Camera Critters Sunday - St. Guiness the Perfect!

With tomorrow being St David's Day - Wales patron saint, I have to feature a Welsh Terrier.
And what's better than one cleverly dressed as a fiery Welsh Dragon...The classic stance is due to a 'Show Command' word, wonderfully "Sausages" - it's always made me LOL!
And, no it's not 'nephew' Taffy, as much as an attention seeking showman as he is.
But, a likable Welshie Miss meet via WELTAF [Welsh Terriers and Friends] gatherings in '08.

This is the real face of Guinness with the her amusingly deep husky sexy bark/voice...

And, she is a prize winning 'Show Girl' - I've even had the pleasure of seeing her in action.

In late September '08, as part of WELTAF's Barmouth Weekend activities, the group made a memorable first appearance @ the long established Arthog village Dog Show - a Kennel Club recognised event that annually raises money for the Welsh Air Ambulance Service.

They, with K.C.'s permission, created in view of WELTAF's presence, three new show categories - 'Welsh Terrier Juniors', 'WT Open' & 'Best Welsh Terrier in Show'.

St. Guinness the Perfect, was of course up for the challenge - well, after a little last minute stripping by her registered breeder & caring owner Ellaitchbee...She won 'Best Welsh Terrier in Show' and was 'Reserve Champion' of the whole Show...

What a clever girl.

Late insider information though, says she's naughty & wilful and all to frequently in the compost heap!!!

Sorry Guinness - blame Mum for telling tales to me, but she did add, you make them laugh all the time.

Camera Critters is Misty Dawn's creation, the blog is HERE!

Unconscious Mutterings 2010 - #6 & #7!

Once again, am behind playing the free word association meme hosted by LunaNina.
She says, I think & say what pops into my head and you ponder my thought process!
It's been a bad few weeks but here goes...

Last weeks words:-
1) Suitcase :: packed, ready to fly away, I wish - those were the good old days - I do miss the travel!
2) Exhaust :: ed as tired of doctors/hospital/referral appointments.
3) Olympics :: Winter - Vancouver & Whistler CA, both visited, both great places - enjoying watching the action!
4) Video :: DVD's - Films - my cinematic viewing medium in the comfort of my own home.
5) Cargo:: Luggage, never travelled light.
6) Previously :: loved daughter, mistress, pet owner, well travelled - non of these now!
7) Wilderness :: My garden! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
8) Artificial :: colourings / flavourings ingredients as in food! Natural is best.
9) Gambling :: Little Buddy & locking him out of our hotel room in London when he blew all my cash as well as his own @ a Casino there & then refused to leave with me; Vickster, his wife the Slot Machine addict & Platinum card holder in Las Vegas; my own fun Las Vegas trip last March!
10) Exhibition :: Art in London - Cezanne, Monet, Picasso, Van Gough - all viewed.

This weeks words:-
1) Teeth :: Dentist needed! Our National Dental Service stinks!
2) Sweetener :: Honey, natures natural sugar, the only one I have in my cupboards
3) Demons :: 'Angel & Demons' by Dan Brown - Set in Rome, Little Buddy & I visited every site mentioned in the book long before it's publication - not seen the film version, as actor Tom Hanks just grates with me big time.
4) Pizza :: Italy & a classic Margarita Pizza! But @ home, it's spicy meat with peppers & mushrooms & onions & herbs & lots of cheese - in other words, the works!
5) Protector :: My Mother in childhood from my Father.
6) Smooth :: Wine, a very good wine.
7) Coat :: Silky as in Hero's coat - well, he was a Springer!
8) Pebbles :: Brighton's beach - gosh, do they hurt when walking on barefoot!
9) Pregnant :: Termination! Not going there.
10) Sing :: LOL - can't - am tone deaf, dead pan & out of tune - an embarrassment to friends when carried away with enthusiasm @ concerts/musicals; once so much so, a one one time friend disowned me - now I mime when out in public!

No matter what the cost I was truthful!

Saturday Photo Hunt - Daily AND Birthday Memories!

tnchick prompt this week first made me think of a daily pinta - milk delivered in 1 pint glass bottles, to ones door stop by ones daily milkman in the wee small hours of the morning; but much cheaper, larger Supermarket plastic cartons has seen the demise of this tradition locally, so unless I 'borrowed' an image that wasn't going to work.

