Blog Fodder #14

Blog Fodder ~ fighting blogger's block one post at a time!

This week is yet another example of a question that has so many answers. We'd like to thank Mar over at Maremagnum for submitting this topic.

Give an example of a meal that makes you happy.

There's only one answer to this - my regular girly pizza nights with Bob-Kat.

We go to Pizza Hut and I always have my favourite...garlic bread with cheese, vegetarian supreme on pan and chocolate cake to follow........
Most important thing about this meal isn't the food though, it's the time spent with my best girl-friend, my soul-sister, Bob-Kat.
Utenzi made me smile when he said on one of my earlier posts "I was looking at your sidebar and found to my surprise that Bob-Kat used to be your boss. I'd somehow not noticed that before."
Bob-Kat was indeed my line manager in my previous job, and is responsible for giving me the confidence in my own abilities to apply for promotion and therein enabled me to get to where I am now.
She's having a hard time at the moment, so it'd be nice if people would take a little trip over to her blog and say hi.

When we go for our nights out, we have such fun. Real Life gets put on the backburner and we spend the evening putting the world to rights and laughing - oh we laugh so much, it's very good for us.

So, that's the meal that makes me happy..........dinner with Bob-Kat.

cq

Looky, Looky!!

Look what I got!

Ain't it just a thing of beauty?

11" bollock_dagger.......blunt of course!

No words necessary.........

cq

A Song for Sunday

A Song for Sunday is a chance for me to find my favourite songs and post them on my blog.

This week I am inspired by a surprise delivery today. Today is Mother's Day in the UK and definitely not my favourite day. I was woken from a midday nap by MB who said 'you got flowers!'.

Aren't they pretty?


These are from Sleepypete (who can be found in my blogroll) who sends me flowers every year. He is not my biological son, in fact he is only 11 years younger than me, but he knows how difficult this time is and remembers me along with his proper mum.

And my message back to Pete is; Thank you, 'son', I love you and whatever happens - I'll be there for you........

I love this video, with the guys from Friends being silly and fun......music should be fun!

cq

Mother's Day in the UK

Why are you crying, a young boy asked his Mum?

"Because I'm a woman," she told him.

"I don't understand," he said.

His Mum just hugged him and said, "And you never will, but that's O.K.".......

Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does Mum seem to cry for no reason?".

"All women cry for no reason," was all his Dad could say......

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.

Finally he put in a call to God and when God got back to him, he asked "God, why do women cry so easily?" GOD answered......

"When I made woman, I decided she had to be special.

I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet, made her arms gentle enough to give comfort...

I gave her the inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times will come even from her own children.

I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going and take care of her family and friends, even when everyone else gives up, through sickness and fatigue without complaining....

I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances. Even when her child has hurt her badly....

She has the very special power to make a child's boo-boo feel better and to quell a teenager's anxieties and fears....

I gave her strength to care for her husband, despite faults and I fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart....

I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly....

For all of this hard work, I also gave her a tear to shed. It is hers to use whenever needed and it is her only weakness....

When you see her cry, tell her how much you love her, and all she does for everyone, and even though she may still cry, you will have made her heart feel good.

Happy Mother's Day to all those wonderful women..........

cq

Saturday Night at the Movies

Saturday Night at the Movies is my opportunity to chat about my favourite films. Fun, serious, noisy, violent, good or terrible - my tastes are most eclectic.

As it's Mother's Day in the UK tomorrow, this is my choice for a suitable 'Mum' film.


'Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans'

The magical Richard Dreyfuss puts in a stunning performance as Glenn Holland, a musician and composer who takes a teaching job to pay the rent while, in his 'spare time', he strives to achieve his true goal - compose one memorable piece of music to leave his mark on the world. As the years unfold the joy of sharing his contagious passion for music with his students becomes his new definition of success.

Mr Holland's love of music also defines his feelings for his profoundly deaf son as the boy grows to manhood.

This film is an emotional minefield. Pack plenty of hankies, and don't watch it with people who you don't want to see you cry - because you WILL cry.

This film is incredible, and builds steadily to a breath-taking climax. Be prepared.

cq

Saturday with the Girls....

I'm here, babysitting for the Aginoths while they go to the medieval markets. A Jr is at a friends house, and I have LMB and LMD.
LMD screamed the place down when she realised I was to be her primary carer for the day. Poor old mum having to go out listening to her baby scream.....

