Sunday 20 March 2011

so what's going on?

I know I have been quiet on news. This means I have been a busy Lakeland Jo. My life is never boring- good or bad, but never boring!
I had a couple of weeks of saintliness where I looked at clothes and bought nothing. The halo got broken at some point and a few new bits and pieces have appeared in the wardrobe ready for the elusive spring and summer weather.
If I can explain myself a little. I have always been overweight. Sometimes a bit, sometimes a lot. I always tried to look nice. I bought good quality, well fitting clothes and interesting jewellery and I think I looked very nice a lot of the time. But I was big, and I took little interest in clothes really. More interested in what fitted me and where I could get it.
But now, many stone lighter I have suddenly become rather obsessed with fashion and clothes. I am still losing weight slowly but surely- my appetite is small but no longer non existent. I graze and make an effort to eat regularly. I eat good stuff most of the time but not a great deal. I used to be very greedy; now I spend time when I can looking obsessively at what other people are wearing and making inner judgements about smart or interesting they look.
I had plenty of chances this weekend. While teenager went on rugby tour in Scotland, other half
and I went to stay with our lovely friend Martin in Newcastle, and we went to the St Patrick day race meeting at Newcastle race course. The fashions were out and about. I managed to find somewhere to sit down so I could watch the show. I was glued. In between ( some very successful) betting there was plenty to watch. Some very ill advised dresses, gallons of fake tan, tons of spidery false eye lashes and enough make- up to sink a ship. I was mesmerised. There were a lot of 'off the shoulder' outfits, some very short skirts, some very tight fitting suits on men with bright ties. We are country folk these days, and our eyes were on stalks.
I didn't see a horse in the flesh until the end of the meeting. It was a packed event. Badly organised, with queues every-where for everything. We arrived early and were lucky to get a seat. It was too cold to go outside but too crowded to stand on the balcony. We had a tv next to our table. I could see my winners on there!
Other half and I went to London this week to the Royal Marsden. They want me monitored closer to home now. I will be looked after by a local team. They can't make anymore interventions now, and they are keen not to keep trailing us down to London for no reason. It was hard to accept though knew it had to come. I love and trust my lovely surgeon Mr Barton. His work is done and he needs to move onto other worthy souls. It is hard parting with him!
However, I won't miss the long trips and having other half take two days out of office. I won't miss waiting in line for the clinic ( this time running late a spectacular two and a half hours!). It is very tiring and it makes sense now to keep it local.
I will, however, still go and stay with my dear friend Louise who has been such kind and splendid hostess to me and my family while we have been involved with the Marsden. She is not getting rid of us- that's for sure. And neither is London and all its delights. We will be back soon.
Anyway, I need to go. I have an Elle magazine to read: wall to wall fashion. And a round of applause please: this was my first post typed on my new Apple Mac pro. Lovely :)


Monday 14 March 2011

The Pastor's business card



A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one
house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to
his repeated knocks at the door.

Therefore, he took out a business card and wrote 'Revelation 3:20' on
the back of it and stuck it in the door.

When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his
card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, 'Genesis
3:10..'

Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales
of laughter. Revelation 3:20 begins 'Behold, I stand at the door and
knock.' Genesis 3:10 reads, 'I heard your voice in the garden and I was
afraid for I was naked'

'A cheerful heart is good medicine' (Prov. 17:22)

Saturday 12 March 2011

sweet sixteen








( bottom picture- Pete in South Africa with a new friend! He had an amazing time on his trip)
Regular readers will be know that I never get bored with a particular subject. My son ! He is my pride and joy and inspiration.
A year ago I was told I was going to die- probably within twelve months. I prayed that I would get to see my boy get to sixteen. It seemed unlikely at the time, but it was something I focussed on and wished for, and prayed for. I had an operation which at best has saved my life and at worst has bought me time. It's been a long journey later but I saw it through and.....teenager was sixteen this week. We ate cake, we ate chinese, we sat and celebrated as a family. It was wonderful. I hugged and hugged him and celebrated with such joy.I am so glad I got to see that day. Funnily enough it was a typical kind of day.... he had mock exams ( worst subjects of course) and exams the following day. It was a school week, the weather was awful, it was a week when we had to keep the celebrations low key. But all day I glowed. And now my next goal.
I want to see my mum's birthday ( June), and my own birthday ( 47 in October) . And dare I focus of teenager's seventeenth. It's already being prayed about. Please pray with me.

Saturday 5 March 2011

here are a few of my favourite things...............

