Happy Monday Everyone ...

Hi again everyone.  First of all, I'm sorry if I haven't been over to visit your blog for the past few days.  Truth is, I just haven't felt up to it.  Unfortunately, I'm having real issues with my skin yet again - it really is unbearable.  I've been sleeping for a lot of the time, which is not like me at all, as I'm usually dashing here there and everywhere.  I'm on 500 mg antibiotic tablets four times a day, and another load of different stuff to try on the skin.  Thankfully, they haven't put me back on to the steroid tablets, as it took me almost nine months to get off them, as you have to do it very gradually.  I can cope with the skin problem, but it's the most horrendous irritation that's driving me to distraction.  Hey ho! 

So, today, I thought I would post some quotes for you, which I hope you will enjoy.  I heard something about a bloggy friend a few days ago, which really served to remind me that, quite often, all is NOT as it would appear on the surface.  An awful lot of us are coping with something or another, and that is why the following quote really is one of my favourites.

This year, 2013, is the 200th anniversary of the publication  of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice", so, in honour of that, I will leave you with a photograph of the divine Colin Firth who divinely played Mr Darcy in the television series.

Just in case you can't watch the video, you will have to make do with a still photo!

I hope to see you all again soon.  

Sunday Snaps!

Yay! I think I have solved the problem with uploading photos from My Pictures into my blog posts!  I am now using Google Chrome to access my blog, and the Upload images from your Computer button is back.  I am thankful for small mercies!  I always try to look for blessings in my every day life, and I consider this to be a blessing of sorts.

We had just a dusting of snow towards the end of this week, so I thought I would post some snowy photos of my garden from a couple of years back.

The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found? 
J. B. Priestley 

The following is a photo taken when I was four and a half, which is exactly the age that Eli is now!  I can't believe that this photo was taken 62 years ago. Eeeeek!!

I went to see Les Miserables at the cinema with a friend during this past week, and I loved it!  I knew the music so well anyway, as I have seen the musical show four times. All the performances were excellent, and the original thing about this particular film is that all of the singers were singing live as you saw them on the big screen.  This is the first time that they have ever done that apparently, and I think it really did add to the appeal of the film.  

Well, I think that's about it for today little bloggies.  Take care, keep warm, and see you again soon.

P.S.  The really good thing about using Google Chrome for my blog, is that my blog loads almost instantly (whereas on Blogger it sometimes used to take an age) and the photos uploaded in an instant!

It's Friday, A Little Snow, and Something Very Touching ...

No, we didn't have quite this much snow here in Devon today, just a dusting.  I don't know whether we will get any more over the weekend, but I do know that a lot of the country has had quite a snowfall overnight.  Judging from my facebook friends, there has been some snow in a lot of countries.  As I type this, it has just been announced that Sidney in Australia has had its hottest day ever, with temperatures reaching 45 degrees! Waow!  I hope my Australian friends will find a way of keeping cool.  Stay indoors with the air conditioning on I guess.

 

Well, that's another week of the new year ticked off.  Easter eggs are already in the shops and, of course, we have Valentines Day next!

 

I saw the following on facebook earlier today.  I had never seen it before, although many of you might well have done so.  Anyway, I thought I would post it on here, and it is my wish for you my friends.

 

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye."

 

 

Hope you all enjoy the weekend.  Stay safe and keep warm.

 



 

 



Happy Sunday Everyone ....

 Happy Sunday to my bloggy friends everywhere! I hope I find you bright and perky on this sunshiny day.  What's that you say, did thisisme say it was a bright day over there in darkest Devon?!

 

Yes indeedy! Woke up this morning to bright sunshine and a lovely, crisp  blue sky sort of day.  I immediately set myself out for a walk all around the village where I live.  As you can see, the River Erme was in full flow after all the rain that we've been having.  It was really quite noisy too, with all that water gushing down from Dartmoor.



