This And That For A Sunny Friday ....

Well, who would have thought it? I have just realized, by pure chance, that this will be my 600th blog post.  I just can't believe that really.  It seems like only yesterday  that Eleanor was my guest blogger for my 500th post.

As I wasn't aware that this milestone was coming up, I'm afraid I haven't got anyone special to join me today.  Although, to be honest, I do!  I have all my dear bloggy friends, who have been such an encouragement and support to me over these past few years.

I am an Aries lady.  We are very well known for starting something off, but we very rarely finish, and just want to be up and on to more exciting things.  So, in actual fact.  I am feeling rather pleased with myself that I have stuck at my blog  and not given up.  That certainly is mostly down to the lovely comments that you always leave me.  Here are some lovely tulips for you all to share :)

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I thought I would also share some early signs of Spring with you, for we have surely waited long enough.  These photos were taken in the garden yesterday.  This time last week, the garden was still looking quite sad, but just look what a spell of warm, sunny weather has done.  It's as if all the little plants are now vying with each other to put on the best show.  I'm sure that they are pleased to feel the warmth of the sun as well.  I look after Ruby on Thursdays, and we actually spent all day outside.  It was wonderful. She absolutely loves it out in the caravan.  I am so pleased that I bought it (completely on a whim!).  It just makes me feel happy, as soon as I step inside it.

Here's Miss Ruby, in the greenhouse, pretending that she is in her fairy castle.  I tell you, she has such a good imagination!

I don't know whether or not you have heard of Hot Cross Buns in your little corner of the world, but I just love them, especially served warm with Devon Clotted Cream.  (Yum!).  They used to be for sale only at Easter time, but  in recent years, you can virtually buy them all year round.  Anyway, I was in the supermarket this morning, and look what I found !

Double chocolate Hot Cross Buns!  I ask you - is nothing sacred?!  I did hover over them for a few minutes , but, in the end, I decided to resist.  No one loves chocolate more than I do, but this just didn't seem quite right somehow :(

So then little bloggies, the weekend is almost upon us once again.  Whatever you're doing, I hope that you will manage to have some fun and relaxation.  Me? If this glorious weather holds up, you will find me working in the garden.  Pop in for a cup of tea - I would love to see you!

Sunday Snaps ....

Alison, Elijah and Ruby on Plymouth Hoe

Gosh, how long has it been since I did a Sunday Snaps post? Quite a while, so I thought I would surprise you today. 

 I hope you enjoy the photos and, once again,  I have to apologize to my Facebook friends, who will have seen these before. 

Yay! Able to get out in the garden again, although we had to wear our wellies, because it is still pretty wet under foot.

Lovely to be in the caravan again, and I'm pleased to say that it survived all the storms and torrential rain.

Galleries Layfayette is a wonderful place for some retail therapy.

The Mayoral Offices in Maison lafitte where the family live, just on the outskirts of Paris

Day out with the munchkins during their half term break

Lunch with daughter and son in law for his birthday

Emma and Alfred

Notre Dame

Daughter No 1 and Granddaughter No 1!

Love how this man looks after me! 

Three Generations.

Well dear bloggy friends, it's always lovely to be here with you, and I'm sure we will see each other again soon.  Take care until then.  Meanwhile ...

It's Our Day Ladies! ....

Today, the 8th March, is International Womens' Day.  I like to remember this date on my Blog every year, and I do this in honour of all the women over many, many years who have fought courageously for women to be considered equal to men.  It saddens me today, to look around and, although, yes, things have altered beyond recognition in many ways, there still seems that there is a lot yet to be done.

Each year, the United Nations declares a theme for this important day, although some groups select their own individual theme, more relevant to what is going on in their particular area. The theme this year is "Inspiring Change."  If you are interested, please go along to their official website, where you will gain more information.

 Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world, ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events, through to local women's craft markets, theatrical performances, fashion parades and much more.

The new millennium  witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that 'all the battles have been won for women' while many feminists from the 1970's know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy.

With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women carrying out impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to their male counterparts and they are still not present in equal numbers in business or politics, or representated globally enough in health and education. Violence is also much more apparent in women than it is men.

However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. And so the tone and nature of IWD has, for the past few years, moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives, and I do think that this is very important.  

I would like to thank all those women, from the Suffragettes onwards, who fought so hard to gain women's rights and to make the world a much better place for the women of today, although, unfortunately, there are still parts of the world (Afghanistan and the Middle East for example) where there is still a long way to go for women to be treated with the respect they deserve.

This post is also in honour of all the wonderful women out there who, like me, write a Blog.  These women really are the very best.  When I first joined the blogging community, I had no idea just how wonderful an experience it was going to be.  I feel that it has enriched my life, with 'talking' to these women from all parts of the world.  Women who are caring, generous, funny, supportive when we need a helping hand, and only too happy to celebrate in our good times as well.

Thank you each and every one!!

Bonjour My Little Peeps!

Bonjour. Ca va bien? Of course, I could write this whole post in French, but I don't want you to think that I'm showing off!

I thought my photo today is probably how a lot of you think of Paris.

In a quieter moment, I was reading the English version of The Good Housekeeping Magazine, which, for my overseas Followers, is a lot more exciting than it sounds!

Anyway, it contained an article by Mireille Guiliano, who wrote the best selling book, French Women Don't Get Fat. 

