Spiders .... I Saw Sunday - Week 20

 I Saw Sunday where you can join in with pictures, thoughts, observations, anything you like!

Here's mine ...


My daughter is absolutely terrified of spiders and often 'imprisons' them in upturned glasses which I find first thing in the morning. Admittedly where we live we do have some HUGE spiders in the house, but the other day I found a tiny one in the bath hiding under the plug. I'd seen it go under there moments before so I knew it was alive, but when I moved the plug to the side it curled up and played the old 'dead spider' routine. Well I instantly took a liking to the little fellow and as I knew my daughter was about to have a bath, I got it with a bit of tissue and placed it on the floor.
As I was going down stairs, my daughter was heading up and stopped me.
"Is that spider still in the bath?"
I told her I'd just got it out and that it was only a tiny one anyway. I could tell by her face instantly that she disagreed with my sizing of it, which was confirmed with.
"No it WASN'T tiny, where have you put it?"
I told her I'd put it on the landing, which in hindsight was a bad move because she went thundering down the stairs and stormed into the kitchen to get her imprisoning glass, then headed up to the bathroom mumbling.
"That's great ... it's gonna be just tearing about up there now!"
Well besides laughing at the idea of it 'tearing about', I couldn't help feeling sorry for the little fellow. Starting its day in hiding, feigning death, getting chased around a bath by a huge women with a bit of pink tissue, running for its life and then ending up with a crazed girl stalking it to put it in a glass prison ... and we're scared of them!

Clever Dog!

My mum was sitting in her car the other day with her two dogs, Tasha and Tamba, when a lady with a little girl stopped to talk to another lady just by her car.
My mum noticed the little girl looking at Tamba who had taken up her usual place in the passenger seat next to her.
Without turning her head, she reached over and grabbed Tamba's front leg from below the window level and raised it up, and 'waved' at the little girl.
She must have done a good job because the little girls jaw dropped, her eyes popped open and she started squealing excitedly.
Now this in itself is delightful, and typical of my mum! ... but what makes me smile even more is.
I can just imagine this image sticking in the little girls head, and her recounting a story as she grows up (that she knows to be true) that ends with ...
"I'm not making it up. Honestly, I swear it's true, as God is my witness ... this dog waved at me!'

Mice and Laptops! .... I Saw Sunday - Week 18

 I Saw Sunday where you can join in with pictures, thoughts, observations, anything you like!

Here's mine ...


You may or may not know, but we had 'several' mice living with us a little while ago.
Well after numerous humane traps, removals and two sonic sound mouse repellents in the kitchen, we are mice free ... or so I thought.
Until ...
I was awoken at 4am last night by an all too familiar scuttling sound coming from behind the skirting board.
Now, I haven't actually 'seen' any mice, but I have a sneaking suspicion there's a rodent conspiracy going on.
As I lay there in the dark, I could just see them all huddled up together under the skirting board holding an official meeting, that went something like this ...

Right, they've stopped the traps and stopped talking about us so let's look what we've got here:

1. They love animals + they're vegetarians = they won't kill us.
2. The cats a pacifist = it won't kill us.
3. The dog sleeps all day = it doesn't matter.
4. The kitchen woman likes us = pushover.
5. The big one on the sofa drops enough food to keep us going all through the winter = constant supply.


So listen up everyone.
If we just stay out of sight and keep our heads down .... we've got it made.
I didn't get back to sleep again till 5.30am.


One more thing that kept me awake was my new laptop.
Although I love it, it's taking a bit of getting used to.
The keyboard is a lot smaller, and you have to 'tap' quite hard to get a letter.
The mouse I use with it is also tiny (it's all mice with me isn't it) and the text is smaller too, which I'm having a real job seeing clearly (even with the reading glasses I got from the pound shop)
Now I've been writing away and posting, blissfully unaware since I got it, until my lovely sister rang me and said ...
"You're comments are crazy!" and "Have you forgotten how to spell or something?" LOL
Now truthfully, since I first started my blog, she has always rang me after posting with ... "Quick, get on your computer now you've done it again!" but it seems I've taken it to a new level with the laptop.

So, all I can say is.
If you've received a comment from me lately that read something like this  ...  Abolutly Betiful.

I just want you to know ... I meant every word!  hehe  :o)

Memories! - Carry On Tuesday # 88

 This weeks prompt for Carry on Tuesday  is ...

 "and that is how I remember them....."  ( I couldn't resist)

I stood in front of the mirror and tightened the straps. Hoisting them up as high as they'd go, I did a bit of adjusting.

"Yep,"  I thought, turning side on to the mirror with a smile ... "now that is how I remember them!"

