Ramblings

I am on a very rough ferry ride. Listening to an audio book Teacher Man by Frank McCourt (he wrote Angela's Ashes).
Can't wait for this journey to end and hoping the roads in Wales are going to be safe.

Christmas Decor

Lurgan Christmas Market & Lantern Parade

Lurgan Christmas Market & Lantern Parade

Christmas Eve in Banbridge

Designed by Lydia Hamblin

DaySpring E-Cards

DaySpring E-Cards

Banbridge in snow

Update

I am still alive. I was given some slimming herbal supplements last and I tried them out. Disaster. The first two nights I didn't sleep well and then I the next two days I just felt really ill. So I have stopped taking them and now I feel like I am returning to normality.

Working on several projects and ideas.

Including CAP - Christians Against Poverty, KIDS Kids in Discipleship, Job applications, research on a business idea, housework!!, Christmas planning and getting back to writing.

Writing Up and ......

Its been a good week. Doing word sprints on the WriMo Ireland Chatroom has helped me focus and get my word count up. I have now written 10 190 words.

YAY.

Unconscious Mutterings hosted by Luna Nina

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Freezing :: cold, winter, ice, Popiscle
   
2. Bikers :: parade, Harley, Isle of Man
   
3. Infrequently :: blank
   
4. Mickey ::Mouse, Joking, Funny
   
5. School :: Dinners, Fete, Work, teacher
   
6. Textile :: beautiful materials, India, China
   
7. Obstinate :: Donkey, some people
   
8. Guard :: of Honour, Guard your heart
   
9. Release :: freedom, Nelson Mandela
   
10. Authentic :: what I strive to be.
    

Writers Inspiration

I have written a few words today - now officially at 4253 out of 50 000. Lost four days. 3 due to sheer busyness and the 4th because of exhaustion and a headache.
Now I feel like I am swimming up stream. But I keep reminding myself that slow and steady wins the race - but tooo slow may never complete it on time.

Looking forward to writing more tomorrow, going to join the word sprints on the On chat forum.. Attending the regional meeting in Belfast on Thursday and maybe meeting other writers in my area on Sunday.

"Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way."
E.L. Doctorow

Catch Up

Had hectic and positive three days. Unfortunately I have been able to write a thing.

So today is catch up day.

To get me kick-start I thought I would do a little Unconcious Muttering:
http://subliminal.lunanina.com/ hosted by Luna Nina

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Everything :: is going to be all right
   
2. China :: Friend
   
3. Essence :: the core of my being
   
4. Immediate :: Action
   
5. Obstruct :: justice, progress
   
6. Force :: retaliation, combat
   
7. Constellation :: heavens, star signs
   
8. Intuitive :: a sense of knowing, a way of thinking
   
9. Complain :: what's the point when nobody hears, rather be an agent of change
   
10. Train :: spotter, Athol Fugard (south African playwright),Ballade Vir 'n Enkeling ( (Ballad for an Individual)

Blogblast for Peace

NaNoWriMo Day 2 and 3

I managed to add another 700 words or so.
I am a bit stuck at the moment - had a bad day health wise and busy day cleaning up because I am having people come sleepover.
I am not happy with where my main character is at I feel too tired to think about what I should be writing next.
Thinking I will go early to bed and get an early start tomorrow. The first thing I will do is make coffee and write and hope that it will sort itself out.

“A man grows most tired while standing still.”

Chinese Proverbs quotes

NaNoWriMo Day 1

Kicked off day One by changing the genre of my novel and changes a lot. My main character is still the same.

completed writing 1405 - just a few words shy of the goal of 1666. Well maybe I will get some inspiration before i sleep and write a few more.

This is going to be tough. I got all these idea in my head but I feel like it looks soo amateurish when I put it down on paper. I also think that I don't really want people to know that I wrote that - that i am thinking that. then I remind myself that I am an amateur and that I don't have to let me read it under my own name.
And as our NaNoWriMo reminds us this challenge is more about quantity not quality.

Taking Up the Challenge

I am wondering what have committed myself too. I feel so scared and unprepared for this challenge.
Its on list of things to do before I die write a book.
No procrastination. No more talk. Now is the time !

Knit Away As You Pray ^_^

To join click here otherwise just leave a comment and link to your blog if I want to visit and see your progress.

Music and Storytelling

Great cultural event organised by the Banbridge Town Council (click here to few other event http://www.banbridge.com/events.asp?pid=11&area=1).
This was part of the Banbridge Arts festival.
The FE Williams Gallery turned out to be a good venue.
Jeandre and I went early to look at the the gallery. I forgot I took her a few weeks earlier to see the exhibition. But arriving early turned out to be a blessing. I got to get some get photos of the sunsetting behind the gallery.
We also got to chat to the storytellers, musicians and organizer.

In Preparation

As you may have noticed - I have not being blogging for a while. All that is going to change in the next month - I have decided take on a writing challenge and I will be writing all about it LOL

In preparation i am reading and attending cultural events. Last week I had the privileged of attending a Poetry reading and a writing workshop.
The John Hewitt Society in association with Banbridge District Council and The Outlet presents a lunchtime poetry reading with Ciaran Carson and Kate Newman, as part of the Banbridge Arts Festival.

