All About Racing for Life....

Cyberkitten photographed some of the essence of Race for Life....
Arriving at the venue - Lydiard Park, just outside Swindon...
3,000 women gathered, with husbands and families......spot cq!

The cadets were there to help out - dish out water, watch the course and dole out medals.

There were Faeries..........

and Runaway Brides.....

It is a time to remember....

loved ones.......

People we love and admire...
The course can be run..........

...or walked......

Open to anyone - as long as they are female.....
At the venue, there was a wall to post our thoughts, memories and loved ones.......

Hot and bothered........But I did it.......!

If you still want to donate to Cancer Research, feel free to click on the donation button in my sidebar and spend some worthy money.....

cq

14 June 2008

Today is Race for Life Day.........

I am number 3119 :-)
Thank you to all those, home and far away, who sponsored me, or donated to Cancer Research UK in my name.

I'll make you proud :-)

If you haven't yet sponsored me or donated, feel free to click on the donation button in my sidebar and spend some worthy money.....

cq

Elk and Beaver and Goldstream

Canada 1 here

Canada 2 here

While we were driving from A to B outside Victoria, I was struck by a sign - not physically, obviously....but the sign begged me to go have a look.

So in the pouring rain we visited Elk and Beaver Lake - just so I could say I had seen 'Elk and Beaver Lake'.......it's the name, it's so...Canadian!

See? Sooooooo cool.....So we nipped down to have a look.........

It was a wonderful serene place in the rain, the only activity a couple of kayakers.....

I looked to the left and there was a stand of magnficent pine trees..........

I looked to the right and a weeping tree grew into the water as if part of it's essence.

Another place we stopped was Goldstream Park - we actually went to a lookout point where we could see right across the Park.......

Hundreds of square miles of beautiful peaceful lake set in a magnificent park - and one lone sail boat.........

Breathtaking....

Please check out my side-bar to sponsor me or donate to Cancer Research for my 2008 Race for Life this month.

cq

Butchart Gardens

While in Victoria, we spent a long morning at Butchart Gardens - it could easily have been a whole day except it absolutely hacked it down with rain all day...

A little something from the Butchart Gardens website - illustrated with some of cyberkitten's fabulous photos..... "The Butchart Gardens is one of the world's premier floral show gardens.

Jennie Butchart began to shape this magnificent landscape in 1904. She established, in the style of the grand estates of the period, several distinct gardens to evoke a range of aesthetic experiences.

An abandoned limestone quarry was transformed into the dramatic Sunken Garden, a reflection of the early 20th-century beautification movement and an exceptional achievement in Canadian gardening history.

Through successive generations of the Butchart family, The Gardens has retained much of its original design, and continues the Victorian tradition of seasonally changing the outstanding floral displays."

This is the seed nursery, where the baby plants are raised and cared for ready for planting out.

I was drawn to this wonderful fountain in the former quarry - it's called Ross Fountain! 'My' fountain! Isn't it spectacular!?! Hidden delights in the Japanese garden......How about some idea how wet it was? Here's Boo on her favourite stepping stones, 'vogue-ing' for cyberkitten, complete with Mum's jacket and the umbrella provided by the Gardens (excellent idea, btw!).More another time....

Please check out my side-bar to sponsor me or donate to Cancer Research for my 2008 Race for Life this month.

cq

Canada 1

[author's note; some 350 photos were taken in Canada, so I have made a small selection for viewing here.]

Wow, is it really three weeks since I got back from Canada? cyberkitten and I went on a trip to revisit one of our dearest friends who emigrated with her daughter. They live in Victoria, BC and we haven't seen them since they emigrated five years ago.

On the first couple of days we were taken on a whistle-stop tour of some of the most beautiful lakes and lagoons I have ever seen.

Equimalt Lagoon, deserted and oh so peaceful...

Thetis Lake, glimpsed through the trees, the new up and coming leisure resort...

'Chosin Lagoon - Boo finds anything to play with....

Vancouver Island is a sea of lakes. It's safe to say we fell in love with the place from the moment the island loomed out of the mist.

