Was it something I said?

I remember Expat Mum posting about lost followers a while ago. I managed to get up to fifty three at one point and now I am back to fifty.

I am very sad.

I wonder what happens to them?

Do they get bored and stop following?
Do they get offended by something and stop following?
Do they stop blogging themselves and disappear off bloggerland, taking their followership with them?
What happens to missing followers?

Do other people lose followers or am I just careless? Maybe I am careless because I don't know who I have lost yet. Better go and figure it out................

Look Closely.....

.....what can you see behind the brush? Urggh. Lurking on the floor? Urggh
I went into our utility room yesterday to retrieve teenager's rugby kit from the tumble drier and saw what I thought was a ball of fluff. I bent down to pick it up and it hopped out of the way.
I nearly hit the roof.....
A frog had hopped in from the garden out of the rain. Urrgghh. I had to get husband and teenager to shoo it away.
Its not that I don't like frogs... but I prefer them in storybooks thanks very much.
Urggh. My hair is on end just thinking about it.

There is a limit to all this country girl stuff and I found it last night. Urggh

Rainbow

Your rainbow is strongly shaded violet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is says about you: You are a creative person. You appreciate beauty and craftsmanship. You are patient and will keep trying to understand something until you've mastered it.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

Photograph of Lakeland Jo in Seattle

This was taken when we visited Mount Rainier in Seattle, by our good friend S who is a brilliant photographer.

I wish I had the knack.I am really pleased with this photo ! I am sure there will be more to come.

I have lost another seven pounds since this was taken- slowly but surely.....

Ten meme- thanks to Jessica

I Love Memes. I got this one from Jess at Jessica's world. Hope you will join in.

1.] How come I can never find: my glasses when I am in the house.

2.] I wish I'd never started: overeating. Only now have I got my portions and eating under control.

3.] I wonder why: my dad had to die so young. My first question when I get to see God.

4.] Mama always told me: Think things through. It works- it took me a long time to get it, but it works. And now it helps me so much in my job. Thanks ma! When I don't do it I usually don't get the best outcome.

5.] There's this one thing in my closet that I just can't seem to get rid of: leggings. I am far too old for them, but they are so comfortable for slouching around in. Luckily I have thin legs and hips so I don't look too bad in them.

6.] My favourite guilty pleasure is: considering I can't eat fat anymore, and shouldn't eat too many non fat sugary carbs, I suppose it is coffee. And wine ( a sugary carb I know but I am not counting it). Actually- I don't feel guilty about either of them..... LOL

7.] I always forget: birthdays. I have stopped worrying about it. I remember other half, teenager and my mum. After all it's the luck of the draw.

8.] I have never: smoked.

9.] I'm obsessed with: my I Phone. I really love it.

10.] One of my favourite memories is: going for a coffee at a shop called Charlton's in Preston Grange ( now demolished) with my mum when I was young. They did great doughnuts! It was a real treat. I still LOVE going out for coffee.

The Windermere Air Show and XH558 Vulcan Bomber

We started the weekend on Thursday night at the local carvery- £3.50 for a main course carvery. Recession busting stuff eh? By the time we got there at seven, they had served 700 people and were fast running out of everything. Still, there was a good atmosphere and we stayed for the quiz. We didn't win but the four of us enjoyed the attempt. Here is a picture of teenager and his friend. I never need much of an excuse to show a picture of my favourite boys. Teenager still bravely wears his NUFC top despite relegation the championship. He gets a lot of stick about it.

Below we have one of my favourite displays at the airshow- the Furness Owls. I just love owls - I find them completely fascinating. Here is a picture of a tiny one - I stroked its feathers which were very soft.

On Saturday it was very hot. The conditions were wonderful, and everyone seemed to be in a good mood. Thousands of people came down to see the air displays. This view is from the Glebe in Bowness on Windermere looking down across to the fair, and then the lake beyond. Look at that blue sky!