Of course the screaming only lasted about five minutes - but it was enough to make Mrs A feel awful.

We watched a little TV while the girls got used to me being here. Then we did some colouring and had story time - they enjoyed the story of the magic porridge pot.

We had play outside (a BIG thankyou to the man who invented garden trampolines!) These girls will bounce for hours....
Some dolly play (a delightfully instinctive 'girl' thing) with their 'babies' and prams - well, it lasted until LMB wanted LMD's dolly buggy and threw a major screamer. She was horrified when I walked away......but she'll learn :-)

Lunch went down well - no child in my experience has ever turned down Alphabetti Sketti :-)

It's turned cold outside, so we are indoors with the radio on. The girls playing and fighting in the toy room. OK, playfighting turned into fighting, so they are now in the front room with me playing with the box of trains.

A Jr is home from his friend's house bravely sporting a plaster on one finger [grin], so I treated them all to a DVD of his choice......apparently his friends were throwing lego (shock horror). It was so amazing, I could hear him and his friend from half way up the street! :-)

I confess to a little bit of clearing up, putting the dishwasher on etc etc.......[hangs head in shame]

cq

I hate this week.....

It's the week on the run-up to Mother's Day. My least favourite time of the year.

This one day a year that reminds me, without fail every year, that I am not, nor ever will be a Mother/mum/mummy..or even a mom or a mommy.....

I have mentioned this before, and you have all been so unstintingly supportive, sympathetic and encouraging.

But that doesn't make this particular personal demon go away, no matter how much bloglove is shared around - and every year it comes back, as raw and unforgiving as ever.

by the by, I think I should make an appointment with my doctor; constant headaches, stomach aches, complete weariness, short temper, weepy, insomnia and dermatitis - all sounds like stress to me. I put it down to cold turkey - nicotene and prozac in one fell swoop.

Update: OK, been to see sympathetic (but not patronising) female locum (female GP was a three week wait!). I am 'severely depressed' (it must be right - I did a questionnaire!!), withdrawal and have unrelated dermatitis. The pains in my knees are the result of the weight I have put on since giving up smoking. She actually made the connection between surgery, no children and depression - so rarely do doctors dare verbalise that connection!

I have a prescription for steroidal cream for the dermatitis.

[holds up hands] And I will finally fill my 4 month old prescription for prozac.

Oh, and she wishes me the best of luck for the re-enactment season :-)

cq

Blog Fodder #13

Blog Fodder ~ fighting blogger's block one post at a time!

The Fodder question #13 is brought to us by none other than the talented writer/photographer and my blogbuddy, Carmi.

Where do you go to be alone?

I feel a fraud answering this one. I think this blog fodder question is definitely aimed at parents. I can have time alone any time I want.

But if it's desperately needed, I hide upstairs with a book........

Doncha just hate me now?? :-)

cq

A Song for Sunday

A Song for Sunday is a chance for me to find my favourite songs and post them on my blog.

When I was a young teen I went to Summer School. It was a Quaker Summer School run at the country's oldest and most famous Quaker boarding school, Friends School Saffron Walden.
I loved my time there so much that I actually asked my mum if I could go to proper school there. The answer was no, surprisingly!

Like Quaker Camp, previously mentioned on this blog, Summer School was a fantastic chance to holiday with people the same age and with the same interests. I even had a boyfriend, Andreas, and I had girlfriends to chatter and giggle with.

At the end of the fortnight, there was a disco and every year a Disco King and Queen were crowned.

I had always loved dancing. As a child I had dressed up and danced for my parents, and as a teen I had studied all the latest moves from Pan's People to make sure I was the coolest Disco Queen. At regular school discos I was far too nervous to dance in front of my peers, but I did love dancing.

I won! Not only did I win, but the school heart throb was crowned King. So I got to dance with the hottest boy in Summer School...to this......

Just for one night - I was a Queen.....a Dancing Queen.....

ps - awwwwwww - wasn't Benny just the CUTEST???

cq

Saturday Night at the Movies

Saturday Night at the Movies is my opportunity to chat about my favourite films. Fun, serious, noisy, violent, good or terrible - my tastes are most eclectic.

This week is my chance to simper over the current (in my opinion) Queen of cinema.......Drew. She's done....well.....everything.....


