New Year's Eve

You put a pencil in your mouth and use that to roll a lemon along the floor. First to the fireplace wins... One of a number of New Year’s Eve games – 1963. GB (left) is competing against Uncle Ernie in the foreground. I think I’m on GB’s side since it’s only Uncle Ernie I’m distracting!

Then it would be all round the piano for a sing-song. (Taking part are our traditional New Year’s Eve gathering of Nana, Auntie Dolly, Auntie Ella, Auntie Elsie, Dad, Uncle Ernie with Mum at the piano and me behind the camera.) Only GB looks as though he’s actually singing and Mum looks a bit fed up of waiting for the flash bulb to go off. Perhaps a previous flash bulb had failed. (Remember them – a new one each time you took a photo using your hand-held flashgun?)

Just to prove I was there – though I’ve missed half the group! The problem with cameras that didn’t look through the lens was that what you saw was not always what you got – probably not helped in this case by the camera moving on the tripod.

And, a year earlier, Aunty Ella (my Great Aunt) watching our new black and white television on the programme which immediately preceded Big Ben and which included a somewhat inebriated Duncan MacRae reciting “A Wee Cock Sparra”


A wee cock sparra sat 'n a tree,
A wee cock sparra sat 'n a tree,
A wee cock sparra sat 'n a tree
Chirpin’ awa’ as blithe as could be.


Alang cam a lad wi' a bow and an arra,
Alang cam a lad wi’ a bow and an arra,
Alang cam a lad wi’ a bow and an arra
And he said, “I’ll get ye, ye wee cock sparra.”


The lad wi’ the arra let flee at the sparra,
The lad wi' the arra let flee at the sparra,
The lad wi' the arra let flee at the sparra
And he hit a man that was hurlin' a barra.


The man wi’ the barra cam ower wi’ the arra,
The man wi’ the barra cam ower wi’ the arra,
The man wi’ the barra cam ower wi’ the arra
And said: “Ye tak me for a wee cock sparra?”


The man hit the lad. tho’ he wasnae his farra,
The man hit the lad, tho’ he wasnae his farra,
The man hit the lad, tho’ he wasnae his farra
And the lad stood and glowered; he was hurt tae the marra.


And a’ this time, the wee cock sparra,
And a’ this time, the wee cock sparra,
And a’ this time, the wee cock sparra
Was chirpin’ awa’ on the shank o' the barra.

By which time Duncan had usually fallen off his perch.

They don’t make New Year’s Eves like that any more!

May you all have a Good New Year and the very best of health, fortune and friendship during 2010.

Christmas is over

Christmas is over so far as I’m concerned. Once the family visits have finished it’s back to ‘normal’ – what ever that may be. Nevertheless, the Christmas tree is still up and we have New Year to celebrate (more British moaning about how poor the TV choice is on New Year’s Eve). There’s paperwork to be done that has been put off since the week before Christmas. The fridge needs sorting so that the remains of the trifle don't go yucky. Then it’s a toss up whether you take the tree down straight away or leave it up till Twelfth Night. As the one who has to vacuum up all the needles I’m in favour of the former.

I like Christmas but the few days after the family have gone are not my favourite time of year. Bah, Humbug!

Nevertheless, I’ve got time to read some of my Christmas presents. Among the eight or none there’s a book on embroidery, a fascinating book about Averages, a book about Merseyside curiosities, a beautiful book of Natural History Art. Now where do I begin?

Rosina Wachtmeister

I am very fond of the cat figures and cat art of Rosina Wachtmeister. I have shown some of them on this blog before but I make no apology for repeating them.

'The most important and most beautiful part of my life are my dreams. Sometimes my dreams and my reality merge into one.' – Rosina Wachtmeister


Born in Vienna in 1939, Rosina Wachtmeister studied sculpture and scenic design in Brazil and ran her own marionette theatre before returning to Europe in 1974. For a living she sold her artwork on the Piazza Navona in Rome where she was discovered. Her art reflects the charm and simplicity of everyday life at La Rocca, her farmhouse in a picturesque little village in the hills of Latium (Italy), where she lives, surrounded with family, friends, her animals and her music. The tranquil and nostalgic atmosphere of the place is a source of continuous inspiration. The cats, the sun, the domestic scenes and her love for music are prominent themes in her oeuvre.


These are some of her cat figures that I have. All her figures have names – these are Amica in front; Stella and Serafina; Renato and Renata; Julia at back.

Happy Monday - Wake up call

A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. Suddenly, the man realized that the next day, he would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight.

Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper, 'Please wake me at 5:00 AM ' He left it where he knew she would find it.

The next morning, the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00 AM and he had missed his flight. Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn't wakened him, when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed. The paper said, 'It is 5:00 AM. Wake up.'

Men are not equipped for these kinds of contests.

The Sunday Roast

I haven't an intention of doing any major blogging this week but if you would like to visit Eddie's blog you can read an interview with me on his Sunday Roast blog.


 

Award For Photographic Excellence

Each Sunday I give an award to one of my favourite blogging photographers. When I first started blogging and looking at Blogs it was the excellence of people’s photos that attracted me. Nowadays I am equally interested in the writing but every now and then a particular photo reminds me how many brilliantly talented amateurs there are out there. I have decided to give the award to one person every Sunday until I run out of folk to give it to. The award is in no particular order so please don't feel left out if others precede you!

