Happy Birthday to MWM.......

I have known My Wonderful Man since he was 15 years old, that's 44 years (you can figure out how old he is). It was love at first sight for me, he says for him too, and I love him as much today as I did when I first met him.

In my eyes he hasn't changed at all - OK the hair's grey and there's less of it but he's still the most gorgeous guy and I am so proud he's mine.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLING

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH

YOU'RE THE ONE!

XXXX

Childhood Memories.......

When I was a child boats seem to figure quite a lot in our enjoyment. Not that we owned a boat you understand, but one of the regular outings we used to take was to New Brighton, on Merseyside, where we would take a trip across the Mersey and back on either the Royal Iris or the Royal Daffodil ferry.

My Dad was the baby of his family and had four sisters, two of whom each had a lot of children. Some of my Dad's nieces and nephews were the same age as him with children of their own - I had lots of cousins! This meant that we would often have big family outings, someone would order a coach and we'd all clamber aboard to be taken New Brighton, That doesn't sound very exciting does it, well not until I tell you that it wasn't just a matter of sailing back and forth on the ferry, oh no there was much more to it than that. In 1953, the Wallasey Corporation were advertising Luxury Cruises, this was an attraction that no other resort could offer. Cruising on the magnificent air conditioned T.S.M.V. Royal Iris and Royal Daffodil, with their Ballroom, Cocktail and Lounge Bars, Buffet, Orchestra, etc. Fares were 2/- (10p) to 3/- (15p) per 2 hour cruise. You can see some pictures here.


Us children weren't allowed to go up on the deck unless we were with one of the adults, but we didn't mind because we had such fun being waltzed round the room whilst standing on an adult's feet. I think that's when my love of dancing started. By the time we disembarked the adults had all had 'a few jars' and would be singing all the way home on the coach, mostly us kids were asleep, exhausted from all the dancing!

Another outing we regularly took was a picnic to the Lake District - usually Windermere. Once again someone would order a coach and we'd all pile on, but this time the Mums would have made mountains of sandwiches all wrapped in the greaseproof paper in which the loaves had been wrapped. There would be bottles of pop for the children - lemonade, dandelion and burdock and bottles of beer for the adults. Once we arrived the blankets would be spread out and the picnic would start. We'd play cricket and hide and seek and more often than not we'd take a cruise on the Lake. The Lake District is such a beautiful place with the most spectacular scenery.

Then of course there was Blackpool, with it's Golden Mile. All us kids were kept busy on the coach by trying to spot the Tower first so we could claim the sixpence on offer. Back in the time when all summer's were GLORIOUS, we spent hours making sandcastles, riding donkeys and eating 'banana butties' on the beach, we'd change into swimsuits beneath a voluminous towel held by mum and go hurtling down the beach to the sea into which we plunged headlong - only to very quickly scoot out again because it was always freezing cold! In Blackpool you could take a trip into the sea on one of the amphibious trucks, which was really exciting for us kids. Then of course there was the pleasure beach with it's exciting rides, and invariably we would spend an hour there watching the laughing clown or messing about in the fun house or Noah's Ark.

We didn't just go to Blackpool in the summer of course, every year in October we would go by coach to see 'the lights', the famous Blackpool Illuminations. Once again someone in the family would order a coach and off we'd go. Us kids always thought it an adventure going to 'the lights' because it was dark, we thought we were being allowed to stay up late because it was dark, not realizing that because of the time of year it was dark at 4 p.m.!

Of course the highlight of the year was Christmas, but I'll write about that some other time.

Coincidence or Fate?.......

I was reminded recently about something that happened where MWM and I were like - WOW is that Coincidence or Fate? Let me tell you what happened.

Well, as you may know from what I've written previously, I met MWM when I was fourteen and he was fifteen, only a couple of months after his Dad had died. It was a rough time for MWM and his Mum, but life goes on and they got on with theirs.

That summer MWM's Mum and Dad were due to go on a Mediterrranean cruise with some extended family, but of course now his Dad wouldn't be going. His Mum asked MWM if he would like to take his Dad's place on the cruise but MWM didn't want to leave me - we were inseparable - so he said thanks but no thanks and his Mum went with the family.

