Oh my Gawd!..time is running away with me
There is absolutely no excuse for why I am here on blog when I should be getting on with 'real things'
I've done some housework, made the two of us lunch and i'm now thinking about getting ready for the dreaded workplace

Ah well, a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do, so I had better shake myself up and dust myself down.................

From this



to this

I've forgotten who sculpted this piece... but on a little plaque, I remember reading "Warts and all"

Living sculptures

p.s.
I've since discovered that the sculptor was Peter Randall-Page who also has pieces at the Eden project in Cornwall.

I've been feeling quite tired these last few days.
After my 'lively' weekend, a visit to The Yorkshire Sculpture Park yesterday with my two sisters was a welcome change.
As the bank holiday was over the park was not too busy so we were able to enjoy the day stress free.
On display in the Park there is a set of sculptures by Elisabeth Frink. They are a series of three Riace bronzes inspired by the ancient Greek warrior statues discovered off the coast of Riace, Italy, in 1972. Frink felt that the original figures were very beautiful, but also very sinister... these were warriors who would go out and fight your battles for you, mercenaries... in other words they were 'thugs’.
The painted faces on these are inspired by Frink’s interest in Aboriginal art that developed after a visit to Australia. She uses the idea of a mask as a way of showing that their beauty in a sense hides what they are up to.

There were a few clouds around yesterday as you can see.

I saw this little princess with her splendid peacock feather costume and wanted to steal it from her

What a pretty fairy, she will probably be just like her mummy when she grows up
At the end of a hectic day.. the only way to travel

and finally..I told you it was a bit green...wish i'd kept my belt on..I look like a runner bean.

Click on any photo to enlarge...I think these girls are so beautiful..and you should see them dance!!.

Leeds carnival 2007

An Update to compliment the ladies.....for the ladies>

Forget Notting Hill...Leeds Carnival was celebrating its 40th anniversary last weekend. Undoubtably not on the same scale as Notting Hill but with over 100,000 people attending it was big enough! but still able to retain its community feel.
In 1969/70 I lived in a bedsit on McGregor Road Notting Hill, just around the corner from the then "infamous" Mangrove cafe. I remember aimlessly walking around on carnival day and everyone knew everyone else extolling the same community feel.
I couldn't imagine being there nowadays it is a different concept completely but for now...Leeds will do nicely, thankyou

LEEDS CARNIVAL QUEEN 2007

FOR SEANY
I searched high and low for her and although there were many beautiful ladies there she somehow eluded me...then, there she was...the rear view..admittedly she has put on a little weight since last year but......lol

Be warned..lots more carnival photos to come..later.

What did you have for your supper this evening?

Hi folks, I had a lovely time at the Leeds Carnival this afternoon. The costumes were fabulous as usual, really bright and colourful. I managed to get some nice pics of the boys and girls and will post a few tomorrow.
Boobs were more predominant than bums this year but I still managed to get a bum photo for seany...

A Ladies choir who were singing Kylie Minogue songs inside Manchester town hall where there is an exhibition of Kylie's stage clothes

newly weds on their way to Canal Street

A random street in Manchester

Hey lads, you're in rainy Manchester not Gran Canaria

The sun is shining and i'm on my to catch the national express bus to Manchester.
T'old man's just said
"What the heck are you wearing?.. you look like a leprochaun!"

"It's my new Miss selfridge emerald green smock top I bought in the sales... and yes, I know it's probably too young for me but I wore one similar in the 1970's so why not now?, I refuse to grow old gracefully and besides there'll be stranger looking characters than me in Manchester today!!

That's my two shifts finished for this week, a doddle isn't it and to think that I started this blog over two years ago 'cos I was even fed up of the job back then
I thought if I had a moan about it on blog then I could stick it out for a while longer...it worked , even if I have cut my hours down to only eight and a half a week and take two months unpaid leave after the Xmas period is over
I've had a lovely soak in the bath and intend to have an early night as I want to be fighting fit for my day out with Bella in Manchester tomorrow.

http://www.dalesman.co.uk/cgi-bin/webbbs/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=3495

No offence to either Religion or Yorkshire stonemasons........it's just a joke!