 

 

 Eeeek! I've got a real problem with posting photos.  I' ve actually had to copy and paste the above photo from my facebook page.  I've done my usual thing of clicking onto the little picture next to the link button and it won't allow me to get into the photos saved in the Pictures section of my computer.  Any ideas, o wise ones?!  This has never happened before, and I have tried it several times, to no avail :(

I had a few photos I was going to include today, so that's my post up the spout really, or up the creek without a paddle, as I haven't even been able to copy and paste the other ones.  O woe is me!!

Another large high street store has closed this week because of the recession.  Jessops was a really good camera/photo shop, where you could go and get invaluable advice if you were thinking about buying a new camera.  I'm afraid it's just the latest in a long line of stores that have been closing on our high streets, some of which have been there since my childhood.

I honestly wonder how photographic shops manage to carry on these days, because we can do so much editing on our computers these days, that they are not really needed anymore.

It does make one wonder just exactly how long this recession is going on.  I think it really is hitting everyone now, certainly over here in the U.K.  I really don't envy the young ones these days, as they try to search for work, and goodness only knows how they are ever going to be able to afford a mortgage to buy their own homes.  It really is quite a sorry state of affairs.  We can only hope that there will be an upturn sooner rather than later, although I can see no sign of that the way our Government is talking.

I'm really sorry about the photos today my friends.  Hopefully I will be able to get something sorted.  Don't forget to contact me if you have any suggestions!!

Look after yourselves until we meet up again.  Hugs.



 

 

 

January Blues and Changes ....



It's me again little bloggies, writing to you from deepest, darkest Devon!

 

As I write this little missive, it's 1 p.m. and I have all the lamps lit in the house.  We really have had some dreary days recently, and I do feel that I need some brightness to lift my spirits!  The forecast is for it to get colder during the end of the week - Allelujah! For this usually means the return of dryer and brighter days.   I'm desperate to get out for one of my walks again.

 

Every Tuesday (apart from when I've been away on holiday) for the past four and a half years, I have spent with daughter number 2.  First of all, just with Eli and then, eighteen months later, little Ruby joined us.

 

Last September, Eli started big school, so it has just been my daughter, Ruby and myself.  On top of that, I used to look after Ruby on a Friday, so that my daughter could have some 'me' time.  However, that has now all changed.  Ruby was three recently, so she started pre-school yesterday.  Just for either a morning or afternoon session, but on a Tuesday she will be there from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.  Six hours!  I expect it will seem like a long day for her, and I am waiting to see how she got on.

 

 Whenever I see new mums with their babies, I always tell them to make the most of the precious time, because they really do grow away far too quickly.  So! There are changes afoot.  Perhaps I will see if there is a water colour class going on somewhere locally, as I have always wanted to do that.  Or an Italian class - that would be fun.

 

What I must make sure doesn't happen is that I spend even more time on my laptop.  I must try to make constructive use of the time that I didn't have available before.

 

Anyway, how are YOU all keeping my friends?  I hope that you haven't succumbed to the January blues, and that you are managing to keep cheerful.

 

Bye for now, and I'll see you again soon.

 

Hugs from thisisme.

 

 

 

 

Sunday Christmas Snaps!

 

 

Hi everyone.  Happy Sunday to you all.  I thought I would share with you today some photos taken at Christmas.

 

 

 

This next one is daughter number 1 and her hubby on their way out for a New Year's Eve Party

 



 

As you can see, it was all a bit too much for Alfred!!

 

I hope I haven't put up too many photos (you're probably all asleep by now!!).

 

See you again soon.

 

 

 

 



New Year, New Beginnings .....

 

2013 is here and I hope that people will be kind to each other.  I hope people will help each other.  I hope people with treat others with respect.  It doesn't seem like too much to hope for, does it?

 

You will know by now how much I love vintage cards (well, anything vintage really), and here are a few to start the new year with.

 

 

"This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!"

 

(William Arthur Ward).

 

 

"One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this — To rise above the little things.”

(John Burroughs).

 



Here's hoping that 2013 will be kind to all of us!