When MIL came back from the holiday she regailed MWM with tales of all the countries she'd visited and what she'd seen. MWM kept reminding me what he'd given up to stay with me and how that proved how much he loved me. Aaahhh.

In 2002 we were invited to join MWM's mother and stepfather on a Mediterranean Cruise on Thompson's Topaz cruise ship. We had a fabulous holiday calling in at numerous places and the entertainment aboard was very varied and superb . One afternoon MWM and FIL attended a talk given by the Captain. During this talk the Captain happened to mention that the Topaz had had various name changes over the years and was originally called The Empress of Britain - the very same boat that MWM had given up the chance to go on 37 years before! Well he couldn't wait to tell me and his Mum. After all these years he (and I) were doing the cruise on the very boat he'd given up for love.

Mum, of course, was really interested and was telling us how much the boat had changed over the years because obviously it had been refurbished a few times. She also happened to tell the Thompson cruise rep about the coincidence and a couple of days later we got a message to say the Captain was really interested and would we all like to go up to the bridge to discuss it. Of course we jumped at the chance and besides chatting to the Captain about the coincidence he gave us a tour of the bridge and lots of other information about the boat. He really wanted to know about Mum's memories of what the boat looked like back in the 1960's and when she said she had photographs of when the Topaz was The Empress of Britain he asked if she could possibly get copies and send them to him, which she did.

So, what do you think, was it coincidence or fate that decided MWM and I should finally take the cruise together that MWM had given up 37 years before to stay with me?

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GUESS WHAT - ANOTHER AWARD!

Jo Beaufoix has graced me with this award - thank you Jo I'm thrilled.

The Community Blog Award celebrates people who reach out and makes the blogger community a better one.

Not sure if this is breaking any rules but I'm going to do it anyway. As every blogger is a part of the Blogging Community I'd like all of you who comment here to take the award and proudly display it on your own blog - you all deserve it.

Bionic family…….

Over the past few months my Dad’s hip has become increasingly painful and stiff so, about five months ago, his doctor referred him to an Orthopaedic Surgeon at his local hospital – the hospital where I had my knee replacement operation as it happens. The surgeon agreed that he needed a hip replacement and said he would see him again in three months.

Since then his hip has gone worse. You may remember he was taken into hospital as an emergency recently because of his blood sugar levels being erratic, and a lovely nurse on A&E managed to get Dad into an orthopaedic clinic whilst he was there, because he was in so much pain – a true angel she was!

About four weeks ago Dad received a letter asking him to go to see the anaesthetist to see if he would be prepared for the operation to go ahead. The letter also said the procedure would be carried out approximately four weeks afterwards. After explaining the risks to Dad and asking him to sign a disclaimer he said he would do it and agreed that the op would take place in about four weeks time. Last week Dad kept a long standing appointment with the surgeon, who told him he was on the waiting list and it would be about 3 – 5 months! Dad was devastated and really ‘went to town’ about how he’d already waited 4 months and he’d seen the anaesthetist etc., etc. The surgeon said he would put him on the cancellation list if he would be prepared to come into hospital at a days notice. Of course Dad agreed but was really upset at the thought he might have to still wait 5 months for his operation.

On Tuesday, this week, Dad telephoned the surgeon’s secretary to ask if there had been any cancellations and she told him he had only just gone on the waiting list! You can imagine how upset Dad was, he’s absolutely desperate and in so much pain, I have never, ever, seen my Dad depressed like that and it really upset me.

However, yesterday a miracle happened. He received a letter from the hospital asking him to go for his pre-op assessment on the 12th November and his operation will be carried out within four weeks of that date! He’s over the moon as he can see the light at the end of the tunnel now. There’s just one problem – he has an infection on his calf and is on his third lot of antibiotics trying to clear it up. Thankfully it isn’t a blood clot, as the doctors originally thought, but we know there’s no way his operation will go ahead until the infection has cleared up. We are desperately hoping the infection will clear up before he goes for his pre-op assessment then hopefully, within a few weeks, there will be another bionic member of our family.

Keep your fingers crossed.

Rebellion.......

David's (Authorblog) question this week is

Were you a teenage rebel?

If you'd like to join in here's what David would like you to do:
Please answer today's question on your own blog, any time until next weekend. Just link to this blog (or to this post) so I can follow the progress of the discussion.