Lots of picnics and lazing around in the sun looking for planes or just enjoying the view. Teenager loves going to the fair with his pals.

Below is a ( very not good) picture of the Vulcan XH558 Bomber. Lakeland Jo is really no fan of the plane displays. I can take it or leave it to be honest, but I really did enjoy the Vulcan display. A huge aircraft, but very elegant in to watch, with a wingspan of 34 metres. The Vulcan bomber was Britain's front line air defence during the Cold War. They were withdrawn from service in the early nineties. It costs £1.7 million per year to run which is raised mainly by donations to the Vulcan trust.

This shot was taken from my garden- you get an idea of the shape. It was pretty noisey!! It didn't disturb the residents in the foreground mind you- they're a pretty quiet bunch.

Tonight I will load up pictures of my favourite display of the weekend- the Gus Dermody sheepdogs.

Need a laugh? This is brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!

West Jet is a Western Canadian Airline with its head office situated in Calgary, Alberta . West Jet airline attendants make an effort to make the in-flight 'safety lecture' and announcements very entertaining in order to have the passengers focused on safety.. There is no other Airline in the world quite like West Jet. I have heard some of these myself. Here are some real examples though that have been heard and reported:On a West Jet flight, passengers were apparently having a hard time choosing a seat, when a flight attendant announced, 'People, people we're not picking out furniture here, find a seat and get in it!'
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On another West Jet Flight with a very 'senior' flight attendant crew, the pilot said, 'Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants.'
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On landing, the stewardess said, 'Please be sure to take all of your belongings. If you're going to leave anything, please make sure it's something we'd like to have.'
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'There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane.'
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'Thank you for flying West Jet Express. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride.'
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As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at the Vancouver Airport , a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: 'Whoa, big fella. WHOA!'
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After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in Ontario, a flight attendant on a West Jet flight announced, 'Please take care when opening the overhead compartments because, after a landing like that, sure as hell everything has shifted.'
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From a West Jet Airlines employee: 'Welcome aboard West Jet Flight 245 to Calgary ... To operate your seat belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and pull tight. It works just like every other seat belt; and, if you don't know how to operate one, you probably shouldn't be out in public unsupervised. '
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'In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child travelling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are travelling with more than one small child, pick your favourite.'
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'Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, but we'll try to have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and remember, nobody loves you, or your money, more than West Jet Airlines.'
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'Your seat cushions can be used for flotation; and in the event of an emergency water landing, please paddle to shore and take them with our compliments. '
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'As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses.'
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And from the pilot during his welcome message: 'West Jet Airlines is pleased to announce that we have some of the best flight attendants in the industry. Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight!'
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Heard on West Jet Airlines just after a very hard landing in Edmonton : The flight attendant came on the intercom and said, 'That was quite a bump, and I know what y'all are thinking. I'm here to tell you it wasn't the airline's fault, it wasn't the pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight attendant's fault, it was the asphalt.'
------------ --------- ---------
Overheard on a West Jet Airlines flight into Regina , on a particularly windy and bumpy day: During the final approach, the Captain was really having to fight it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said, 'Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Regina . Please remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate!'
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Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing: 'We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal.'
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An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he had hammered his ship into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy which required the first officer to stand at the door while the Passengers exited, smile, and give them a 'Thanks for flying our airline.' He said that, in light of his bad landing, he had a hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment. Finally everyone had gotten off except for a little old lady walking with a cane. She said, 'Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?''Why, no, Ma'am,' said the pilot. 'What is it?'The little old lady said, 'Did we land, or were we shot down?'
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After a real crusher of a landing in Halifax , the attendant came on with, 'Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Captain Crash and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate. And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we will open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal.'
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Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement: 'We'd like to thank you folks for flying with us today. And, the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you'll think of West Jet Airways.'
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Heard on a West Jet Airline flight. 'Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to smoke, the smoking section on this airplane is on the wing. If you can light 'em, you can smoke 'em.'
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A plane was taking off from the Winnipeg Airport . After it reached a comfortable cruising altitude, the captain made an announcement over the intercom, 'Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Welcome to Flight Number 293, nonstop from Winnipeg to Montreal .. The weather ahead is good and, therefore, we should have a smooth and uneventful flight. Now sit back and relax.... OH, MY GOD!'Silence followed, and after a few minutes, the captain came back on the intercom and said, 'Ladies and Gentlemen, I am so sorry if I scared you earlier. While I was talking to you, the flight attendant accidentally spilled a cup of hot coffee in my lap. You should see the front of my pants!' A passenger in Coach yelled, 'That's nothing. You should see the back of mine