So what about a small snippet of daily verse, as found in my ancient 'Children's Birthday Book'...

I see two birthdays down for today, so a trip down memory lane too!

Anne, I only knew briefly - I was her Group Leader during my time as a TOHG [Tax Officer Higher Grade] in the Inland Revenue - she unlike me, wisely didn't waste years hating working in the Tax Office; she resigned after a couple of months, while it took me 10 years!

Ron on the other hand, was a valued older friend for a good number of years - he was even @ one time my chauffeur, who drove me out daily, and by doing so saved my cake business from disaster after I lost my driving licence for 12 months - we eventually lost touch when he moved away to pastures new.

Anyway, Happy Birthday Anne & Ron where ever you are.

Nowadays my Birthday Book certainly seems to contain more reminders of lost friends & acqaintances than current ones - perhaps it's not surprising, as it does date back to 1963 & I'm very bad @ keeping touch!

Sky Watch Friday - Over the Garden Fence!

Sorry not too inspirational, but a very rare glimpse of blue skies seen this week...By the time I was ready to go out for a nice walk, it had clouded over again!
The greyness of an English Winter I hate.
And February, has to be the most depressive month of the year!

True Colours Thursday - ORANGE & LEMONS - Take 2!

Cataloging my Kensitas Flower cigarette cards today, with the view to selling them on e-bay, as highly collectible, I realised I had missed an ORANGE & LEMON opportunity re one duel silk embroidered card, that's no 1 in the first series issued in 1933...

Antirrhinum is perhaps better known as a Snapdragon.

Why?

In case, you can't enlarge the card's image to read...

"When the bloom is pressed between the thumb & forefinger, a mouth opens which was supposed to resemble that of a dragon."

And, "In olden days, the Snapdragon when carried was considered a potent charm against the evil-eye & witchcraft!".

I hate to part with these cards but finances must - will photo the remainder for future TCT posts!

True Colours Thursday - ORANGE & LEMONS!

Silly me, got her colours out of sequence!

My intention was that ORANGE & LEMON'S say the bells of St. Clements from the old English nursery rhyme, would feature for Pancake Day/Shrove Tuesday week which was, opps last week; but by the time I realised my error, it was too late to fix, hence all my original photo ideas have been shelved!

So, with Winter seeming particularly long this year, I've looked instead for Summer flowers in these two warm colours...

My first floral tribute to my late Mother & pup Hero, after scattering their ashes on Brighton's waters edge, combined them too...

And when @ the seaside, one has to eat seafood - Crayfish with a LEMON slice being my prefered choice every visit...

Now although, Easter is still quite a while away, these large laughable YELLOW chicks with their ORANGE beaks & feet are already in town...The cakes not perfect, but another early Easter decoration showed up in a certain window...
To join True Colours Thursday, whose designated blog home is HERE, all you need, is to post a photo/photographs & text, or better still both, on the specified colour of the week.
If you simply want to use the idea as a 'prompt' for a post, that is fine with me.
But, if, you'd like others including me, to visit you, please leave a comment on either site, so we know you are 'IN'!

Previous known participants are shown in the TCT blogs side bar.
Next weeks colour is NAVY again!

And, please remember ideas for forth coming colours would be very welcome!
You only have your self to blame, if you hate my random/repeated selection.

Wordless Wednesday - The Truth Hurts!

Today's Flowers on Tuesday - Lily of the Valley and Birthday Greetings Prudence!

Spring may show no signs of arriving here but I've chosen this particular late Spring bloom - seen here via cards from my silk Kensitas Flowers collection; the smaller one came in 1933 with a packet of 10 cigarettes, the larger with 20's - because today's my oldest friends birthday - we meet @ College in 1971.
The cards are my gift to her too, as Prudence was christened after the Lily of the Valley which symbolises 'Purity'.

Her devout Mother's reasoning being four fold & surprisingly shared with me @ Prudence's 21st family dinner party!

The Lily of the Valley, is thought to be the flower alluded to in the Scriptures...