Coach

Pandora



Jo Malone




Today I went out with other half to my favourite shop Marks and Spencer ( now usually known as M and S). I love going for a coffee there and buzzing round the clothes; ranges change regularly and are very reasonably priced. Now I fit Per Una (a woman's clothes range) I am usually found in there these days. I don't always buy but I am always tempted!
Our local M and S in Kendal is not a large branch by any means. It is great for me though as it is easy to park there and there is not much walking involved (sometimes I can't walk too far if my leg is sore). It has everything I need. A coffee shop, a great food department and clothes to lust after.
It got me thinking about other things that I really love and that cheer me up, and things that are very hard to resist. I mean material things of course ( I am not including human beings in this post!!)
The pictures above are the clue.

Coach
First discovered many moons ago in Florida USA. I went into a shopping mall and it was love at first sight. Holiday spending money- vanished. Since then every time I go to the US I buy Coach bags and wallets. I just love their designs. Imagine my horror to discover it wasn't in the UK anywhere. It came to Harvey Nichols ( in London) as a concession a few years ago... then it vanished. The products were great but the prices were ludicrous. Now they are back again in Westfield Shopping Centre in London. This is great news. But I dearly hope that the prices aren't ridiculous. My lovely friend Bobbie brought me a FABULOUS Coach bag back from Seattle recently. It is amazing. I am very happy about it especially since I won't be back to the USA for a long time ( this is agony for me I love it so much). I can't get holiday insurance to go and I can't afford to get 'caught out'. If I got sick there and was un-insured- we would have a really bad problem on our hands.

Pandora
I have loved Pandora jewellery for so long I can't even remember where I first saw it! I think it may have been in our local jewellers. I liked it a long time before it became hugely popular. I got my mum a bracelet a few years ago and now we both collect the charms. My bracelet is now full. I need to start a new one! I also have several rings and ear-rings. I think the products are beautiful and I think it is really clever how they have diversified their ranges so quickly so they don't go out of fashion. It certainly hasn't with this customer.
Jo Malone
First smelt on my friend Helen, but introduced to me by my friend Karen ( again- she has wonderful taste), the first shop I went to was in Glasgow. I soon followed up with a visit to a branch in Bond Street ( or nearby) in London. I am not sure the first product I ever bought but since then I have become completely addicted. I love their candles, fragrances, soaps.... you name it. My favourite fragrances are :Lime Basil and Mandarin and Black Cafe Vetyver. I usually ask for Jo Malone for my birthday and Christmas. We don't have a local store so if I get the chance to visit one I usually stock up. Now also a firm favourite of my mum's!


The White Company
First introduced to me by my friend Karen in Scotland. I think it was the Edinburgh branch. I thought it was so fresh and clean. Fabulous bedding, towels and clothes. I was far too big for the clothes in those days. I used to just look. However, as time went buy and a few stone vanished off my frame, I started to dabble with a few clothes. Then I started replacing all our bedding ( teenager excepted- he has his own stuff he likes). Now I am a serial clothes shopper in the stores and my most recent purchase was a fabulous pale grey cashmere cardigan. It has dented my Christmas money, but it was worth any penny (yes- I actually have Christmas money left).


Other things I just love : Chanel make up, Mulberry bags, Jaguar cars, I phones and apple stuff, Monsoon ( now that if fits me- hurray).............. as you can see I love my luxury, but I think--- why not? Life is for living.
Tell me about your favourite things?

Wednesday 2 March 2011

Happiness- two photos



Teenager dancing in South Africa- he had a fabulous time. More pics to come!




The very latest picture of me today at a friend's birthday lunch. I hate that damned hair! One day I WILL be blonde again. At least I look very happy - which I am.

Tuesday 1 March 2011

Perception- women friends chatting in the office

Women Friends chatting in office.

Woman 1: I had a fine evening, how was yours?

Woman 2: it was a disaster. My husband came home, ate his dinner in three minutes and fell asleep in two minutes. How was yours?

Woman 1: Oh it was amazing! My husband came home and took me out to a romantic dinner. After dinner we walked for an hour. When we came home he lit the candles around the house and afterwards talked for an hour. It was like a fairy-tale!

At the same time, their husbands are talking at work.

Husband 1: How was your evening?

Husband 2: Great. I came home, dinner was on the table, I ate and fell asleep. It was great! What about you?

Husband 1: It was horrible. I came home, there's no dinner because they cut the electricity because I hadn't paid the bill; so I had to take my wife out to dinner which was so expensive that I didn't have money left for a cab. We had to walk home which took an hour; and when we got home remember there was no electricity so I had to light candles all over the house! After all, I was so aggravated that I couldn't fall asleep and my wife was jabbering away for another hour!