Josie Geller is a struggling young copywriter who goes back to school undercover to do a story. Her school memories are horrific, her nickname was Josie Grossie - but with age and experience, she finds she is now popular.......especially with teacher!

This is the one film absolutely guaranteed to make me cry at the beginning.....and again at the end. Those electric five minutes being ticked off on the baseball field clock, with Josie waiting with her hands twisting......will he, won't he.....? ah, time to fish out a tissue.

This film has the added attraction of the divine Michael Vartan, the sublime David Arquette and the adorable Leelee Sobieski.

Break out the beer and popcorn, send out hubby and call the girls over......

cq

My name is CQ and I own a Dell

I have been a bit quiet this week. There is a good reason for this. I have suffered Dellitus.

Dell has a terrible reputation, but MB organised the purchasing of my laptop, so I didn't worry too much about it. My laptop is lovely, and I love it.

Then I suffered the common ailment of Dell users, my drive packed up. I have a combi drive which plays (or should play) both CDs and DVDs.

Surprise, surprise, I played a DVD the other week and then, when I went to use the CD drive it didn't work. This is a highly advertised issue with Dell users. One of the lasers has failed in the drive.

Two big problems with this.

One was that the CD I wanted to use was my new Security Suite - protection is *so* important! Of course, as per the instructions I had removed the old outdated protection, so my laptop was totally vulnerable.

Secondly, my Dell cover lasted 90 days (3 months) and the drive failed at four months......a bit suspicious how often that happens reading the forums.

MB has spent all week poring over my laptop and the full size computer trying to fix the problem and has offered to pay for the new drive my laptop needs.

In the meantime he has scanned for problems and installed some basic protection so I can surf the net again.

So I'm back!

And to entertain my readers - the Honda advert that blew us away....we didn't buy a Honda, but we were all very impressed and still speak of this commercial in hushed tones of awe....

cq

Would you Work for this Company?

I can only assume this is field work to improve the service they deliver...

29 have been accused of spouse abuse

7 have been arrested for fraud

9 have been accused of writing bad cheques

17 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses

3 have done time for assault

71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit

14 have been arrested on drug-related charges

8 have been arrested for shoplifting

21 are currently defendants in lawsuits

84 have been arrested for drink driving in the last year

Which organisation is this?

It's the 635 members of the House of Commons, the same group that cranks out hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in line.

God help us all.......

cq

A Song for Sunday

A Song for Sunday is a chance for me to find my favourite songs and post them on my blog.

Songs and music, possibly more than anything else, sculpt the people we grow to be. I grew up in an almost wholly classical music environment until my dad gave me a radio and a set of headphones when I was about 13 so I could listen to music in my room. He was also the first person to give me a 'pop' album - to my mother's horror - and persuaded my mother to let me have a record player in my bedroom.
This resulted in my taste veering all the way across the spectrum from Chopin to AC/DC, with stops at Cliff Richard (that first album), Elvis and Abba.

When I visit my mother and dad now, it is still a wholly classical environment. Without my own room and stuff I find I am straining at the invisible leash by the end of the day. When I am there I stay in a local B&B and every evening I stroll back along the beach. I plug in my CD player and crank the volume waaaaay up...........

SO cleansing.......

cq

Saturday Night at the Movies

Ooh, another Saturday night, another favourite movie.
Saturday Night at the Movies is my opportunity to chat about my favourite films. Fun, serious, noisy, violent, good or terrible - my tastes are most eclectic.

This is a film from this man.......




Yep, of course you all recognise Adam Sandler, one of the most prolific young film-makers today. I love most of his films; Wedding Singer, Waterboy, The Longest Yard, Spanglish and today's spotlighted film.




I love this film, because it is genuinely funny albeit terribly juvenile! I liked the Wedding Singer with the magical pairing of Sandler and Barrymore, but this film just has the edge. Admittedly, a rein should be put on Rob Schneider, but he is funny - if outrageous. Add to Sandler's natural off-beat humour the beautiful and incredibly funny Drew Barrymore (I adore this woman!!) and this was a winner of a film.

