spirit
/Last weekend was a busy few days in the vast metropolis that is Bangor, Northern Ireland. What with Olympic torches and Diamond Jubilee events galore there was barely a minute to spare. And guess what? It turns out I'm a sucker for big events that require me to dig deep and get in the spirit. Who knew?
I know we are going to count it as a real privilege to have been able to see the Olympic torch being carried through our town at 7am on a cold June morning. And the whole event was made all the more memorable with the torch bearer being one of Priory Integrated's pupils - I'm going to hold my hands up now and admit to having made an utter idiot of myself yelling her name as she ran past, with maybe just a glimmer of a tear in my eye! But it couldn't be helped. This was a once in a lifetime experience, the kind I'd made Michael shun overtime to be part of. And you just know it's special when the big bus that comes in front of the torch declares "Moment to Shine"!
The rest of Sunday was spent dealing with one particularly over-tired 6 year old via the age old methods of computer games and sugar! But it was essential that he be in fighting form for the special Jubilee family bbq on Monday because Diamond Jubilees are another "once in a lifetime" event that you have to make the most of.
I'm not really a big follower of the royal family. Admittedly I sported spangly shoes and my mum wore a fancy hat at my sister's royal wedding party last year, but I don't think that makes me anything other than a right royal div! But there was something quite tangibly special about this past weekend. At the very least, 60 years in a high profile job is surely noteworthy. Particularly in a time when being a royal is more likely to come with scoffing than respect. And so I found myself getting a little carried away.While we had a small gathering planned for family and a few friends, a highlight for me was stumbling across a street party nearby. I spotted the bunting and balloons on my way home and had to stop for a nosey. Having my camera with me was a bonus, and so I snapped a few shots of their preparations before getting to chat with the organisers - the wonderful Jo and Laura. They had invited the entire immediate neighbourhood, including the residents of a Fold residential centre, for an afternoon tea complete with Best Hat competition. I was generously invited back in the afternoon to join the party and take a few photos of the guests in their finery, and it was quite simply the loveliest thing I have witnessed in a long time.
I love the lady in that photo above - look how happy she is and how much fun she's having in her awesome hat! I hope when I'm her age I'm enjoying life as much. To see such a mix of people, old and young, families, couples and singles enjoying a jolly good knees up, in a country where differences have historically so often set us apart, was simply a joy to behold (insert small sparkle of tear in the eye here again!) And that's what made the Jubilee so special for me. At this point I felt the need to come home and print off some pretty Diamond Jubilee bunting and string it in a rather pathetic fashion along our hedge (see above) before changing into my red and white stripy t-shirt and faux diamond bracelet! I then toasted Her Majesty with some wine in a spiffing Jubilee paper cup. I am nothing if not classy!
cheers on a job well done, Ma'am!
The rest of our Jubilee day was spent in the fine company of our families - well those who haven't fled for warmer climes - and our lovely next door neighbours, before watching the spectacle of the concert organised by Gary Barlow The Marvellous. I'm pretty sure that's his actual name. If it's not, it should be!
I love this photo Patrick took of our reflections in the garage window - such a creative little soul!
And so concluded our Jubolympic weekend. A friend of mine used that amazing word on Instagram and I feel that it entirely sums up our weekend. A weekend full of entering into the spirit of things, of looking forward while being thankful for the past, and more than anything a weekend that left me feeling hopeful. Because if that gigantic table of people is anything to go by, there is more good than bad in the world. And that, my friends, gives me hope. I can only hope that you also had a spiffing weekend full of one sort of spirit or another! Now in the spirit of joyful tears I will leave you with the video from the aforementioned Mr Barlow and the Commonwealth Band - tear shedding is optional!
:: send a pamper parcel to a friend I haven't seen for a while.:: find a tasty new salad recipe and give it a whirl.:: go outside and soak up the sun while it lasts.:: make time for catching up with a friend I usually see fleetingly at school drop off.:: indulge myself in a little creative time just on my ownio in my study.:: maybe order some lovely things to make something lovely for a teeny tiny little girl I haven't yet met but who I love sooo very much already.:: finally make smoothies with the boys.:: say 'yes' more often and 'no' a bit less (within reason, obviously!)
I'm going to write that list into my special book for lists and enjoy myself immensely as I work my way through it and tick each item off! I'm keeping it shortish this week - I'm all about small achievable goals at the moment - and I shall share how I get on next week sometime. And what about your bucket list? Is there something you've always been meaning to do that you might just do this week? How lovely it would be if you joined me on this week of wonderful. In fact, I double dare you to do it! And don't forget to let me know how you get on!For now, I shall leave you with a few more photos of our sunny weekend - it full on rocked!
I hope you've been making the most of the sunny days too!
