Love all the fandoms

She was shopping in town today. Away on the train with a friend for Mother's Day stuff.

(For easy reference: Panic! At The Disco tee, Attack on Titan hoodie and Liberty zodiac vans.)

There may or may not have been an ulterior motive when she returned with a pair of these. She's been saving up since Christmas - her skinny calves just about fill them. 

Yes,  there's no mistaking her for my child. Black band tee and everything! 

She wants her hair dip dyed black next week in lieu of her usual purpley brown. Not even fourteen and the alternative streak is strong - sixteen will be all  sorts of fun, no? I'm thrilled to bits - I can do alternative mentoring, it's fake tans and false nails we'd struggle with!

Journal Your Christmas day 16 - make love your goal

Christmas songs are a funny thing. Have you noticed how many old favourites don't actually have Christmas mentioned in them? It's a bit like films - the Great Escape is very much a festive film in my eyes but that's only because it's always ON at Christmas, not because Steve McQueen is escaping the camp riding Rudolf  (that would have had a quite different ending, no? *g*) The other one is Die Hard. It's set at Christmas so therefore, in my eyes at least, it is a Christmas film. I know that's controversial. Heh. 

Anyways, back to music. I have three firm festive favourites and only one references Christmas and it's a protest song about war! What else could it be but the wonderful "Stop the Cavalry" by Jona Lewie. (clickety click here for video!) I love singing those trumpety brass parts.

Second on my list isn't a Christmas song but is at least winter themed. The 60'S were a great decade for yuletide songs - the Beach Boys "Little Saint Nick" (run, run reindeeeeeer! ) and Chuck Berry's "Run, Run Rudolf" being two other top tunes for me. But they are all beaten into touch by the squeal inducing "Sleigh Ride" by the Ronettes. (clickety clicksville) I mean, when did "ring-a-ling-alinga ding dong ding" ever sound anything other than ridiculous? And they make it just perfect.

Bringing me to my favourite. Which, again, is not a Christmas song. Or wintery. Or anything remotely seasonal. But it was number 1 just before Christmas (31 years ago!) and has a video re-enacting a traditional nativity so is very much a part of festive tradition and always pops up in Christmas song countdowns. Of course, it's the seminal "Power of Love" by those surprising Nöel stalwarts Frankie Goes to Hollywood. (click)

I was 10 when this hit the top of the charts and I vividly remember them being on Top of the Pops and my mum singing along. I was mesmerised by that video (good old Godley & Creme) and the musicality of the song. It was much later - nearly 20 years - before I really listened to the lyrics while nursing a fretting baby. And, like a lot of songs since motherhood, it took on a whole new meaning. It's a very me refrain, particularly the last spoken lines

I'll protect you from the hooded claw,

keep the vampires from your door.

So c'mon then. Fave Chrimbo tune? I see the numbers, I know you're out there! 

Journal Your Christmas day 14 - the places we'll go

One major reason I still live in my home town is my family are all still here. My folks, my brother, my Grandparents - all walking distance from each other. It means at Christmas there's no travelling to be done and every Christmas Eve has seen me in my own bed. But we have a few wee things we like to do over the festive season like always going to see a pantomime or having a drive round looking at all the lights.

The last few years I've really missed seeing Chook in a nativity or some other Christmas show. So it was with great delight this year that we all trotted out at the beginning of the month to watch one of her bands playing. She's in the school instrumental group (they're performing at local nursing homes this week), the brand new local youth brass band and HMFY, the local branch of Music for Youth. It was the HMFY concert we were at, Chook is in the training band.

It was brilliant. A mix of Christmas and not-so music but all with a wintery feel. Our biggest laugh was when Chook's mentor (who plays the euphonium) flicked a hidden switch halfway through a number and his instrument lit up like a Christmas tree. He had wound little battery operated lights through his tinsel decorated tubes and valves! It's such a great experience for her, she's getting more confident all the time and I just LOVE all the music. 

Sewing

In between all the cupboard cleaning out and the house diy and starting Christmas prep (how is it mid November already?!) I have managed some sewing! And when I say I what I really mean is we. 

First my own sewing, though. I'm part of an international round Robin bee, The Pips, and this round I have Susan from Australia's piece. She started with that modern, freeformy flower in the top left and her inspiration mosaic had a few flowery things in with the colour suggestions - we seem to have taken the botanical idea and run with it!

