Saturday, 11 February 2012
Whitney Houston
I woke up this morning to the news that Whitney Houston has sadly passed away. Whilst in Beverley Hills hotel due to attend a party to celebrate the upcoming Grammy awards tonight. Aged just 48.
She was a wonderful singer and actor, she was one of the worlds greatest recording artists and inspired hundreds of singers.
All of my life I have been familiar with her songs, the 80's and 90's she ruled the stage, with wonderful performances we all will instantly associate to her such as 'I will always love you' and her performance in hit film Bodyguard, yet as is so familiar with famous people she struggled with drug and alcohol use after her marriage to Bobby Brown, and her amazing voice was heard less and less in the last years.
Such a terrible loss to the world of music.
Rest In Peace Whitney.
 |
All of my life I have been familiar with her songs, the 80's and 90's she ruled the stage, with wonderful performances we all will instantly associate to her such as 'I will always love you' and her performance in hit film Bodyguard, yet as is so familiar with famous people she struggled with drug and alcohol use after her marriage to Bobby Brown, and her amazing voice was heard less and less in the last years.
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| Whitney Houston performed on the UK X factor in 2009 |
Such a terrible loss to the world of music.
Rest In Peace Whitney.
Loopy Laboratory
As part of the Ravensburger Puzzle Club, we were sent the lovely 200 piece puzzle Loopy Laboratory to review.
This couldn't have arrived at a better time, with the weather as cold as it is, and half term to contend with, I'm always thinking of things we can do to occupy the children, and there is nothing we enjoy more than completing a jigsaw puzzle together.
This Puzzle states it is for ages 8 and above, my 8 year old daughter, and 9 year old son have both managed to complete this alone with very little help, my 4 year old has enjoyed joining in with them and we have completed it together as a family.
The puzzle itself is made up of 200 pieces approximately 2.5cm each, the pieces are all made from strong recycled card, which enables them to fit together really well, and have a fair amount of strength when together. The overall size of the finished jigsaw is 49cm x 36cm
Included in the box is a handy reference sheet, which has some great information about the Artist which is a nice touch, and means that there is another picture to reference as you build this puzzle.
Ravensburger puzzles also come with a guarantee so you will know that the quality will be as good as you expect. They use a handmade cutting machine to make their pieces which means all pieces are different, so you won't accidentally put the wrong piece in the wrong place. Each piece is printed on a grained paper to ensure a glare free finish really adds to the quality of this puzzle.
The Picture is of a crazy scientist in his library full of little imps and funny looking creatures. The detail is truly wonderful and will keep you looking over and over again, providing a great talking point whilst you are building the puzzle and afterwards as you admire the finished picture.
here is our video review.
This couldn't have arrived at a better time, with the weather as cold as it is, and half term to contend with, I'm always thinking of things we can do to occupy the children, and there is nothing we enjoy more than completing a jigsaw puzzle together.
This Puzzle states it is for ages 8 and above, my 8 year old daughter, and 9 year old son have both managed to complete this alone with very little help, my 4 year old has enjoyed joining in with them and we have completed it together as a family.
The puzzle itself is made up of 200 pieces approximately 2.5cm each, the pieces are all made from strong recycled card, which enables them to fit together really well, and have a fair amount of strength when together. The overall size of the finished jigsaw is 49cm x 36cm
Included in the box is a handy reference sheet, which has some great information about the Artist which is a nice touch, and means that there is another picture to reference as you build this puzzle.
Ravensburger puzzles also come with a guarantee so you will know that the quality will be as good as you expect. They use a handmade cutting machine to make their pieces which means all pieces are different, so you won't accidentally put the wrong piece in the wrong place. Each piece is printed on a grained paper to ensure a glare free finish really adds to the quality of this puzzle.
The Picture is of a crazy scientist in his library full of little imps and funny looking creatures. The detail is truly wonderful and will keep you looking over and over again, providing a great talking point whilst you are building the puzzle and afterwards as you admire the finished picture.
here is our video review.
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
do you write lists?
I going to admit something, I am probably one of the most badly organised people there is, I simply coast from day to day managing to find time to fit everything in then wondering exactly how that happened, only to realise I have probably forgot half of the things I needed to get done.
I keep meaning to write a 'to do list' I have read several articles about managing your time and all offer words of wisdom, writing lists being the key to having organisation. Which is obviously where I have always gone wrong, I'm not much of a list writer, I have never wrote shopping lists, or holiday must pack lists, or general to do lists.
I am not sure what my evasion to lists is for, or where it stems from, I guess its because in an already over stretch time hungry day I reason that writing a list simply prevents me getting the things on the list done, or maybe writing down everything I want to get done on paper would just scare me too much and make me more frustrated when I don't get the things done.
I used to be pretty well organised as a school pupil, and I have managed to stumble through the past years of parenthood without messing up on too many occasions. (although my children may never forgive me for turning up to at least 2 friends parties at the wrong time!) I hope that I at least manage to remember the important things, but I am aware that my time management and organisation is lacking somewhat so maybe I will go off and write some lists!
I keep meaning to write a 'to do list' I have read several articles about managing your time and all offer words of wisdom, writing lists being the key to having organisation. Which is obviously where I have always gone wrong, I'm not much of a list writer, I have never wrote shopping lists, or holiday must pack lists, or general to do lists.I am not sure what my evasion to lists is for, or where it stems from, I guess its because in an already over stretch time hungry day I reason that writing a list simply prevents me getting the things on the list done, or maybe writing down everything I want to get done on paper would just scare me too much and make me more frustrated when I don't get the things done.