Love means never having to say, "Who the hell are you?" Marine biologist Henry Roth (Adam Sandler) finds the perfect woman, Lucy Whitmore (Drew Barrymore) and falls head over heels for her. But when he sees her the following day, she hasn’t a clue as to who he is. Lucy suffers from a rare brain disorder that wipes her memory clean every night. Now, with the help of his friend Ula (Rob Schneider), he has to concoct new and increasingly clever ways to meet her and get her to fall for him every single day. 50 First Dates reunites the successful team of Sandler and Barrymore from The Wedding Singer. (DVD description)

The secret to this film? The one scene that reduces me to floods of tears and gales of laughter simultaneously - have you ever laughed and cried at the same time? You eventually run out of oxygen and it hurts!! But it's a good hurt, a real good hurt. This is the music this painful (literally!) scene is set to. I love this - it's the original video of the song. Put it on, turn up the volume and let rip!!

cq

Welcome Back

Bloggers always return to the fold!

I notice from some bloghopping that Mommy Ba is back online after a bit of a hard time.

And woohoo!! The Wonderful Wendy Wings, our very own Emmy reporter, is back with her Casting Call, so go on over and have a virtual cookie and say hi.

Go on - the cookies are delicious!!

cq

Reason to Live

Just when I was losing the will to live - one of my favourite shows returns to British TV for season two......

CRIMINAL MINDS revolves around an elite team of FBI profilers who analyze the country's most twisted criminal minds, anticipating their next moves before they strike again. Special Agent Jason Gideon (Mandy Patinkin) is the FBI's top behavioral analyst, working with the Behavioral Analysis Unit lead by Special Agent Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson), a family man who is able to gain people's trust and unlock their secrets. Also on the team are Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster), the daughter of high-powered diplomats who recently joined the team and must prove her worth to Gideon and Hotchner; Special Agent Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore), an expert on obsessional crimes; Special Agent Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler), a classically misunderstood genius whose social IQ is as low as his intellectual IQ is high; Jennifer "JJ" Jareau (AJ Cook), a confident young agent who acts as the unit liaison for the team, and Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness), a computer wizard who helps research the cases. Each member brings his or her own area of expertise to the table as they pinpoint predators' motivations and identify their emotional triggers in the attempt to stop them.

mm - Matthew Gray Gubler........warms the cockles of this old lady's heart.....

cq

Insomnia and Commercials

Here we are, 5am........again and I have been awake most of the night.....again....

So - a little entertainment.

This came first:



Then this:



and then, of course, someone had to do this.....



Ah, the joy of well made, entertaining commercials!

cq

Oscar-itis

I would love to be able to gush over the Oscars.

It would be nice to remember my favourite scenes from all the films.

I would have loved to have stayed up all night to hear all those wonderful speeches of thanks.

But the only films I saw that won were Happy Feet (Best Animation) and Pirates (Best Visual Effects).

So, no discussion, no opinions and no memories. But you can read all about it here.......

Congratulations to Helen Mirren on her win for The Queen.

And well done to the man from South Central, Forest Whitaker, on his big win!

cq

A Song for Sunday

A Song for Sunday is a chance for me to find my favourite songs and post them on my blog.

I have always loved this man.

He was gifted, intelligent and articulate.

When he died I cried for a week........

Whenever I hear this song, I cry again.........I play this at top volume in my car and sing with tears running down my face.

This video is such a wonderful tribute to the man and his gift.

cq

Saturday Night at the Movies

Saturday Night at the Movies is my opportunity to chat about my favourite films. Fun, serious, noisy, violent, good or terrible - my tastes are most eclectic.

This week's choice is definitely a 'Saturday night movie'. A couple cartons of popcorn, a few beers and this is the movie you would shove onto the DVD player.......

Right up there with my All-Time Favourite Movies, Cry-Baby was Johnny Depp's (JD to his bloggerfans) first starring role. He was chosen by unorthodox film-maker John Waters to star alongside his regular actors Mink Stole, Troy Donohue, Ricki Lake and Traci Lords. Also in this fantastic rock and roll film is Iggy Pop, Susan Tyrell, Willem Dafoe and Polly Bergen.

Wade 'Cry Baby' Walker is the leader of a gang of Drapes in 50's small town America, with his sister Pepper (Ricki), and their friends Hatchet Face, Milton and Wanda. Baldwin is the defacto leader of the Squares (mainly his singing group The Whiffles), but his girlfriend Allison is bored of being a Square and dreams of being with Cry Baby. Allison gets the chance when Cry Baby sweeps her off her feet to a Drape night out, but heartbreak ensues when the police swoop and arrest the Drapes. Allison is let off because her grandmother (Polly Bergen) is 'a good and beautiful woman' [chuckle] but Cry Baby goes to juvenile detention.