While at 'Chosin we noticed a small sign for a local pottery, so we called in. A potter named Robin Hopper has made his home in the woods of Chosin, producing the most beautiful pottery and, in his spare time, designing and landscaping a wonderful Japanese garden. I bought a most beautiful fruit bowl and silentmum surprised me with a mug in the same design - which I use constantly!

The Japanese garden was full of hidden treats - porcelain doves, sculpted bullrushes, tree men, wolves and pots and lanterns. We were stunned by the beautiful fake stream with fish Robin had made in the Japanese garden.

And, of course, Boo was ready for her close-up.........anytime.........

More another day.

Please check out my side-bar to sponsor me or donate to Cancer Research for my 2008 Race for Life in June.

cq

Busy, Busy....

Non-stop at the moment, what with Canada, then new kitten, then Italy, then back to work, and now rushing to clean kit for Caerphilly Castle.....

So, some pictures for your delectation and delight.....

The three of us together again after 5 years of separation......

All of us waiting to go whale watching - and yes, we saw a whale.....Pender was his name!

And finally - me in my new 'summer' frock in the rainy Italian field.....with John and Tim keeping an eye on the 14C stove....

I'll be around, but busy until next week....

cq

Drench Brains

I laughed out loud when I saw this - it's SO clever!! :-)

Enjoy!

cq

Curveball

Sometimes you're just trucking along, getting back into the swing of work after an overseas holiday, preparing for a weekend in 14C Italy, quickly sewing up a new re-enactment dress (nice yellow now I'm not a filthy peasant!)......and you get a late night phonecall with a plea for help...

and life serves you a curveball.....

Say hello to the curveball......

Little man has no name - MB and I are disagreeing; I suggested William, he suggested Amos...........so at the moment he's just a kittycat.

He's about a year or younger, still got his baby teeth - and all his equipment (if ya'all know what I mean.....). And he is very sweet. When he's [ahem] done, he's going to be a lovely pet. He's a stray and very skinny. Off to the V.E.T with him as soon as possible!

But - well, he is a very pretty cat - and kisses nice......

And in case you're wondering - Charlie is rather bemused but not horrified.

cq

Don't forget to visit my Race for Life page and sponsor me! See my sidebar.

Calling all Blogpals, Friends and Passersby!!

This will stay at the top of my blog until after the weekend - watch this space for more Canada news next week!

It's that time of year again. This information will also remain in my sidebar until after the Race.

My teddy bear Mac and I will be taking part in the 2008 Race for Life, to help raise money to continue the research into cancer and the chances of finding a cure.

Read about my 2007 Race here.

Everyone, everywhere is touched by cancer, be it family and friends or celebrity, in one form or another.

Race for Life is Cancer Research UK’s flagship event that has grown to become the UK’s largest women-only fundraising event. Whether one chooses to walk, jog or run the 5k course, the events are an inspirational day out with family and friends.

In 2007 665,000 women were brought together to walk, jog or run 5k to raise £40 million pounds for Cancer Research UK – the world’s leading independent organisation dedicated to cancer research.

Click on the link to find out more about Race for Life and who takes part.
And here to learn more about Cancer Research UK and the vital work that they do.

Click on the counter in my sidebar to sponsor me to complete the Race for Life on June 14th 2008 - or just to donate to this worthy cause.

My fundraising has been kicked off by Naomi in the Hills with a generous donation!

The more money I am pledged, the faster I will walk! Please help – every pound, dollar and euro counts.

Thank you - from me, from the women and from the families.

cq

Jetlag...

After a long journey home and a car breakdown which added two hours onto a very tiring trip, I just went to sleep when I got home...

Now its 3am and jetlag is keeping me up!

My brains feel like....
I have heard that cyberkitten is also up and about at this ridiculous hour....
perhaps he is sorting through the 350 photographs we took between us!

cq

It Rains.........

...in Canada too!!