After the eventual passing of the eldest Nun in the Convent, the remainder of the members decided that a special headstone was required for such a devout person.
After much deliberation the inscription "God, she is thine" was agreed upon and the local Yorkshire stonemason duly instructed.
The day before the ceremony the stone was delivered to the local church, but on closer inspection the Nuns were horrified to find a typo, as the inscription read "God, she is thin".
The stonemason was telephoned immediately, informed that "you have missed out the "e", and was asked to rectify the fault post haste as the memorial was required the next day.
The stone was collected by the stonemason forthwith and re-delivered later that day having been duly corrected.
The headstone now reading "e' God, she is thin".

Near to the end of my shift the mad rush became a steady stream of people. To alleviate my boredom I decided to carry out my own survey and find out just how many folk had heard of the saying 'like Dick and Liddy'.
Of 23 people I asked (No I didn't accost them on their way in) 10 people knew the saying well, 2 people had sort of heard of it and 11 didn't have a clue what I was talking about.
The NO's were mainly people who weren't raised in Yorkshire (mainly middle aged) and young Yorkshire teenagers.
The Yes's were a mixture of born and bred Yorkshirites both young and old. The consensus of opinion was that it is an old Yorkshire saying which probably had it's roots in the South/West Yorkshire border area.
It seems it has been around for a very long time 'cos one old gent in his mid eighties reckons he knew the saying as a young lad.
So all I need now is for Marika or Teri to confirm this.
I'm sure they must have heard it...Teri's dad will have ..I bet

'Dick and Liddy'...Where did the saying originate from?

Am I the only one (apart from t'old man) who uses the saying
"They're like Dick and Liddy" when referring to a plodding old couple who are contented with their lot.?
Lonemum has never heard of it, neither has an aquaintance of ours.. an eighty year old Yorkshire man from York.
Is it local to the West Riding of Yorkshire?? So if anyone knows..Teri, Lee, Marika and any other Yorkshire bods...can you enlighten me?

Got to go to work now, catch you later.

It's that time of year again...bank holiday Monday is Leeds Caribbean carnival day...any one remember these pics I took from from last year?

First though i'm having a coach trip over to Manchester on Sunday 'cos Bella has promised to buy me a curry down the 'curry mile'.
Just realised it's Manchester Gay Pride weekend this weekend too so Manchester town should be lively. Belinda Carlisle is performing at some point in the proceedings but I don't think i'll be watching her, i'll probably be eating my curry at the time
it is a much larger event than the little Wakefield one.
Looks like I should have an entertaining weekend.. once i've got my two shifts out the way that is.

The university of Missouri printed this article in June 2007(although it hardly tells us anything we didn't already know)

I scored about two thirds of the pointers positively.
HOW OLD DO YOU THINK YOU WILL LAST BASED ON THIS CRITERIA ?

A Prayer before Logging onto the Internet
in honour of St Isidore of Seville...Patron Saint of The Internet

Almighty and eternal God,
who has created us in Thy image
and bade us to seek after all that is good, true and beautiful,
especially in the divine person
of Thy only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
grant we beseech Thee that,
through the intercession of Saint Isidore, bishop and doctor,
during our journeys through the Internet
we will direct our hands and eyes
only to that which is pleasing to Thee
and treat with charity and patience
all those souls whom we encounter.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

17 February 1958 - Pope Pius XII designates St. Clare of Assisi the patron saint of television. Thereafter, placing her icon on a television set was said to improve reception.

How far have we progressed since then!! lol

p.s
t'old man reckons that it improved reception 'cos it acted as an ariel

I've just caught the end of the programme about the oldest people in the world...weren't the old ladies just treasures?
They reminded me of the mother and daughter who came into the store while I was working last week. The old dear was a sprightly 98 years young and she had a twinkle in her eye as she anticipated her "treat" of being taken around the store in one of our wheelchairs.

When I receive an email from the 'family' in Spain, the name alongside appears -"ANGEL"- this is the name of the children's father,
'Angel' collects me from the airport It seems to me that an angel has truly appeared in order to take me away from this wet and worried land.
I have two more weeks to wait but it will surely come.

ANGEL ......Pronounced An-HEL in Spanish

The meaning of the name Angel is Messenger Of God
The origin of the name Angel is Greek
Meaning of this name: Holy messenger.