Jimmy Carter

My good friend T sent me this across this morning. Apparently part of a speech by former US president Jimmy Carter. All I can say to it is HERE HERE. Great stuff.
Women clergy - a personal passion of mine. It drives me absolutely mad that there are still people who obstruct it. I despair. I really do. Good for you Mr Carter.


Women and girls have been discriminated against for too long in a twisted interpretation of the word of God.

I HAVE been a practising Christian all my life and a deacon and Bible teacher for many years. My faith is a source of strength and comfort to me, as religious beliefs are to hundreds of millions of people around the world. So my decision to sever my ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, after six decades, was painful and difficult. It was, however, an unavoidable decision when the convention’s leaders, quoting a few carefully selected Bible verses and claiming that Eve was created second to Adam and was responsible for original sin, ordained that women must be “subservient” to their husbands and prohibited from serving as deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military service.

This view that women are somehow inferior to men is not restricted to one religion or belief. Women are prevented from playing a full and equal role in many faiths. Nor, tragically, does its influence stop at the walls of the church, mosque, synagogue or temple. This discrimination, unjustifiably attributed to a Higher Authority, has provided a reason or excuse for the deprivation of women’s equal rights across the world for centuries.

At its most repugnant, the belief that women must be subjugated to the wishes of men excuses slavery, violence, forced prostitution, genital mutilation and national laws that omit rape as a crime. But it also costs many millions of girls and women control over their own bodies and lives, and continues to deny them fair access to education, health, employment and influence within their own communities.

The impact of these religious beliefs touches every aspect of our lives. They help explain why in many countries boys are educated before girls; why girls are told when and whom they must marry; and why many face enormous and unacceptable risks in pregnancy and childbirth because their basic health needs are not met.

In some Islamic nations, women are restricted in their movements, punished for permitting the exposure of an arm or ankle, deprived of education, prohibited from driving a car or competing with men for a job. If a woman is raped, she is often most severely punished as the guilty party in the crime.

The same discriminatory thinking lies behind the continuing gender gap in pay and why there are still so few women in office in the West. The root of this prejudice lies deep in our histories, but its impact is felt every day. It is not women and girls alone who suffer. It damages all of us. The evidence shows that investing in women and girls delivers major benefits for society. An educated woman has healthier children. She is more likely to send them to school. She earns more and invests what she earns in her family.

It is simply self-defeating for any community to discriminate against half its population. We need to challenge these self-serving and outdated attitudes and practices – as we are seeing in Iran where women are at the forefront of the battle for democracy and freedom.

I understand, however, why many political leaders can be reluctant about stepping into this minefield. Religion, and tradition, are powerful and sensitive areas to challenge. But my fellow Elders and I, who come from many faiths and backgrounds, no longer need to worry about winning votes or avoiding controversy – and we are deeply committed to challenging injustice wherever we see it.

The Elders are an independent group of eminent global leaders, brought together by former South African president Nelson Mandela, who offer their influence and experience to support peace building, help address major causes of human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity. We have decided to draw particular attention to the responsibility of religious and traditional leaders in ensuring equality and human rights and have recently published a statement that declares: “The justification of discrimination against women and girls on grounds of religion or tradition, as if it were prescribed by a Higher Authority, is unacceptable.”
We are calling on all leaders to challenge and change the harmful teachings and practices, no matter how ingrained, which justify discrimination against women. We ask, in particular, that leaders of all religions have the courage to acknowledge and emphasise the positive messages of dignity and equality that all the world’s major faiths share.

