Monday, March 31, 2014

Sunday Stealing... On A Monday... Twenty Questions....

The 20Q Meme

1. When you buy a greetings card are the words or the picture more important to you?  I make my own greetings cards.  The words, which I make up myself, are as important as the pictures I put together.  These are cards, like no other.  If you would like me to make you a cake - please leave a message below and I will create one for you.  No Charge. :-) 



2. What's your favorite kind of cake?  Funny you should ask that. H at work today brought in cake made by the lovely E.  Chocolate Brownie, and RumGingers.  I had Rum Ginger at approximately 9.45.  It was impossible to eat slowly, it was dissolving in alcohol in my hand.   H advised that I was supposed to eat it as a dessert, with a spoon. I just shoveled in, it all it's rum and creamy glory into my cake hole, and was instantly hit by at least 3 measures of rum.  I've had to sleep for a while to recover. 



3. Do you ever make gifts for people, if so what, or do you buy them?  I knit badly.  I crochet badly, I paint pictures, and make jewelry.  Please don't think I am creative, my work is "my own", and loved only by people who love me :-) 


4. You are chosen to have lunch with the President. The condition is you only get to ask one question. What do you ask?  African or American? 


5. Which do you dislike most: pop-up ads or spam email? PopUp ads. Especially those ones which open 50 pages of porn. 

6. What was the best party you've ever been to?   A party we (me and my flatmates) had in 1985.   We lived on the top floor of a five story tenement building.  We banned drugs from the flat - sent them into the back green.  At it's busiest, there were over 150 people in the flat.  One of our "friends" invited the neighbours to join in, by posting them baked potatoes through their letter boxes.  Girls were peeing in the toilet, boys were peeing in the bath.   15 bags of bottles were very difficult to get down the stairs without one of the neighbours coming out and berating us.  Our landlord said "okay, you've had "the party", let's not have another one", which I thought was a lovely way of handling it. 

7. Which is worse, being in a place that is too loud, or too quiet?  Too loud. too loud. I can't stand lots of noise. 

8. You are offered an envelope that you know contains $50. You are then told that you may either keep it or exchange it for another envelope that may contain $500 or may be empty. Do you keep the first envelope, or do you take your chances with the second?  I keep the first envelope.   I'd have something I didn't have before. 

9. Do you wish cellphone etiquette was a required class upon purchasing one?  Yes.  Especially not shouting "I'm on the Train".  It's just not funny. 

10. What's the most messed up food combination that you've had that was actually good?  I am a connoisseur of weird combinations. Cold Spaghetti and Salad Creme is a bit lush, however, Peanut Butter on Toast, topped with Fudge is not.  

11. What's one of your most random pet peeves (something that annoys you)?  People speaking to me when I am trying to finish my blip! 

12. When is the last time you had home cooking?  I have home cooking all the time.  I am married to a chef :-) (Ex Chef).  We don't do packet meals, (much).

13. If you could be a fictional character from a book who would you choose?  Clare, from Outlander.  Or Maybe Jamie, just to get the male perspective. 

14. If you could be in a television sit-com, which would you choose?  Cheers

15. If you could be any animal or creature for one day, what would it be?  Dog. Oh to be that happy, in love with life and devoted to everyone. 

16. What's your favorite girl's name?  Eilidh. 

17. What's your favorite boy's name?  Steven

18. What's your supermarket of choice?  Sainbury, but Morrison for convenience. 

19. If you were to attend a costume party tonight, what or whom would you go as?  A nun. Covers a multitude of sins, but also leaves room for a wee bit roodness. 

20. What is your concession stand must-have at the movies?  Sweet/Salty Popcorn

Friday, March 28, 2014

Friday 5

What’s something you’re keeping in a shoebox?   old letters,ribbons, postcards.  Mementos from another time.


What’s something you’re storing in a plastic container that some food item was purchased in?  I currently have some korma curry in the fridge.. in one of these tubs...  Nom nom


What’s a non-food item you’re storing in a zippered plastic bag?   Necklaces, and beads.


What originally came in some of the now-empty boxes you’re hanging onto?   I got a lot of these empty boxes from someone else....  I'm not sure what she had in them. 


What’s something you own that came in really cool packaging?    Gok Wan underwear... Lush.  All red, and black satin.  very lovely. 

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Jason Mraz - I'm Yours [Official Music Video]



Just because. ...

My son sings this to his gal... and it's beautiful.

Sunday Stealing The 17 Meme.