9 seems like such a very big age. It's the last single digit age. It's harder to find acceptably cool cards for the birthday boy. It's an age where this particular 9 year old has very clear ideas about what is cool or not, especially when it comes to hair and fashion (short hair, not long and chinos - tan or red - just in case you were wondering!) It's most definitely an age where Daddy is King and Mummy just trundles around in the background making life happen as 9 year olds would wish it!
As all good parents should, we have done our best to instil an appreciation of that which is good, that is, products with fruit logos on them! Actually, that's not strictly true. The iPod touch has been requested time and again for a couple of years now and we've said no for a number of reasons. But I suppose, as with all things, there comes a time when there are fewer reasons not to do something than to do it, which is where we found ourselves at age 9. And so a new Apple product has joined the family! And boy has it ever been made to feel welcome!
And while part of me is inwardly freaking out at another source of media to be monitored on a daily basis, the wiser part of me knows that all is well when a new cricket bat is greeted with such enthusiasm!
And so the countdown to that double digit age has begun. In the interim I expect to encounter any or all of the following::: a hand that assumes the permanent shape of an iPod touch;:: much cricketing, especially now he's joined the local under 11 side;:: a lot of hair gel from the pound shop (it's the only way we could afford it!):: ongoing snuggles on the settee at the end of the day (this better feature or it's going to be a trickier year than anticipated!):: further bickering with the younger sibling;:: more lessons in disappointment as the love for Liverpool FC is unabated;:: magic tricks being fine tuned for anyone willing to participate;:: more independent fashion/hair/shoe choices;:: arguments over any of the above;:: to be further amazed by all that this boy does and by the fact that we actually made him!
On which note I shall finish. Except to say that we also made this one - hard to believe there's a genetic link, really!
Which in turn led me to think about what I like so much about home and why I feel so good there. It didn't take me long to work out that my home is the one place that truly reflects all of who I am. There is so much of me in the way our home is organised and decorated and I love pretty much all of it. Nothing makes me happier than poring over home design books and magazines and then taking the best of what I've seen and using it to fit our family's needs and tastes. Our house is to me the equivalent of the coolest outfit a girl can throw together (I can't throw an outfit together for love nor money and am incredibly envious of my friends who can!) So I thought I'd share a little of what I love about home with you today.
football books and annuals with a permanent audience of minifigures...and a pirate sticker for good measure
this would be my shelf! interior design and craft books and just a smidgin of scrapbook for good measure
I love this view of our lounge with its colours and textures - it's the view that lets me relax and know I'm home when I come in from work.
I'd be pretty surprised to find a fossil in a rock alongside a lantern and a Lego Titanic on anyone else's fireplace - do tell me if I'm wrong!
I bought this for Michael at Christmas - it's his favourite movie and I love that I was clever enough to find something on Pinterest and then buy it! From Canada!
I'd love to know what you love about your home. I've so enjoyed sharing this little corner of our home that I might share more of the rest of it in the future. I'm off now to read what 
I love the quote by Ernest Hemingway that the journey is more important than the destination. I can't help but think that this philosophy could make such a difference in people's lives if we all tried to enjoy where we are at just a little bit more and stopped trying to rush to the next part of life. I wonder what your journey looks like. Have you stopped to enjoy the view of right now recently? If you haven't, why not grab a cup of tea and a comfy seat and just take it in. In the words of the great Ferris Bueller, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
more than enough Lego!
plenty of magazine fodder
more t-shirts and football kits than you could shake a stick at!
we are good for wii games
the Amazon wishlist shall remain just that!
window shopping only for new scrap supplies!
I don't really do well with choice. My sister will testify to this after countless shopping expeditions during which she produces many fabulous outfits, tops or accessories to be greeted with a lot of hmmming and haaaing on my part and ultimately no purchases at the end of the day. Choice complicates things, it doesn't make things simple at all.
So in a world full of choices and where life is lived in full view of everyone via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, how is a girl meant to get back to simple? The weekend we spent at Bushmills over half term helped me to clarify this somewhat. To keep it simple you just strip away all the stuff that clutters life up and put what is left outside in the elements, give it a stick and a hat and then join in the fun.
It turns out that I like the simple stuff best. Some time away with all my boys where we can just be ourselves, be free from obligations, be out there enjoying this amazing creation. It helps if there is no wifi or 3G to distract or complicate matters. And a glass of wine doesn't hurt! Slippers are optional.
This post is part of an exciting little collaboration with my fabulous and super-inspiring friend. 
My stash of supplies and tools welcomed me as a long lost friend. Patterned paper crawled out from its place of hibernation and began to bid for my attention. Such a warm welcome was it that I couldn't help myself - I grabbed a few photos (actually carefully chosen, edited and printed to size earlier that day - not so much of the spontaneous in me as I would have you believe), reached for the glue and started sticking photos and pretty paper together. It was cathartic, I tell you. And an actual barrel load of fun to boot!
