Blasts from the past

Whilst eating my lunch today I popped the television on and flicked through the channels to see what was on. Channel Five was showing the 1985 Christmas Top of the Pops so I thought that, purely out of nostalgia, I would leave it on for a bit. What did I learn?

1. Pete Burns and Michael Jackson both clearly had way too much plastic surgery done in later years
2. I am older than I like to think I am as I remembered every song/artist that was played (in fact I probably watched the programme when it was originally aired)
3. 80s singers really could not mime...in fact half the time there was absolutely no evidence of a microphone either
4. 80s backing singers and dancers were ace...pure cheese
5. Feargal Sharkey should never have embarked on a solo career
6. I am probably a closet 80s pop fan

The backing singers/ dancers are so cheesy

Feargal in better days

Idiots

I took Barney out this afternoon, in the rain (not fair as, according to Voley, it was snowing only 10 miles away at his house). We were walking up the lane when this car drove past peeping its horn (very considerate when you have a dog on a lead), the two male occupants blowing kisses at me through the window. Now, I know I look highly attractive in my walking clothes and wellies, and I know it's Christmas, but is it really necessary? I suppose of course they could have been blowing kisses at Barney.

It's Christmas!

How has your Christmas been? Mine's been good. Lots of good food, lovely presents, snow on the ground and the company of family and friends. What more could a girl ask for? Maybe Johnny Depp turning up on my doorstep on Christmas morning, but I guess that isn't likely to happen.
Christmas Day was a relaxing one, just spent at home with my parents. We took Barney for a long walk in the snow and frost and there was hardly a soul around...just the occasional dad with children wobbling about on their shiny new bicycles! I remember those Christmases...new bike, first pair of rollerskates, first computer (Commodore 64, now that shows my age!). My favourite presents though were always the little gifts stuffed into my stocking. It seems that these days children aren't happy unless they have a mound of the latest technological gadgets. I remember last year asking a child what they had had for Christmas- the reply, "erm, a mobile phone, a Nintendo DS and a laptop, that's all". What happened to the days of getting excited by wind-up toys, puzzles and board games. Or perhaps I was just a strange child.
Boxing Day was spent in the excellent company of my best buddy, with the exchanging of more presents and the consumption of more good food. I am now the proud owner of a book-on-a-page framed print of Wuthering Heights. Fab.
All in all a great weekend.

My book-on-a-page print of Wuthering Heights. Thanks Voley!

A bit more snow and frost

These photos were taken at work. We haven't had anywhere near as much snow here as some parts of the country but the frost has been quite spectacular, though my amateur photogtraphic skills do not really do it justice. You can see more photos here.

Snowing heavily

Very frosty trees

Cobwebs

A little bit of frost

...well quite a bit actually. How are you enjoying the winter weather. I'm not much for it being -12C on a night out and having to slide across icy carparks in 3-inch stiletto heels, but I love the snow and the frost. I've been out around the garden taking some photos, some of which are below. The rest of the photos are here.

Icy, misty pool

Frost on twig

Frosty trees

Happiness is....

....a whole ten days off work. Bliss. I feel a bit of a skive considering we are so close to Christmas when I get another ten days off but I need the time to get my Christmas shopping done. Not that that is going entirely to plan. Despite a trip to Manchester and another to Chester, I have so far failed to find half the things I was looking to buy. I think I will have to revert to plan B if this afternoon's shopping trip is equally unsuccessful... the internet.
Failed shopping trips aside, my week off has been most pleasant, it's been good to relax. Voley came to stay at the weekend which was great- I'm hoping he returned home without any Barney inflicted injuries after being bulldozed by six stone of rather excitable puppy! We went to see Harry Potter on Saturday which didn't disappoint. It was dark and atmospheric but with moments of humour and I can't wait for the final part next year, it should be excellent. Could have done without the group of giggling teenage girls who went into raptures when Harry Potter stripped to his boxers though!
Sunday lunch was at my brother's pub and then we had a drive round the country lanes of Staffordshire before a short stroll around Bateswood Nature reserve.