My addition is the row of little cacti along the bottom. And the wee bit of embroidery? Well after my War of the Worlds Tripod last time I was having a chat with Jan. Who instantly mentioned Triffids. Ha!! Baby Triffid it is then! They are paper pieced (I made the templates myself!) and finish at 2.5 inches each so quite wee!

This isn't due until January but it's so nice to know it's done and I don't have to think about it over the frantic Chrimbo period.

So, what else? Well Chook has been attending the Muckhart Quilters with me and this session they are running a block of the month series so by the summer we should have enough blocks for a quilt.  This fascinates Chook so I said we'd do one together if she liked and I'd show her how to sew them. She picked her fabrics and we've each sewn one of the designs in her colourway. 

Don't they look great? I think she made stellar colour choices and her sewing has been really fab. Did I tell you she passed her Grade 1 baritone, too? With merit, no less. Actually, she only missed a distinction by 2 measly marks, I thought she did wonderfully! So she's skipping Grade 2 and going straight to 3 probably next October. The house is full of "A Whole New World" practise just now, her first new piece. Busy busy! *g*

all bad things must come to an end

Oops, I've not been so good with the blogging this week! I blame having a surprisingly busy week, starting off with a whirlwind road trip with friends to a concert. 

Here's me and Spouse in Newcastle. We had journeyed down with friends (travelling with two and meeting another two there) after work at lunchtime on Monday to see Motley Crue in their farewell tour. They weren't coming to Scotland so three hours was the closest gig to us. And the four of us driving were all working the next morning but you do what you gotta do, eh?

Here we are just before heading out for some food - Spouse is obviously starving. *g*

Alice Cooper was the support and he was awesome! Got straight jacketed by the mad nurse, brought a Frankenstein's monster to life, had four costume changes and got his head cut off all in 50 minutes. Very entertaining! This below is waiting for the Crue to come on, the scaffolding is the drummer's rig. His kit rides that rollercoaster flipping him upside down while he plays - it is incredible!

I hadn't seen a light show like it, either. It was really effective and the pyros were fabulous, I reckon they might have blown the profits on explosions and fire!

And at the end two band members were whisked out over the audience on little cranes. It was rather spiffing, TBH.

We got home just before 3am and had a bleary start to the day at 8am but it was worth it. And a big special thank you goes out to our girl, Av, who expertly drove us there and back again like a total pro. Although I may still not have caught up on my sleep - I'm not doing so well at the early nights just now, too much stuff to do!!

Blogtober day 29 - the tracks of my years

Last one!! Coz it's nearly November - yikes!! You know how I had an accidental little brother week last time? Well this is the special ladies version.

The Eagles - "Heartache Tonight"

The Eagles wrote some top tunes, no? This isn't my favourite but it reminds me unfailingly of my Mum. She was ironing in the hall of one of my childhood homes, maybe 25 years ago, and if you listen carefully you can hear a double kick drum beat? Well as she was ironing and singing (she has a great voice) her leg was shooting out and kicking the double beat in the air with her foot - it was hilarious and cool all at the same time and I see it every time I hear this song.

The Beatles - "Blackbird"

I've mentioned this before but this always reminds me of Beloved Wee Granny. It first came up in conversation maybe, I dunno, 20 odd years ago during a general chat about The Beatles. So she'd be in her early seventies. I remember being impressed Granny knew who they were and then really impressed when she could rhyme off some albums. Which is really dumb when obviously she was only the age I am now in the sixties and had two teenage children! My folks had the White Album on LP when I was a kid so I knew it really well and mentioned this track. She immediately sang the first two lines and said something along the lines of "that's a lovely song." So it is forever associated with her. And since I know someone will ask, yes, she is still with us but is a wee, frail old lady in a nursing home and I reckon not long for this mortal coil. But she still has her smile and her peaceful aura so we're very lucky. I'm very lucky indeed. 