I'm still getting used to being around my Boo - although silentmum and I just picked up where we left off five years ago...
On Saturday we did the lakes and lots of walking with wonderful BC fresh air!
We have visited Bear Mountain - yes, there are bears, but they are now vying for land with the developers of million pound estates and houses - not to mention a large elite golf and country club.
We also went to see Thetis Lake, a thriving summer day out for long hot days. In early spring it was deserted and peaceful - we took lots of photos of this beautiful lake (to whet your appetite, this one is from BritishColumbia.com)

While doing the whole lake thing we drove out to Esquimalt Lagoon, a wonderful bird sanctuary:

and we drove out to Metchosin and walked the beautiful lagoon there too - with the orca-watching boats in the distance. Definitely more on this later, as we discovered hidden treasures!

More on these wonderful places when we are home and have downloaded photos!

Needless to say we have plenty of photos so far! My camera is very poorly so ck's shiny new camera is getting lots and lots of use!!

Jet lag is proving a challenge - I got so tired I was throwing up yesterday and slept for five hours during the day. But I am feeling a bit better today, although I am all blocked up with cold - must be the climate. With silentmum at work and Boo at school today, ck and I have scheduled a rest day, reading, watching movies and chatting. I daresay we will, at some point, be blogging too!

I phoned MB last night - it's the furthest apart we have been for a very long time (since he regularly worked overseas) and I got a bit weepy. But I'm so glad I came.

More later!

cq

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Today I am going to London, accompanied by my best mate cyberkitten, to stay at a Heathrow hotel before getting on one of these tomorrow morning...

ooh, look at the classy wording on the Boeing 777-300....'Air Canada'
:-)
And that purty little red leaf on the tail - such a pretty plane in its understated paint job.

Cyberkitten and I are going to see long-gone friends who emigrated five years ago, my best girly mate silentmum and god-daughter Boo :-)

Apparently Boo, who we haven't seen since she was four, is almost hysterical with excitement. silentmum is bursting too - and I am sick with nervous excitement. I understand cyberkitten is packing a supply of tissues!

I'll be be blogging if I find an Internet cafe or spare computer - otherwise, we'll be back in the UK on the 6 May.

Abyssinia!

cq

Guess What.......?

I have this picture on my phone and was stunned by how - er - different it looked.

So, you'll never guess what it really is, so today's game is to make up what it is.......

So, using all your imagination tell me what this is a picture of......

And if I like your answers, I might tell you what it really is.......

update - While I was getting out of my car with my cell phone in my hand, I heard the sound of it taking a picture - so this is actually what the world looks like from inside my hand. The pink on the left is my finger, the glare is daylight.....

cq

Beautiful Boy

Isn't my boy just so beautiful?

We miss Pandora, but Charlie is proving a stalwart comfort.

cq

'Danger, Will Robinson!'

Wow, check out the smoking counter......down on my sidebar - down a bit, bit more.....

Only two days to the Danger Zone.

I have given up smoking before and the 18 month mark was when I fell by the wayside, a smoking cigarette in one hand.......well, I was drinking too [blushes]

So, to me 18 months is a scary milestone.

Yep really, because I still crave cigarettes.
Yeah, ok, I went cold turkey and got the nicotene out of my system.
But when you have an addictive personality, the craving never leaves. I even still find myself unconsciously reaching for the packet of cigarettes - usually in the car!

It doesn't help that people are still asking me 'was it hard to give up?' or 'do you still want a cigarette?'. I won't write it on this family friendly blog, but I really, really want to shout four letter words at those well-meaning people.

So, for the next few days (or weeks!) cigarettes will be at the forefront of my mind, but I will try not to surrender...

cq

Friday Night Out, Saturday Night In....

Last night was Friday Night Out with MB's friend from work and his wife.

I hadn't met them before and I was very nervous. I wore my 'swishy' blue skirt and a blue top, hoping to appear, at the least, respectable. As I was buckling my shoes MB came downstairs in jeans. Needless to say, one cutting sentence later, he was heading back upstairs to put some proper trousers on.

I really struggle with strangers, and that is why I like my Crazies, where I work and also the Company of Chivalry. Neuroses are so hard to control sometimes. Work and hobby have been so understanding about my little ways and the Crazies are as mad as me. Anyway, I tried to be cool about this new couple in my social circle, although I was terrified.
They were lovely. We talked about cars, me and Wife jibed at Hubby, we discussed kittens and cats, re-enactment, work and all sorts.