The 17 Meme

1. Do you know triplets?     I do not believe so. I'm rather glad, because my daughter has friends  who are two sets of twins. I Never get their names right.  One set have different coloured hair, and I still get it wrong.




2. Do you prefer Titanic or The Notebook?   That is a difficult one.   I think I would have to say Notebook, because the love there is greater than the love of Rose and Jack...  Did you see how much space she had on that plank of wood?  There was more than enough room for both of them.   She was laying flat out. He could have lain on top of her. Body warmth and everything. She was flat out selfish.  In the Notebook... their love overcomes everything. They even share a single bed.


3. Have you ever eaten Indian food?    Yes, frequently.   in UK Indian restaurants are everywhere.  Not "real" indian though. I haven't been in India.  Beloved has.  He was in the Navy and warned not to eat ashore.  So the whole catering department promptly left the ship and ate in the first restaurant they came to.  They had a feast fit for kings, which cost about 2.50 for the 10 of them.   The tip they left, made the Kitchen staff come out to shake their hands and thank them - I think they left more money than they (the kitchen staff) earned in a year. 



4. What’s the name of your favorite restaurant?    The Secret Garden at the Witchery in Edinburgh.  Only visited the once, but that once was enough to make me love it for ever and ever and ever. 



5. Who’s your favorite person in the world?   My favourite person in the whole world.  Hmmm, that is a difficult one.   I have three most definite favourites who I couldn't split with a fine tooth comb.  Beloved, and Tooli and Boy.    Tooli and Boy I would die for.  Beloved, would die for me, I would die for him too.  I adore these three people with all my heart.



6. Would you rather live in a rural area or in the suburbs?    Rurally, near the suburbs.    We actually live in an idea place.   400 metres in one direction we have the sea - 400 metres in the other directions, fields, forests, trees, and sky.   We have a little town centre, with all the necessaries - Supermarket, chemist, gift shops, coffee shops a plenty,touristy shops, and pubs.  There are a range of larger supermarkets with in a 10 mile radius, so prices aren't really much higher. We have the sea on our doorstep (I can hear the waves right now), and we have open ground behind us - Hawks, buzzards, owls, sheep, foxes, deer, rabbits... I'd go so far as to say Idylic. 



7. Can you whistle?   With enthusiasm if not tune. 


8. Do you sleep with a nightlight?   No - Sometimes I even wear an eyemask 


9. Do you eat breakfast every morning?   No I don't. I'm one of these idiots who think, if Idon't eat breakfast, then I'll go longer without food and loose weight. Then I have a snack at lunchtime, and go ballistic.  On Friday I had breakfast, and then a light lunch and then a light dinner. Breakfast is obviously the way to go.



10. Do you take any pills or medication daily?   Oh where to start.  Actually I have cut down a lot recently.  I have a purple and blue inhaler. (I don't always take them, typically only when I wheeze).  Happy Pills - daily.  I have a chemical imbalance in my head... the happy pills are a necessary to keep me balanced, and to stop me killing people :-)   Cocodamol for migraines (Not daily), Ibufren for Arthritis - however, I have stopped the painkiller because I have started taking COD LIVER OIL! And it works!



11. How many times have you been to the hospital as a patient? Tonsilectomy.  Pregnancy.  Pregnancy.  Laparoscopic surgery.  Hysterectomy.   Lovely.  They give you a lot of drugs to make you sleep.  I like medically induced sleep.



12. Have you ever seen Finding Nemo?   Yes, I have.  I do like it!.


13. Where do you buy your jeans?   I have an arse the size of a bus. Jeans do not do me favours. 


14. What’s the last compliment you got?  hmm. last compliment. Sheez. I can't remember. See, I get complimented all the time - typically because I trained my kids and my husband to compliment me when I have a "face" on.   I think probably when I got my hair coloured.  Yes, In fact when Tooli came home this weekend, that was the first time  she had seen it,and she complimented me on it.



15. Do you usually remember your dreams in the morning?  I do.  Mostly.  And I have to relate them,despite knowing how completely and utterly ridiculous they are. 



16. What flavor tea do you enjoy?   I love earl grey, but I also love Tea Pigs Breakfast Tea.   Tea Pigs is a bit luxurious, and I adore it.


17. What social media sites do you use? This one..Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, I think that is all.  You can find me as Dogwithnobrain, mostly - or Hel Cruse xx

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Sunday Stealing

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard of the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we also have our rules. First, we always credit the blog that we stole it from and we will “fess up” to the blog owner where we stole the meme. We also provide a link to the victim's post. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") We do sometimes edit the original meme, usually to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, sometimes to select that meme's best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from either this new meme or recently asked questions from a prior featured meme. 

