The Photo Lottery

I have been tagged by my very special bloggy friend Dawn at The Moiderer to partake in the photo lottery meme. This is quite fun as it doesn't require alot of thought and the rules are not too arduous as you will see below.

1. Open the first (oldest) photo folder in your computer library
2. Scroll to the 10th photo
3. Post the photo and the story behind it
4. Tag 5 or more people to continue the thread

I decided to use the PC rather than my laptop as the laptop is relatively new and in all likelihood would have thrown up yet another photo of Star. Sadly the PC didn't do much better. I thought I may have been able to share a holiday snap, and there have been many, but alas no. My 10th oldest photo was taken in April 2005...

This is my beloved Dexter shortly after we brought him home. It was either taken on the day, or the day after so he would have been almost 8 weeks old. Having had a new puppy and a new baby I can honestly say that the first few weeks were very similar in terms of a massive love in but without the sleepless nights. He is dozing on the sofa here (a bad habit that we should never have started - Doh!) but at night he slept in a crate in the kitchen. He didn't cry at all, and he never wet his bed. I used to get up at 7am to take him into the garden and give him his breakfast and then he and I would snooze on the sofa until about 9am. He would lay on my chest with his face against mine...it was a very special time. The only problem is he is still just as soppy and tactile, but at about six stone it's not so easy these days. He does all he can to be close, leaning against me, resting his head on my lap but I don't think it is quite the same for either of us...but he's still a gorgeous boy in every way:)

I now need to tag five people so I will try and pick some that are known to take the odd photo or two...


TheMadHouse
Make Do Mum
Sleep Is For The Weak
Very Bored In Catalunya
Single Motherhood Challenges

Off you go now tagees, no cheating ;0)

The Photo Lottery

My Favourite Photo

Well, I still have a list of posts as long as my arm that due to snow I haven't succeeded in ticking off yet.  WHat has snow got to do with it I hear you ask.  Well The Daddy and my stepson have both been at home and have upset our routine, and with it went blogging time.  Anyway, they are out at the theatre this evening, Star is in bed, dinner is taken care of so I have time for a quick post.  And as it has to be quick it will be this one.  The photo meme.


I was very kindly tagged by the lovely MakeDoMum  and Kelly which was just as well as I'd been desperate to have a go at this one.  I had a particular photo in mind, knowing in an instant which one I should post, BUT as yet I have been unable to find it in digital form.  I know I have it on a disk somewhere but The Daddy has this really annoying habit of 'tidying up' and putting things away in the most unlikely places.  So, I will post it when I find it, but in the meantime I am posting my 2nd favourite photo, and here it is...

It's not very original, it's not very artistic, it's not funny or moving but it captures a special moment in time for me.  This is Star when he was about six hours old. I like it because he looks so peaceful.  I like it because he looks, and was, and still is, so very handsome.  I like the scale my mum's hand gives.  I like the way his hands are crossed and holding on to the blanket...I don't know why but I always think of angel wings.  I like it because it was taken at a time of immense happiness.  Star was born by elective section which went absolutely to plan and was fantastic from start to finish. He was perfect.  My family had just arrived following a 160 mile journey to come and see us at the first opportunity.  I was showing off my new born son to my family. It had been a long and arduous journey to get here.  I felt euphoric.


When, after bad day or night with Star, I question my decision to have a child, or whenever I question whether to go through it all again I look at this photo...and I remember why.


I'm not going to tag anyone in particular.  Many have done it already, and I don't want anyone to be left out, so if you haven't done this yet, and would like to, take this as a tag for you.

My Favourite Photo

New Year Resolution #2 and a catch up ramble

Well, since my last post on new years day there are so many blog posts I want to do, but as always, so little time.  I was tagged by the lovely Diney to partake in the High five Meme which, for me, is always an honour.  I had also been planning to do a post inspired by the Daily Mail's 'How To Have A Happy Life' article, only to find that The Wife Of Bold has beaten me to it.  All is not lost on this front however as she very kindly turned it into an 'open' meme so that even though I wasn't tagged I can still participate.  Very inclusive I thought ;-)  And then, of course, there is my outstanding list of new year goals which are yet to be posted.