The recipient is welcome to display the award on their blog but is equally welcome not to do so. There is no passing on or writing deep secrets necessary. It is simply an acknowledgement from me of how much I have appreciated the person’s photographs.

And today's Photographic Excellence Award goes to Rebecca of The Dusty Cellar Shoots. Rebecca comes from Ambler, Pennsylvania, and shoots a wide range of subjects. You can also find her contributing to Soaring through the World in Pictures (just click on the link and then on her name in the sidebar links.

Friday My Town Shoot-out - Angels

This week's subject for the Friday My Town Shoot-out is Angels - chosen by Kim from Chicago.

An angel under the Christmas tree – Daughter-who-likes-food, 1978:-

An angel at the Christmas concert – Daughter-who-takes-photos, 1984:-

 And they are still my angels now –

Helen 2007:-

 Bryony 2008:-

(P.S. Sorry boys but I always think of angels as female!)

If you would like to see other members' shoot-outs please go to the link page.

To learn more about the Friday My Town Shoot-out why not pay a visit to the
home blog.

Christmas Day

Hope you are on the list of those who have been good this year...

Christmas Week

Christmas Week
....or should that read Christmas weak?

Sunday – Cleaned the house
Monday – Baked
Tuesday – Shopped
Wednesday – More baking
Thursday (Christmas Eve) – Butchers; peel vegetables; begin cookathon
Friday (Christmas Day) – Check if on Santa’s Good Boys list; finish cookathon; eat dinner; watch the Queen (obligatory in our house if one wants to keep in with partner-who-drinks-tea); moan at how few decent programmes are on TV these days (a national pastime enjoyed by us all); light the log fire; begin reading Christmas presents (well they are book shaped so what else could they be?).
Saturday (Boxing Day) – Food-loving-daughter and Son-in-law-who cooks come for the day.
Sunday – Daughter-who-takes-photos and her partner (Friend-who-loves-Otters) arrive for a couple of days.

Cars tiptoe past on the main road in the early morning light of the sodium lamp.
So today we only have to venture as far as the butchers – a quarter of a mile – which pleases me no end because the last two days of hail have left sheets of frozen hail and ice everywhere. The pavements are treacherous and the side roads almost impassable. There are signs this morning that it may be beginning to thaw but more snow and hail is forecast.

May not get around to blogging tomorrow so I shall wish you all the very best – enjoy your day and if you have to travel in bad weather, take care and may your God go with you.

No news is good news

The weather has been horrible today. The roads were icy and we had very heavy and large hail, alternating with a bit of snow and a bit of rain. Add the wind and it’s been really yucky.

So much to do as Christmas approaches. A lengthy hospital appointment (semi-routine) for Jo took up this morning. I had volunteered to keep her company as we both anticipated it only taking half an hour. How naive can you get?

Also been doing the shopping today. Apart from the lamb joint (our traditional Christmas Day Roast), if it’s not in the house now we won’t be having it. That’s one advantage of making one’s own bread.

Now it’s off to bed for a read and an early night.

Sleep well!


 

Happy Monday - A Smiley

Thanks Granny!


 

Award For Photographic Excellence

Each Sunday I give an award to one of my favourite blogging photographers. The recipient is welcome to display the award on their blog but is equally welcome not to do so. There is no passing on or writing deep secrets necessary. It is simply an acknowledgement from me of how much I have appreciated the person’s photographs.

And today's Photographic Excellence Award goes to Kerri from Blacksburg, Virginia. You won’t find better bird photos on any blog!

Don’t read this if you haven’t watched the Strictly Final yet!

Waiting after the Exhibition Dance

My favourites - not in terms of odds on winning but in terms of enjoying their performances - have been Chris and Ola. And now Chris and Ola are the new Strictly Come Dancing Champions.

From the moment they met they clicked as a partnership and they were brilliant in the Final.

I suspect people anticipated that the judges scores in the Final would be favouring Ricky and Natalie throughout but the scores were so close that at the end of it there were only four points in it. Ricky and Natalie 190; Chris and Ola 186.

The Judges scored Ola and Chris higher on two of the four dances - including the Lindy-Hop where both teams were on the floor together - and gave them a perfect 50 for their Charleston.

If the high spot was lifting the glitter ball trophy getting a 10 from Craig must have come a close second. Their exhibition dance was also brilliant and they got 46 out of 50 for that.

Waiting for the moment of truth.

A tearful Ola cannot believe it.

Friday My Town Shoot-out – My Town Dressed for Christmas

This week's subject for the Friday My Town Shoot-out is My Town Dressed for Christmas.


Liverpool – City of Culture 2008 and the city with two cathedrals - is celebrated in the lighting in the city centre but I left before they were switched on.

Liverpool has a Go Penguin theme this Christmas time. There are about 200 of them scattered about the city.

The usual skating rink has appeared in the city centre for the Christmas period.....

...accompanied by a children’s funfair.

Within India Buildings the glorious architecture is supplemented by the decorations.

Inside St George’s Hall – another tree.

The new Liverpool One shopping centre.

Cavern Walks – not exactly traditional Christmas colours but pretty nonetheless.

The Liverpool FC shop is, of course, decorated in red and white.

The traditional giant Christmas tree.

Rapid Hardware – the only shop I saw which recalled what the Christmas time celebrations were about!

If you would like to see other members' shoot-outs please go to the link page.

To learn more about the Friday My Town Shoot-out why not pay a visit to the home blog.