The most rebellious thing I did when I was a teenager was to have my waist length hair cut to within an inch of its life, Dad went beserk!

I wouldn't regard myself as a rebellious teenager, I don't think I was wild, I came home when I was expected to, I never got into trouble with the authorities and I didn't do drugs. However, I did try smoking cigarettes when I was about fifteen, until Mum found out then I gave it up PDQ (PrettyDamnQuick)! I also started going in pubs when I was 16, two years underage, it was for the music and dancing not to drink because I only used to have one drink - usually a snowball - very tame.

Once I turned eighteen I was out every night dancing 'til even though I had to get up for work the next morning! At weekends there was always an all-night party at someone's house, though the parents thought I was just staying with one of my friends otherwise I'd have never have been allowed to go - it was only a little white lie. I worked on the premise that what they didn't know wouldn't hurt them, I'm sure my own two boys did the same thing though they never admitted it!

There was a pub in my town with a great dancefloor that had live local groups playing nightly. The groups would do Sunday to Saturday then we'd get a new group. My friends and I knew all the latest dances and even invented a few - everyone wanted to dance with us - boys and girls. We never really drank much we were too busy dancing and anyway our money was mostly spent on clothes - we had to look good!

Because we were in there every night we got to know most of the groups and my three girlfriends and I were big fans and very friendly with a few of the bands, we'd travel all over the area in my friend's car to see them play - I suppose we could have been termed groupies, but in the nicest sense of the word. We think the bands invited us along to their gigs because we would get up dancing on the first song which encouraged others to get up, there's nothing worse for a band than people sitting out.

I remember one time one of the groups was playing at the American Air Force Base, Burtonwood, Warrington, and they'd invited us to go with them. We piled in the car and followed the group's van so we would arrive at the same time as them, so they could get us in. We had a great night dancing with the GI's, but of course we drank far too much because it was so cheap - that was the first time I'd tasted Bourbon - going down and then coming back up - Yuk! The GI's were such gentlemen and really looked after us, much to the dismay of the boys in the band - I think they were a bit jealous and we were never invited to that particular venue again.

So there you have it, my teenage years in a nutshell, not really rebellious I think you'll agree.

My first Christmas pressie.....

I have received my first Christmas pressie for this year from Linda (Are We There Yet?) . It's a special Christmas Award (yep another one folks! ) which originated at Santa's Community Blog and can be passed on to as many other bloggers as I'd like. According to Santa, the Spirit of Christmas Award:

"Quite simply it is those that have a generous and giving nature. Those who care about others. Those who have a kind word to say or a broad shoulder to lean on in the times that others need that. Those who display the "Spirit of Christmas".

And here it is..................

isn't it lovely?

Now I just have to pass it on to some lovely people. So pick it up and pass it on. You have to go here to get the code for the award.

The Spirit of Christmas Award goes to:

Ruth (Me, My Life, My Garden)

Nea (The Front Porch)

Bee (Muffin53)

Flowerpot (Flowerpot Days)

Correspondent (Confessions of a Rotten Correspondent)

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ANOTHER MEME

The Rotten Correspondent did this Meme a short time ago and challenged anyone who wanted to have a go to do it.

Four Jobs I've Had in My Life:
1. School Administrator
2. Veterinary Sales Clerk
3. Kitchen Hand
4. School Technician

Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over:
1. Dirty Dancing
2. The Green Mile
3. Bridget Jones' Diary
4. What Women Want

Four TV Shows I Like to Watch:
1. Coronation Street
2. Spooks
3. Who do you think you are?
4. 10 years younger.

Four Places I've Been on Vacation :
Maldives
Egypt
Sri Lanka
Turkey

Four Places I've lived:
1. Lancashire, England
2. Lancashire, England
3. Lancashire, England
4. Lancashire, England

Four Favorite Foods :
Lamb chops
Crispy Duck and pancakes
Cannelloni
Chilli

Four Places I Would Rather Be :
A beach somewhere sunny and hot
A restaurant somewhere sunny and hot
A poolside bar somewhere sunny and hot
A beach somewhere sunny and hot

Four Blogs I Read Regularly:

I read a whole lot more than 4 every day - check out my Great Reading list.

Peter Kay's Home Truths......