Blogtober day 28 - midweek mundanities

my general mood? Is nice and relaxed. Which is a lovely change! I have some gentle makes on the go and my groin strain is very much on the mend. Chook is happy and tells me she has a surprise when she gets in from school. All is well. 

what am I wearing? I'm blogging in my lunch hour again today! So today's dress is a navy 60's style shift with a white collar and orange flowers. Worn with navy leggings and waterfall cardy. 

what have I been watching? Still Supernatural although only 2 episodes in the last week. Very little telly actually this week!

what am I reading? Nothing! I've been browsing YA titles on my Amazon Unlimited account but downloaded nothing yet.

what have I been listening to? Just my iPod on shuffle - I told you things were quiet this week! I'm not walking to work after the groin strain fiasco of the weekend and that tends to be my music listening time. 

what have I been creating?  I finished a birthday gift last night and am thrilled with how it's turned out. Obviously I can't show it yet but I might make another one or two for Christmas. And tonight Chook and I have a date to sew together her blocks for the Muckhart Quilters block of the month quilt. Still not cut my coat out. I'll get there. Heh heh.

Blogtober day 27 - thanks on Tuesday

Chook had her grade 1 ABRSM exam this morning. She did brilliantly and we don't get her results for at least a week! What I mean is she was calm - even through the nerves - and did all her pieces the best she could. And when she totally messed up one of her scales she didn't let it phase her and she shook it off, carried on and nailed the next one. I was so worried she would go to pieces and hate herself for fluffing bits but she came out really positive which was brilliant - she can be her own harshest critic. I couldn't be prouder and it doesn't matter a hoot to me what her result is. But please let her pass after all her hard work!!

So thanks today? To her lovely tutor who calmed her down by simply forcing her to warm up, to the lovely church hall lady who kept me entertained during the longest 11 minutes of my life by chatting and feeding me Miniature Heroes and to my work who are always unfailingly flexible over hours. 

And since I haven't a photo of anything relating to this (I did mean to take one of the lovely church the exams were held in) here is my addition to Ethne's round robin block. I added the abstract cityscape to the bottom of the rampaging Tripods and the sputniky creature on the right. Or at least that's what I see. *g*

Blogtober day 25 - feet up, cake, sorted!

It's been a quiet weekend round here. I think I made a fatal error on Friday thinking my groin strain was on the mend and walking to work. By Friday night I was in quite a lot of pain. By Saturday morning I was Googling appendicitis symptoms in case I had misdiagnosed! Now I'm a tough cookie but this pain was something else. But when I lay down it totally disappeared so I wasn't too worried it was something more serious. So after taking Chook to the inaugural local brass band youth section rehearsal I retreated to bed all afternoon (what a luxury!!) and it is so much better today. So I do think it's just (just. Ha!) a groin strain but have a whole new respect for footballers who have this. I still have no idea what I've done to create it (extreme hoovering?!) but hope taking it easy will sort it out.

So today was more of the same. After a lovely long lie thanks to the end of British Summer Time AND Jones sleeping til half nine we were houseworking and then off to the stables for Chook's lesson. On the way home we nipped into a neighbouring town to check the location of Chook's first music exam on Tuesday and then got the groceries in. But after that I was free to chillax a bit (Spouse had been called out to work early this morning) before doing ironing and tea making. Hmm. That doesn't look like a relaxing day but it was. I'm not sure what that says about me! But while I had my feet up (finishing the chicken hat!) Chook was baking!

 

She's a funny wee thing and doesn't like cake unless it's chocolate so double choc muffins were on the menu. 

They are delicious and there's enough left for lunch treats for a few days. Result! 

I'll show the hat tomorrow!! 

Blogtober day 22 - the tracks of my years

It's a bit of a wee brother edition this week, quite by accident. But he features in both my choices!

Queen - "Flash"

Now, Flash Gordon was the first film I saw at the pictures so it holds a special place in my heart and I was familiar with the soundtrack. What child didn't love this track when it came out? But in the mid eighties my much younger little brother found a Queen greatest hits LP (remember those?!) and this and "Another One Fights the Duster" *gigglesnort* are the two I remember him playing over and over. Flash used to involve acting out the flying of a spaceship on the living room armchair. He was a wee cutie.  

Oasis - "Wonderwall"

There had to be a Britpop number in here somewhere, right? I was actually more of a Blur girl (from way before that ridiculous rivalry erupted) but I owned Oasis albums and I do remember sitting in the pub with Biff the day after "What's the Story Morning Glory" came out and we both went "track three is amazing!!" at the same time. But whenever I hear it now I remember the same much younger brother (by now 14) learning how to play this - taught by Biff's guitar tutor spouse, no less. It's such a great song with that cello part.

