Tuesday 21 January 2014

What's going on in my life



I’m not sure that there is any news from The Willows that doesn’t relate to a) my mania for postcard sending and receiving; b) Partner-who-loves-tea working herself into the ground; c) the pair of us slipping out for illicit cups of coffee and assessing the many local cafés; or d) wandering into local charity shops to seek that unmissable bargain.   I’m having difficulty making any of these things into something really newsworthy and fascinating for you.

So here are some pretty trivial items…

 My annual self-portrait.  I don’t think the passport office would accept it but I assure you it’s better than full frontal face. 


 My latest money box.  I haven’t decided what its proceeds will be used for yet.  Any suggestions?


The study wall.


Son-who-watches-films making the first use of his new mortar and pestle.  


The fields between Pensby and Heswall on a sunny January morning while most of the rest of the country seems to be under three feet of water. 


 Today’s happy fact – to combat the blues:- Not only do sea otters mate for life, but they sleep holding hands with their mates so that they don't float away from each other.  How adorable is that?!

 Photo from Wikimedia

25 comments:

  1. Love those otters. I live near the bay where many of them live; their coats are super soft.

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  2. The sea otters are decidedly cute! :) And as for postcrossing, I know that you know that I know that it can easily become quite addictive! (Probably a good thing that they've attached limits to how many cards you can have travelling at the same time!)

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  3. I always love to see inside other people's houses! Your study wall is pretty interesting. Yep, those sea otters are adorable! There are many of them between Santa Cruz (where I used to live) and Monterey in CA. Always fun to catch sight of them.

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  4. I love that last added bit of trivia! Your new profile looks like it's been a while since you had a haircut. :) I love the wall of your study. I quit doing postcards since it seemed that I kept getting people who live in China and either were not being delivered or people were not bothering registering them. :'( However, I miss getting mail.

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  5. Otters are beautiful, all the way around, and fun to watch as well.

    Nice self portrait, and i don't believe that this view is better.

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  6. I came across your blog by accident. Love your taste in money boxes and thingoes.

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    1. Thanks for visiting. Hope to see you again some time.

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  7. Love the otters and love the study wall. Looks as if it's full of interesting things. Love to you, xoxox Carol

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  8. 1. Money box funds - hello? buy cat, of course - or, if you have a cat. buy it a toy!
    2. What's the purpose of the study wall? Love the look of it. It reminds me of how mystery shows map out crimes.

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    1. The study wall is part ornamental and part educational. Some of my friends are shown on the world map by the pins.

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  9. No need for truly earth shattering news, it's really just great to hear from you! We don't have 3 feet of snow here..just a few inches along with very frigid temps! Love the pic of the field through the branches..very nice...and so is your portrait! Have a good week John! The last pic of the sea otters made me go Awwwwww...to sweet!

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  10. Oh so cute!!! I see from your annual photo that you've saved some money from not getting a haircut. So you can put your money in your new money box. They are calling the year of no winter. We have had beach weather for weeks. My sister is a refugee from the terrible weather they are having in Canada and the Northeast.

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  11. You can use your new money box to save for a Caribbean cruise....wink wink. Jo is working very hard and deserves a break to some sunshiney islands.
    Thanks for once again filling me with knowledge...what a cute fact about the otters holding hands while asleep.....sooo cute.

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  12. john, happy new year!!!

    love the pics, especially the study wall and the tree through the branches, wish I had taken that one...love the spidery black lines...

    saz x

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  13. Hey, Mish is here (should FINALLY move in a week and send you some cuties!!) I can see some pins on your map. What do they mean? ;)

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    1. Hello Mish. Hope the move goes well. (and hope your mail will be forwarded). The pins represent places where friends live (there is, of course, one in Minsk) though I haven't finished putting them in yet.

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    2. Mmm... I saw a pin somewhere near Minsk, but decided to check ;)

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  14. Not boring at all. I love having a peep into people's homes. The study wall says so much about you for instance. On a lighter side wonder what the Pepto Bismal says sitting among the cookery ingredients!! The money box could be used for a new charity to teach cats to read and write!
    Your line on your header about being too far behind to die - did you see it on one of my posts some while ago! I have taken it off my computer room wall now as I don't want to be continually reminded about how far behind I am! Hope it will be a good year for you John.

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    1. Hello Barbara - I think I may have pinched the quote from you!
      The Pepto Bismal is definitely not a reflection on Rich's cooking - he's a great cook. It's just me having a bit of stomach trouble. Well spotted!
      I think the study wall tells everyone I've never really outgrown my student days...

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  15. At least since I have been reading your blog, this is (as far as I know) the first time we get a glimpse of the study.

    What did your son make using the pestle and mortar?

    Otters are great! And this picture is just one more prove of that.

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    1. I think the study featured a couple of years back when Rich and I decorated it.
      I can't recall what spices he was grinding or what the meal was. He provides us with such a varied menu that it could have been almost anything.

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  16. Those otters are the sweetest thing I've seen today! :)

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  17. It's nice that you share some glimpses of your life with us. Now I wonder what the pins mark on the map in your study. I can't take up the challenge to show my house now that I no longer have a house of my own (at least for the present). The photo of the field is a work of art (both the field and your capturing of it).

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  18. Take care Scrip, I enjoy your rambles. Pete

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