Right now I need to clear lounge and make supper for the family. Having a friend over - going to be sharing with her some of knowledge and experience of South African History.

Kate Newman (read her poetry and ran the writing workshop)



Ciaran Carson

Brown Sugar Shortbreads Recipe

Brown Sugar Shortbreads Recipe

Looking at Christmas recipes again..........
This looks cute and easy

Brown Sugar Shortbreads Recipe

Brown Sugar Shortbreads Recipe

Looking at Christmas recipes again..........
This looks cute and easy

Happiness remains a choice

Happiness remains a choice
All through one's wandering.
Perhaps it is one's inner voice;
Perhaps the heart can sing.
Yearning can be ravenous;
Need can swallow joy.
In being, one is fabulous,
Not merely, but miraculous,
The happening of happiness
Hard times cannot destroy.

by Nicholas Gordon

Health and happiness proceed from love,
As love proceeds from uncorrupted passion.
Praise be the gift that does such interest move,
Poured forth from paradise for us to fashion.
Yet passion, like a wave, can come and go,
Even as love waits upon the shore,
Looking to put down some roots and grow,
Embracing of life's joys the quiet core.
Vested in one heart, one finds a place
Eternal in the beauty of its longing,
Nor does one ever tire of a face
That years have given unexpected grace,
Hallowed by the wonder of belonging.


by Nicholas Gordon

Puzzle Maker

I sumbitted my photo of the Eiffel Tower to an online puzzle site.

http://www.epuzzle.info/u/30b47

Jigsaw Puzzles, (c) Luksoft

Inspirational Thoughts

A Day in My Life

Its holiday time so my days are not fairly typical but my Friday's and Saturday's are pretty much the same.

I will start these 24hrs on Thursday to Friday (with some photos take on Saturday to show what I did on Friday)

Thinking about my busy schedule ahead I decided that I should start off with a good soak and a good book. So that I get can feel rested and refreshed for my day ahead.
First stop for the morning after breakfast was the Library. Need to get stocked up for the road trip next week. My daughter is doing the Library challenge - the theme this year is Space Hop.


Next stop was posting letters and parcels for husband. Also had to do some banking for him.

Now was the excited part of shopping for the morning looking for bargains for our camping and holiday needs - top of the list was a small cooler bag but of course we saw some things that were not on the list as well .........


Jeandre was tired and asked if I would take her home before I went on to the normal grocery shopping.

Finally Home and its time to prepare for Sabbath. Teaching the children's Sabbath School - children from the ages of 3-9 are in the class at church.
then telling the children's story during the main service.
Going out tonight so its going to be quick pizza's in the oven while I make the pasta bake for th next day.

The first item is a basket weave in the shape of a heart - this was tricky but I finally figured it out. If I didn't figure it out I had a game to play as a back up plan.

Photocopied these pages and re-read the instructions to make sure I knew what i need to do the next day.
Breads from different countries Poland, Egypt, Israel, Italy etc.

Always cook my Sabbath (Saturday meal) on a Friday - this week is just for our family of three - no potluck or visitors.
Going to serve garlic bread and veggies (that just need to be microwaved) with it.
Bought a Banoffee (click to go to recipe) for dessert. Saturday lunch is not Saturday (Sabbath) lunch without dessert - its a family tradition

Pasta and Spinach Bake (click here to go to recipe)

Today I have a great treat and Outdoor performance of Pride and Prejudice in our newly re-vamp Solitude park.

Packed some snacks, juice and coffee, met up with friends, had a great laugh and a wonderful night.

Solitude Park - we got there nice and early manged to get good seats close to the front.

Playing cards - Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Charles Bingley

Hilarious Butler - moved the furniture changing the setting slight for the next scene

20min Break - Started getting a bit chilly.

As you can its getting darker and the play is drawing to a close this the scene with Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet

The following morning - A new hairstyle for my daughter

You may be wondering is this my typical Friday - Yeh pretty much - if it was not a play I would be visiting friends or leading a Bible Study or watching one of Favourite Sabbath movies - Fiddler on the roof or Joseph or..........

If I am lucky I would get my shopping done on a Thursday night - so that my Friday would a little more relaxed but if its Pot luck I would be cooking a quite a few other dishes and making dessert.

As it stands I do the children's Sabbath School and a children's Story almost every week because my husband is Pastor of two small churches, its the best way I can be of services and I love doing stuff for the kids. the next month I will not teaching at all - what I am going to do with all that time!!

Photo Scavenger Hunt - Colors

Something Red

• Something Orange

• Something Yellow

• Something Green

• Something Blue

• Something Purple

• Something Pink

• Something Brown

• Something Black

• Something White

I say ... and you think ... ?

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Deals ::Meals, Holiday, Shady
   
2. Alive :: Arrive
   
3. Smooth :: sailing, stones, babies bottom
   
4. Materials :: raw
   
5. Arrest ::crime fighting
   
6. Locker :: room
   
7. Evidence :: key, CSI
   
8. Operation :: MD, expensive, dangerous
   
9. Opal :: precious, simple beauty, elegant
   
10. Investigation :: search for "truth", Criminal Minds
    

Hosted at http://subliminal.lunanina.com/

Celebrating Summer

Click on the pictures to enlarge