It's A Hardknock Life

Did you know that Annie started as a comic strip in 1930s and then was a film in 1982 starring Albert Finney and Tim curry , then it was remade again this this time with Jamie Foxx . So in conclusion people like Annie a lot and I am one of those people so much so in 1982 I really wanted an Annie Doll which came with a locket just like the one Annie had in the film I never got that Annie Doll much to my sadness and quite secretly I have wanted one ever since well I suppose not so cruelty as I am telling you lot about it . It didn't matter that I was not really into dolls I just wanted and needed to have this doll , I think it stood for something as the story really at the tender age of 9 struck a cord with me. And I am off on a jolly with the husband to see Annie in the West end ~ alas I didn't win the tickets buy paid using my hard earned pennies !

London bound 

I was lucky enough to win a stay last year due to a photography competition I won , I had a slight blip when I emailed the hotel and shock horror no record of my booking. A quick email and phone call and all was sorted with an upgrade to boot. All is well that ends well and I am so in need of a break I can tell you !!

Brownies 

A nice friend a really nice friend sent me Brownies from Gower Cottage and they're divine both my friend and the Brownies. Just the pick me up I needed after my redundancy was firmly signed sealed and developed.

Here's to the future:-) the future is Brownie shaped !

Moving On Up

I thought that with getting made redundant that I would lose a sense of myself , after all I have been a teaching assistant for 13 years starting when my son started Infant school and ending as he finishes at the local academy. I have since the decision was made I had been sad but realisation has hit that nothing can change this decision so I declare this the beginnings of all that is new. So you see if you are faced with redundancy you are going to feel anger  and loss and everything in between and more . When A job is your life you focus on that and all your energies are ingrained into what you do so take heart and let it be a chance to reevaluate your life. This is what I am doing for I still need a sense of community and to connect with people which is funny I think for one that is a friendly introvert.

Just because you see me looking at my feet it doesn't mean I am not paying attention to the world around me what takes the average person to walk say 20 minutes may take me 30 minutes as I am taking in the world in a visual way. In that time I am looking all around me listening to bird song ,absorbing the vibe of the world, and just watching the canvas of the sky. I notice everything and anything. When my world is shattered from what I know I do what I do best and take stock and drink tea . Tea drinking is a skill and a saviour to the soul I am always having to up my tea levels I would love to be a roving tea reporter and visit more tea rooms. I seriously love tea as tea is all the love you need next to cats.

Cats And Tea How Good The Simple Life is

Strangely enough my late cat Rollie brought me to blogging and I wouldn't have the friends I have without him. Now I'm left with Jack and Jack certainly had been keeping us on our toes this week in more ways than one.

The other night we settled down to watch a " Streetcat called Bob"

Along with a nice cup of tea I had to make the tea as Jack the cat had completely paralysed my husband , strange how cats do that to people isn't ?! Cats and tea I really don't think there is a better combination in life for relaxing and it was very apt to be watching a film about a cat with a cat. Jack seemed to approve of the film and had his toy mouse with him for good measure and we all had a jolly good time. Before Jack settled into bed  his basket in the kitchen he decked he wanted to go out the front door despite having a cat flap in the kitchen . My husband and I settled into bed and just at that point when you are dropping off we heard Jack cat a walling at the front door , I got up and many words were mumbled and much tripping over of objects was had till I got downstairs but no Jack was to be seen . I think it was the cat equivalent of ringing the doorbell or Cherry knocking in my day  then running away when someone answers it , something I never did as a child ( I was quite pious really honestly )

A Cat With A Sore Throat

Seems Jack has a sore throat , he's been sounding like a bad jazz grass trumpet player not that he listens to Jazz FM and anyway Jazz music really isn't quite my scene.

How do you know if your cat has a sore throat ?

Their meowing might be different as per the grass trumpet sound in Jack for instance.


What could cause a sore throat?

Too much meowing maybe , an upper respiratory infection , maybe after surgery or if there is some sort of heart issue.


Sore Throat Treatment

Jack had been off it for days really not being himself throwing up white foam which I didn't think was normal as it wasn't the same as when he lovingly delivers a hairball at my feet. So it was off to the vets with him since losing Rollie I haven't been keen on vets ( the vet was very sympathetic with Rollie )

The vets bill was below the excess amount in this case ( darn ) but the comfort is there if I should ever need it again , it's a good idea to keep a copy of your cats insurance with their iummisation certificate .


I was feeling like my cats drug dealer crushing up his tablets to put in his food , also I tried to avoid eye contact with him when I gave him the phone with the tablets it as I am sure cats can see right into your soul.

Pets are family and we will do all that we need to do to make sure they ok , Jack is recovering slowly and has even started playing hide and seek again ( which he is rather rubbish at but we don't tell him so as not to hurt his feelings )

There is one thing though Jack has t ego back to the vets next week for his annual booster ~ you going to take him to the V E T  ?

Photography How Do You Capture Your Family

Photography how do you capture your family ?

Family photography doesn't have to be just about the smiling groups , family photography can be about capturing the moment. It is moments in time frozen forever to be revisited stirring memories, memories aren't always fond but nonetheless they're memories . 

The case of myself capturing the family it's happy times , it doesn't matter I'm the one lagging behind but am lagging behind or capturing the moment?

Capturing my family at the beautiful Charlcote Park

Strolling down the hill at Beamish Open air museum.

Chilling out in Ibiza .

Taking in the stunning architecture of Ibiza town.


Soaking up the history of Berlin.



Living and loving times in Washington D.C

Paying our respects at Arlington cemetery.

Not only am I capturing the back of my family but also the places we have been from National Trust properties to Ibiza , Berlin and Washington D.C .

Simple family pictures are very much life affirming it's the simplest and most naturally beautiful opportunity in life. And when you take pictures like this that are candid and natural then you really do get something special and I just feel the love in them.

How do your capture your family  with your photography have you got a special sort of way  ?


I love taking pictures of my family and I love capturing when they are unaware , I have created many lovely pictures and they are wonderful memories to look back on. 

I know when we go to Rome I'm going to be taking the same sort of shots but oh the magnificent if it all in such an architecturally stunning romantic city.

Photographing your family this way can make family life easier as your not trying to wrestle possible squabbling children in a family portrait with half tears and smiles ! I am very much a fan of natural photography.