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggs3YPg5Eqi52frBqVpL-oFaZS5akTtdjhsjRUVexwE-IdDSlVcbaBRXiWegXLAIixxtGwiWJVzmTDjLAKBfsqvMxoB4JiD9uPeBLj4WIMhPuEiBsKg0atoTXbq_gg4N9rVPTS/s1600/IMG_8810.JPGLet's go!!!

The Yeah Meme 


From FYeah, Surveys!

Do you have another window or tab open? If so, what are they for?   I have four tabs with Crochet patterns open.. I am attempting a whole outfit, rather than a scarf. 

Do you like to cook/bake?  I am currently making a steak pie.  It was to be a steak and Ale pie, but I haven't got any ale.  I think I shall have to go and get some, to add some taste.  I am not a good cooker / baker.

What are you currently listening to?  A christmas edition of The Big Bang Theory.  Confused is not the word.

How long have you lived in the house you live in?   Fifteen years.  I believe that this is the "forever house".   I love where we stay, we need to do work on the house... but that will come. It is wind and water tight and full of love and that is all that matters. 

Are you tired?   No - I have had two days of long lies... Lovely. 

Do you pick your words carefully, or just tend to blurt everything out?   I try to bear in mind all the time, that if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.    I  try to listen carefully to what is being said around me, and typically I think... oh dear.  that shouldn't have been said. 

Are you nice to everyone?   I try very, very, very, very hard to be.   When I am without prozac  I find it difficult. :-) 

Have you ever tripped in public?    It is one of my hobbies.   I fell three times in public last year.  Once in the office (well in the car park) - Sprained wrist;  once in the house... exceptionally sprained ankle; and fell on holiday - scraped knees, scrapped hands and a sore toe.   I am a walking disaster. 


Are you a morning person or a night person?    I am a day person. 

Is it easier to forgive or forget?   Forget.  Somethings are unforgivable.  It is easier to leave it behind and forget it. 

Is there something that’s recently shocked you?   The plane which disappeared.  I am freaked by it all.  I'm sure someone has stolen it... Lost? Replayed.    A bad taste promo for Liam Neeson's new film. 

Which is harder: walking away from somebody you love or coming back?   Walking away.   Coming back is always beautiful.

What were you doing at midnight last night? Talking a friend down from a melt down.  We chatted for an hour and a half.  And I went to sleep smiling.  I hope she did too.

What color are your eyes? Blue and Green with flecks of brown. I think my geneology is confused

Sunday, March 09, 2014

http:\\sundaystealing.blogspot.com


1. Have you ever pretended to read a book to impress someone?  Erm, No.  I'm not a literary snob.   I read what I like, and If I pick something up and I can't read it... i put it down.

2. Have you ever pretended not to read a book in order to avoid embarrassment?  No, and I will quite happily read books which other people think are juvenile purely for the escapism.

3. What’s your worst reading habit?  Starting several books at once, and forgetting which book is which - a problem which has become worse with a kindle.... I flip between them, and I loose track of stories.

4. What book are you most proud of having read?  I'm not overly "proud" of having read anything. I read for enjoyment. :-)

5. Do you buy most of your books new, second-hand, electronically or borrow via the library?  I buy books from all sources. Can't walk past a book shop, always rake in second hand shops and download constantly, and love browsing the library.

6. Have you ever pretended to watch a film to impress someone?   ha ha ha ha no.  I have the attention span of a gnat.  If I watch a film all the way through it's because I ENJOY it, I would never watch a ilme for someone else's benefit.
 
7. Have you ever pretended not to have watched a film in order to avoid embarrassment?  No - I am not a magnificent film buff and will happily admit to whatever films I have watched, purely because me having got through a film is an achievement in itself.

8. What movie have you watched the most?  The Bourne Identity.  I'm not entirely sure I have watched the whole lot.  I had a phone which the film was downloaded on to.  So I would watch bits on long train journeys.  It's one of my husband's favourite films, so often I will come in and he is watching, and I will join in.  But whether I could actually retell the story would be a question!

9. What film do you tell people is your favorite ever?  Right now my favourite film ever is The Untouchables.  The French Quadrapelgic man and his carer from the projects.  The smile of Omar Sy is infectious and I could watch any film with that smile.

10. What film is actually your favorite ever?  I adore Dogma.  Despite all its gore, and violent, and swearing - the story behind the story is very pure.

11. What time do you usually wake up and get up in the mornings?   7.48 ish.  That is about as late as I can leave it before I'm late.

