So is it all going to be doom and gloom from now on? The world economy appears to be in free fall and fiscal parachutes don't appear to be working, so who is going to save us? Will I ever have spare change in my pocket again? Will the cat have to change from haute cuisine to leftovers ? What is more will he put up with it, or will he use next doo'r cat flap and just help himself? So many serious questions and not enough answers.
I went to a fantastic event yesterday in Newcastle upon Tyne. The work of a Northumbrian artist, Malcolm Teasdale, was on display. If you're into the fifties or lived through those times, this is the exhibition for you. I wandered down lanes in his art work that I'm sure I knew; at one point I was certain of what lay round a corner. The washing was still on the line; our neighbours were gossiping at the back door. For sheer nostalgia this is a treat! The bonus was I met and talked to other art lovers. Perhaps this is a sign of the times. When the going gets tough we'll all become nicer people because we're going to need each other a lot more.
Just to let you know, Rocky, our cat hasn't been very well. Ahhh! He's been in yet another fight! Can he help it with his name? Well, no. Anyway he's got a swollen smile because he's lost a canine tooth. The good news is that the vet says he's in good condition and admired his coat. This is probably because of the left over tinned salmon he miaows for every Sunday.
I'm now going to enjoy another sunny Sunday. Can you believe it? We've had three in a row! Long may my kind of weather continue.
Lorna
Sunday 12 October 2008
Sunday 28 September 2008
What a week that was!
Hi Everyone,
It all started with me being informed that I'd been shortlisted for the North Tyneside Short Story Competition! Great excitement ensued. This meant I jumped up and down a lot and shrieked like a banshee!
On Monday evening I performed a short story at the Lamplight at Stanley. I was in great company. We had poetry; poetry performed with background music; prose and accompanied singing. The room was stuffed full of people supportive of the arts, God was in his heaven and all was right in the world of writing. I fell into bed at 11.40pm and closed my eyes....
...to immediately open them to a bleary Tuesday. Well, that's what it felt like. I slogged away at work all week till Thursday and a 14+ hour day. Don't ask! Friday was a blur followed by...
...the gathering of the clans. I'd been invited to the awards ceremony on Saturday with my nearest and dearest. As I'm in the north and they're in the south, this meant that we became a hotel for the weekend. Guests arrived late on Friday night. You've got to chat and catch up haven't you? I fell into bed at 12.30 to close my eyes... and you know the rest.
Saturday arrived and I tried to stay calm, difficult when you can feel a pulse of excitement racing around your body. The weather was unbelievably balmy for September so we all went for a walk on the beach. The sea was like molten silver; the sunlight drizzled over the sand. Magic!
We gathered in Wallsend's Town Hall for a lovely ceremony. I won! It still hasn't sunk in. To celebrate I took the family out for a fantastic meal that evening.
What a week!
Lorna
It all started with me being informed that I'd been shortlisted for the North Tyneside Short Story Competition! Great excitement ensued. This meant I jumped up and down a lot and shrieked like a banshee!
On Monday evening I performed a short story at the Lamplight at Stanley. I was in great company. We had poetry; poetry performed with background music; prose and accompanied singing. The room was stuffed full of people supportive of the arts, God was in his heaven and all was right in the world of writing. I fell into bed at 11.40pm and closed my eyes....
...to immediately open them to a bleary Tuesday. Well, that's what it felt like. I slogged away at work all week till Thursday and a 14+ hour day. Don't ask! Friday was a blur followed by...
...the gathering of the clans. I'd been invited to the awards ceremony on Saturday with my nearest and dearest. As I'm in the north and they're in the south, this meant that we became a hotel for the weekend. Guests arrived late on Friday night. You've got to chat and catch up haven't you? I fell into bed at 12.30 to close my eyes... and you know the rest.
Saturday arrived and I tried to stay calm, difficult when you can feel a pulse of excitement racing around your body. The weather was unbelievably balmy for September so we all went for a walk on the beach. The sea was like molten silver; the sunlight drizzled over the sand. Magic!
We gathered in Wallsend's Town Hall for a lovely ceremony. I won! It still hasn't sunk in. To celebrate I took the family out for a fantastic meal that evening.
What a week!
Lorna
Sunday 21 September 2008
This week
Hi Everyone,
I went to the cinema to see 'The Boy in Striped Pyjamas'. It's a simple tale with a powerful message. You've got to see it.
I managed to lock the cat in the shed all day Saturday! I'd been hoeing and he sneaked in. By the time I'd worked out where he was I had one hot, hungry and thirsty cat on my hands! He paid me back some hours later. I was settling down to watch a lovely film and he sat on top of the TV. That was OK, but he then dangled his tail like a pendulum in front of the screen. I was still watching the screen (with difficulty) so he then allowed two paws to straddle the set!
I went to bed with a stiff neck;he went to sleep with a smile.
