Cupper or Twizzler?

All of us women fall into one of these categories. I was always a committed cupper. Right from the moment when (far too young) I learned to fasten my bra. I remember it well the blue or pink gingham shining through my primary school shirt causing great excitement and embarrassment in equal measure.
What brings me back to all of this was a trip, yesterday to Glasgow, the big smoke and the mecca for all things shopping. The train was delayed as always giving time for this.......

Sugar magazine let me tell you has a lot to answer for...... It was declared that a new bra was required. A particular bra indeed. As this was unlikely to fit and, lets be truthful here I didn't want to spend precious Glasgow time in M & S we went to Lewis's. Eventually after much trying on and persuading the very nice but bossy assistant that at 13 you really don't want to wear a skin coloured anything never mind a Triumph, the deed was done and we had 2 beautiful bras in the bag. Then the problem started. Having been so successful I decided that I would like a new one too. I should have kept my mouth shut.....
I was measured, prodded, told how well I had done to "survive". I should have left.... I stayed!
Bra after bra was brought out. The woman was on a mission....
At one point I was told that I needed to watch my weight now that I was getting on..... Ok so I'm not in the first flush but I'M NOT THAT OLD! Anyway why oh why was she trying to stuff me into a 32 B when I haven't been that size since I was 11.
None of this was helped by the fact that twizzling is not the done thing in bra fitting stakes. I have no choice due to being unable to reach and fasten properly at the moment. (I am working on it honestly) and so said assistant was fastening each of these monstrosities for me.
I have a dread, a deep dread of the Triumph Doreen. The highlight of the "comfy" bra world..... If you are an aged granny perhaps. (Sorry all grannies). Not only that but it was the first bra I had to wear after my op last year and I wasn't going there again. The assistant got upset and said how good a bra it was...... Sorry but no. In the end we came away with 2 beautiful daughter bras. (Am I jealous? Yes!!!!). I am now the proud owner of a Triumph and wait for it because it gets better...... A Playtex  Fits so well. (They have given up on the phrase "cross your heart"... too twee). Ok so they fit and what can I say.... comfortable but the are HORRIBLE.
Anyway just as well we went to other places and could drink in this......

And this

And this

Lost Marbles

Do you remembermy last sleep-over post? sleepover whoopie
Well.... the experience has just been repeeated with a twist. No show without punch K rightly asserted that if big brother could have a sllp-over then she could too..... Ok I'm a bit loopy and I said yes.
There were only 5 of them this time (more managable less good friends so far).  Then the truth outs...... It will be a pamper party! Ok I can cope of course I can, I'm a big girl even if I do have certain OCD tendancies in the tidy stakes......
Now please don't worry I know of at least one mum who reads this blog..... I am NOT complaining, just puzzled.

We started out with a shared meal including said big brother and dad as well as myself and 5 girls.....

Big bro did most of the clearing and provided the cake......
The girls disappeared upstairs not to be seen again. We heard lots of giggling, laughing and whispering but no sight of them....
I went to bed and fell asleep to more of the same noises.
THEN this moring Y couldn't get into the bathroom. Light off, door locked... What was going on? I was asked / sent to investigate meaning dressing gowns and all the stuff you don't bother with when alone....
Yes the door was locked. Yes the light was off.... Was someone ill? Much knocking and K appeared.....
She had been sleeping there.... With 3 others as number 5 had gone to sleep too early and they wanted to ......... wait for this..... Talk. Threres's no accounting for girls.
Anyway I'm off to work leaving them all here. Maybe I truly have lost my marbles.......

Gingerbread Dreams

Left alone, with no-one "helping", it's amazing what you can get up to....

Streets of houses....

Herds of wild horses.....

Teeny ducks swimming away.........

Dare devil little men and women.....

All huddled together! 

Have a good day.

Where do you blog?

Penny over at http://pennyshenhouse.blogspot.com/ suggested that we should show everyone where we do our blogging, with us in situ so to speak. And so here I am a little late in the day having survived being at work, well just about anyway.




I think I look, how shall I put this? A bit crumpled and it might have been better to leave my glasses on. The trouble is that when I take them off it takes ages to find them again!
Today brought work, but also a surprise in the form of flowers.







There were others as well but I just love the way the Gerberas stand up like huge daisies. A smile in a flower. Hope you all had a good day, it's all up from here on in.

Getting Ready

It seems like ages since I've posted, in fact it was last weekend. Probably a long time in Blogland. But I've been getting ready...... Tomorrow is D day or should I say W day? I'm going back to work.....
It's all a bit wierd because with one thing and another over the last 16 months I've not been at work very much. When I was off at first I didn't like it one little bit. I missed my work, I missed all the people I work with and I missed being, well me...
But I think I've found a new me.... I like being at home. I like baking and pottering, well its better with two arms but all the same I have not missed work. not at all! Don't get me wrong though, I miss the people and my friends at the place called work just not the job. And so...... I am going back but to do less hours, yippee... a bit of both... some time at home and 3 days at work. I think it's called the work-life balance. Whatever, Hopefully it will last and I will not slide back in to doing everyday again... watch this space..
In the meantime I've had to get ready which has involved making lots of cake for various people....

The one above was for a friend's little girl and took a bit of working out as it had to be completely dairy free. It turned out ok though. can you spot the piece of knex holding the ribbons up?

The next was an adult girly one....... Possibly the roses need a bit more work...

And then of course I had the marmalade to do, I wouldn't want my dad to run out now would I?...
This weekend has been for much more mundane things like buying new work shoes and trousers . We have been given new tunics which is laughable really when we are supposed to be saving millions but there you go.
I'll post again after the big return. I'm only doing Monday, Wednesday and Friday this week so hopefully the balance will be right.

A Walk in the Park

Or not as the case may be......

The park actually gets flooded quite often as it is on the Eden flood plane  but I thought you might like to see some of the pictures that I took today.....

It is not nearly so bad today as it was during the "big flood" a few years ago when the river was actually running about 10 meters abobove the level today. As you can see though, that even today no-one was going to be driving along this road.....

That bit that looks like a weir is actually the water running off the road as the tide recedes. This part of the river is tidal although mostly you don't really notice, only when the river is very full from the water running off the Pennines.

Well at least the trees won't go thirsty!