12. Do you wake naturally or does something/someone wake you up?  My husband leaving the bed and bathrooming, and coming back wakes me up.  And then I fall asleep again. :-)  Am hopeless at getting up.

13. How many snooze alarms do you need?  My husband tells me that he sets the alarm for 7 am.... He gets up about 7.30; that must be about.... 5 times.

14. What’s your routine on a workday/work at home morning?  I get up, shower, dry my hair, drink coffee, drink some more coffee.  then head to work

15. What’s your routine on a non-workday morning?  Lay in bed, moan for coffee, drink coffee, sleep some more,,, ask for some more coffee., sleep some more. I like sleep.

Friday, March 07, 2014

Friday 5....

I have a lazy day today.... long gone are the days when my days off had to coincide with School Events, sports events, children's doctor's appointments.  My holidays are now mine to do with as I please .  And so in honour of this, I will take 15 minutes to answer the Friday 5.

Friday 5 for March 7: In Your Ear


What is a most pleasant sound to wake up hearing?   "Here's a cuppa for you Yerbert".   My husbands most affection of calling to me.   In the same way my son calls his girlfriend a "Fanny". my husband calls me "Yerbert Yeah"

What is a most pleasant sound to fall asleep hearing?   My husband, he of the Yerbert Yeahs, snoring... I can relax knowing I am safe beside him, and he is relaxed.

What is a more annoying sound Car Alarms or Leaf Blowers.    We don't have many leaf blowers in Scotland.... all our leaves blow away of their own accord.   But there was a House Alarm going off this morning and I was ready for bricking it. 

What is a sound most people seem to like but you hate?   I don't think there is any sound I don't like to hear. I like to hear most things, apart from on-going car alarms, but then, I don't think other people like them either. 

What is a sound most people seem to hate, but you love?   Snoring... see above.  I am repeating myself a lot here, butsounds aren't unpleasant, and a snore is a relaxing sound; people are chilled when they snore, and its nice that people are so relaxed. 

Hate it when I snore myself... woke myself up in the back garden last summer snoring on the sun chair!



Sunday, March 02, 2014

Sunday Stealing.... On A Sunday...

Let's go!!  An Oldie but a Goldie from the Archives.....  I'm oh so impressed with myself when I manage to Sunday Steal on a Sunday.



1) Candle scents this month:    November Rain.  Yes, November Rain....  I was attracted to the colour; but boy it does smell nice.  Yankee Candles do such lovely smells - but they do do some stinky smells too   "mmmm bacon".  WTH?



2) What I read this month:   I am currently reading Dead Broken, by Gerard Gray, a Psychological thriller.  It came recommended by my mate K, to be found here..... however... She also recommended a perverted Sex / S&M / anal thing.... Which made me immediately throw my phone away from me! Yeuk.



3) Top three songs I was drawn to:   How to Save a Life... The Fray.....   Big Bad Leroy Brown..Frank Sinatra...  And Happy  by Pharrell Williams.   When I hear Save a Life,

I think good things will happen.  It's happened before, and I strongly believe it will always happen.  I used to tap dance.... Big Bad Leroy Brown was the first routine I learned and I can still do it all in my head.....  Happy.... Just makes me happy, PLUS Pharrell is a tad pretty to look at. 


4) Movies I saw:   I can't remember....   I have a very short term memory for Films I watch unless they were something spectacular.   Hmmm... Oh  Oh   I remember one  - After Earth.  Will Smith and his wee boy.   It was very hmmm. .. didn't have any massive impact on me. 




5) Favorite tv moments of the month:  The return of my favourite programmes.... Grimm, Elementary... Walking Dead 



6) Something yummy I made:   Beef Stroganoff   I did. It was lush... I don't typically cook, because my husband was a chef in an earlier life. 


7) Restaurants where I ate:  Hmmm, I ate in the World Buffet with my Pal... and Prezzo.... The World Buffet was far superior and cheaper Prezzo was over rated and expensive. 



8) Five things I am loving this month:  My Husband, My Son, my Daughter, Me Mam, my life.



9) A goal I had for this month:  To get there :-) 


10) This month I looked forward to:   A month passing til it was nearly time for us to go to America 



11) Something I want to remember about this month:   I compromised with my boss, and agreed to taking on a junior; while lie is hectic right now - while she gets used to all the jobs... i can see it's going to have a beneficial effect on me. 



12) A photo I took this month:   http//:www.blipfoto.com/dogwithnobrain     I take a photo a day.  Over here....  I also do them for twitter #100happydays, I think I'm about 57 now.