Apparently, French women don't hanker after youth, but, instead, they embrace the different stages of life. (Having said that, I certainly don't hanker after youth either! I think most of us women (not forgetting my male Followers) of 'a certain age', are far too intelligent for that. )

I did rather like the quote by Coco Chanel though - "no one is young after 40, but one can be irresistible at any age."  So that is what I shall aim for (not to mention "awesome" as well, of course!!! I so love that word that I was introduced to by my American friends!)

I always find it amazing how people can make so much money out of writing these sort of books, when most of it is just plain common sense. 

For example, being "bien dans sa peau" (comfortable in one's own skin). Perhaps I'm one of the lucky ones, but I certainly feel comfortable in mine. Okay, it's a bit saggy in places, a bit wrinkly in others, and there's a bit more of it than there used to be, but, hey, I'm here and at almost 67, there's a lot of my friends that didn't make it, so I am grateful for each and every day that I am given, dear friends. 

As we have said before, quite often, it really is the simple and little things that can bring the most happiness. 

A smile from someone as we walk along the street, a hug from a small child, a walk along the beach, the gift of friendship (which seems to get more important to me, the older I become), finding a parking space etc etc. All blessings, which help to brighten the day. 

Talking of friendships, I'm sure we have all been disappointed by certain people in our lives, but how wonderful it is when everything clicks into place, and you know that that person would always be there for you, no matter what, as you would be for them. Something, indeed, to be treasured and nurtured. 

I hope you have enjoyed my little Post today and I hope to see you all again soon. 

 

And finally ....

How Are Things??

Hallo my little bloggy friends. How are things with you all in your little part of the world?

With all the rain and snow that a lot of us have been having, I thought I would send you a little taste of Spring!

I must say, as I look out at my garden, it's looking very sorry for itself indeed.  Hard to believe that it will recover and get back to its old, pretty self.  But we all know that in another month, hopefully the buds will start to appear and so another season will be upon us.  Over here, everything is a sodden mess, and I can't wait for dryer days so that I can get out there and tend to everything.

Tomorrow, I will be flying over to Paris once again, and spending time with the family until the 4th March. I am so looking forward to seeing them all again.  I'm just hoping that Eleanor hasn't grown another couple of inches since I last saw her on her birthday at the beginning of December.

I will try to catch up with you as and when I can. Meanwhile, I hope this photo will make you smile.

Being In The Wrong Place At The Wrong Time ...

I met up with daughter number 2 yesterday, and she told me about something that had happened to them on Sunday, whilst they were driving along with the children to an Adventure Play Park.

It transpires that they were driving along, when a huge lorry literally pulled out in front of them from a side junction, not bothering to stop at all.  As Alison said, if her husband was just a bit distacted at that very second, there would have been a tragic accident.  As it was, they had to pull out into the oncoming traffic lane and, again, fortunately, nothing was coming the other way, so they were safe.

Needless to say, I gave her a huge hug when she told me this story.  Any other outcome, really doesn't bear thinking about.  I firmly believe that nothing is by chance.  When it is our time to go, then we will go.  I just thank God that he was looking after them on that particular occasion.

I still remember when Emma was three years old, I was driving along, when I looked in my rear view mirror and saw this car hurtling towards me at breakneck speed.  There was nothing I could do, it all happened so quickly.  But my car was flung up in the air, off the road and landed beside a Church, which was set back off the road.

Emma was flung through the windscreen, and I could hear her screaming outside.  People came rushing up and an ambulance was called, and we were both taken to hospital.  I had quite bad facial injuries and severe bruising where the steering wheel had gone into me. When I saw Emma, there was blood all over her face, and I could see all the cuts but, thankfully, and don't ask me why, they were only superficial cuts, and she wasn't left with any scars at all.

The thing is, about a week later there was a knock on the door, and a Vicar was standing there.  He said that he just wanted to tell me that where my car landed was solid concrete  only three hours before the accident.  Five tons of topsoil had been delivered that very morning.  Hence the reason that we weren't more seriously injured.  Now you tell me that someone wasn't looking after us on that occasion!

How many times do we read instances of this when something really tragic occurs?  9/11 is a classic case, when people were saying that they stopped on their way to the office to get a paper, or they overslept, or a myriad of other reasons.  Exactly the same thing happened when we had the London Bombings.  People that always caught that train at the same time, every day, every year, had (for whatever reason) cause to miss it on that particular day.

Gosh, not a particularly uplifting post from me today I suppose you could say.  I'm sure we all know by now just how fragile life is, and how we really must try to make the most out of every day.

Perhaps I had better leave you with a few quotes, all courtesy of Pinterest.

I have to apologise dear bloggies, for not visiting you in the past few days.  I hope to catch up with you all soon.  Take care and keep well.

With Love From Me to You!

I'm sure there's a song somewhere in the title of my post today! Well, I looked at the calendar this morning  and I felt sure that the date meant something, but I couldn't for the life of me remember what it was!

Oh yes, of course, it's Valentine's Day.  So hold on to your hats, as I try to fill your day with thoughts of love.  If you're on your own, don't worry.  That's no excuse - go out and buy yourself some chocolate, light some scented candles and play your favourite music.  Just generally pamper yourself!

As for me, I am sending warm and loving thoughts to all my Followers today,  and I really do hope that it will be a day filled with love for you.

So that's the end of this romantic series for another year.  Me? I think I will just go and lay down in a darkened room for a while.

See you again soon.