Allison has to choose between sneaky Baldwin (an extremely cute Stephen Mailer) and the juvenile jailbird Cry Baby.

Sit back, put this on the DVD player. Enjoy the unusual take on Romeo and Juliet, the performances and the fabulous soundtrack....

Ah, an excellent opportunity for another photo of JD....


'Just one single salty tear is all they'll suck out of this Cry Baby'

In answer to Carli, this is not hardcore Waters. And yes, Patty Hearst was in this movie, playing Wanda (Traci Lords) Woodward's mother.

cq

Blog Fodder #12

Firstly, good luck to Moogie's daughter, Meelie, today for the American Heart Association's Jump Rope for Heart Program. She is jumping in honor of her Papa and has raised more than $100 over her target!

Good Luck , Meelie!!

Blog Fodder ~ fighting blogger's block one post at a time!

Blog Fodder #12 is courtesy of my friend, Laquet over at Chez Le Laquet.

What do you see when you look out of your living room / kitchen / bedroom window? You can do this with photos if you would like.

I'm sitting in my armchair using my laptop. [peers out of living room window] I see bushes/shrubs which are designed to afford us some privacy (we live in a very small cul-de-sac). I can see my neighbour's car through the shrubs.....and lots of grey cloudy sky with a tiny bit of blue.

My kitchen window? That affords me a wonderful view of our lovely neighbours' new conservatory. They have it all kitted out with plants, heaters, candles and stuff and it looks amazing. Neil said recently that they have pretty much used it every day since it was completed!

cq

Saturday Market

On Saturday I accompanied Aginoth, Mrs Aginoth and two friends to the National Living History Fayre in Warwick.

These are wonderful places, with stalls selling re-enactment and living history stuff from every possible era. Roman soldiers rub shoulders with Tudor women, dandies converse with medieval knights. I love these markets, and there is always something to see.

This season, there were duelling knights with a prize available. Wherever I walked in the huge hall, I was accompanied by the sound of clashing swords and the banging of shields. With the yells of the audience and the screaming of the umpire, all that was missing was the smell of horse manure………
Good, eh??

Anyway, we were there on a mission. The Aginoths needed cloth to make new clothes for the children and Mrs A, and Aginoth needed a new longbow (or so he said! [wink]). Our friends had various needs, and also purchased a longbow from the Dutch bowyers who have recently begun trading at the show.

My own purchasing needs were modest (they have to be, I have no money!). I found Bernie the Bolt (the cloth salesman) had my dress cloth for sale, so I bought a metre so I can drop my hem a couple of inches. No more flashing my ankles and feet and being teased by the boys!

I also needed a tapestry frame (not found anywhere at the show, so we’ll look at the next one!) and brass needles (bought two!) – I know, I know; last of the big spenders……….

While debating my backstory (widow from the Hundred Year War found on the roadside, just with the clothes on her back ‘and scratching’ – the last from my intended employer!!) I asked Aginoth if I would have a weapon to protect myself. He agreed and suggested a bollock dagger.
‘A WHAT?’ I hear you ask.
I was toying with running this as a contest, but anyone can google or wiki ‘bollock dagger’…….

So go on, google it! :-)

cq

A Song for Sunday

This week's song is a trip down memory lane for me.

Paper Lace were a Nottingham based band who enjoyed three weeks at #1 in 1974 with this song. Definitely a crowd pleaser, there wasn't a single teenage girl in the UK who didn't know all the lyrics to this song. Although it was released in the US, it only reached #96 so this might be new to my American Blogbuddies, even though it's 30 odd years old.

In my previous post I mentioned my favourite thing as a child was Church Camp. Well, our Church Camp had a talent night on the last night, an opportunity for young singers, comedians, monologuers and various odd talents to parade their abilities in front of their peers. Some were stunning, some were wonderful, some were downright cringeworthy.

When I was 11 I got up in front of all the guys at Camp and sang this song. Apart from school musicals, this was the first time I had ever sung in public. No music, no support, just me standing there alone on the makeshift stage in the marquee singing my favourite song.