The carefully selected verses found in the Holy Scriptures to justify the superiority of men owe more to time and place – and the determination of male leaders to hold onto their influence – than eternal truths. Similar biblical excerpts could be found to support the approval of slavery and the timid acquiescence to oppressive rulers.

I am also familiar with vivid descriptions in the same Scriptures in which women are revered as pre-eminent leaders. During the years of the early Christian church women served as deacons, priests, bishops, apostles, teachers and prophets. It wasn’t until the fourth century that dominant Christian leaders, all men, twisted and distorted Holy Scriptures to perpetuate their ascendant positions within the religious hierarchy.

The truth is that male religious leaders have had – and still have – an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt or subjugate women. They have, for their own selfish ends, overwhelmingly chosen the latter. Their continuing choice provides the foundation or justification for much of the pervasive persecution and abuse of women throughout the world. This is in clear violation not just of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, Moses and the prophets, Muhammad, and founders of other great religions – all of whom have called for proper and equitable treatment of all the children of God.

It is time we had the courage to challenge these views.

grumpy

I think I mentioned in an earlier post that I have been diagnosed with gallstones. I am waiting for a specialist appointment to see what happens next............

I found out because of trouble with pain and vomiting. It really is immensely unpleasant. Caused by the body's inability to deal with fat. Likely causes - I tick every box.

Family History. Overweight ( was). Rapid weight loss ( recent). Fair skinned and fair hair. Previous pre-deliction for fatty foods..... yes that would be me.

The pain is really ghastly- a bit like labour pains but further up your body in the chest. Waves of discomfort. The type of pain which has you bargaining with God. 'I promise I will never.... I promise I will always.... if you take this pain away I will .....save more, spend less, be kinder, pray more.............' you get the picture?

I have been a no fat saint since I was diagnosed and I have been ( fairly) symptom free. But last night I had ( what I thought would be innocent and plain) chicken wings for tea with some salad. Not a good idea. I have been up most of the night in lots of pain. Not happy. Not happy at all. As I write this at six am I find that the pain is finally easing off. Back to bed for me. Luckily I can get a couple of hours sleep before work begins. So.... chicken wings are OFF the menu.

So... there is a point to this grumpy and grizzling post. If any of you have experience of this problem and can give me some ideas about diet, and tips for dealing with the symptoms, I would be most grateful.

I am now going to finish my peppermint tea and go back to bed. Au revoir.

Jokes to tell in Church

Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her mother, 'Why is the bride dressed in white?'' The mother replied, 'Because white is the color of happiness, and today is the happiest day of her life.' The child thought about this for a moment then said, 'So why is the groom wearing black?'


Three boys are in the school yard bragging about their fathers. The first boy says, 'My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, they give him $50.' The second boy says, 'That's nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on piece of paper, he calls it a song, they give him $100..' The third boy says, 'I go t you both beat. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon, and it takes eight people to collect all the money!


An elderly woman died last month. Having never married, she requested no male pallbearers. In her handwritten instructions for her memorial service, she wrote, 'They wouldn't take me out while I was alive, I don't want them to take me out when I'm dead.'


A police recruit was asked during the exam, 'What would you do if you had to arrest your own mother?' He answered, 'Call for backup.'


A Sunday School teacher asked her class why Joseph and Mary took Jesus with them to Jerusalem. A small child replied, 'The couldn't get a babysitter.'


A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to 'Honor thy father and thy mother,' she asked, 'Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?' Without missing a beat, one little boy answered, 'Thou shall not kill..


At Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings. Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs. Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and she said, 'Johnny, what is the matter?' Little Johnny responded, 'I have pain in my side.. I think I'm going to have a wife.'

