5 Years Old today!

And still a couple of scamps...remember this? And this? Or this? Apologies for the grainy quality of this shot; as you can see, from an early age, these two needed locking up - a quick trip to the hardware outlet saw us creating these makeshift pens from aviary panels in an attempt to let the little ones enjoy part of the garden but without destroying it.

Oh how wrong could we be?

Six months on and this is what remained of the lawn (number one, oh yes, a second was laid and destroyed before the year was out). See that pile of twigs top left? Mmmm, tasty lavender. To be followed by rosemary, jersey lillies (not a good move) and well, pretty much anything green. It all became a sea of mud pretty quick.

Ah but, that was soooo long ago. And all is forgotten. Happy Birthday boys.

Been gathering up pics & thoughts in my blogging 'down' time. Those aviary panels came in handy this Spring - updates to follow as & when I get round to it. P.S. Does anyone want any new music on Radio Betty. Time for a change maybe. Your suggestions are always welcome.

Gone but not forgotten

A lovely horse is always an experience.... It is an emotional experience of the kind that is spoiled by words. ~Beryl Markham

Time Out

Tired of scratching around for inspiration & in desperate need of a new laptop (aaaargh!). Taking some time off from blogging. Back in a while.

Roberto Formaggi

Or cheesy-bob to you & me. OK, probably just my sister and I then.

I recalled our nickname for the common wood louse this week whilst chatting at work. I was convinced someone would know what I meant but they all gave me that look reserved for the village idiot.

When I told my sister tonight though, she said it was 'our' name for the little bugs. How did we come by the moniker? We can't remember. But it has passed into our family's folklore.

Do you have a name for something known only to your family?

Oh, and I had no cheesy-bob photos (how weird do you think I am?), but instead this brightly coloured Italian bug. Answers on a postcard please.

Career tips - part one

Well over a month since posting - if I have any readers left, please forgive me.

Don't remember where I picked this up from, but it always makes me laugh. And we all need that don't we?

Pig of a Week

First of all, I must credit a much more professional photographer for this shot, whose name I don't know (Suzy you must tell me so I can list the credit). If you are a regular on these pages though, you will have encountered these prize-winning pigs before and you'll know I have a rather soft spot for them. See more of them here, here & here.


Every week it seems, is another busy week - but I know plenty of people working harder than ever for what seems like, less & less - I am not alone.

In the early days of creating this blog, I had plenty of outdoor photo opps, but since selling Bunny, weekends seem entirely taken up on, well....other things. So the blogging has all but ground to a halt. And, at this time of the year, evenings are a write off. Too much tv.

As an aside.....

Why do husbands always leave the room with the tv on a channel/programme you can't stand, when you've just got comfortable, laptop on lap (where else?) and the tv remote is 10 feet away?

Anyway, I can't remember the last time I wrote from the top of my head, so apologies if I'm a bit random. It maaaaay be the vino consumed over dinner.

"Pour me another one hon whilst you are in the kitchen."

Mustn't grumble, life is good. January (surely the bleakest month) is nearly through, the tax bill is paid (even if someone else is now owed), we are fed & watered and I for one am looking forward to those loooong summer days.

Hypnotic

http://vimeo.com/1309452

And tell me you don't end up humming it all day.

Peace on Earth

Time to wish all my friends & family, 'virtual' or otherwise a Merry Christmas and as always, give thanks for reaching this point in the year in good health if not always, good mind. But, I count my blessings and hope you & yours have reasons to be grateful also.

In lieu of having anything decent to say, below is my absolute favourite poem. I can't remember if I posted this last year, if so I make no apology. And whilst the theme is bleak (google it if you want an academic take on it's meaning), it paints a different, more superficial image in my mind.

And what would Christmas be, without superficiality?

Merry Christmas one and all. Love from Betty.

Whose woods these are I think I know,

His house is in the village though.

He will not see me stopping here,

To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer,

To stop without a farmhouse near,

Between the woods and frozen lake,

The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake,

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound's the sweep,

Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

Robert Frost

Deadwood

Trees are your best antiques ~ Alexander Smith

Homesick

When I was little, I used to get the most incredibly homesick on the rare occasions that I was ever away from home. I guess it's not something 'grown-ups' tend to talk of, particularly those of us away on business, but the sensation is still there, sometimes. In the most part, it manifests as broken sleep, weird 'reality' dreams, etc. Over the years, being away from home for work, comes with the territory.

This evening, sat in another hotel room, due to the wonders of technology, I can chat with a friend, who like me is also away on business. We talk about her daft Dad and the perils of spam emails. I make coffee. I call home and chat through the details of the day, between yawns - a long day at both ends of the phone. My brother emails me about fixing Mum & Dad's computer. I watch tv. I listen to music. I eat. And I have time to breathe.....think......write.

But it's not home.

Long Time Gone

Well events have, as usual, overtaken even the simplest of hobbies such as blogging. If you can appreciate I've found absolutely no time to do something I enjoy, can you imagine how behind I am with some of the more mundane tasks? Mmmm.

The hiatus was not at all bad, a trip to Rome snuck in a couple of weeks ago but I'm afraid there are few photos to share - it was a catch up visit with some good friends and many of the shots are of people and as I've said before on this blog - I don't do people. Having been fortunate to visit la bella citta many times before, I'm afraid I was not in tourist snapping mode.

Over at the Caffienated Cowgirl's new home, I was reminded of the importance of familiar music whilst abroad, particularly if you are always on the move as she is. Well CC, this one's for you - a new station I think you'll enjoy which, ironically, would have been your local station back in the UK.

Ciao!!

Knock, Knock

Discovery

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin',
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin',
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin' out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.)

Mon Dieu!

Couldn't resist this shot during August's visit to France - those cheeky French, eh?

But 1000m?

Decidedly Blue