I have always adored this song. I've always known the words and can still sing along to it 32 years later.

Enjoy!!

cq

Saturday Night at The Movies

This week's movie is one you can't buy or rent. You won't see it in the picturehouse and probably would miss it when it is rarely shown on TV.

Panthergirl - I checked; it isn't on Netflix either.........don't be misled by the Falk film, it's not that one!

I have a copy on video, as I casually videoed it one night because it has one of my fave actors in it. Now that video is one of my prized possessions, 'cos I can't get this film anywhere else.

What is this rare film? Roommates, starring Eric Stoltz, Randy Quaid and Elizabeth Pena. In my modest opinion, as far as AIDS films go, this beats Philadelphia hands down (sorry, Tom!).

Stoltz and Quaid play two men who have contracted AIDS. One, a gay man, was infected during casual sex, the other, a heterosexual man, was infected by a blood transfusion. Pena, who runs the AIDS hostel, puts the two men in the same apartment, thinking they will have a benefit on each other.

This is a disturbing insight into life with AIDS. It is frank and unapologetic. There is no drastic loss of weight by the main players, they rely on their incredible acting skills to convey the physical debilitation of a terminal illness, not to mention the heartache and fear.

In the middle of all this heartbreak, the two men bond and develop a deep and honest friendship, which lasts up to and beyond death. Out of necessity, the men learn to depend on each other and to reveal their deepest darkest fears.

And the final kicker? This is not only a true story, but a privately financed film by the parents and family of one of the men.

cq

Blog Fodder #11

This week’s Blog Fodder Topic is brought to us by Suzanne, over at Contemblogging and it's one of my favourite conundrums!

Which is worse? Poor manners or poor grammar? Why?

Always - poor manners.

Poor grammar can be a result of many factors, some of which the individuals have no control over.

But it takes no effort to hold the door, say please and thank you and to be polite.

People may try to excuse bad manners, citing environment or nurture, but to me that is no reason.

There is no excuse for poor manners.

cq

Q&A

Passed to me from Bobkat :-)

Name: cq

1. What time did you get up this morning? 0630
2. Diamonds or Pearls? Pearls are supposed to make your skin glow – or somesuch.
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? I don't remember, but I finally saw The Libertine on TV earlier this week.
4. What is your favourite TV show? atm? NCIS.
5. What did you eat for breakfast? I don’t eat breakfast
6. What is your middle name? The only people who know that are my Crazies, Bobkat and Mamahog - it's a Secret.
7. What is your favourite cuisine? Thai
8. What foods do you dislike? Meat - bleurgh….!!
9. Your favourite potato chip? Roast Onion and Balsamic Vinegar – YUM!
10. What is your favourite CD at the moment? Still loving Ta Dah! By Scissor Sisters
11. What kind of car do you drive? Battered old Ford Escort but I love it!
12. Favourite sandwich? Cheese and beetroot ......
13. What characteristics do you despise? Arrogance, selfishness and rudeness
14. What are your favourite clothes? I adore my Planet Earth t’shirts.
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Work my way through the States (guided by my blogroll) and up into Canada!
16. What colour is your bathroom? Cream and dark pink
17. Favourite brand of clothing? As long as it fits…..
18. Where were you born? Small village in Devon
19. Favourite time of day? 6pm – ‘Friends’ time!!
20. Where would you want to retire to? Cornwall.
21. Favourite sport to watch? How boring is watching sport?
22. Who do you least expect to do this quiz? Anyone who doesn’t read my blog!
23. Who do you expect to do this quiz first? Maybe a blogbuddy or two might pick it up!
24. Coke or Pepsi? Neither please, I hate coke.
25. Are you a morning person or night owl? Neither?
26. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? News? Er – no……..
27. What did you want to be when you were little? Anyone/anything but me.
28. What is your best childhood memory? Church Camp
29. What are the different jobs you have had? Nanny, Housekeeper, Lifeguard, Clerk, Petrol Station attendant, M&S tillgirl, Office Manager, Personal Assistant, Health and Safety Officer.
30. Nicknames? CQ, craziequeen, Honeybunch, and sundry pet names by my bestest pals
31. Piercings? Two in each ear.
32. Eye Colour? Brown (boring, huh?)
33. Ever been to Africa? Yep, we holidayed in Tunisia every year for 12 years.
34. Ever been toilet papering? No, not a common pastime in the UK
35. Favourite day of the week? Sunday, most of the weekend chores are done and I can relax.
36. Favourite restaurant? Blue Ocean Thai in Weston Super Mare.
37. Favourite ice cream? Clotted Cream……..
38. Before this one, from whom did you get your last e-mail? Naomi.
39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? I no longer have a credit card...
40. Bedtime? Anytime between 9pm and 11pm.
41. Who are you most curious about their responses to this questionnaire? I'm interested in all my blogbuddies.
42. Last person you went to dinner with? Cyberkitten – we were teambuilding in a posh hotel.
43. What are you listening to right now? The TV....
44. What are your favourite colours? Purple!!!
45. How many tattoos do you have? That would be telling……..