Disneyland Paris- and out of the mouths of babes

Can you see the outline of the neon genie in the middle of the picture. Blond quiff, blue face, red lips. white teeth? According to my little six year old friend who was watching the parade at Disneyland Paris with me, he looks very like me. She said it without a hint of malice or humour.....

Obviously need to keep on with the diet!!

I did have to laugh. Kids are great at keeping our feet ( firmly) on the ground.

blogging for one year- happy birthday lakeland Jo

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BLOG

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

I HAVE BEEN BLOGGING FOR ONE YEAR!!

Thanks much to Expat Mum for introducing me to a great hobby and hello to all my new bloggy friends.

Here is picture of teenager and I at Disneyland Paris last week with our Buffalo Bill show hats on- very fetching eh?

Wordsworth Country

I was chatting to my neighbour the other day and found out that he and his son run the wonderful website Wordsworth Country. It's all about the Lake District and well worth a visit if you like this beautiful part of the world, or are thinking of visiting.

God lives in the Post Office

God Lives in the Post Office

This is one of the kindest things I've ever experienced. I have no way to know who sent it, but there is a beautiful soul working in the "dead letter office file" of the US Postal Service..

Our 14-year-old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her. You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith


We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had. Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith,' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by. Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever there is love.

Love,God

Genie in the bottle

A man walks into a bar with a paper bag. He sits down and places the bag on the counter.

The barman walks up and asks what's in the bag.

The man reaches into the bag and pulls out a little man, about one foot high and sets him on the counter.

He reaches back into the bag and pulls out a small piano, setting it on the counter as well.

He reaches into the bag once again and pulls out a tiny piano bench, which he places in front of the piano.

The little man sits down at the piano and starts playing a beautiful piece by Mozart.

'Where on earth did you get that?' says the barman.

The man responds by reaching into the paper bag. This time he pulls out a magic lamp.

He hands it to the barman and says: 'Here, rub it.'

So the barman rubs the lamp, and suddenly there's a gust of smoke and a beautiful genie is standing before him. 'I will grant you one wish. Just one wish ~ each person is only allowed one wish!'

The barman gets really excited. Without hesitating he says, 'I want a million bucks!'

A few moments later, a duck walks into the bar. It is soon followed by another duck, then another....Pretty soon, the entire bar is filled with ducks ... and they keep coming!

The barman turns to the man and says, 'Y'know, I think your genie's a little deaf.
I asked for a million bucks, not a million ducks.'

'Tell me about it!!' says the man, 'do you really think I asked for a 12 inch pianist?'

Disneyland Paris- we are back!!

Their accountants and bankers may tell me differently, but there was certainly no sign of a recession at Disneyland Paris as far as I could see. The parks were packed, the hotels were packed, the popcorn and ice cream was flowing and the cash registers were chiming.
Looking forward to posting a few of my photos later today, but first it is washing and unpacking after a very late arrival home last night.

We had a really good time. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. All the arrangements went very smoothly and a fun time was had by all. It doesn't compare at all with Orlando but once I had decided NOT to compare it anymore ( if that makes any sense at all), it was great.

We stayed at the truly vast Newport Bay Hotel. In a New England style, this hotel is very nice. Rooms need a bit of an overhaul but it was clean and airey, and the beds were very comfortable. Nice pool area ( both inside and out). They claimed it was too cold to open the outdoor pool but I suspect it was more about staffing rotas as temperatures were in a very comfortable early seventies during the day. Petit Dejeuner was a pheneomenon. How many baguettes and croissants can you fit into one ballroom? Filled with literally hundreds of people over several sittings it was a continental breakfaster's paradise.

We went to both the Disneyland Park and the Studios park, and Buffalo Bills Wild West dinner show. Must have walked miles!! Covered a lot of ground and stood in a lot of lines ( tedious and unavoidable- feels like being an animal in a pen really). But the brain was truly switched off, and it was good to potter and relax, and people watch.

