(TL;DR: Lots of nature, more books, a bridge went up and lots of love from me to you.)
Hello there. I'm going to link up with Virginia today. The founder of RMWF. I haven't for the previous three. Oh, I've shared the link with her but I've been a bit shy - wrong word but I'm struggling to think of a better one - about publicly linking up. I'm pretty sure I know why and it's a daft reason, not one I really want to share. I started blogging again at just the right time and I find myself smiling during the week as I think about what I'm going to write. It will be worth it if just one of you thinks about starting this practice, to note down your positives, doesn't have to be in blog form, could be in a diary, post-its that only you see, art work... just acknowledge them. It sounds happy clappy but I promise you, not immediately but over time, you will start thinking in an all together different way.So then, what's brightened my days this week?
Firstly - the hound. He is sparko in this picture. I woke up, he's wedged against the back of my legs here and somehow, in the night, he has managed to drag that fleece from the end of my bed and covered himself up like that! Talk about make yourself at home! Look at the smile on his face! Cheek of it!
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You can just see the ferry mast and flag going through in the second picture |
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This plum. Look at the colour! Such a gorgeous red! And it was just the perfect sweet and sour tang too. (I eat them before they properly ripen) Oh it was so good.
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A friend inadvertently reminded me of the Dictionary.com app that I used to have on my phone prior to it crashing. So I downloaded that again this week because I do love my Word of the Day. Just in time too because the very next day this happened...
It's the little things that make me laugh - driving them crazy keeps me sane! :)
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Walking home after dropping the kids off at school yesterday and I kid you not, from the moment I turned into the top of my road till I got to the square at the bottom, birds were swooping in front of me back and forth, back and forth. Crows, starlings, sparrows, greenies, goldfinches. It was like being in a real life Disney film! I'm walking through like... I'M A PRINCETH! The lisp was essential. I think I may have even adopted the walk... (I would be Princess Fiona - she kicks arse! And is an ogre. As am I. No seriously - don't you take my moment away from me or you will see.) I could have burst into song! It had zero to do with the council man cutting all the long grass. No, not at all - it was my real life Disney moment! Aw I can't tell you - it was amazing! Absolutely stunning. Still makes me smile. And the noise! Oh wow - indescribable.
Bear had his first induction day at big school today. Loved it, wants to start there tomorrow. I had to explain he gets to go for another day next week but not properly till after the summer. So pleased he liked it though and all his little friends are in the same class with him.
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It tipped down last night. (Heavenly breeze today. Oh thank you so much!) Walking to Morrisons today with Phe and stopping every few steps so we could both move the emerging snails off of the gravel path and a little closer to the grass. There were a few that had been squished but we rescued many more. Love that she gets me. Got caught talking to one the other day. Was going "come on little fella, over here..." moving it off (a different) path onto some grass. Man walks past me with a raised eyebrow and an "alright!" I may get a name for myself at this rate. Ah well, add it to the list.
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While we're on the nature... many, many sightings of Silver Crow! Always when I don't have my camera handy or when she's to far away - my phone takes lovely close up pictures but the zoom is crappy to say the least. Been seeing her from early this year right up until this week. She's not so silver now, more greyish white but still just as beautiful. I don't think she's albino though - she's not got the albino eyes and her beak is dark not pink like I've seen when I've googled it. Still makes my heart leap when I see her. She must be at least 5 years old now. She was a baby when we moved into this house. In fact, I have spotted a fair few black crows with white speckles in their wings and tail feathers so I think she may be a Mama. She's actually a jackdaw but I started calling her Silver Crow before I learned more about them, the name has stuck.
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Old pictures of Silver Crow on our birdtable |
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And leading smoothly on to cameras (oh how smooooth was that?) I've been receiving emails from the uni showing work from previous years students. I don't think my camera phone will cut it for some of the projects so am going to save up for a proper grown-up camera. Just a bridge one. Not an all singing, all dancing many lenses job. The positive is, not just for this but anything really... Realising what a goldmine of friends I have. I have someone for literally anything I need to ask - especially creatively and with my work. The wealth of knowledge that you lot have is just astounding. And you never tell me that my questions are silly or obvious or probably on Google, which they are. Somehow, when a friend explains, it's better and it's more understandable and it builds that friendship - don't you think? I have people! And I'm just realising that really. I want to say thank you for not making me feel stupid or daft and that you do have time to say, yeah you know what - try this or look into that. Or this might be better... I know I might not see or ever meet most of you in person - you all live so bloody far away, or if I do see you, it's not often. But I really do have the best friends and probably, as an introverted socially anxious dafty, the best friends for me. You are amazing! And you know it goes both ways right? I'm always at the end of an email, text or IM. Let me repay you sometime.
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Having said all that... I have a date! Next month! I'm going to socialise. Ohhhh yeah! Sarah is one of the aforementioned amazing people. We met through Blogland and I count her as one of my best friends. In actual fact I think we have only met in person... 3 times? We've been friends for years now and do talk every few days via this wonderful t'interweb. For many of those years we've been saying we should meet up so I can be walloped in a deluge of all her street art knowledge. She's promised me a guided tour around that there illustrated London. Finally the stars have collided, our diaries have aligned and we have a date to do some serious walking and art slobbering (that bit would be me) It's going to be EPIC. (Repeat that last word in voice-over man tone - with echo effects.) She knows everything in the whole world (probably) about street art. You may know her already, she's otherwise known as Lost Dogs. You might have seen her stickers plastered in various public places on your travels around this fair land. I'm a tad excited, I don't know if it comes across. But I am. The nerves are kicking in already but I'm excited. And look, look Sarah - you too are written in ink!
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I was talking to Phe yesterday about children having kids and somehow, it got round to my saying that I hope they hold off as long as they can or forever. I really do. I want them under no pressure to provide me with grandchildren. (Far from it.) I want them to live full lives so rich in experiences and knowledge. I started young, to young and although I love my babies dearly, I have nothing to pass on to them. I'm not talking money - I've always believed as long as they have a roof, food and love they'll be fine. And they are more than fine - they are amazing kiddos. So proud of them. No - I've had no worldly experience and I don't feel my head has any real knowledge within it. It's not something I'm proud of and It's probably why I admire so many of you guys so much. I try to hold on to people that are passionate about things. In some way to soak up a little of what you know and pass those titbits on...Today I got a letter from student finance. It's all going ahead. There is literally nothing stopping me now, except me. I am going to uni. I am going to keep learning. I am going to get a degree and I am going to be self employed. This is happening... Could someone maybe pass me a paper bag?
I just wish Mum could have seen. I really do. I will admit to some tears today. Happy tears. Receiving that letter - I'll never see it but it's a lot of money they entrust in you. When you see it written down and hold that letter in your hands. It's a bit of a "whoa" moment. Thinking about Mum and then reading back through this post and realising how lucky I am - bit overwhelmed today. Work hard. Make damn sure I'm looking back with no regrets, hey? Right - time to wrap this up methinks before I short circuit the keyboard.
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I told a big fat lie the other week didn't I? These posts aren't getting any shorter. You know why? I write them throughout the week, kind of diary style so I don't forget things. If I just sat down on Friday I'd forget. Would you like me to write the days down I'm physically writing each bit or shall I just continue as I am?
To end, Phe told me George Ezra is finally releasing a new album. (Pause to have a little "yaaaaay") So this week Mr Ezra has been my car companion. His first album Wanted On Voyage is just so good, there is not a single bad track on there but these are my three favourites. These get cranked up just enough so I can't hear myself and I sing along till my throat hurts.
Thanks for stopping by. How has your week been?