Blogtober day 21 - midweek mundanities

my general mood? I'm all over the place this morning. I missed a post yesterday! So I'm a bit annoyed with myself although in my defence I actually sewed all afternoon and evening yesterday and have a finished Moss mini skirt! I'm also in a bit of pain - I think I might have a groin strain. It is super painful and I haven't a clue what I've done. But Spouse and I are going to make it to a concert that we thought was a no-go so I'm excited, too. 

what am I wearing? Work clothes again this week - a blue tunic with green butterflies, grey wooly footless tights and my favourite comfy Sketchers shoes. They have a memory foam sole!

what have I been watching? Still Supernatural - I just finished watching season 4, only six more to go!

what am I reading? I've started a new YA book called "the Rock n Roll Diaries - Making It" by Jamie Scallion. It's a bit like if the Inbetweeners were in a band at school and quite funny.

what have I been listening to? I just heard this on the radio and think I'm going to have to hop into the loft to get the CD down. Best lines in a song ever? 

"hey, boy!" they shout,"have you got any money?" and I say,"I've a little money and a takeaway curry, I'm on my way home to my wife..." 

I also downloaded some The Killers last night. I think I might have this at my funeral.

what have I been creating? A Moss Mini skirt! *g* Next up is the winter coat and the chicken hat - I must order fleece for the lining.

Blogtober day 15 - the tracks of my years

Some happy, sunny tunes from my sunny hols!

Billy Joel - "It's Still Rock n Roll to me"

My Dad loves Billy Joel and my favourite record of his when I was younger (and still!) is "Glass Houses" which this song is from. I remember rewinding the tape over and over to play it when an exasperated "Lyndsey, not again!" came from the bedroom next door. My nightshift working Dad was trying to sleep and I thought I was alone in the house! I think I was about 13. Oops! He still took me to see him when I was 30, though. And he absolutely rocked.

Guns n' Roses - "Welcome to the Jungle"

My gateway band! I was 15 and Guns n' Roses opened a whole new world of alternative music to me. I haven't looked back and this was an early favourite, the opening riff is the bizz.

Old photos tomorrow!!

Blogtober day 8 - the tracks of my years.

More important songs from me today.

Elton John - "Tiny Dancer"

The first one is the closest Spouse and I have to an "our tune." It has no significant date or experience tied to it, we didn't listen to it when we were first going out or have it as our first dance at our wedding. (We didn't actually have a first dance at all on account of not having a traditional wedding reception! Not our style.) So there's no deep and meaningful reasoning attached to it. But when it plays? We dance.

Stevie Wonder - "As"

And this one? Well I love Stevie Wonder. My parents had his records when I was a kid although I didn't play them back then - I was far too busy with Wings and The Police.  In fact, we had two copies of Innervisions in our record collection - one was my Mum's and one was Dad's before they got married. Anyways, I came to Stevie later in life and Spouse bought me a big greatest hits compendium the Christmas I was pregnant with Chook. So her bump music was pretty much him and Jeff Buckley. And I think this is my favourite - the lyrics are brilliant, especially for a parent.

I suspect we'll be slightly more obnoxious and less seventies next week!

Blogtober 2015 day 1 - the tracks of my years

I was so sad to find that Blogtoberfest isn't happening this year. *pouts* But a group of girls have started a new thing, simply called Blogtober. Same premise, a blog post every day through October. Yaay! *grins*

So I have a few days blocked off every week with set things - you know the sort. Throwback Thursday and the like. Although MY Thursdays are going to be based on Ken Bruce's (of radio 2) Tracks of my Years segment. If you don't listen to Radio 2 - and if not, why not? - Ken has a famous person every week pick 10 songs that mean something to them. And he plays 2 every day. So, every Thursday I am going to share 2 tunes that I love for various reasons  starting today. You lucky people! *g*

Ian Dury and the Blockheads - hit me with your rhythm stick

So it makes sense to start right at the beginning, yes? This was the first song I loved of my own volition and not because it was in my parents record collection. According to Wikipedia I was 4 and a half when it was at number 1 in January 1979. There really was no hope for me. *g* I remember hearing it on the radio (probably the top 40 countdown on a Sunday evening) and it was love at first listen.