I used to be pretty well organised as a school pupil, and I have managed to stumble through the past years of parenthood without messing up on too many occasions. (although my children may never forgive me for turning up to at least 2 friends parties at the wrong time!) I hope that I at least manage to remember the important things, but I am aware that my time management and organisation is lacking somewhat so maybe I will go off and write some lists!
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Snowy Sunday!
now if the children would make their mind up if they want to be in or out, I'd be happy... I think I'm going to take the dog alone for a chance to appreciate the beautiful scenes without snowballs being thrown and then 10 minutes later complaints about cold fingers!
I'm adding this to Coombe Mills Amazing Country Kids Linky encouraging everyone to get outside!
I'm adding this to Coombe Mills Amazing Country Kids Linky encouraging everyone to get outside!
Friday, 3 February 2012
A tribute after a tragedy
The other day my mum posted a photo to her facebook page, a normal photo she took a few months ago whilst on a day trip to the canal, where her and my Dad spend most of their free time on board their boat.
After posting this photo, a friend in America commented that like with clouds, where you sometimes can make pictures from the random shapes, she could see a definite man in the ripples of the water.
On second look there is a clear man, right there... do you see him too? if you really look at the photo you maybe can see a key to the left, maybe you can make out other faces as well...
Isn't it funny how faces are the first thing our human minds sees in random swirls and patters, the name for it is matrixing, and its a really interesting process, maybe its because we naturally look for a friendly face, as we need other humans to survive, or maybe its mother nature herself showing us something we other wise wouldn't see... you see this photo was indeed just a picture of the ducks, but when you see a man in the water this picture could mean so much more.
3 years ago today, 3rd February 2009 there was a tragic accident on this very stretch of canal, a canal boat owner, a lovable rogue, who lived alone on his narrow boat whilst swapping his gas canister accidentally slipped and fell into the freezing water. He sadly lost his life.
This story touched my parents hearts, they have made friends with other boat owners over the years and enjoy the calm life the canal brings. They used to wave and say hell to Des so when they heard of this accident my mum wrote a poem for 'the rat man' as they knew him.
The years have passed and the memory of that day left at the back of every ones minds, life continues as it does, but this photo made us think again of that tragic day.
What made my Mum post that photo to facebook just the other day, we do not know, why the water does indeed make such a clear picture in the swirls is a mystery. Maybe its just our minds doing clever things,or perhaps it really is natures way and deeper signs and meanings are there. Whatever the reason may be we look at this photo in a different light now and today we remember a man whos memory lives on.
After posting this photo, a friend in America commented that like with clouds, where you sometimes can make pictures from the random shapes, she could see a definite man in the ripples of the water.
On second look there is a clear man, right there... do you see him too? if you really look at the photo you maybe can see a key to the left, maybe you can make out other faces as well...
Isn't it funny how faces are the first thing our human minds sees in random swirls and patters, the name for it is matrixing, and its a really interesting process, maybe its because we naturally look for a friendly face, as we need other humans to survive, or maybe its mother nature herself showing us something we other wise wouldn't see... you see this photo was indeed just a picture of the ducks, but when you see a man in the water this picture could mean so much more.
3 years ago today, 3rd February 2009 there was a tragic accident on this very stretch of canal, a canal boat owner, a lovable rogue, who lived alone on his narrow boat whilst swapping his gas canister accidentally slipped and fell into the freezing water. He sadly lost his life.
The years have passed and the memory of that day left at the back of every ones minds, life continues as it does, but this photo made us think again of that tragic day.
What made my Mum post that photo to facebook just the other day, we do not know, why the water does indeed make such a clear picture in the swirls is a mystery. Maybe its just our minds doing clever things,or perhaps it really is natures way and deeper signs and meanings are there. Whatever the reason may be we look at this photo in a different light now and today we remember a man whos memory lives on.
Pictures and poems taken from my mums blog found here: Shalloweir Stories
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
The Gallery - Me Right Now
After hardly posting anything anywhere since Christmas I thought I should take a look at some of my favourite linkys and thats means Taras Sticky Fingers Gallery, and this week she has a great prompt, well an interesting one shall we say. I love photos that capture the moment ones that maybe the subject wasn't expecting, the ones where you sneek a snap of a tender moment between friends,
The Photos that show the simple things in life and sometimes capture the moments you would otherwise forget.
However this week is asking for 'me' right now, normally I'm behind the camera rather than in front of it! I often wonder if all the memories will somehow exclude me when they are looked back on in the future because its not often I am included in the photos, certainly no one takes candid shots of me very often capturing the normal moments in life where I am.
So where was I whilst reading the gallery this week... well as normal, I only came across this weeks prompt today (Wednesday) rather than when Tara posted the prompt. So like normal I'm abit late with posting this.
Wednesdays are probably my most hectic days, so I was catching up with emails and blogs whilst cooking tea when I saw this weeks Gallery theme, and so I called Chloe to help me out and she took this:
Me. Right. Now. (well about 2 hours ago but I couldn't blog there and then :)
The Photos that show the simple things in life and sometimes capture the moments you would otherwise forget.
However this week is asking for 'me' right now, normally I'm behind the camera rather than in front of it! I often wonder if all the memories will somehow exclude me when they are looked back on in the future because its not often I am included in the photos, certainly no one takes candid shots of me very often capturing the normal moments in life where I am.
So where was I whilst reading the gallery this week... well as normal, I only came across this weeks prompt today (Wednesday) rather than when Tara posted the prompt. So like normal I'm abit late with posting this.
Wednesdays are probably my most hectic days, so I was catching up with emails and blogs whilst cooking tea when I saw this weeks Gallery theme, and so I called Chloe to help me out and she took this:
Me. Right. Now. (well about 2 hours ago but I couldn't blog there and then :)
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