Children in Need 2009!

I openly admit I am not child friendly - no maternal bones in my body unless it's an animal!

But, the annual Children in Need charity appeal run by BBC tv to raise funds for dis-advantaged children in the UK does generally get my support - maybe it's because as a bear lover, of their mascot Pudsey, seen here with Woodstock...

But, I like to think I am not quite as shallow as that???

For once, Dreamingspires had no active fund raising in the city, so will do my bit via the TV telefone programme tonight.

A Postcard from JR Territory!

From the late 1970's, through the Eighties I watched every week on TV the eventful life of the Ewing family.
The show 'Dallas' & the Southfork Ranch, Texas - were as familiar to me as any UK soap opera was.
It's hard to believe the exploits of JR, Sue-Ellen, Bobby Ewing & co, filled the small screen for 13 years & 365 episodes!
But, they did & I remember them all well - the conniving of JR, his 'shootings', the power dressing of Sue Ellen, the Bobby 'shower incident', the many complicated love affairs - guess, I'm a sad case!
So, was thrilled when my friend BJ with her family Marigold & Pansy, on their recent trip to Dallas, the city to see friend Cee Cee, another blog contact - revisited again the homestead where the series was filmed & she, BJ posted about HERE!
Receiving this postcard from all four of them this very morning, was the icing on the cake...It's especially sweet, as we all plan - well, certainly hope too, meet in the city of Dallas next year, when they, will just have to repeat the Southfork tour for 'little old me'!

Willing the Oz Wild Fires Out

While we, Brits complain about our Winter - ie shiver in the freezing rain, that's me; others cope with more snowfall and we all fret about the next storm due in later today - my heart goes out to those in Australia, which puts things into perspective with me!
Listening/watching the lunchtime BBC TV news, and seeing the devastation is horrific.
Knowing that dear friends like Brooke & Opy in Victoria, are living this nightmare first hand makes the drama more potent.
Then, hearing that many of the life taking wild bush fires, are due to arsonists, makes me see RED!
If there is a 'Snow Thief' as believed by Huskie Khyra, may he dump his stolen goods on our friends in Oz quickly - asap please!

Pudsey!

Today is the BBC's 'Children in Need' annual fund raising event.
Since 1980, this now registered charity, that raises money to 'make a positive difference to the lives of disadvantaged children & young people throughout the UK' has collected well over £400 million!
To help things along, in 1985, television host Terry Wogan introduced a cuddly brown mascot called Pudsey.
He proved so popular, he returned as 'Children in Need's official mascot the following year with a re-vamped image, that of a yellow bear with a red spotted bandage over one eye!
Since then, he's gone of from strength to strength.
Today being Pudsey's BIG day, he'll have be out & about in the country, overseeing sponsored events large & small.
And, tonight he will be offering a helping hand @ the seven hour long, live, all star TV show, during which huge sums of money will be pledged by the audience & viewers alike.
However, this year in time for the 28th fundraiser, he's had a make over; ie a multi-coloured spotted scarf; which is why I guess I found this little guy donated by retailer Boots to the Helen & Douglas House Children's Hospice charity shop in town [Samsung image]...
I snapped him up - always wanted a Pudsey to add to my ever growing Bear collection.
And, then went back later, for his siblings as "Thank-You" pressies re camera's.
But only found one left - meet the twinlings [Kodak photo]...This morning I expected to see a giant Pudsey in Dreamingspires; as previously, he's frequented the Clarendon Shopping Centre.
So, there's me with both my camera's to hand - LOL - and what happens?
He sends one of his boring human underlings out with the 'Children in Need' collection bucket instead.
He wasn't even worthy of a photo!
Well, I did take one but Opps! - it came out blurred!
Grr!