'New year resolution'.

I have a very busy year to look forward to in 2009, which includes extra family/friends time, additional visits abroad, continuing our fund raising for the Gambian children/schools, re decorating and updating our home, producing brighter and happier gardens than last year, supporting Vin with his lovely dolls houses, continuing my counselling course as well as starting a new project on communication i have been allocated at work, and of course working hard to enable all this!!

I also aim to regularly update my blog, my motivation was lost a bit!! after having problems with my lap top and main computer.... hopefully we are back on track now.

Nichola bought me a special gift recently....1001 Pearls of wisdom.....these quotes will help me continue "thought for the day"....a part of my blog i really enjoy.

2008 brought new pleasures as well as continuing old one's. Hopefully my blog reflects some of these.

3 of Vin's grandchildren came back into our lives approx six weeks ago after a two and a half year gap, which has been lovely [see photo above of Karl, Abbie and Katie taken with Libby and Casey after decorating the Xmas tree].... hopefully their visits will continue.

Thought for today:-

HEALTHY LIVING "The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly."

The Buddha, India.

Dolls houses in progress

As you can see Vin has been working hard on his dolls houses...i think they are really good and thought i would post photo's as they develop.

France and Belgium

Once again we visited Belgium and France during the week of the Armistice. I was looking forward to posting daily but my wireless connection let me down.

I have a busy couple of days ahead followed by two long days at work so my intentions are to post daily from Tuesday following the holiday a day at a time starting in Kent.

Here are some updated photo's of Varlet farm where we stay in Belgium. Whilst we are on the Somme we stay at Mash Valley B&b, in La Boiselle.

As you can see Varlet farm has it's own museum, and Charlotte is always happy to take you round and tell you the farms history....as long as you don't leave it until the last minute..Charlotte is a very busy and popular lady. I have added a few photo's of the farm from both inside and out, there is a lot more to the farm. The photo's taken at the back of the farm show some of the shells that are regularly found when farming for crops as well as the remains of a cellar that was in German hands until the Hood division took it in 1917. Sheila is stood next to one of the shells that has been found.

Sunflowers

A whole field of sunflowers for Nichola's birthday tomorrow.

Today's thought:-

"To do something, however small, to make others happier and better, is the highest ambition, the most elevating hope, which can inspire a human being".

Sir John Lubbock, Banker.

Halloween

I have three reasons for posting this witch today....

1) It's seven years ago today since i met Vin on a blind date....we always says he took a witch out....

2) My friend Pam from Derby jokingly calls me the witch and bought me this.

3) Finally of course it's Halloween today.


Today's thought:-

" The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate"

Oprah Winfrey, TV host.

Sleeping beauty's.....

Libby and Casey came to stay overnight before i start my four night shifts tonight.

Work and Libby being at school stops me from seeing the girls as often as i would like.

They are growing up so fast it's frightening.....


Thought for today:-

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing you will be successful"

Herman Cain, Author.

Mandala / reunion

Above is a mandala painted by my daughter Nichola. I don't have a talent for any kind of art but along with Nichola so does Justin and Vin....maybe one day i could try!!!!

We have just had a very full weekend,.... [following nine night shifts]....which included eating at a Thai restaurant with Nichola and Justin whilst we were in Nottingham for an annual reunion with the Friends of Lochnagar.

The evening and the meal was lovely as was Nichola and Justin's new flat.

The reunion dinner also went well...above is a photo of Richard Dunning receiving a gift acknowledging his thirty years of owning the crater. The crater means a lot to many people because of what it represents and is an important part of history.


Todays thought:-

"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly"

Robert F Kennedy US Senator.

Not many flowers left.....

We are ready for our autumn and winter flowers to arrive...we only have a few plants and flowers left to brighten the garden,the ones we can save and replant next year are being taken into the greenhouse.

My sunflower's are really struggling after the very bad weather recently....i am sad to see them go....they look too sad to photograph....

Jade's garden still has colour which i am pleased about, and as you can see the few indoor plants i have are still going strong....

I am looking forward to autumn and the changing colour's....once i have enjoyed Christmas i then look forward to spring and all it's bright new blossom....these are my two favourite seasons.