I was good; no weirdness, no kooky humour.......and it was a nice evening.

Today I went to the cinema with my Boy Crazies; cyberkitten, SleepyPete and Bionicdwarf. '21' was ok, nothing special. A bit of a let down, given Kevin Spacey and Laurence Fishburne. Nothing to grab your attention - the plot was predictable and not saved by the mediocre acting.

Now I am having an evening in at the Aginoths' - babysitting while Mr and Mrs have toddled off to help Nanny A celebrate her birthday.
The girls, Jnr and I had a lovely time watching CBeebies (kiddies BBC) before the girls went off to bed with a story each. Aren't cuddly little kids in pyjamas just the best? Jnr is a very self-contained young man for 7yrs and he just went off up to bed to read his book just a few moments ago.

So the children are asleep, my friends are enjoying a rare night out together and I'm having a Saturday Night In......just me and my chocolate bar [chuckle]

Oh - and HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NANNY A!!

cq

Annual Report Time

British civil servants are very sceptical about their annual reports. So far, the form has changed its appearance every year for the past five years and is now an e-form (electronic form). Every time we look at the new forms we lose a little more faith in the system.
The form is a combined annual report and bonus application.
The pay is not brilliant, so we usually rely on the pay bonus for a little fillip in our pay packet. Of course, the system being what it is the bonus application goes in at the beginning of the year and the pay rise (and bonus) doesn't show up in our pay until August.

So - how did I do? Bearing in mind that the finished report is 'private', I can tell you that I did ok, better than I thought in fact. It would appear my boss is happy with my work and the effort I put in through the year.

But he did raise one issue that had me scratching my head - he mentioned I have been 'fractious' lately.......hmm.......fractious?
Ah, that would be when I curse the crappy IT system as it collapses yet again dragging all my work with it. Or when I jump up and down because our contractors can't carry out a simple task. Or it could be that I have been dreading moving into the aforementioned refurbished offices (rightly, it appears - headache, Day 3) and have been a little temperamental on the subject. It could be that I have been watching my elderly family cat get frail and dread having her put to sleep. It could be the insomnia, the depression or the increasing weight - despite changing my diet.

OK Boss, I have been fractious, and loud. It's been a tough few months in my head and it spilled out now and then.

I promise to try harder.

cq

All Change

We moved offices this weekend. We packed up our entire holdings into crates and they were hauled to a newly refurbished office.

It smells of paint, the IT doesn't work properly, there's no storage, it's hot and stuffy and uncomfortable.

I don't like it. I came away with a screaming headache this afternoon.

I have been feeling evil lately and have been tormenting my boss to death. Luckily, we have a strong friendship that survives mere words......
Of course, my timing could be better - as he reminded me today its annual report time.......!

cq

Yum

with apologies to MB.....I love this guy!

Sheldon rocks! :-)

And for those that don't know, this sweet-looking chap is Jim Parsons, the new Texan on the block, playing Sheldon in Big Bang Theory.

With Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg and Kunar Nayyar, this is a delightful light frothy sitcom.

Big Bang Theory is a Marmite show (love it or hate it) - I am really enjoying it!

{Marmite - British version of Vegemite. By the 1990s Marmite's distinctive and powerful taste had earned it as many detractors as it had fans, and it was commonly notorious for producing a binary and exclusive "love/hate" reaction amongst consumers. Modern advertisements play on this, and Marmite runs a dual skinned website with two URLs; I Love Marmite and I Hate Marmite. So - you get Marmite films, Marmite books, Marmite TV - love it or loathe it!}

Everyone - thank you for all the lovely messages on the passing of our beloved Pandora who had been a part of our lives from her day of birth. It was heartwarming to see all the support. Pandy is now at Rainbow Bridge with her lifetime companion Ambrose who died in 2001.

cq

Sometimes....

...you stumble over something so small, but so meaningful.....

She loved me........

cq