1) Triangular sandwiches taste better than square ones.

2) At the end of every party there is always a girl crying.

3) One of the most awkward things that can happen in a pub is when your pint-to-toilet cycle gets synchronised with a complete stranger.

4) You've never quite sure whether it's ok to eat green crisps.

5) Everyone who grew up in the 80's has entered the digits 55378008 into a calculator.

6) Reading when you're drunk is horrible.

7) Sharpening a pencil with a knife makes you feel really manly.

8) You're never quite sure whether it's against the law or not to have a fire in your back garden.

9) In every plate of chips there is a bad chip.

10) Nobody ever dares make cup-a-soup in a bowl.

11) You never know where to look when eating a banana.

12) Its impossible to describe the smell of a wet cat.

13) Prodding a fire with a stick makes you feel manly.

14) Rummaging in an overgrow garden will always turn up a bouncy ball.

15) You always feel a bit scared when stroking horses.

16) Everyone always remembers the day a dog ran into your school.

17) The most embarrassing thing you can do as schoolchild is to call your teacher mum or dad.

18) The smaller the monkey the more it looks like it would kill you at the first given opportunity.

19) Some days you see lots of people on crutches.

20) Every bloke has at some stage while taking a pee, flushed half way through and then raced against the flush.

21) Old women with mobile phones look wrong.

22) Its impossible to look cool whilst picking up a Frisbee.

23) Driving through a tunnel makes you feel excited.

24) You never ever run out of salt.

25) Old ladies can eat more than you think.

26) You can't respect a man who carries a dog.

27) There's no panic like the panic you momentarily feel when you've got your hand or head stuck in something.

28) No one knows the origins of their metal coat hangers.

29) Despite constant warning, you have never met anybody who has had their arm broken by a swan.

30) The most painful household incident is wearing socks and stepping on an upturned plug.

31) People who don't drive slam car doors too hard.

32) You've turned into your dad the day you put aside a thin piece of wood specifically to stir paint with.

33) Everyone had an uncle who tried to steal their nose.

34) Bricks are horrible to carry.

35) Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

Running away from home.....

This week's question from David (Authorblog) is:

As a child, did you ever consider running away from home?

If you want to join in here's David's instructions.

Please answer today's question on your own blog, any time until next weekend. Just link to this bog (or to this post) so I can follow the progress of the discussion.

I remember vividly when I was about 10 my mum sending me on an errand. She gave me a pound note (ah those were the days!) to go and get some items from the local shop. My middle brother (aged 5) wanted to come with me so I got out the 'guider' (which probably most of you will call a soapbox car) that Dad had made for us out of a couple of crates and some wheels off an old pram and sat brother in it to pull him to the shop.

We had great fun on the way, I took the long way round so we could hurtle down some steep hills together and took much longer than I should have . When we arrived at the shop I tied the guider up to the drainpipe, lifted brother out and took him by the hand into the shop. I took the shopping list out of my pocket but I couldn't find the £1 note!

Oh I can't tell you how sick I felt - I'd lost it, a whole pound. My heart was racing, I was sweating and crying. I quickly put brother back in the guider and retraced my journey but I didn't find the pound. That was when I considered running away from home, it had to be preferable to going home and telling Mum I'd lost the money. A pound was a lot of money and Mum and Dad couldn't afford to lose it - I may as well be dead! I soon realised that running away wasn't really an option, I had brother with me and I had to take him home. I cried all the way home and was in such a state when I arrived that Mum thought I'd been molested or something.

I explained through coughing sobs with tears and snot running down my face that I'd lost the money. Mum was upset but she was just thankful that was the reason I was crying and not that I'd been hurt. It was a while before I was trusted with so much money again but I was ever careful after that and kept the money in my hand.

The Dance Meme.....

Julia (A Piece of My Mind) has tagged me to do this meme. Apparently one has to write a story about Dance that happened to you at some time in your life.



I love dancing. I have always loved dancing. In fact I was still dancing when my knee was really bad apart from the last three months before I had my operation. I got up and danced whilst I was still using one crutch - abandoning my crutch and hanging on to MWM's neck instead!



