Wednesday 25 September 2013

25 September 2013

No matter how many blogs I read, or comment on, or follow I cannot get the reason why I read those and not others.

I know what i like to look at, pretty pictures, and what I like to read about, real people's lives, but these don't tend to line up too straightly with the blogs I read.

When I started writing this in January I read many posts about blogging.

have ur own voice
find a niche
write about what you know
don't follow the crowd

But if the popular blogs are to be believed it seems what I should do is write a lot about getting drunk, post holidays pics, or pics of a baby, and post pictures about my outfit of the day.

None of which I really want to do.

And yet, my little blog just doesn't get any readers, so obviously I am doing something wrong.

However, I don't want to really push it, part of me doesn't want a million followers, with 6, 000,000 comments on each of my posts...that would be scary, and maybe someone who actually knows me would find out that I write this.

So, where is the balance?

How much should a person conform to gain popularity and fame!!

I kinda like the fact that I can just come here, stick down a few words, post a few pics, and if nothing else I have a reminder about what I have been doing, and how I was feeling.  I like that a few of you out there in blog land read my words, and look at my pics.  I even like (no actually I get a thrill) when you comment.  But I don't want to change who I am.

I don't want to put hours and hours into this, thinking about the perfect thing to say, and the perfect picture to post, and as for thinking about sponsoring people that scares me.  I don't think my little blog is really ready for people to read.  I need more practice in writing and in getting down what I am thinking about.

So I guess I just answered my own question, whilst confusing myself in the process.

Ignore all of the above.

I am not ready for this blog to go big.

I like that only a few of you read.

So, thank you very much to those who come back and check to see if I have posted, and to read my ramblings.

And an enormous thank you to those who comment.

Monday 23 September 2013

What do you do, when you don't have to do anything?

life lately

Life lately has been busy.  There is family, work, gym, sleep, friends, food, reading, TV programmes, climbing mountains....it doesn't leave a lot of time off, to do nothing.

But lately that is how my life has been.

I like it that way.

We have been out and about again this weekend, just doing stuff. 

I am lucky that R likes getting out too, so when we are both off work, we head off in the car.




Oxford Island


An Orc

Lunch


Pigs are bigger than you think


Glasgow, for lunch


Mourne mountains


23 September 2013

Today, I want to say thanx for the amazing Sunday I spent with my husband and my nephew.  We had an adventure day, and it was busy, busy, busy.  It was perfect to spend time with these two important men in my life and remind them I love them.

So today thats the good thing in my life.

Friday 20 September 2013

Comfort

Comfort is:
Cosy socks and warm fires
Big jumpers and cuddles
Knowing you are loved
A warm coat and scarf on a windy day
The smile on the face of someone who loves you
Relaxing after a hard day
Anything that makes you sigh

Comfort is:
How I feel when I think of my family

Comfort is:
My favourite piece of music playing as I drift off to sleep

Comfort is:
Everything that makes me feel good

Comfort can be:
Lazy
Stuck in its way
Unwilling to move or change
Ordinary
Boring

Thursday 19 September 2013

Me and.......only pictures



my daughter
my two sisters
good friends
Kat von D
Patch
My daughter

my little sister
my bestie

How creative can you be?

To say I was dreading the dinner party would be the understatement of the year.

It wasn't that I thought it wasn't going to be fun, I knew it was.  We didn't get together in my workplace without a sense of something different happening, but tonight I wasn't it the mood.

The theme for tonight was pirates, and whilst the outfit I had ordered from ebay had arrived it just didn't look like it did in the pictures.  The trousers were far too long and the eye patch was sparkly.  What type of pirate did they think I was?

My parrot refused to sit on my shoulder too.

And when it did!  Well the extra embellishment down the back of my top was not in the least attractive.

And I think that was wear the problem lay.

The guy I thought was hot was going to be there tonight, and I hadn't known.

All the other girls were wearing female pirate costumes, but I had to go for a male costume.  Sexy pirate wench vrs old man of the sea!  Well my amazing personality would have to take charge tonight.

The room we had booked was decorated amazingly, there were seaweed streamers hanging from the ceiling and there was a smell of the sea in the air.  the music was barely audible as we walked in, with a distinct lilt of waves crashing in the distance. 

It doesn't really matter if you are 15 or 50, at parties people tend to hang out with those they already know.  So the clique were already at the bar, short skirts and busty tops, hair hanging right down their backs, and giggling like school girls.

I ignored them as usual and walked to the other side of the room, looking for someone I knew.

The peg leg was uncormfortable, but the outfit must have looked good rather than ridiculous, as many people came up to me to check who I was, and then to tell me how good I looked.

And then he walked in.

Tuesday 17 September 2013

A mother's love

The memory I would like to relive never really happened, I just want to relive it so someone else could have been there too.

My mum passed away a few years ago, and was therefore not at my wedding.  She never even got to meet my husband, I didn't know him at that time.

I wish she had been there. 

So when I was asked to think about what memory I wish I could relive.

Its my wedding day.

With my mum being there.

Monday 16 September 2013

I climbed a mountain

The prompt today was to write a public love letter to someone.

