eat while I write my journal, plan stories, and enjoy the patter of rain on the roof, in peace and quiet"
Louisa May Alcott (author of "Little Women").

Fame at last

Just finished reading Recollections of an RAF Chaplain! It's an easy read and gives a flavour of army life out in East Africa, Burma & South Africa during the war, including the Baragwanath  hospital where my dad spent some time. It caught my eye when I was surfing the net, because I remembered my Dad reffering to Chaffey Moore when we were looking at one of his old cine films from the 1950s. Lo and behold, I got to the last page and he actually mentions my dad, Maurice Harper. I don't know if my dad knows that this book even exists. I'l l have to give it to him when I next visit.

Men!

I hasten to add that this doesn't really apply to my other half, but I can think of plenty of men that fit the bill only too well. Bet you can too.

Mega celebrations for 2012

Talking with my sister on the phone right now (2 hours so far! She does the talking............I do the listening).

We've just realised it's mum's 90th birthday this year, as well as Simon's 50th, Amber's 21st & Martin's 18th. Sounds expensive.

Sent from my iPhone

Big day today - my sister's 50th birthday. Happy Birthday Sarah. My turn next year - I'm hoping life begins at 50.
I'm on the bus, on my way to work after 10 days off, listening to James Morrison on my iPod and trying to chill out before the madness starts.
Plan for today: just to survive.
New Years resolution: To get to my target weight. I've got some serious weight to lose after the excesses of Christmas. My latest nickname is Mrs Blobby!
Sent from my iPhone

Scary couple of hours

Decided to update my iPhone while I was connected to iTunes on my laptop. I gathered this is considered a wise move. What a mistake. Oh, I so don't understand these things. It appeared to erase EVERYTHING and then left me on tender hooks for the last 2 hours (OK - I'm being a drama Queen, maybe it was 1/2 hour) whilst "restoring" my iPhone settings. I was trying to update NOT restore to factory settings. I'm the only thing that now needs restoring around here. Thought I'd lost my phone numbers, music, apps, etc etc. But phew - so far it all seems to be safe, but moved around to make it difficult to find anything. The only advantage I can find, after all that, is access to iCloud, which I don't need! A morning well spent.
Still - let me see if this mobile blogging lark works again. Here goes...
Sent from my iPhone

Happy New Year Bloggers

Simon & I went to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve (I behaved myself in church this time). I enjoyed Christmas Day, although it was rather hectic and exhausting. I spent Boxing Day relaxing at home playing with my new iPod nano and continued to eat & drink to the max. On Thursday we all went to see Ladykillers at the Gielgud Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, followed by a meal in a restaurant back in Hornchurch. We were invited to a party last night. I sat in an armchair with my sister in law on one side, Simon on the other, 2 little boys, with sticky fingers, behind and at some point Cody the dog virtually on top - very cosy. The big build up to midnight was spent by playing QI and followed by several rounds of Hungry Hippos, which incorporated shots for the losers. Before we knew it(!), it was midnight- with the obligatory Jools Holland and the fireworks on the telly.

Table set ready for New Years Day lunch

Today was much more relaxed. I cooked for just the 4 of us. Whilst preparing lunch I listened to my new CD, which I bought in the sales for just £3 in Sainsbury's yesterday: Soul Hits. It is surprisingly good and includes 1960's classics by many artists, including Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Percy Sledge - too many to mention. There are only 2 tunes I can't really get into: Soul Finger by The Bar-Kays and The Berther Butt Boogie - truly abysmal. But this has to be the ultimate love song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSutwr3_F_E
I am listening to this on my ear phones, while I blog, with a cup of coffee and liqueur (Benedictine) to hand - oh and the odd After Eight mint.

Trying out mobile blogging