Oops! - Saturday Centus # 37

Saturday Centus' prompt this week is to use just 25 (eek!) words (not including the prompt) using the line ...  "the lottery ticket"



"We've WON! ... and you said I was stupid using the same numbers weekly."
"You did remember it was your turn to get the lottery ticket ... didn't you?"
"Aaaaaaggghh!!!"

The Invisible Ones - Three Word Wednesday

Three Word Wednesday where you write something using the three prompt words.
This week's words are  ... Harmless, Moist and Yelp.

She was always uncomfortable walking past the homeless.

She'd look in her bag, pretend she was engrossed on the phone, anything but catch their eye.

It wasn't that she didn't care.

It just seemed so enormous to consider them.

How they, the invisible ones, got there.

She turned the corner and was taken off guard, stumbling on one of their dogs, causing it to yelp.

"Oh god, I'm so sorry!"

"That's alright, love, he's harmless," the old man replied, rubbing the dogs head.

She shuffled uncomfortably. 

He existed. 

She had to acknowledge it in some way, so looked to the dog.

"He's lovely."

"Yep ... dogs don't care what ya look like or who ya are."

She lowered her head, ashamed, as if the remark was meant for her.

"Ya can give him a stroke, love, he won't bite."

She leant down and fussed his ears and was thanked with a moist lick.

"He likes ya ... dogs can always tell you know."

She gave a half smile and stood up.

"Do you, or your dog need anything?"

The old man looked at her.

"No you're alright, love, we're fine today. The sun's shining and we've just shared a bacon roll. Bin nice talking to you though, lady."

"You too," she replied, ready to walk on. Then she stopped. "My names Sandra by-the-way."

The old man lifted his head and looked her straight in the eye.

"My name's John," he said, then gestured to his dog, "and this old fellow here's Sam."

"Well, John ... and Sam," she said, leaning down and stroking the dog again. "It's been a pleasure."

"No, the pleasure's bin all ours, love, you'd be surprised how many people don't even see us ya know."

She smiled. "That's their problem, John...  I'll see you tomorrow."

The Waltz - Magpie Tales # 48

Magpie Tales  hosts a weekly writing prompt, write a small vignette or poem using the photo below as your inspiration.

This brought alive a wonderful memory!

The room spun about me

as you swept me up

with Strauss violins

giddy in my ears

and we twirled

and twirled

in a Viennese ballroom

with golden statues
and ladies in gowns

and my heart danced along

with the rise and the fall

and I knew I'd never

ever

forget this feeling

and as the music came to an end 

you placed me down

and took mum by the hand

for the next waltz

and as I watched

I danced each step

with the both of you

and I was in heaven

all over again.

Past My Sell By Date!!

Well what can I say.
I was looking in the mirror today and it is now obvious to me that I AM the above.
Besides being constantly bloated, forgetful and hormonal.
I have the under eyes of a geriatric panda, I can only read things now at arms length, I'm nearly as wide as I am tall ... and to top it all, I'm sure my hair is receding!
In spite of (or because?) of this, my lovely partner keeps smiling kindly at me and telling me how much he loves me, which, don't get me wrong, I LOVE ... but I can't help wondering if he's secretly thinking
'Aaww look at the little fat baldy!'
He swears he isn't, but truthfully, with my hormonal state, I'd swear it too.
Not that I'm prone to grumpy outbursts, but I do have this trembling chin affliction.
It's not a new thing, but it does seem to have notched itself up to a new level lately.
Still.
Despite all the above.
I've decided to look on the bright side.
And after much thought, I realised I do have something to feel positive about.
I've still got all my own teeth
... so far.

Snuggie and Runs ... Saw Sunday - Week 17

A random assortment of things seen
this week for  I Saw Sunday

here are mine ...


I've decided to use any spare time I have from now on to work on a children's book (eek, steady on now, what no prompts! ... can I do it? ... umm ... well maybe I can do just one a week.)
The plot itself is finished, a feisty child, talking animals and a battle between light and dark, it just needs sort of polishing up.
The 'polishing up' process mainly consists of my writing something, then getting straight on the phone to my sister and reading it to her to see how it sounds.

She's been absolutely invaluable and always tells me just what I need to know.
I really couldn't have got this far with without her help, so to my lovely sister ... thank you, thank you, thank you xxx

and

We live in an old gatehouse that admittedly is freezing at times and in our living room we have two sofas, one away from the draught (mine, it happened that way before we knew about the draughts, honest) and another directly in line of the draught which is my partners.
Well he's constantly moaning at everyone to shut the door if it comes ajar (rather than get up of the sofa and shut it himself of course) so I've been putting him in a Snuggie (a blanket with arms) in the evening.
Whenever I get it out he starts protesting and saying, " I don't want that blinking thing on!" and "get it away from me!"
Needless to say I completely disregard his moans and slot his arms in and tuck it in all around him, and as soon as he gets it on he quietens up and settles.
It's a burgundy red one and when he's laying there all peaceful and snug, I can't help thinking he looks a lot like a TV watching monk in a cassock. 
The thing is now, I find his initial reaction soo funny, especially when followed by the obvious snuggly enjoyment that follows, that I can't help threatening him with the Snuggie.
I find myself at the slightest suggestion of a draught announcing ... 'Come on, you're having it on whether you like it or not!'