I don't know why I do this to myself, this self-inflicted absence from creating. It is so clearly a part of me that I should be tearing myself away from it to make the tea or clean the bathrooms instead of the other way around. In a bid to assist with this I am taking part in an online class to help me document my One Little Word this year. Don't let me mislead you into thinking that I am anything other than behind even at this early stage in the year, but at least it's a goal, and I am creeping slowly towards it.
I'm not sure how much of it, if any, I'll post here, but I do have a couple of other little goodies up my sleeve for later this week. Exciting little ventures to get this blog going again and help me connect with my lovely readers, even if it is just the same people I chat with on instagram or facebook or my actual phone.
Aside from other little projects, I also have a heap of photos from our weekend at the north coast over half term. A weekend of relaxing and spending time with my boys, away from work, boring jobs, shopping and even the internet - painful but necessary! The weather was shocking as it always seems to be when we go there, but after 4 years of staying in the same place we are well versed in how to dodge impending storms and appreciate the wonders of creation as much as humanly possible in 3 days! I will try to get some photos up in a few days, but as I was uploading them to the computer earlier this one caught my eye and had to be edited immediately.
On this day of love I thought I'd share just a few of the things that have been making me happy of late. Apologies to any of you who have already seen these on Instagram, but it really is my latest love - I am quite obsessed! Making me happy ..:: birthday tophats:: my boys chilling together:: choppy seas:: new iphone cover - it's like having a whole new phone!:: amazing strawberry cheesecake cupcakes (from Sainsbury's coffee shop should you need one yourself!):: copious cups of tea:: some stunning sunsets:: Sherlock series one accompanied by wine and a roaring fire - actual bliss!Wishing you all much love and loveliness for what remains of this day of love xx
My absence, however, has not been merely one of just sitting around reading books and drinking tea. Well, maybe it has, just a little. It has also given me some time to mull over big questions I wasn't quite ready to mull over yet. Priorities have been shifted in a good way. Stock has been taken of the important things. Considerable amounts of wine and chocolate have been consumed for both physical and emotional benefits! Shed loads of 
If I've learned one thing in the midst of all that has happened, it is that people are what matter in this short space of time we have to share. Family and friends, their health and wellbeing - they matter more than all the mortgage worries, weight concerns and job securities put together. And realising this made me want to do more to spend time with those people, to really connect with them. Which in turn helped me decide that my 
I'm hoping to connect a bit more with my creativity too over the coming weeks and months. I have become so terribly lazy in that part of my life and I think I suffer as a result. No creativity = not being at my best. So I've taken the plunge and signed up for the One Little Word course with the amazing 
Apart from all the drama of the past couple of months, the only other thing happening around here is Lego. I know, shocker, right?! I really don't know what to say about the sheer volume of the stuff that has made its way into our house in the last few weeks. I'm sure there are worse things to be accumulating and I am thankful that I'm not having to deal with Barbie and Bratz dolls, but really, at some point this is going to have to stop! The crux of the problem is a small person's obsession and too-close-to-Christmas birthday. And obviously the very clever marketing skills of the people Lego employ. It really is out of my control (this is clearly denial but I'm going to run with it otherwise my parenting skills will be called into serious question by all and sundry.)We have actually added more than 10 new sets of Lego since Christmas, and some of these are huge! On top of that we have doubles from the birthday party that are sitting ominously in the living room, waiting to be taken back to the toy shop and changed for another gigantic set. And then there's the birthday money - how can I make it not morph into more Lego without a 6 year old meltdown? If anyone has any advice I would be glad to hear it! I wonder if you can guess what kind of birthday party we had last weekend? I'll give you a clue...it wasn't Mario and it rhymes with Mego! I was in no small way surprised when I went through my photos for January that they would make an excellent advertising campaign for the aforementioned construction toy company! So I give you January through my lens.
Ok, I'll hold my hands up and admit that I secretly rather like the stuff and it's fun to take pictures of. And it stands the test of time and makes my small person beyond happy. Which is the main thing, I guess. Today I spent a blind fortune at Ikea on storage for it all, and rather sadly dismantled the electric train set that Santa brought him only 2 years ago because it has been overshadowed by tiny ninjas and their frightening skeleton and snake-like enemies. If there is to be happiness in this house in the next few months I must embrace it and say "yes" to all proposals of ninja fights! Because those small people matter most of all, and if I don't connect with them now I will surely be sorry tomorrow.I hope you forgive my absence and my rambling. I am so very glad to have the opportunity to connect with anyone who stops by here to read my blog and it would be completely lovely if you felt like sharing how your start to 2012 has been. Or if you could just console me re the Lego!!