"Consider the lilies how they grow;

They toil not, neither do they spin."
This sweetly scented bloom was her Mother's favourite flower and only worn fragrance.

And her favourite poet wrote this & note the date of his death too...

"No flower amid the garden fairer grows

Than the sweet lily of the lowly vale

The Queen of flowers"

John Keats

[1795 – 23 February 1821]

Prudence & I haven't actually seen each other for more than 17 years now - very religious, my personal [love] life was frowned upon, infact deeply offensive to her.

Since she doesn't do computing, she will never see this post.

And as a serious anti-smoker, I do worry about the acceptability of the Kensitas Flower cards.

But come Birthdays & Christmas, we still continue to exchange greetings & news in memory of fun past moments shared.

So, Happy Birthday Prudence!

Mellow Yellow Monday - Candle Power and a Remembrance Light!

I frequently have romantic candlelit dinners for one, as I find the mellow light both atmospheric & cosy...However on Saturday, it was not just a nicety, but a necessity, as we had a lengthy power cut.
I even had to take a candle to light me to bed, never even did that a child - memo to self, replace dead torch batteries!
Sometime during the night, the power was restored, but not before my fridge had, had melt down.
Hence spent yesterday cooking, as I hate to waste good food!
I made amongst other things 'Werm Pie' - LOL!
You have to visit Dilly to understand this & for the recipe.
Her novel idea of using mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes as a topping I love.
I just added a sprinkle of grated Cheddar cheese to the top of mine before browning.


A very sad Postscript @ 8:40am
I am totally shocked - have just learnt via doyle & mollie, that life has dealt a second cruel, cruel blow to Lana, the nice talented lady, who felted my 'wheelie' WFT Judy for me.
Only 10 days after loosing her beloved husband, her precious Airedale Poppy has suddenly gone to the Rainbow Bridge too - that is just too much loss in too short a space of time for anyone to have to bare.
My heart breaks for her, and her remaining Aire girls Patches & Penny.
It seems that everyday now, I'm reading of a pup within the Dog With Blogs community passing away, it fills me with sadness as I still remember the pain & sense of loss.
Tonight's yellow candle will burn in bright remembrance for all our lost ones.

Camera Critters Sunday and an early Monochrome - The Solitary Swan!

At one time nearby Hinksey Lake & Park was home to many, many Swans - according to the Oxford Dictionaries site HERE, the collective term for Swans varies from a bevy to a whiting and a wedge when in flight!
Anyway, after the demise of the elderly local man who'd be seen feeding them daily, the numbers gradually diminished.
However this fine one, who obligingly posed for me, remains a resident...
Camera Critters is Misty Dawn's creation, the blog is HERE!
Monochrome Weekend's creator & host is Alieni.

Saturday Photo Hunt - Cuddly!

As a teddybear collector & lover, I'm taking the most obvious route re tnchick prompt this week, as came upon this sad pile of cuddly, but rejected bears after Valentine's Day...Hopefully they'll quickly receive a bright new coloured ribbon & tag, and have a second chance of finding that 'forever' home for cuddles as it is Mothering Sunday here on the 14th March!

Sky Watch Friday - A Touch of Venice versus Brighton!

I've just discovered that Dreamingspires has a nomination in Google & Street View's - Best Streets Awards competition!
It's in the 'Britain's Most Picturesque Street' category!!!
New College Lane's show piece is Hertford Bridge, that links the new & old Quadrangles of Hertford College....
It's known locally as the 'Bridge of Sighs', due to it's supposed similarity to the famous bridge of that name in Venice.
In truth though, Hertford Bridge apparently bares a closer resemblance to the Rialto Bridge there.
But when build in 1914, it was never intended to be a be a Venetian bridge, let alone a replica of of either of them.

Now regarding voting in the Best Street Awards, my loyalties are severely divided, as in the same category is Brighton/Hove's Brunswick Square, which is where my dream flat would be...

True Colours Thursday - SHOCKING PINK, AND Happy Birthday Queen of Halloween!