Green Day - American Idiot

And this? This was the first song Chookie had a reaction to. She had just turned 2 when it was released in August 2004 and the first time I heard it was a music video on VH1 or something. I was standing watching it in front of the telly (obviously too into it to sit down and watch!) when this little blond toddler stomped into the living room from the kitchen keeping perfect time with her little fairy slippered feet with her thumb stuck in her mouth and her Goya* waving in the air. She stood transfixed with me through the whole thing  - something about it just hooked her right away.  We obviously start young in my family with the alternative tunes!

Next week? Less punky music - Elton or Stevie probably!

*Goya? Chook's comfort blankie. She used to gurgle "goya-goya-goy" when she sniffed it with her thumb shoved in her gob. Aaw.

The dental shenanigans

*this was written yesterday but only published today so some references will be a day out!*

So back in July we had an emergency trip to the dental hospital when Chookie's zombie tooth started to turn pink. The wee valiant tooth was knackered - the pink was gum growing inside it - and needed to come out and be temporarily replaced with a plate (a retainer with a tooth sort of affair) before more permanent solutions 6 months from now. Our appointment was for September 30th which was an 8 week weight but was okay, we could handle that.  Then 10 days ago I received a letter saying the procedure had to be rescheduled and now wouldn't be happening until November 4th. Aye, right.

Needless to say there were some phonecalls made and a bit of going round the houses but long story boring,  we got an appointment for last Tuesday. Spouse and I both got time off work because it was a sedation appointment and we didn't want her going on the train and having the 15 minute walk on either side of a tooth extraction! Parking can be an issue  (it's in the centre of Glasgow in Sauchiehall Street!) and a two man operation works well - one with kid, one with car. Saves any panic with appointment times and finding a parking spot! So we toddled up to Glasgow at lunchtime and you know, it went swimmingly! I mean, watching someone shove screwdrivers up your child's gum to wiggle put a tooth is all kinds of horrible (some sedation for me would have been nice!) but she couldn't have cared less, she was away with the birds on gas & air and numbed up to the eyeballs!  It came out easily (the almost no root helped!) and after some fiddling with the plate it was fitting nicely, too. It was a much less traumatic experience than watching it be shoved back in when she knocked it out all those years ago!

But. Hoo boy, there is quite an adjustment to having a gob full of plastic and metal as anyone with a brace will know!  And while I was prepared for the drooling and the lisping and the soft foods for a few days, I hadn't realised actually swallowing was going to be a massive issue. It makes sense, the roof of her mouth isn't where it used to be and your tongue not fitting takes a bit of relearning! But still, we had a hairy 24 hours where drinking (never mind eating!) was an issue and being 5ft2 but only 6 stone she can't afford to be not eating!! And this is obviously on top of having an open wound in the middle of her front top gum.

We're on day 5 now, though, and things are improving massively. The drooling has stopped, the speech impediment is more like an actual lisp and she actually managed to chew some macaroni cheese today. I think we will need to visit our dentist to have the plate adjusted since every time she jumps up and down or sneezes it comes loose and two of the brackets are giving her really achey teeth. But she's been such a wee trooper through it all I am so proud of her.  She managed a wee noise on her baritone this afternoon and was horse riding this morning (with a gap toothed gypsy grin sans plate!) and is just getting on with it with hardly a complaint. I'm pretty certain I wouldn't be so gracious in the face of pain and hunger and inconvenience. Her smile looks amazing, though. *g* Of course, I haven't a photo of her lovely new not-skanky-toothed smile to show you. So here's Nigel who was bought for her first trip to the dental hospital, 5 years ago next month.

His name is pronounce with a whinny at the start,  Neigh-gel. And he is very well loved! 

Life in Chateau DLM

Yep, another of those posts with bits that don't fit in anywhere else! Chook started back school last week. Groans from her, cheers from me - I do like to get back into routine! And, yes, those are Adidas Gazelles for school shoes. *disapproving pout* The uniform guidlines state any shoes as long as they are black so they are perfectly within the rules. But I'm a bit Presbyterian when it comes to school so they do rub me up the wrong way some. But you choose your battles, eh? 

Sewing wise I am going to make my winter coat!! There's a few of us having an informal coat-along on Instagram and I totally fell in love with this pattern. The fabric is from My Fabrics and the grey is a beautiful soft but low loft wool/linen/alpaca blend. I'm excited to get started but suspect a muslin will be a good idea.