I was a bit of a performer when I was a child, always dancing around and singing and I always wanted to be a ballet dancer after seeing it on the telly and reading about it in Bunty. We weren't exactly poor but there certainly wasn't enough money for dancing lessons but Aunty Peggy knew of my desire and offered to pay for dancing lessons every Saturday morning for me at Madame Peach's Dancing Academy, so off we went to enrol. The Academy was in fact an empty shop which Madame had kitted out with a barre and a mirrored wall.


Madame Peach looked like an elderly lady to me. She was probably about 30 ish but I was about ten at the time so she looked ancient to me. She stood there with her 'Queen Anne' legs her 'ball and claw' feet encased in black tap shoes, flowery dress swirling round her knees. She looked at me and said


"She'll have to do tap first to get rid of some of that weight"!


My dreams were shattered. I didn't want to do tap I wanted to be a ballerina. I wasn't that big, it was just 'puppy fat' my Mum and Dad told me and I'd never really been bothered about my weight before, but that one remark triggered a belief that I was huge that has lasted to this day! I really didn't want to bother now but Aunty decided Tap was better than nothing. I would start the following Saturday after Aunty had purchased my Tap shoes and dancing outfit.


We had to go into Manchester Town Centre for the tap shoes whilst a friend of Aunty's made my short circular skirt. I wanted to try on the ballet shoes, the points, but Aunty said no. I resigned myself to tap shoes but if I had to have them they had to be RED! I tried them on and walked across the linoleum floor. Tap, tap, tap, tap, TAP - I loved them - pillar box red with bright red ribbon to tie in a bow. I was hooked, I couldn't wait for Saturday to try them out.


When I arrived at Madame Peach's the following Saturday I was introduced to the other girls. One in particular captured my attention - a tall willowy, dreamy looking girl called DARLING! Yes you heard right - DARLING. What sort of name is that? It was romantic and unusual - I latched on. Of course Darling did ballet as well as tap, as I knew she would with a name like that - straight out of Bunty.


Dancing lessons lasted two hours and I enjoyed every single minute, including the warm-up. About 20 of us, at different ages, all learning the steps - Shuffle hop step, shuffle hop step. The sound of all those tap shoes clattering was music to my ears. Not only did we have exams to earn medals but we put on shows too. Aunty was really good and always got her dressmaker to make any outfit I needed - I loved dressing up and I loved the medals I earned for tap dancing too.


By the time I got to 13 years old my family were moving house, and it was too far to travel to Madame Peach's Academy, besides which I was getting interested in pop music, so I gave up the Saturday mornings with Madame Peach, I didn't give up dancing though, by that time I was going to school discos and the youth club and dancing to the Beatles. Years later MWM and I took up Line Dancing - stomping feet again - I even had steel tips put on my line dancing boots! Of course the gammy knee put paid to that but not until I'd mastered the majority of the dances. Who knows maybe I'll take it up again now my knee is mended.


I'm not tagging anyone but if you have a story to tell about Dance then do join in and let me know so I can come over and read it.

Daft Answers Part 1...

Just for a laugh here's a compilation of the most idiotic answers to quiz questions.....


What was Gandhi's first name?
Goosey Goosey


Johnny Weissmuller died on this day. Which jungle swinging character clad only in a loincloth did he play?
Jesus


Name the funny men who once entertained kings and queens at court.
Lepers


We're looking for an occupation beginning with a T.
Doctor


No, it's T. T for Tommy. T for Tango, T. for Tintinnabulation.
Oh right ...(pause).... Doctor


Which French Mediterranean town hosts a famous film festival every eyar?
I don't know I need a clue


Ok. What do beans come in?
Cartons


Where do you think Cambridge University is?
Geography isn't my strong point


There's a clue in the title.
Leicester


What is the capital of Italy?
France


France is another country, try again
Oh, um, Benidorm



Wrong, sorry, let's try another question. In which country is the Parthenon?
Sorry I don't know.


Just guess a country then.
Paris.


For £10 what is the nationality of the Pope?
I think I know that one. Is it Jewish?


Who had a worldwide hit with "What a Wonderful World"?
I don't know


I'll give you some clues: what do you call the part between your hand and your elbow?
Arm.


Correct. And if you're not weak, you're ....?
Strong.


Correct - and what was Lord Mountbatten's first name?
Louis.


Well, there we are then. So who had a worldwide hit with the song "What a Wonderful World"?
Frank Sinatra.