Whilst I will definitely come back to the meme's, and look forward to it, I have decided to prioritise posting my new year goals.  I am posting them one by one so that I can expand on the why and how and believe that this exercise will clarify my thinking and make me more likely to achieve them.  I know this is rather self indulgent but hope you will forgive me ?


So, on with my second goal.  I should say at this point that these numbers are only significant with regard to the order in which I am posting them.  Certainly not any kind of order of importance.


2.  Learn to sew.


Largely due to being inspired by Mad Mummy's ( The Mad House )  learning to sew last year, and her wonderful creations since, I have decided that the time has come for me to do the same.


I have an electric sewing machine in the shed that I bought second hand about 15 years ago and have never used.  Sadly, in my numerous house moves, it is now minus the electric cable and the instruction manual.  However, part one of achieving my goal is to rectify this by taking it to a repair centre to get it serviced and buy a replacement cable.  I also hope to establish the model so that I can source a replacement manual - the internet really is a wonderful thing !


Once I have my sewing machine in working order I can begin to learn to sew and I have enrolled in an online course care of  Valerie at Frugal Family Fun Blog and can't wait to get started.  In the meantime I am looking for a cheap, but good quality and reliable online supplier of all things sewing related, including fabric.  If you know of anywhere, and if I haven't bored you into clicking away and you are still with me perhaps you could leave me a few suggestions ?


The one project that I am wanting to do above anything else is to make Star a xmas stocking/sack with his name on it.  I can already do the embroidery, so just need to make the stocking/sack.  Wish me luck !


PS I do apologise if this post is even more 'rambly' and full of typos than usual.  I am typing this with one one and three quarter eyes on the world darts final and it's gripping !

New Year Resolution #2 and a catch up ramble

10 things you didn't know about me(me)

Well here it is, in all it's glory.  The award I received yesterday from the marvellous madhouse http://themadhouse-themadhouse.blogspot.com  Never thought I would feel so proud of receiving an 'honest scrap' award. Hmmm, cue drawn out period of self analysis...

Anyway, following on from my post yesterday I vowed to return with the 10 interesting (?) facts you didn't know about me.  And most surprisingly, here I am.  Two posts on successive days...my new found dedication astounds me.

So, here are 10 things that most people reading this won't know. (I just can't think of 10 things nobody would know).  Here we go...

1.  I received 5 genuine proposals of marriage before meeting my now husband (The Daddy) aged 33.

2.  I never wanted children.  At all.  Now I have one, I adore him and would lay down my life for him without hesitation, but still don't adore being a mother.  At all.

3.  I have had two very different careers before becoming a SAHM.  I was in financial services (last stop a 'Location Manager' for Zurich) and then became a Holistic Therapist...aromatherapy, reflexology, indian head massage, nutrition, reiki...

4.  I have a tattoo of a pheonix on my right hip which was chosen by The Daddy and me one valentines day.  It is gorgeous and I love it.

5.   During the Holistic Therapist period of my life I volunteered at my local hospice offering complementary therapies to the patients.  It was the most life affirming thing I have ever done.

6.  My mother seriously thought I was a lesbian as I had moved on, yet again, from the latest of a string of long term relationships at the age of 33.  I was virtually disowned for 6 mths as a result.

7.  I have OCD tendancies.  For example, I can only use a mug with chickens on it at breakfast time.  To use it at any other time of the day would offend my sensibilities.

8.  My favourite drink is tea.  Earl Grey tea with milk to be precise and I would choose it in preference to any beverage, including alcohol.  Tea is more than a drink you see, more like a hug in a mug.  But not the chicken mug unless it is before 10am.

9.  I don't like films.  I either find them too boring or too stressful.  Having said that, if I must watch a film it needs to be either a la 'Bridget Jones' or 'Hannibal' and nothing in between.

10.  Boredom is something I suffer from greatly.  'I'm bored' was my most common complaint as a child, and it has been a life long curse ever since.  It drove my relentless ambition whilst I was a corporate soul, it drove my pursuit of domestic bliss in my adult relationships and I fear it now drives my lack of enthusiasm for my current role.  I think I will leave it there as this could turn into a whole post of it's own.

Phew.  Now, I don't know if I'm also supposed to pass on the award to 10 other blogs but I guess if I am someone will shout at tell me...

10 things you didn't know about me(me)