I bought my pattern with a #TVHhaul voucher I won from The Village Haberdashery and it also stretched to these skeins of beautiful Manos del Uruguay yarn. A scarfy-shawl to match my new coat? Yuuup.

Bringing me nicely to my current shawl. It's getting there! This is halfway through chart C - only D to go and I'm casting off! Although when I say only, I currently have 275 stitches on a row and it's only going to get bigger. I'm finally enjoying it, though, and my knitting has improved massively. 

I changed my bedding again. I do like blue sheets, heh heh.

And today? Well I got a call at work from Chook's school - she had puked in a corridor and could someone collect her. Wee scone! That's no bad, though, into our 9th year at school and that's the first time she's been unwell there. And only the second time I've been phoned - the first time was to get badly skinned knees dressed by the nurse when she was 8. And I'm still slightly addicted to this guy's music. I'm just fascinated by the whole live looping process.

The Fringe

So on Saturday we headed up to Edinburgh for our annual day at the Festival Fringe. That weird big yellow ball in the sky was visible (I forget what it's called it's been so long since we saw it) so it was bright and warm and it was rather lovely to just get out and about. Even though the Royal Mile was at its peak of pedestrian traffic on Saturday afternoon. 

We were up to see these guys - the 360 Allstars and they were absolutely phenono..... phemona...... phe.... brilliant. 

Their act all revolves around, well, revolution. So there's a BMXer, a basketballer, 2 break dancers, a guy doing roue cyr and live music. The music was the absolute biz. Look, I found a trailer.

Seriously, if you get the chance go and see these guys (they tour the world!). I might be a little bit in love with Sam Perry the MC he is just that good.

And after my mind was blown by them we headed up to Lothian Road to our favourite Illegal Jack's to take Chook for some Mexican - her second favourite foodie country after Japan. It has closed down! But then we found they had just moved net door - I later found out they'd had a flood in the flat above and it had all gone a bit wonky for them for a bit. All seems good now, though, And their burritos are as amazing as ever! Happy, happy days.

Idol times

We saw Billy Idol in concert last night. He. Was. Amazing. Here, have a dodgy phone pic as proof.

I can't really add much more than that. He looked brilliant (he's almost 60 and has a 6 pack!) and sounded phenomenal. Sang all his hits (including two Generation X tracks and a cover of the Door's "Glasgow Woman" - I'm not kidding!) and 3 that we knew from his last album. Crowd singalongs. Drumsticks, sweaty t-shirts and set lists flung into the audience. A bit of onstage clowning. Just pure entertainment. Spouse's friend took this pic of us from the balcony - we're right in the middle, arms aloft for the support band's singer to take a photo.

I would go in a heartbeat to see him again and I'm not a massive live music goer. He was worth every sweaty beer splattered moment!

this girl.

Warning. Maternal gushing ahead - move along if you're only here for textiley stuff! Fair warning, okay? *g* 

I'm always a proud Mum - I think it generally comes in with the pregnancy hormones, right? Every little achievement is something to be carefully savoured and locked away in the vaults of memory for leisurely perusal whenever the nostalgic mood takes. From blink-of-an-eye toilet training to the shyest of shy girls doing a reading at her last primary school assembly the moments stack up and I have quite the wobbly pile now. But last night tops the whole bloody lot.

We knew she was getting an award at the junior award ceremony a few weeks ago when the letter came home. We were understandably thrilled - first year (sorry, S1 *rollseyes*) has been quite a transition so to know that at least the actual schooling part of school was going well was a brilliant boost for us all. And then there was a run through on Wednesday afternoon and it turned out she was getting more than one. Well now. It is kept a closely guarded what you have actually been awarded until the night so she was very excited as we got ready to leave. Here she is - incidentally in a skirt I made. Ha! 

(fuzzy photo on account of the nervous excitememt - from both of us!)

And here's her pile of awards. Yes, that's FOUR certificates. *blinks* The English endeavour, the German academic, a Citizenship for her baritone playing in the local youth band and - what I am most proud of - a GOLD personal commitment award. 

For that last one they take into consideration merits for the year (house points), demerits (she has zero), attendance and punctuality and there were only six gold ones handed out in the entire first year. Chook was the only S1 to get an award in all four categories: academic, endeavour, citizenship and personal commitment. So I think we can say she's an all-rounder. I'm trying hard not to be smug but I'm absolutely bursting with pride.