Mine is to the me from a year ago.

Dear Tina,

Sometimes a girl just has to be proud of herself.  This is one of those days :-)

You completed the 14 mile Mourne walk on Saturday, and I could not be more pleased with you. 

You trained hard.

I believed you could.

And you did it.

WOOHOO!!!

I love the new you.  I love that you have trained hard, tried hard, and never given up.

I believed that you could, but you doubted yourself.

Look at you now.  Believe in more things.

Believe in yourself.

The sky really is the limit!
The view from the saddle of Slieve Donard, looking away from Newcastle

The Castles, the scariest part of the walk
Silent Valley



Hares Gap

Hare's gap

Friday 13 September 2013

A self portrait

I can't draw, so won't draw

Instead I will describe myself to you.

I am a huffy biatch, I like to get my own way and when I don't I have a tendancy to huff, pout and generally act like a three year old.  I am working on it.  But I still do it occasionally (like last night)
I am generous with my time.  If a friend needs me I try to be there, for as long as it takes.  I will txt, phone, visit, cry, laugh, drink, eat, whatever the friend needs until they feel better
I volunteer.  I volunteer with Urban Angels, who visit girls and their families living in women's refuges.  We visit with them, bring them nice food and drink, and pamper them.
I am trying to get fit after too many years of being a couch potato.  This is hard work, but leads me to the next point.
I am stubborn.  If I decide I am going to do something, then I do it. 

I am a mum to the best daughter that God could have given me.  She listens to me, then does her own thing.  But occasionally she will say something that makes me sit back on my heels, and gasp, I did that, I made that girl the way she is.  I am very proud of her.

I am a wife to a kind and generous man who loves me more than I deserve.  I try everyday to be a bit kinder just for him.

I work hard, but play hard too.
I love going to see live music.  I like the cinema.  I like theatre.  I love eating out.

I don't smoke, but I do drink alcohol.

I give good hugs, and i like to touch and be touched.  If I met you for the first time, I would hug you.  Then I would hug you when I was leaving too.  I might even kiss you. 

When we were younger we all kissed and hugged my mum everytime we entered the house, or left it.  My brothers and sisters, all grown up now, still kiss and hug each other, and we always tell each other "I love you"

Thursday 12 September 2013

12 September 2013

As any of you who actually read my blog know I have been participating in #blogtember, which is a fantastic idea, cos it means I haven't had to think about what to write.

But I have got lazy.  I have not been looking for the good in things.

Seeing the good in things was why I started this to begin with.

So today I start looking for the good.

Yes it is raining, but the plants, flowers and crops will grow.

Yes I am tired, but I have been training hard and I am getting fitter.

Yes work is busy, but I have a job when lots of people do not.

I woke up this morning in a warm, comfortable bed, next to my husband who loves me, without fail, and my daughter was sleeping in the next room.  Life doesn't really get much better than that.

Yes there are loads of things I want, but I don't really need anything.

I am grateful for my life.

Thank you.

Tuesday 10 September 2013

Turn about

My life has had a few turns in it, as most people's have.  

I had baby girl when I was 16.  That was massive.  It was hard work, I had to leave school, and be a mummy. While my friends partied and drank, I changed nappies and sang lullabies.  It was life changing.

When baby girl went to school my life changed again.  I went to tech to get some exams so I could go to uni.  At uni I did teacher training.  I taught for a few years but wasn't really enjoying it.

So I left.

I became a secretary.  Another big change.  People treat you differently.  For a while they kept asking me when I was going back to teaching.  I wasn't.  While I was teaching I was stressed, and took a lot out on baby girl.

Next big moment in my life?  My mum passed away.  Then my godmother passed away.  I moved home to look after my younger siblings.  My relationship broke down.  We split up.  My life fell apart.

I picked myself up again. 

I decided to love myself more, and not worry about relationships.  I took time to do things I wanted to do.  I had fun.  I went on dates. 

Then I met R.  My life did the biggest turn about ever.  This was the man I would marry.

On November 30, 2012 I married the love of my life.  Even baby girl says he is the one I was meant to be with.

On January 1st this year I had another life changing moment.  I decided to join the gym and get fitter.  It has been a really hard slog, but I have lost over 3st in weight, and something like 30inches off my body since then.  I am still working on this.  It is part of my life now.

Slieve Donard
For the past month I have been training to do a 14 mile hack through the Mourne mountains.  I have been training hard at the gym, and R and I have been walking up Slieve Donard in preparation for the 14th September when I will complete the 14 mile walk.  WOW

I read back over this and I am proud of the turns in the road that have led me to where I am.


My just giving page, in case you would like to sponsor me.  I am raising money for NSPCC.

Monday 9 September 2013

ISFJ

Sometimes you do these personality tests and they are rubbish, occasionally they hit the button so far on the head that it is hard to believe someone didn't just write specifically about you.

I just took this test as part of #blogtember, and boy oh boy it nails me to the floor!!

("If you want it done right, do it yourself").

methodical and accurate workers

good with people in small-group or one-on-one situations because of their patient and genuinely sympathetic approach to dealing with others

 their families are the centers of their lives

they are often unable to either hide or articulate any distress they may be feeling.

