Look what the postman bought me this week!!

I’ve had a week of real deliveries this week – nothing surprising because I’d ordered  a load of stuff, but it is quite nice to have real packages to open!

Since the reawakening of my love for crochet I can often be found either searching blogs or auction sites for vintage-like crochet patterns. I found this gem on e-Bay for 99p (about 70cents now that the pound has dropped against the dollar!!) just look at the 70s-ness of it – I don’t care if I ever use it or not the  10 minutes I spent skimming through it were worth every penny I spent!

 

Please don’t all rush to place your orders!!!!!!

Then there was this yarn – remember I bought some blue last week? Well I found a pattern for a lovely baby blanket (keeping that as a surprise for the time being!!)and needed more yarn than I had, I thought maybe pink & blue together would make it more unisex. I changed my mind when I realised that it would be mainly blue anyway and there is still something that makes pink to girly for unisex! With that thought I managed to find the same brand on another auction site and ordered white to make two blankets – that’s another couple of projects planned!

And then there were these gorgeous notebooks which I ordered from my own photos through Photobox. I’m going to use them as gifts for a couple of very good friends!

The books that I read...

While I was on holiday I had the time to catch up on some reading – this is not a book review! I hated writing reviews at school and don't intend to start now!

I mentioned months ago that I was reading The Time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I finished reading it while on holiday and am pleased to say it was very good! Not your usual run of the mill love story and at times some of the language may be a little risqué for some but overall it is an excellent read.

Book number two was Sushi for Beginners by Marion Keyes. This is one of her earlier books and I was led to it for the most bizarre of reasons. On our last holiday I tried Sushi for the first time and, for some very obscure reason, this book came into my mind – I just had to read it. It was really not about sushi, for beginners or anybody else. A nice easy trashy read – just what I needed.

Book number three (!) The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson – on the surface not my sort of book at all. It was absolutely brilliant, a crime novel set in Stockholm and the first of a trilogy in the Millenium series.

Book number four – yes number four – The Girl Who Played With Fire also by Stieg Larsson, number two in the trilogy – totally compelling. I sat and read it in one day. I had to text number 1 son from the airport and ask him to order the third book, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest, because I just had to have it to read when I got home. It's sitting beside me on the sofa right now, beautiful hardback version just waiting to be read – just need to tear myself away from cyberspace now!

Sunday Stealing – The Random Dozen Meme

Ok here we are again – Sunday comes around far too fast! Sunday Stealing has managed to track this one right back to its creator! I've had trouble formatting the bullets on this one – for some reason Word is not liking double digit bullets! (Scrap that - I've edited in Blogger now and removed all the numbering!)

When you go to Wowmart, what one thing do you get every single time, besides a funky-wheeled squeaking cart full of frustration?

I'm really lazy busy and don't often go supermarket shopping – I tend to opt for home delivery! Nearly always order the same stuff though!

What is something that people are currently "into" that you just don't get or appreciate?

Some of the reality TV shows – always used to watch Big Brother but this year it has totally passed me by and the Apprentice – never really 'got' it!

What is something that really hoists your sail that other people might feel "ho-hum" about?

Has to be Blogging – for my non-Blogging friends, oh – and Twitter –some people just don't get it!!

Favourite song to sing in the shower or car?

I don't really have one – never in either for that long that I have time to sing! Although last weekend I sang along to all the wonderful Beatles tracks that were being played on the radio – knew almost all of the words as well!

A really great salad must have this ingredient:

Radishes – grew some for the first time this year and they were delicious!

What advice in a nutshell would you give to new bloggers?

Write as if it's just for you! But always remember somebody, somewhere will find it!

What was the alternate name that your parents almost named you? Do you wish they had chosen it instead of the one they gave you?

I was going to be Christine – instead they chose it as my middle name. When I was younger I hated my name because people seemed to want to call me Helen or Hazel all the time!

What in your life are you waiting for?

The boys to leave home! Oh, that sounds really mean – I don't mean it to.

You get a package in the mail. What is it, and who is it from?

Just about the only package I get in the mail these days would be a book I've ordered from play.com. I've ordered loads lately and need to find time to stop blogging/surfing and get on and read good old fashioned books! The last one to arrive was A Thousand Splendid Suns.

Today–what song represents you?

D'ya know – I can't think of a single one – failure on this one I'm afraid!

What is one thing that blogging has taught you about yourself?

That I can (sometimes) be quite witty and entertaining? And that not everything will contain humour. That I use far too many exclamation marks!!!!!!!! And parenthesises ((((^.^))))!!!!!!

How are you going to (or how did you) choose the clothes you're wearing today? What do they say about you in general or specifically how you're feeling today?

Today being a stay at home Sunday will be jeans and a T shirt – they say that I really can't be bothered to make an effort at the weekend but that I am quite comfortable with myself (that is until they get too tight towards the end of the day)

Challenge Fail

Yes - I failed last weeks challenge when I promised to read for half an hour every evening. One miserable night was all I managed. I blame my choice of reading material, I normally force myself to finish what I start but I think this time I'm going to concede defeat and pull back the cover of one of the three lovely new books just waiting for me.

This week I'm challenging myself to walk to and from work, I've managed it tonight, yes I know it's only Monday but it's a better start than last week! I have a confession though, it's not much of a walk really - I can see work from my front door! It usually takes me about 15-20 minutes door to desk and vice verse. The trouble is once I reach the building I see so many people in the long corridor it can take me twice as long! It's amazing the number of people who need to have corridor meetings at 8 in the morning!

I'd just like to point out that this is not a caricature! I can only dream of being that slim and wouldn't even be able to contemplate walking in those heels! I'm one for the comfortable options now when it comes to footwear but that's a whole new story...