Food for thought

( Picture- Seattle 2009)

Maya Angelou

'I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.'

'I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.'

'I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.'

'I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life.'

'I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.'

'I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back...'

'I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.'

'I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.'

'I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back...'

'I've learned that I still have a lot to learn...'

'I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.'

Saturday bits and bobs

A few things to post about today. First of all to say how sad I am at the death of Sir Bobby Robson yesterday. He was a lovely man. Well liked by football fans and non football fans alike, and especially loved by followers of the Toon Army. He will be missed.

I am off to Lakeland today with mum for breakfast. For all of you out there who love Lakeland I am now going to brag horribly. We have their head office and flagship store one mile up the road. They have a lovely big cafe and lots of tempting things in the shop.

We need something to cheer us up- the weather is dire again. Raining and dark. I am starting to think about autumn. The shops are full of autumn winter stock. We are going to go and buy more gas for the garden heater today but I wonder whether we will ever get the chance to sit out there again. Rain Rain Rain.

And finally, I think I will have to ask for a whip round. I have now been back from the US for a couple of months now I am running out of things I don't think I can get here ( Expat mum are you reading this?). First of all I need candied pecans- brilliant for salads. I also need some more 'Degree' ( Pure rain) deodorant sticks. I got two free ones in a hotel in San Fran Cisco and I have fallen in love with it. We can't get it here. I need a whole load of 'warm vanilla sugar' products from the Bath and Body works.

I am also need some more baking supplies from my friend B's friend L, who makes gorgeous little chocolate biscuits and sent me home with a huge box. THEY HAVE ALL GONE!!

And I want to go back to the Gene Juarez spa in Redmond to have my hair cut and coloured. Mmmh. I need to go back very soon.

San Francisco and a busy week

Alcatraz island....

Other half in a cell in Alcatraz. I pleaded with them to close the doors but no deal.

Mojitos in a lovely bar in Fisherman's Wharf!

Cheers - they tasted great!

The famous Fisherman's Wharf sign and yes the sky was really that blue and I didn't touch it up. Unfortunately there was no heat in the sun and the wind was freezing. We turned up for California sun, and the locals laughed. Apparently tourists getting caught out is common: the fog, the wind and the cold are a regular feature.

We have had a great time since our return and I have been too busy to blog! Tomorrow we are off to the San Juan Islands on the ferry. The sun is blazing here and the forecast is wonderful. Back Thursday and I will post about our adventures on Friday.

( I went to the original Starbucks today in Seattle at Pike Place Market- brilliant!

Days of mixed fortune

The last few days have been a roller coaster.







The bad things:

• The weather ( boo hiss)



• The Newcastle United versus Fulham game result ( we lost one nil and still face relegation)



• The traffic in the North East- awful. It never fails to amaze me how dreadful it is. It took me 1.5hrs to get from Darlington to Newcastle City Centre on Friday



• Jonny Wilkinson finally announces he is leaving the Falcons for Toulon. ( I don't blame him but he will be such a miss)



• suffering from a very late night on Saturday- not enough sleep and the old bones can't deal with it these days



• did I mention the ( dire) weather?



• my wonderful friend facing breast cancer. Damn that wretched disease. You know who you are- I am with you every step of the way girl!



• shutting down the office when you are self employed... so much to think about... will we ever get away...?
  
  

The good things:

• going to the test match at Durham on Saturday, England beating the West Indies,and teenager seeing us live on the TV all the way from Oz


• a night out in town watching all the fashions, and having a good laugh with friends


• staying with our good friend M in Newcastle in his lovely city centre flat- what a convenient urban treat, and only minutes from Starbucks. He is a great host. Cloudy Bay with dinner, Champagne to kick off our night out, haddock and poached eggs for breakfast. Lovely!
  
• being out on the town and being three and a half stone lighter, and feeling very confident


• the decorator starting in teenager's room. We have somewhere found the time and strength to get it all stripped down. It is going to look brilliant. And the paper has arrived!


• looking forward to flying out of Heathrow on Friday to Seattle ( a couple of days work in Birmingham first)... we are all packed.
  

Just need to finish all the office work, and check we have remembered everything....

Over and out!

surfacing... for a moment

As you may have spotted there have been lots of jokes and inspirational stuff but not much of me.

I have been up to my eyes in work, socialising and generally being very busy. All positive stuff and positive stress. But no time to write really...

University starts again tomorrow which will gently propel me back into a more bookish and reflective frame of mind. I do miss the blogging, both my own and reading other people's, and look forward to designing in more time to do it again soon. I miss you all!

It's the same with pals isn't it? Sometimes it's hard to catch up. The main thing is to let people know you are thinking about them, missing them and sending positive warm wishes across the airwaves.

What has been taking up my time? The business is very busy ( and thank God for that especially in current troubled times) and I have some big projects on. I am back over in the North East quite a bit with clients that I love working with. We are planning to move into offices soon ( we need the spare room and the kitchen table back again...) which is really exciting and are looking for an administrator to organise us.

I have been researching and investigating a new diet plan for November ( after my hols end October), running round after teenager and his various sporting adventures, seeing good friends ( my friend B is emigrating to Seattle soon and she came to see me at the weekend to say goodbye.... I will miss her but will enjoy visiting in May next year- exciting...) and trying to keep the house in order!.

It's all go!! On Monday I am off to Corbridge again for three nights... and taking mum along. She needs cheering up: Jonny Wilkinson has a dislocated knee and maybe out of rugby til Christmas. Damn shame- he's a great player and wonderful eye candy too. The Falcons will really miss him. Check out Jonny's fab new book ' Tackling Life' -it's great stuff.