I went to the cinema to see 'The Boy in Striped Pyjamas'. It's a simple tale with a powerful message. You've got to see it.
I managed to lock the cat in the shed all day Saturday! I'd been hoeing and he sneaked in. By the time I'd worked out where he was I had one hot, hungry and thirsty cat on my hands! He paid me back some hours later. I was settling down to watch a lovely film and he sat on top of the TV. That was OK, but he then dangled his tail like a pendulum in front of the screen. I was still watching the screen (with difficulty) so he then allowed two paws to straddle the set!
I went to bed with a stiff neck;he went to sleep with a smile.
Sunday 14 September 2008
Lazy Sunday
Hi Everyone,
I've done it! Joined you all, got blogging. I had a lie in this morning and finished 'Fingersmith', a novel set in the Victorian era. The characters certainly have a Dickensian feel to them. The author, Waters, has captured Victorian England and the plot grips you more and more by the throat as you read it, always a good sign I feel. But is it a classic? One I just have on my bookshelf because I know I'll want to read it again? Mmm I'll have to think about that
Rocky, our tabby, isn't amused. He's out in the farmer's field at the back of us. We gave him a gentle push in that direction because he savaged our stair carpet again! He unsheaths his claws, rips a thread or two, pauses, looks at us and repeats the offence. I'm not sure I want to know what he's trying to tell us.
He has five star service: two flunkeys who wait on him hand and foot; a menu and a choice of bed (anywhere he wants to lay his fur coat). What else can a feline fiend need? Perhaps he's going through the tabby menopaws? He'll be back soon, sashaying through the cat flap demanding his cat size portion of the Sunday roast. Who's in charge here?
I persuaded my husband we should walk to the shops for the Sunday papers, instead of taking the lazy way out and using the car. I didn't regret it, he did. He had to listen to a diatribe about all those things you don't see when you're speeding past them at 30 miles an hour. Let me give you the list: Russian Vine cascading over back garden fences and strangling everything it can get its murderous tendrils around; great dollops of horse manure on the pavement; a downtrodden bus shelter with a huge pane of its glass laid lovingly on the ground; new flower tubs which are too tall planted with a tangle of leaves which are too small; paper from last night's fish and chip supper; beer cans outside the pub and the library which needs painting, covered with graffiti. Why?
When we got home we enquired about next door who are recovering from a horrific motorbike crash. They were only doing 25 miles an hour on a bend! Apparently there was diesel on the road. One was thrown along the tarmac losing her helmet in the process, the other ended up hugging a telegraph pole. One bruised kidney and a broken collar bone later, they're on morphine and have bought a new bike. Yes, they intend to ride again! Being a coward with a vivid imagination, I'm lost for words! This, by the way, is unusual.
Lorna
I've done it! Joined you all, got blogging. I had a lie in this morning and finished 'Fingersmith', a novel set in the Victorian era. The characters certainly have a Dickensian feel to them. The author, Waters, has captured Victorian England and the plot grips you more and more by the throat as you read it, always a good sign I feel. But is it a classic? One I just have on my bookshelf because I know I'll want to read it again? Mmm I'll have to think about that
Rocky, our tabby, isn't amused. He's out in the farmer's field at the back of us. We gave him a gentle push in that direction because he savaged our stair carpet again! He unsheaths his claws, rips a thread or two, pauses, looks at us and repeats the offence. I'm not sure I want to know what he's trying to tell us.
He has five star service: two flunkeys who wait on him hand and foot; a menu and a choice of bed (anywhere he wants to lay his fur coat). What else can a feline fiend need? Perhaps he's going through the tabby menopaws? He'll be back soon, sashaying through the cat flap demanding his cat size portion of the Sunday roast. Who's in charge here?
I persuaded my husband we should walk to the shops for the Sunday papers, instead of taking the lazy way out and using the car. I didn't regret it, he did. He had to listen to a diatribe about all those things you don't see when you're speeding past them at 30 miles an hour. Let me give you the list: Russian Vine cascading over back garden fences and strangling everything it can get its murderous tendrils around; great dollops of horse manure on the pavement; a downtrodden bus shelter with a huge pane of its glass laid lovingly on the ground; new flower tubs which are too tall planted with a tangle of leaves which are too small; paper from last night's fish and chip supper; beer cans outside the pub and the library which needs painting, covered with graffiti. Why?
When we got home we enquired about next door who are recovering from a horrific motorbike crash. They were only doing 25 miles an hour on a bend! Apparently there was diesel on the road. One was thrown along the tarmac losing her helmet in the process, the other ended up hugging a telegraph pole. One bruised kidney and a broken collar bone later, they're on morphine and have bought a new bike. Yes, they intend to ride again! Being a coward with a vivid imagination, I'm lost for words! This, by the way, is unusual.
Lorna
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