Valentine

I know it's commercialised and an event created by Victorian greetings cards makers.......


But there's no getting away from it........

This Valentine's Day here is some...........

to all my amazing friends in blogdom.


And an extra-special hug and thank you to my dear friend over the sea.......


(anyone who knows her will recognise her own work of art)

cq

A Song for Sunday

I am loving 'Family Jewels', a close-up show of Gene Simmons (better known as Kiss' The Demon!), his beloved un-wife Shannon Tweed and their two teenage children Nick and Sophie.
I never liked Ozzie Osbourne's family show, so why do I like Family Jewels?

Unlike Ozzie, Gene is REALLY funny! Shannon is soooooo beautiful (former Playboy centrefold!) and very humorous, and their children are articulate, funny and very photogenic. I am also very pleased at the apparent lack of bad language!


I still adore Gene's crack 'That's what Gentiles are for. You hire them to fix your car!' with son Nick whispering desperately 'Dad! You can't say that!'
I'm a Gentile - I thought that was hilarious in context, with Gene looking helplessly at his SUV engine......funny guy......


So, in this second new Palace theme, I offer a song for Sunday to say 'Thank you, Simmons family, for a wonderful if brief insight into your life'. Bit of a noisy one to kick off this new Palace event. As a teen desperate to rebel but very nervous, I was a Zeppelin fan, a Quo fan - even a Deep Purple fan........ but as far as Kiss were concerned this is the only song I ever liked........and I'm still happy to bop along with the hoover to it!

cq

Saturday Night at the Movies

A new thing here at the Palace. An opportunity to sound off about my favourite films.

This week it's the amazing Britflick, The Full Monty. Struggling to survive in depressed Sheffield, six unemployed steelworkers make the decision to become strippers to raise some cash. These boys decide, for one night only, to go 'The Full Monty'.

With a brilliant script which illustrates the indomitable spirit of the British enforced 'dole worker', and a stunning soundtrack including Irene Cara and Tom Jones, this is one of my all-time favourite movies.
Leading the tribe is Gaz, played by the adorable and gifted Robert Carlyle. Gaz's best friend is Dave, a wonderful characterisation by the irresistable Mark Addy. Supported by great British actors Tom Wilkinson and Paul Barber, and newcomers Steve Huison and Hugo Speer, these six men make an ordinary film extraordinary. Best bit - probably be a runaway vote for the scene in the dole office, when the music comes on the radio and all the lads in the queue begin dancing.

Unashamedly a British film, although made with US money (Fox, no less!) [snigger], this is one of those few British films that a) uses actual British actors and b) makes you proud to be British, not hiding behind the sofa with embarrassment like the Bridget Jones or Love Actually genre.

cq

Blog Fodder #10

This week's Blog Fodder topic is brought to you by Heather, who can be found over on Blog, Blah, Blah. This is a real toughie.....

If you could go back in time and choose your career, what would it be?

Before I begin, since this is our TENTH Blog Fodder (where has the time gone?), let’s see if we can break a record and get more people to participate this week. It’s up to you to spread the word. Go on [smiles sweetly] have a go.....

OK, my fodder:

Choose my career?

When I was at school I always intended to be a teacher, although I toyed with the religious life at about 15. I definitely wanted to be around children and impart information. I had ideas of being a primary school teacher and having an impact on young minds.

Then I failed my A-levels, which was a major stumbling block to my plans of University and then teacher training.