and lastly

When I go for a walk in the field at the side of our house with Grace, I sometimes get quite far ahead when she's found something particularly interesting that needs sniffing and checking out.
If I get too far, I stop and turn, and wait until she's ready to catch up.
This is the bit that never fails to make me smile.
Firstly, she stands tall and locates where I am ... then she start to run, getting faster and faster until her back curves and barrels like a greyhound.
Then with her eyes firmly fixed on me as she passes by, she skims just past the side of my legs at full speed with her face fur flying and her mouth open and laughing.
It's an absolute pleasure to see and makes my heart burst with joy every time she does it.

Feminine Side! - Three Word Wednesday

Three Word Wednesday where you write something using the three prompt words.
This week's words are  ... Plausible, Taint and Willingly.

There had to be a plausible explanation.

She stood at the doorway, mouth agape. 

Questions were running one after the other through her mind.

Was it a bet?

Had he done this willingly?

Was there a secret camera and a man with a mic and a wry smile ready to jump out at any minute?

God, she hoped so.

If not, what were the options?

He was six foot two with a moustache for goodness sake, he'd never be able to pull it off!

She refused to let the image of him dressed in pink frills from head to toe taint the years they'd shared together, she loved him no matter what.

She'd planned even in those few short moments to use carefully chosen words that would allow some open and honest dialogue to flow, but ...

"What the  *//** do you think you're doing?" came out.

He sat himself down on the bottom of the bed and shook his head.

"You said you wanted me to get in touch with my feminine side!"

"In touch... In touch... Not dress up like a blooming woman ... I was thinking maybe you could ask me how my day was, or watch a chick flick with me, or smell a flower or something!"

He took off the outfit and threw it on the bedroom floor.

"Well you could of said!"

"Well, maybe I didn't think you'd turn into Barbara Cartland!"

There's just no pleasing you sometimes, Kate."

"Look, John, just tell me the truth ... is this your way of telling me something?"

"Like what?"

"Like ... like ... you're a transvestite."

His eyes nearly popped out of his head. 

"Are you nuts?" 

"Am I nuts? You're the one who was dressed in pink frills from head to toe!" 

"Yeah, but only cuz you said about being more feminine!" 

"And that was how you interpreted feminine ... dressing up as Barbara Cartland?" 

"Well, yeah, you're always reading that Mills and Boon stuff and saying how Barbara Cartland represented femininty." 

She looked at him, and unbelievable as the whole situation was, she could tell by his face that he really was telling the truth. 

"Look, John, I'm sorry. Just don't listen to me in future. It was silly of me to suggest it anyway." 

He stood up and put his arms around her.

"Don't feel bad, love, we all make mistakes."

She stood limp in his arms unsure whether to laugh or cry .... he was obviously an idiot ... but then she was the one who'd said yes to marrying him.

He pulled her closer to him.

"Kate?"

"What?"

"You do know I'd do anything to make you happy, don't you?"

She looked up at him and couldn't help but smile.

"Yes, John,  I know you would."

She cuddled back into his arms.

Barbara Cartland aside, she knew she was lucky.

He may have been an idiot, but he was a thoughtful, loving and very eager to please idiot ... and even with the oversized pink outfit still laying on the bedroom floor, she wouldn't have changed him for anything.

Wigs, Moustaches and a Birthday ... I Saw Sunday - Week 16

A random assortment of things seen
this week for  I Saw Sunday

here are mine ...



 New Years Day was my lovely Mum's birthday so we all got together and put on wigs and moustached up as you do for such an occasion ... what you don't? ... strange!
Well anyway, as I actually managed to remember the camera I thought I'd share a few of the pictures with you :o)

                                           It's not funny.

                   Blondie was right to be scared ... he was a charmer.

                             I'm tellin 'em, right, do it like this. 

                              Mary Frost, pleased to meet you.

                                          

                             I've got a union meeting in the morning.

                              Come sit .... tell me your problems.

                                  We are bootiful, ya?        

                              Because I'm worth it!

                    Hey gringo, don't you look at my wife ... she mine.

                           Corporal Tebbutt at your service.                                                        

Transvestite and proud.

                                       
                .... and last but certainly not least,
                       my lovely mum looking rather fetching in her
                         silver and purple antenna and matching moustache.

 Needless to say .... we had fun
Happy Birthday Mum xxxx