The son of a dutch friend is called -ANGELO- which is also the middle name of my first husband . If Lulu had been born a boy she probably would have been named ANGELO...nevertheless she was a girl and has always been an angel to me

ANGELO
The meaning of the name Angelo is Messenger Of God
The origin of the name Angelo is Italian

My cousin is called ANGELA, named after her aunt. When we were small I always thought she was special with a name like that, and that God would look after her come what may
and there's Angelina too!

Yes I like this name and its variations.

Have you a favourite name and why?

Has anyone heard from Welshcelt girl recently?..it's not that we want her to come back to Blog.co.uk if she  really doesn't want to but AlecWeston has thought of a ruse to try to track her down.
Read his latest post  on his site  www.blog.co.uk/user/alecweston/
and join the WCG fan club

UPDATE...WE'VE FOUND HER

I've just been having a mooch around blogland after having quite a nice day at work ..not very often I say that
The mood in the foyer was happy and light, it was very busy but time passed quickly as I busied myself handed out Gold Star stickers to good little children and conversed with some very brave individuals who toil on in their 'Mr Nobody' worlds. I simpathised with the lady who had recently had a perforated bowel and nearly died and I handed out stars to the three autistic children who often come shopping with their mum. The eldest is 15 years old now and is the size of a man and his mother has great difficulty controlling him. I have known this lady for a long time now and believe me she deserves the biggest *star* of all.

As I was saying I've been mooching around blogland and came across Usksider's blog where he has a picture of an Angel statue...it reminded me of the human statues which I saw in 'Las Ramblas' Barcelona a few years ago, I thought some of them were amazing

to see some others-follow this link
http://www.glamslamentertainments.com/humanstatues.htm

Good morning I feel today is going to be a flowery, gardeney sort of a day,

A FRIEND IS ONE WHO BELIEVES IN YOU WHEN YOU HAVE CEASED TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

before I have to go to work that is, then it may become a floury, gargoley sort of a day

Oh dear, I am stiffening up and the old 'winter' aches and pains are reappearing...yes I know it's still summer but the temperature has dipped a little, rain showers abound and I haven't been doing any real exercise for ages...don't know what's happened with the dance troupe but we've not had a practise for ages(no events on the horizon) and I suspect there has been a little 'in house' politics going on too, people falling out and all that.
I don't know what to do with myself for the next few weeks as my spanish class has broken up for the summer too...not that i'm too bothered about that 'cos it being a self help group run by doddery pensiors lol, we don't learn a lot anyway and besides I will be back in Castilla with the spanish family within three weeks ..yeah.
T'old man has firmly planted himself in his armchair in the lounge and intends to stay there 'til he has watched all the videos of tv programmes he missed and which I recorded for him while he was out on the razz last week so that leaves me back to where I started with nothing to do and with an aching body

catcha later Xx

"If you woke up and I was in bed with you, what would be your first thought"?

Kindly post the answer as a comment on my blog and the question in yours and see what my response would be.

references to geriatrics acceptable!lol

6th August 2007
According to the Prince of Wales official web-site the Prince of Wales has bought and restored two properties in the Saxon villages of Transylvania in Romania to encourage sustainable tourism in the economically deprived region.
The Prince of Wales's property in Viscri, Romania
Before renovation
after renovation

His Royal Highness has a long-standing interest in Romania and has visited the country regularly since his first visit in 1998.
The Prince has said that he was particularly moved by the plight of the remarkable fortified Saxon villages in Transylvania which were built centuries ago by German settlers, who were encouraged to go there to help withstand Tartar and Turkish invasions.
Sadly, due to mass migration, many of these villages have ageing populations and are in decline.
On his first visit to Transylvania, The Prince was immediately struck by the precious legacy of this area and said he was “totally overwhelmed by its unique beauty and its extraordinarily rich heritage.”
Last year, The Prince of Wales decided to buy and restore two 18th Century Saxon houses in the Transylvanian villages of Malancrav and Viscri, the latter a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
His Royal Highness said: “Ever since I first visited Romania in 1998, I have been doing my utmost to ensure a sustainable future for the Saxon villages of Transylvania and their people. Tourism clearly has a vital role to play in this.”
The buildings have been sensitively restored, and have a number of Transylvanian antiques. They remain very much in keeping with the surrounding architecture, but with modern facilities where possible for the comfort of tourists who wish to explore the unique culture of this forgotten part of Europe.
Through the renovation of these buildings His Royal Highness aims to help provide a sustainable future for the people of rural Transylvania whilst enabling residents to maintain their traditional way of life.