Ducks in the gloom

Muscovy duck

I've been able to do a bit more walking whilst I've been off work. It's been a little nippy walking across the fields with Barney, the wind yesterday afternoon was like needles on my cheeks, but I love it. There's nothing better than being able to go out and not meet a single person..appeals to the hermit within!

It's been a long time

Well, this blogging lark isn't going so well, it's nearly 3 months since I last posted anything...must try harder. In my defence, I have been busy and don't seem to find the time to spend in front of the old computer screen...and my internet connection has been playing up. OK, enough of the excuses, I'm just rubbish. I shall make an effort to start writing again, but for the meantime I shall leave you with a couple of photos from bonfire night.

The bonfire was a little warm

Do you like my wellies?!

Simples!

I've been for a drive out to Snugburys this afternoon to see their straw meerkat sculpture. Of course, I had to sample an ice-cream whilst there....honeycomb, yum.

They also had some rather cute Kune Kune piglets.....delicious with apple sauce.

Nothing's safe

It would appear that the local Homewatch scheme isn't really working, there was a large sign between the two posts!

A few more Barney photos

Three months old and growing rapidly!

Barney loves collecting sticks

In a bit of a tangle

Preparing for take-off!

"Where have all those pansies gone?"

"They have to be here somewhere"

A spot of pond dipping

Hiding

The post with no name

How has your weekend been. Mine's been fairly relaxing, apart from having to do the housework and chase Barney round the garden a few hundred times (and fish him out of the pond a couple of times too).

I had my friends over on Saturday. It all started so civilised, I had even baked cakes for the occasion...then Barney decided to make an entrance. Within the space of 30 seconds he had caused absolute chaos, weeing on my friend's foot (fortunately he saw the funny side!) and then tipping over a vase of lilies that were on my hearth- it took me quite a while to remove the orange pollen stains from my pale coloured carpet. Fortunately, Barney redeemed himself the next day, after his disgraceful(!) behaviour, by being impecably well-behaved on his first walk. I'm sure it won't last!

Today, I've been for a walk and nearly got stampeded by a flock of sheep. I decided against walking through the field of cows.

Just before their friends decided to stampede

Safely on the other side of the fence

I have a busy week at work ahead. Last week I took a group of 30 disabled children and young people to Camelot Theme Park, trained a group of volunteers, learned how to change a colostomy and urostomy bag (not my own I hasten to add), and got asked out by a lecherous coach-driver...let's see if this week can be any more bizarre.

Holiday's over

It's been back to the grindstone for me today and after sitting at my desk for five minutes with around a foot of post and messages to sift through before I could even think about getting any other work done, I almost wished I had not had any time off. So, my day has not been quite as chilled and relaxed as the last few, the last two of which were spent in the very pleasant company of Voley. Yesterday we spent a leisurely afternoon ambling around Biddulph Grange Garden, another one of those places very close to home that I have never visited but ought to have done, followed by the consumption of unhealthily large slices (=wedges) of cake for afternoon tea. Here are a few photos taken (mostly by Voley with my camera) of the Garden. One of these days I will get round to uploading photos to flickr, but for now just a few will have to do.

Barney's getting bigger...and cheekier!

I can't believe we've had Barney for four weeks already, the time has flown by. He's grown so much in a month and he's starting to get very adventurous (= wayward). His favourite pastimes are getting wet and muddy, squashing and eating the plants in the garden, and getting himself stuck in places he shouldn't go. He is very cute though. He's had his first visit to the vet for his vaccinations and his second one to look forward to this coming week...then, the real fun begins, training him on his lead! He's been for a few walks on it round the drive and has done fairly well, though his tendency to lie down every few yards is probably not such a good idea once he is out in the lane! Here are a few more photos of him.

He loves his plant pot....

...and rolling on the grass (though mud is even better!)

"Ooh, I spy the pot of pansies...can I get there before they stop me?"

"Ner ner, got there first!"

Butter wouldn't melt

Barney loves Gladys the elephant....

...but not quite as much as he loves digging...

...and eventually, he runs out of steam!