She's a funny wee thing, insisting on wearing her new specs even though she wasn't reading anything at a distance. Specs are cool now, you know. And, given my employment, she has no shortage of choice!

(no photos of her in uniform with them on - so have this one from last weekend)

And she fair skuttled across the stage to receive her first certificate - Spouse and I compared her to a wee nervous duck. But she got straighter each consecutive trip - she had practise doing it four times, I suppose - and we got a cheeky grin and a wave after the last one. Again with the pride bursting from my chest. It's a shame it's not an energy that can be harnessed - we could power the whole of Central Scotland today!

(Photo courtesy of the school Twitter feed!)

And a sign of the times in that it's not a book token you receive now like in my day (this is my old school and I appear to have lost my Robert Louis Stevenson 3rd year biology merit book - rats) but Amazon vouchers! Which I think is deeply cool and thoughtful. Celebratory tea tonight, methinks. And perhaps a little frivolous something. The child has earned it!

quizzical

Yesterday was National Scrapbooking Day - woo hoo! Now I didn't manage any actual scrapping on account of the Mum's taxi in the morning and my absolutely freezing landscaping and woodwork in the afternoon (more on that another day) but I did order photos from Photobox. And I did make some stickin' an' gluein' plans.

So I feel justified in answering the quiz from Shimelle. Coz I like reading other people's replies so much I kid myself someone might be interested in mine. And I do like little snapshots recorded here. So. This week.

1. My favourite YouTube clip: I don't know if it's my favourite clip but the one I have talked about most is this one from Fitness Blender, cardio and pilates blend. I've been doing their cardio workouts and thought I'd mix it up with some simple (and easy, thought I *facepalm*) pilates. I couldn't reach my shoulders to pick a hair off 2 days later! But it shows it's working, right? Right?!

2. I am listening to: my usual eclectic mix. But my latest buys have been some twenty year old Utah Saints, the BBC Musketeers theme and the Regina Spektor theme to the Netflix series Orange is the New Black. 

3. I am watching: when I'm sewing I have been binge watching "Body of Proof" but Spouse and I caught the Netflix "Daredevil" last week - it was excellent! And surprisingly believable for a blind lawyer fighting the mob in a balaclava. Charlie Cox is fantastic. And this week we're on the second season of "Orange is the New Black." We noted last night while laughing  at "Britain's Got Talent" that it had been a week since we'd watched any live tv!

4. I am reading: "Stranger" by Rachel Manija Brown and Sherwood Smith. It's a post-apocalyptic young adult yarn where animals and people have changed and you may develop a mutation (good or bad) during hormonal changes. So during puberty, obviously. But also during pregnancy and the menopause! It's been very interesting (I especially love the bad telepathic camouflage the bunnies use!) but I have a feeling a love triangle is about to develop. Yuk. My least favourite trope.

5. I can eat this everyday: Pringles. Although I have been trying hard not to! I did make a particularly tasty butternut squash korma during the week. I usually do a cauliflower curry but the squash was mucho loveliness.

6. My favourite drink at 4pm: Er, tea? Although any drink at 4pm is unusual. That's in the 2 hour window between finishing work and eating tea so it's full of housework, homework, food prep and sometimes exercise and shopping. No time for a drink!

7. On my wishlist: a 28 hour day. Or the winning lottery ticket. Or someone else doing the grocery shop! And it stopping raining so I don't get soaked at riding and finishing the gardening.

8. I am enjoying: lying in bed writing this. What a luxury! (Note: I was in bed when I wrote this NOT when I published it. I don't make a habit of still being in bed at 7pm!)

9. My favourite quote right now: "during the war..." Chook's impression of an old man. Old being anyone over 50. *g* 

10. I am smiling about: Jones not getting me up at 6am, the heavy bit of the raised bed being built (sleepers are heavy!!) and a day out tomorrow to a favourite museum with a noodle bar and shopping thrown in. Yay for bank holidays!!

And

My favourite project for this year is ...... I dunno. That bloody green shawl? Nah. Although it might take me all year! Me, maybe? Since I'm trying to form new habits to see me through my next 40 years. Yeah, let's say that and hope I don't sound all Gwyneth Paltrow-y. *shudders*

So, anyone else having a go?