The properties will be available to let next year and further information on how to rent them will be made available in due course.

So now we know where these three will be going on their hols next year

ALL ENQUIRIES FOR LETTINGS APPLY HERE
http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/

Imagine there is a bank account that credits your account each morning with £86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every penny, of course?

Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME.
Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to a good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no over draft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day.
If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no drawing against "tomorrow." You must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success!
The clock is running!! Make the most of today.

Treasure every moment that you have!
And remember time waits for no one.

I wish the brain wasn't so complicated...it's giving me a headache just thinking about it

Wish I had got a full length shot of these lovelies, just to give adamantix the thrill of seeing more gals in fish net stockings

Actually, I don't mean to be disresectful but this group of friends reminded me of Prince Charming and the Ugly sisters

Everyone was so happy to pose for me though, even if I don't fit the stereotype.....or maybe I do

On stage, as well as Madam Connie, there was a local 'cover band'
KOLTON

Also ,a young man got on stage and played three amazing classical spanish guitar tunes. I spoke to him and asked him where he learnt to play spanish guitar so proficiently. He spoke one word only. "Iran".
Who taught him in Iran remains a mystery but he was a darned good teacher.

This young man had brought his 'minder' along too..albeit in disguise

Do you know that in all my 58 years and nine months, i've never once been to a Gay pride parade.
When I used to work in the bakery many years ago one of our bakers used to make the pilgrimage down to London every year for the big one held there and my good friend who lives in Brighton keeps telling me to visit when it's due to be on there, but I never have.
So, I was very surprised today to have been visiting in Wakefield only to discover that this lttle backwater was joining the ranks of the big players by organising their own Gay pride event, this year being the third one.
Luckily I had my digi with me so here a few pics I shot this afternoon.
Who is the proud owner of this very fine set of 'pins'

Ah, a fine set up front too I see.

This old guy had just waltzed by after having frequented a local hostelry, he insisted on getting up on stage and having a little tete de tete with local celebrity Madam Connie.

Two beauties and Wakefield's entry for Mr Gay Universe

Click to enlarge

Bella and BF are on their way to visit but are stuck in a jam on the M62 at the moment.
She will only be here a short while as I have to go to work this afternoon
Still it will be enough time for me to sing a belated Happy Birthday
They will spend the rest of the day at Lulu's house where they will prepare and eat a veggie barbecue
They'd better watch out for the wasps and keep any cold drinks well covered

There was once a famly of potatoes and the mother said to her 3 daughters "its about time you went out into the world and made something of your lives"
So off they went with the aim of finding a suitable spouse..6 months later the daughters returned.

The first daughter stepped up and said , well I did well I married a Jersey Royal, that's fantastic said her mother. You have done well.

The second daughter nervously stepped up and said " Well I married a King Edward" , you have done well , said her mother.

Sheepishly the last daughter came forward and said " I hope you won't Be too
dissappointed but I married Desmond Lynam.

A frown came over her mother's face and she said " I can't believe it, how
could you do it?, How could you marry a 'commentator'?

I've had a rather nice day.
I woke up this morning, the sun was shining and I thought "Yes, it's time for another Thursday matinee show.
My hair needed cutting, so I swung into action ,managed to get an early appointment this morning then afterwards I caught the bus to Leeds.
It was very busy at the shops with loads of sales on so I spent a couple of hours browsing and bought a few summer bits for my trip in September.
This week Leeds is hosting a food and drink festival so I popped into the marquee which is erected in Briggate and spent a pleasant 20 mins watching some chef concocting a cordon bleu dish with spring onions, rissotto rice and salmon, there was a tasting session afterwards but the audience were like vultures as they were doling out glasses of quality wine with the food too.