I suspect this weeks colour is going to throw up a variety of PINK shades, as Googling SHOCKING PINK, it very rarely showed up as matching my personal interpretation - to me it's a bright pink but with a touch of orange as seen here...Why? It's based on these - 1930'S chiffon hankerchiefs & a scarf of my late Mothers...I also recall her wearing a fetching cropped top in the brighter of the tones too - she loved colour!

Me, I think my nightdress is SHOCKING PINK..My fancy umbrella has certain elements too...As do these napkins...

And certainly this briar Rose is SHOCKING PINK...

Now, my cake from the Celebration Cake Shop, may look rather out of Season & you may also ask where's the PINK too...BUT, today is my friend Queen of Halloween's birthday. Greetings to you, enjoy your special day. And, just check out the veins in the eyeballs bubbling away in the witches Halloween cauldron - I rest my case!

To join True Colours Thursday, whose designated blog home is HERE, all you need, is to post a photo/photographs & text, or better still both, on the specified colour of the week. If you simply want to use the idea as a 'prompt' for a post, that is fine with me. But, if, you'd like others including me, to visit you, please leave a comment on either site, so we know you are 'IN'!

Previous known participants are shown in the TCT blogs side bar. Next weeks colour is ORANGE & LEMONS, say the bells of St Clements, a combination of both colours please

And, remember ideas for forth coming colours would be very welcome!

Todays Flowers on Wednesday - West Dyke Blooms!

Guess I'm on a nostalgia run here re quality moments spent on my own in Vancouver & surrounds!

After yesterdays post, I looked @ other images from that holiday in '07; the final one before pilot Little buddy retired.

Whilst waiting for him to show up, I always stayed in nearby Richmond, a city in it's own right.

And, every visit I'd do the estuary & West Dyke Trail walk between there & the historic fishing village of Steveston.

As Richmond's built on Lulu Island, is roughly a metre below sea level & on a flood plain, the dyke and the acre's of marshland, reed beds & mud flats are a very important barrier against natural disasters due to tidal surges, higher than normal snow fall & subsequent Spring melt-off within the Fraser River Basin and seriously heavy rainfall.

They're also a wonderful haven for flora & fauna, which made the 7+ mile hike a pleasure on a warm sunny June day.

I've watched nesting Bald Eagles & a variety of colourful birds, but that lack of a zoom lens meant no images worthy of posting - however flowers are easier to photo & they abound all along Sturgeon Bank...Heading inland, the start of the estuary where the fresh water of the Fraser River meets the sea - looking across to Sea Island, home to Vancouvers International Airport & towards 'down town' Vancouver...

On a topical note as the Winter Olympic Games are on - when I was there last, this building site was @ the Richmond end of the estuary part of the walk - it's the construction of the Velodrome where this years speed ice skating events will take place...Will watch with interest the Olympic action from there, because per the computerised generated images displayed on bill-boards back then, the finished building should be impressive .

Two fer Tuesday - 2007's Pre Winter Olympic Fun!

With the XXI Winter Olympics Games now in full swing in Vancouver, it's hard to believe the last time I was 'down town' there, there was still 1000 days to go to the event - this clock in the Canadian city's Art Gallery's forecourt was counting down to the Opening Ceremony, to the very last second...

That particular day the RBC [Royal Bank of Canada] as a sponsor, had it's 'Olympians Experience' in town.

A touring event, in its own words "to showcase the talent, courage & passion of Canada's Olympic athletes; whilst celebrating Canada's love of winter sport and the spirit & fun that is to be the Vancouver 2010"!
Leo the Lion, the Banks cuddly mascot was out to promote the event - we had a hug...

And, in front of various exhibition tents promoting the Games, a huge double trampoline had been set up, on which I watched an amazing aerial trampoline performance given by four enthusiastic, athletic young men!

Naturally all Canadian, one was wannabee Olympic free-style skier - who normally trampolined in skies; another was a potential snow-board champ from Whistler, BC; then there was a very fit French Canadian guy who has recently been recruited by Circus de Solique, plus an actual trampoline champion - keeping a diary is so useful for odd misc. facts!

They all put on an exciting display that roused the crowds patriotic feelings...

Afterwards, the collection tins rang with dollars including mine!

Two fer just requires two or pairs of images & was the concept of friend Jonna, who sadly is now just too busy to post!