What happend in Dallas on November 22 1963?
I don't know I wasn't watching it then.


In what year was President Kennedy assasinated?
Erm...


Well, let's put it this way - he didn't see 1964.
1965?

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Have you got your Peace Globe yet? You do know the next Peace Globe day is 7th November 2007 don't you? Here's mine








Go get yours here and join in Mimi's quest for Peace. Also Mimi is giving everyone who enters a Peace Globe a great T-shirt for their blog. Join in the Peace Globe movement today!

What about Britney?.......

What is your reaction to the news that Britney Spears' has lost her children to her ex?

From the recent reports of her erratic and worrying behaviour it came as no surprise to me. If the media reports are to be believed about her drug-taking, drinking and general 'pottiness' then I think the children are safer out of that environment. I don't think people really took what was happening too seriously until she shaved her head, that being perceived as the ultimate act of her 'going completely off the rails'! I have to say, as a woman, I was shocked to hear she had done such a thing and wondered what was the 'last straw' that had driven her to it.

I feel sorry for Britney, she seems to have lost all sense of reality since the split with 'KFed', but to subject her children to the dangersof having drugs in their home, to me, is unforgivable. She needs serious help, it is obvious that she is having some sort of mental breakdown perhaps brought on by post natal depression, but of course society expects her to be able to cope being left alone with two young children. Had KFed been left with the children in the first place, no doubt help would have queuing at his door! Why is it that women are expected to cope with anything life throws at them whilst men are presumed to need help in bringing up children and coping with life as a single parent? OK Britney has 'millions' and could have paid for people to look after her children, but I believe that she loves her children and wanted to be the best Mum she could to them, and by trying to do everything herself she has pushed herself beyond what she can endure. There seems to be a 'public opinion' that it is 'weak' to ask for help if you are a woman, whilst men are not expected to cope in such situations.

It is not ideal that children have to be shared by parents who can no longer live with each other, but it can work if both parties learn to give and take and do what is best for the children. Any animosity felt between parents should be put aside, however difficult this is, to make sure that the children do not suffer because of the split. It is every child's right to have two parents who love them and spend equal time with them. It isn't easy bringing up children even in a stable relationship. Children play their parents off against each other and even more so when the relationship has split. Cries of I want to go to my Mum, or Dad, are guaranteed to fray nerves to breaking point - but that's what children do in the hope that you will give in to their demands and they get exactly what they want. I don't know whether this is what has happened in Britney's case, I hope she gets the help she needs and it is not too long before she is able to get her children back to live with her, if that is what she and KFed can agree on. The most important thing is that she gets well and the children have access to both their parents again.

What I like about blogging.....

This week's question from David (Authorblog) is

What do you like most about blogging?

If you want to join in here's what David would like you to do.

Please answer today's question on your own blog, any time until next weekend. Just link to this blog (or to this post) so I can follow the progress of the discussion.And the question is: What do you like most about blogging?

I like many things about blogging.

I like that it enables me to keep a diary of events in my life in an interesting way, I've never been one for keeping diaries but with a blog it makes keeping a diary fun. Having other bloggers read what I've written and actually comment gives me a thrill. I love the fact that I can voice my opinion about any subject I choose without causing an argument. Blogging has given me the opportunity to become more au faix with technology, as I've learned how to make my blog more interesting (I hope!) by uploading photographs, creating links, adding and tweaking. I've learned a lot by reading other blogs and picking up tips here and there.

The thing I've enjoyed most of all about blogging is all the new blogging friends I've made - it's such a warm-hearted community, I would find it very hard to give up. Just to confirm this Laney (A Sideways Look at Womanhood) had a free 'grab an award' day yesterday at her blog, where she invited all her readers to grab any award they like off her sidebar. All except me! But before you start muttering - "that's cruel", "how could she?", "it's not fair" she said

(That is except for Akelamalu, who quite frankly has no room left on her blog for anything at all, so just for her, she can have this one:

LOL - you're not wrong there Laney - thank you. xxxx

However, the most important thing having a blog has done for me is that I discovered how to get my Dad's book published - thankyou Cream and Laney who pointed me in the right direction - this meant I fulfilled a promise and made my Dad's dream come true - what more could I ask for?