My main reason for going into Leeds was to see a dance spectacular at the Grand theatre. It was a production direct from Cuba called 'Lady Salsa'
Oh to be young again... there was a cast of twenty dancers, twelve musicians in the orchestra two singers and two narraters, it is an exhuberent feel good show and the dancing and musicianship were second to none and needless to say I thoroughly enjoyed myself and judging by the comments I heard on the way out, from the mainly middle-aged women who no doubt attend a weekly salsa class at the village hall, so did they
To read about the show go to www.ladysalsa.com

Going out for the day, catch you later Xx

I had a chat this morning with the pretty little three year old from next door who skipped up and down the path in her sequined slippers.
I had a walk this afternoon to the local beauty spot and sat by the lake and watched the ducks with their babies diving for fish.
I remembered sitting in the same seat with Bella when she was three, the scene was exactly the same.
I looked at the photos of the children playing around 'Jan's Van' at Warwick last week and felt a warm glow at the simplicity and pleasure the children gleaned.

I've been listening to a favourite video to make me smile

I'm wondering what has brought on this wistfulness....Oh I know!!...on Thursday it will be 24 years since my youngest baby was born ...it seems an awful long time ago now.........

"The greatest health risk posed by European wasps is if stung in the mouth or back of the throat. The soft tissue in these areas will immediately swell and may cause breathing difficulties. For this reason, we recommend that you NEVER drink directly from a can or bottle outdoors."

I've just read the above statement on a site about the dangers of Wasps. I wish Lulu had read this before she relaxed in her garden yesterday with a good book and an opened bottle of lager

Fortunately the swelling has gone down and today she only feels as if she has a really sore throat.
Needless to say there will be no more bottles or cans of 'nectar' to be drunk outside again for although there was no real harm done it ruined what could have been a perfect summer's day

I have just been offered 8 Legs of Venison for £50 - is that 2 Deer?

Another of my little videos taken in Warwick town centre during Folk festival week!!

Looking at my header banner I have been reminded that there is only fourteen months and three weeks 'til my sixtieth birthday, so I decided it was time to request a pension forecast.
I applied over the phone talking it through with a nice young man who sounded as if he could have been my grandson.
He was very formal as he asked for all my details; e.g date of previous marriage, date of birth of my last child, jobs etc.
Me being me, I couldn't help but jest as I explained that I couldn't remember the exact date of my previous marriage (1970'ish) and the certificate was long lost.
No, I couldn't remember the house number of the address I lived at before the one I lived at before my present one.
He's probably used to us "old folk" and our our memory lapses as he simply rolled on to the next question regardlessy.
Yes, I could remember when my last child was born, it was a month after my marriage to t'old man.
Yes, I do still work part-time only eight and a half hours a week y'know and No, I don't pay insurance stamp on my wage.
"Did I intend to give up work before I reached retirement age"?
"I don't flamin' know it depends on wether anyone upsets me or not"

End result was that he informed me that I should receive my pension forecast in around ten days time.
I figured that the amount will probably be about £50 a week which is near enough what i'm getting for the eight and a half hours down at the supermarket
So that should balance out nicely then

Bring it on

I was mighty impressed by the 'Widget' on Menomamma's blog which informs of the forthcoming blog meet in Liverpool.
Always wanting to try new things I decided to have a go at making a banner for myself.
Unfortunately I couldn't place it on my header as it doesn't take Java script and i'm not a 'pro' member so can't put it down the side...therefore it will just have to stay here as a post for now while I investigate further.

Seven months down, five to go ...time's just flying by.

I made a complete and utter ass of myself this weekend.
There I was walking through Warwick town centre when I did a double take
There, browsing around the craft market was 'SOANDSO' an established blogger from blog.co.uk.
She is not on my friends list but I have seen photos of her on her blog and yes, it was her definitely.
I stood back and watched her for a while. What should I do? should I approach her or just let her walk away
I took the bull by the horns and marched over to her
"Excuse me" I said "this might seem a little strange, but are you 'SOANDSO' from blog.co.uk"?...i'm Isadora101
"Pardon" she replied"
"Do you have a blog with the username of 'SOANDSO'"
"No, I wouldn't even know how to set up a blog" she said
"Well, you're the spitten image of this blogger" I mumbled embarrassingly I have seen a couple of photos of her on her blog and she really does look like you, I am so sorry to have bothered you."

"She wasn't offended or annoyed that I had approached her, a complete stranger, in the street, and she didn't appear to think that I was a bit of a nut either, instead she said "What is the blogger's name again? i'll look the blog up and take a look at her photo"

So, dear bloggers, if you have a comment in the near future from a woman who claims to be your double then don't worry it will just be my passing stranger.

I have refrained from naming the blogger I thought she looked like through sheer embarrasment