So yeah, thats me.

Friday 6 September 2013

Climbing the walls

#blogtember

Tell a story about a time when you were very afraid.


Well this one is EASY!

When baby girl was younger she used to sit in her high chair nd eat cut up bits of food.  If you are a mum I am sure you know what I mean.  You put them in their chair, with a toy or two, and a few cubes of cheese, slices of apple, pieces of bread, whatever, then you can get on with the housework, or watch the TV, or read.

This particular day I was watching TV, with baby girl beside me in the chair, as she ate an apple, all cut up into manageable chunks.

Or so I thought.

The chunks were obviously a strange size, too small to be bit and chewed and too big to be swallowed.

Cos this one piece of apple stuck in her throat.

I still get chills thinking about it.

She was happily chatting away next to me, then she went quiet.  Very quiet.

If you are a mum this is a warning sign...something is going on.  Usually it means trouble or mischief, but this time she was choking.

I lifted her out of the chair and did everything I was supposed to do, I checked her wee mouth, I tried to get her to cough, I put her over my knee and patted her back.

I panicked a bit more, I stuck my fingers down her throat to try and get the apple.

My sister tried the same.

Baby girl started to go blue.

My mum grabbed her off me, as me and my sister literally climbved the walls, and stuck her very long and pointed nails down baby girl's throat, pushing the apple down and out.  Baby girl took a gigantic breath and we all cried.

A lot.

Without a doubt the time when I was most afraid.

Thursday 5 September 2013

Remember, remember the fifth of November

#Blogtember day three

Pass on a piece of advice or information you learned and always remembered.

Well for some strange reason people don't tend to give me advice...maybe i am just so amazing that no one feels they can help me, or most likely I don't give off a vibe of needing help.

There are a few things that I have passed onto my daughter that i would like to share.

1.  This quote by Dr Seuss Those who mind don't matter, and those that matter don't mind.  I think it is important to realise that if people are talking about you and judging you, they are not really your friends.  Your real friends won't do that.  So if they are doing that, they aren't your friends.

2. Every action has consequences.  If you chose to do an action, be prepared for the fall out.  This may be a great consequence...or maybe not so good.  But if you are big enough to make the decision to begin with, be big enough to deal with what happens afterwards!

3. Own your mistakes I think this goes hand in hand with the sentence above.  If you do something wrong, make a mistake, break something, whatever...hold you hands up, apologise and deal with it.  Life works out much better this way round.

4. Treat other people how you would like to be treated.   This goes without saying, but in the spirit of passing on helpful advice, there it is.

5. Smile more. It makes you feel better, and brightens up people around you too.

Okay, so I passed on five bits of advice.  But they are five useful bits of advice for a happier life.

Wednesday 4 September 2013

Three months off? I'm going travelling

In the second episode of #Blogtember we are asked to describe what we would do with three months off from our current life.

Well that one is easy!

I would go travelling. 

I have been on Facebook now for a few years and have a world full of really close online friends, with three months off (and the money) I would go visit them all.

I have met a couple already, and they are like my sisters now.  We share online, and visit regularly.  But there are still a few I have yet to meet.

Last year a friend from New Zealand flew around the world to stay with me, R and baby girl.  We have chatted online for a few years, Skyped occasionally, but never met.  And she had the courage to jump on a plane, fly halfway across the world and come stay with me.

Next year I go to see her.  I cannot wait.

But with three months off, I would go see others too.  I have a great friend in Canada, who I talk to daily, and a girl in Australia who I would love to meet.  There are even a couple in USA that I have to catch up with in real life one day.  England even holds a few beauties I want to meet.  Time is the issue!  There is always something else happening, somewhere I need to go, things I need to do.  I don't get to meet these people.  But one day, you mark my words...everyone on my Facebook will be real life friends, and not online ones. 

Tuesday 3 September 2013

Why am I who I am?

Well, I am participating in #blogtember so for the rest of this month you get to hear my ramblings on subjects thought up by a very smart girl over on This blog

The first topic is "where or what do you come from?"

Well I am from a family of seven kids.  I am the eldest.  I have a close family, when we were younger we would visit with our grandmother, aunts, and cousins regularly.  I always felt there were people around me.  When we were very young and visiting my grandma, she would never be able to remember which of us was which.  Not because of any dementia, simply because there were so many of us running around her feet she couldn't tell who was who.  After growing up being called every name under the sun, what someone actually calls me doesn't faze me.  If someone is looking at me, they are talking to me, whether they call me by my right name or not.

Also having that many children running round made for a tougher person.  You had to be able to stand up for yourself, to give as good as you get, and also had to learn how to keep your mouth shut on occasion.  I became very adept in keeping the peace.  Nowadays I don't ruffle that easily.  Things just don't matter.  Petty arguments will be over if you just leave them alone, and getting involved in other people's arguments only makes them fall out with you.  They'll be friends again in a minute, just wait.

So thats where I come from.  A large family.  Full of kids.  Part of a mixed bag of fights, hugs and make ups.

Where do you come from?