More later

Lakeland Jo update

Time seems to be speeding by at the moment. I get the odd chance to read other blogs ( mainly on my blog list) but I haven't had the chance to do many entries myself.

So I thought I would give a little bit of an update on me and mine.

Work continues to be busy with some really interesting projects currently and on the horizon. This financial year is definitely quieter but we are optimistic and seem to be holding our own pretty well. We are trying hard not to get sucked into the perpetual media gloom and stay focussed on what we do well.

Teenager is in fabulous form, and is working hard on his fitness. He has two rugby camps to train for- one starts in a couple of weeks and is a five day non residential. The other one is a five day residential with the physical exercise element run by the army....mmmh. Sounds challenging.

Teenager and I are off to Disneyland Paris tomorrow with some good friends of ours: my friend A and her two lovely girls B and E. We leave tomorrow morning and stay til Sunday. Will be a riot of shows, Mickey Mouse ears, rides and swimming. I hope the sun shines ear to ear. I love Disneyland. We have been to Disneyland in Florida quite a few times ( wonderful Orlando- my spiritual home) and I love it.

My focus is settling on the football and rugby season which starts warming up in August. We have lots of championship fixtures to look forward to ( thanks to NUFC new status...) and a whole season of Newcastle Falcons rugby to enjoy with a very different team. We might even go and visit the lovely Jonny Wilkinson at his new club in Toulon- South of France- works for me!!

We have the Windermere Airshow to look forward to on the last weekend of July. Click on the link to find out more. They are expecting 40,000 visitors over that weekend which means the car will be staying in the path. The traffic and parking will be a nightmare. Luckily we are less than five minutes walk from all the festivities.

In the middle of all this I have to submit an MA essay, and probably get my gall bladder out. The latest event in my health saga is gallstones. Anyone had experience of these little dears? Very painful and not recommended. I am off to see a specialist next week to get the full SP on what happens next? Looks like another enforced rest for Lakeland Jo. It is doing wonders for the figure though folks... nearly four stone off ( and kept off ) and continuing to fall off nicely due to my new very low fat diet. I bet you were thinking ' I bet she has put it all back on and that's why she is so quiet about it....'. NO CHANCE!!

Recommendation

Scatter brain that I am, I have been meaning to recommend Fat Frumpy and Fifty's recent brilliant post 'Only Yesterday'. She is such a brilliant writer, and this post is so good that all you mums and dads out there should give it a read with a box of hankies at the ready. I think it captures one of the powerful emotions of parenting. Very poignant. Enjoy.

Another great new blog I have come across is About New York - great photos and very atmospheric. I am determined to visit New York next year. This blog will put me even more in the mood.

Happy Sunday!

The only way to travel?

This koala bear looks very comfortable.

We are starting to take a closer look at teenager's photos from Australia. School has now finished for him, for the summer, and we have some more time to reflect on such an exciting adventure. Expect lots of photos from both Australia and our Seattle holidays during the sorting out period!

Teenager was very taken with the kangaroos at the wildlife park. He loved the baby's travelling arrangements.

I wonder if he had an X box in there while mum is getting on with her jobs for the day?

At least mum knows she isn't going to lose baby anywhere....

What do you call a Kangaroo? A male kangaroo is called a buck, boomer, jack or old man. A female is a doe, flyer or jill. A young kangaroo is a joey (all marsupial young are called this). A kangaroo is often referred to as a 'roo. A group of kangaroos is generally a mob, but can be a troop or court.

Michael Owen

To my amazement Manchester United have bought Michael Owen.
All I can say is- I hope they have better luck with him than we did.
The end

housework?

1. Open a new file in your PC.

2. Name it 'Housework.'

3. Send it to the RECYCLE BIN.

4. Empty the RECYCLE BIN.

5. Your PC will ask you, 'Are you sure you want to delete Housework permanently?'

6. Calmly answer, 'Yes' and press mouse button firmly...

7. Feel better?