As I was also having trouble in school on the whole, I asked if I could leave. My mother, being a teacher herself, said I could only leave if I got a job, thinking that would put me off. So I toddled off to the local newsagents and bought the evening paper. I ringed an advert for a homehelp and went for an interview. A young mother, dad absent working a lot of the time and four kiddies under ten. I got the job and left school immediately.

So, I got my youngsters, and as I discovered nearly 20 years later, all my words of wisdom and manners drummed into the children were still plainly obvious in the newly grown adults - so I seem to have taught them too!

Five families later and I am still reading to children, teaching them colours, simple math, new words, skills and manners!

So - did I actually, in a roundabout way, get my dream job? Only thing is, I don't get paid for it.....and I didn't so much choose it as had it thrust upon me - much like greatness!

cq

I'm Ready!

Blanket - check

Warm hat - check

Thick gloves - check

Foul weather coat - check

Thermal vest - check

Topped up fluids - check

First Aid kit - check

Hot flask - check

Not for me - but for the nutters who don't know how to drive in this..............correction - who think they *do* know how to drive in this......

Britain grinds to a halt when one snowflake falls - and we are forecast several snowflakes tonight!!

cq

Dentist

I had my six monthly dentist check up today. Doesn't sound much, but to me each one is a milestone and a major stressor.

I am terrified of the dentist, and have been since I was a teenager. At about 15 I cracked my front teeth on the side of the swimming pool, and my then dentist fitted me with terrible crowns, badly fitted and treatment that exceeded the novocaine time limit. He also left me alone once he had removed the broken teeth and I was horrified when I touched the remains with my tongue. I had nightmares for years that my teeth were falling out.

Then I had a dentist about three years later who told me the crowns were so badly fitted that I had abcesses under them both and then, instead of just replacing them, he drilled through the back up into my root. Needless to say, the treatment was agony, the crowns crumbled, he patched them up and I didn't smile again.

About ten years after the original treatment, my mother offered to take me to her new dentist. Not many grown women walk into a dentist holding their mother's hand! I was absolutely petrified. Mr Aslett was wonderful, an old-school dentist who still used gas and air which was perfect for this total psychological wreck. In the first couple of months he had completed a lot of work, many hours in fact, putting everything right while I was sleeping under the gas. I always went with one of my teddy bears; Albert. I was so grateful to Mr Aslett and my mum for introducing us. I always credit Mr Aslett for giving me my smile back.

Imagine my horror when Mr Aslett retired and, worse!, the use of gas and air for dentistry was outlawed!!

I was still so fearful I didn't go again for a few years. Then toothache drove me to a local dentist in desperation. They offered me valium (definitely not recommended for people with depression - I was suicidal for about three weeks!) and Mr Gaffori pulled the broken tooth with no warning,

I remembered I had been prescribed beta blockers for stressful events like interviews which had me hyperventilating with fright. The dentist said I could use them, he had no problems with that. So between the beta blockers for treatment, my dentist and I agreeing no treatment at checkups and nothing without warning, and Albert always being there, even for checkups, I am managing to attend for a check up every six months.

My notes are so cool, they have written on the front 'VERY nervous patient. Always brings teddy bear.'

cq

Facelifts

Everyone is getting the decorators in.

Every time I go to a blog now, it looks new and fresh.

Is this everyone taking advantage of the easy options on New Blogger? It's supposed to be so simple to customise your template.

Should I decorate? Do I need to? I have several likely templates downloaded to play with.

But.....and this is the $64m questions.....do I want to?

When's all said and done;

I like the simplicity of the Palace. I love the clean look of my undecorated blog.

So I guess it won't be getting a refurbishment any day soon.........

and to finish - possibly the MOST played record in the world, but certainly in the UK....

Big Question: Is Mika the reincarnation of the great, and still sorely missed, Freddie Mercury?

Cute, gifted, classically trained.....

cq

ps - is anyone else struggling with new blogger photo? The uploaded pictures are such complicated URLs that they are making my Explorer freeze.

Blank Page

My mind is a blank page at the moment........

I log on to blogger with ideas to blog, then I just log off.

This week hasn't been uneventful, but I have no urge to talk.

I haven't totally abandoned my blogbuddies, I still visit, but I don't feel I have anything of any value to add to the comments.

So, go visit my blogroll and read some nice chatty blogs while I wait for my muse to return.

cq