Monochrome & Odd Shot Monday - Natures Tree HeArt!

As it was Valentines Day yesterday, am going to reprise a past shot, but this time tweaked to Black & White for Alieni's Monochrome Weekend.

That near by park of mine never fails to come up with images - have a Heart or maybe an Angel...

Happy Valentines Day & Flower Musings!

From the Celebration Cake Shop's window...Hope my dear friends share love & romance today.
For those like me, who are alone for what ever reason - we still have our friends, our pets, our teddybears, to celebrate, to cherish, to love!
A very Happy Valentines Day to you all!

And, in case anyone wonders - do I miss not receiving a Valentines card/token from Little Buddy this year?
No.
He never, ever, ever thought to send me one, claiming the day was for kids, too commercial, too costly, too tacky!
But when pressed, always admitted, to giving roses to his wife - purely to keep the marital peace, of course!!!
I'm sure she has the said, blooms again today!
Hope she enjoys them.

Did I ever receive flowers from Little Buddy???
Yes!
Single red rose buds, bought off flower vendors selling their wares in restaurants!
And the most wonderfully fragrant Hawaiian Leis during my two stays in Waikiki, Oahu.
After much wear this bedraggled one, was cast on the water @ the end of our romantic sunset cruise in 1994...It was replaced later that night with a fresh Lei!
I also was given well traveled ones, brought back from Hawaii - LB the pilot, loved the logistical challenge.
When doing a Honolulu pairing with a quick over night in Toronto followed by a flight to London, he'd bring me a Orchid Lei, whose flowers would last just long enough for me wear it when we dined together that evening!

Saturday Photo Hunt - Broken!

I changed my planned post re host tnchick's prompt this morning, because of this minor disaster - broken glasses...

Loosing my balance last evening, saw them fall to the ground & clumsy me stepped on them.

Crunch, hence a detached lens!

Thankfully, I have older pair of prescription glasses to rely on and I only really need them for close work like blogging & reading, even though I do tend to leave them perched precariously on the top of my head when home, hence these broken glasses now!

Sky Watch Friday - Winter Reflection!

As not going far from home @ the moment, my photo's can get repetitive.

But, sky watching via a local window with a mirror reflection, produced this curious Winter image...

True Colours Thursday - CINNAMON!

I'd never really considered CINNAMON as a colour, til suggested by humorous & loyal TCT participants Doyle & Mollie.
To me CINNAMON's, Spice Sticks, as used in making Mulled Wine & Hot Spiced Cider, hence in my larder...And then there's the nice warming ground variety, used on Baked Apples & in Christmas Cake.

Little Buddy also alerted me to it, being a good tasting alternative 'sprinkle topping' to Chocolate or Nutmeg on Cappichino's & Latte Coffees; as one with Type 2 diabetes, he believes it has a beneficial effect on his blood sugar!

It's also thought to help lower Cholesterol, boost cognitive function & memory and give significant relief to Arthritis pain, which is why this Nestle' whole grain cereal is probably very healthy, I was given several free samples last year, but it isn't really to my liking - very tasty but far too sweet; hence fortuitously still having a packet lying around...

A bit more fun Web research brought me to 18 Facts About CINNAMON, well worth a read - love the idea of there being a CINNAMON Bird, sadly couldn't find one to photograph!

So, will make do with this cheeky little critter, part of my small collection of pottery animals...

Plus, a CINNAMON looking Valentines Bear - hope he finds a 'Forever' home this weekend...

And on my way to that cake shop found these wicker baskets hanging around - love baskets, own several...

As for this weeks cake, I think this Baked/Jacket Potato's skin is a fair colour match - do note the greeting...

To join True Colours Thursday, whose dedicated home is HERE, all you need, is to post with photo/photographs & text, or better still both, on the specified colour of the week.
If you simply want to use the idea as a 'prompt', as I do now, with many memes, that is fine with me.
But, if, you'd like others including me, to visit you, please leave a comment so we know you are 'IN'!
Previous known participants are shown in the Roll Call on TCT blogs side bar.
Next weeks colour is SHOCKING PINK as popular in the 1930's!

And, please remember ideas for forth coming colours would be very welcome!