tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41790239934685900762024-03-13T20:55:55.300-07:00So LovelySo Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-59539432769714565632014-11-11T09:05:00.000-08:002014-11-11T11:31:13.509-08:00<br />
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Lest We Forget</h3>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gwGGo23BESc/SvtMM0l8NOI/AAAAAAAAAec/lO3_bKTZ9do/s1600-h/images.jpg" style="color: #999999; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gwGGo23BESc/SvtMM0l8NOI/AAAAAAAAAec/lO3_bKTZ9do/s200/images.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402995961120961762" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.09375) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.09375) 1px 1px 5px; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 110px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0pt; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative; width: 91px;" /></a><br />
Sadly for my grandfather, eldest of three brothers, his war time was to end tragically. He was an expert navigator and bomber fighter, attached to the RAF and took part in most of the major bombing raids in Germany and France. In the Battle Of Brest - the first major daylight bombing raid - he was recommended for a DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) but, because they were short one medal, circumstances on the day meant he was the one to miss out.<br />
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A letter he wrote home in 1941 was telling:<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">"I have been on quite a number of big bombing raids now and realise that the chances of survival are not as great as they might be. Nearly every trip we lose a percentage of our crews and already a great portion of my class have passed on to that happy hunting ground where we will all assemble at the sound of the great trumpet. </span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Personally I have no fear of these trips at all, and even much less fear death, particularly when I realise that should that be my fate, I will walk the same lanes and fields as the thousands of other young men who have so gladly and willingly died for this great cause.</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Not only that, but we will be in the same realm as the great soldiers of England who have gone before us and blazed the way. I feel proud that I have been allowed to serve as an officer in the Royal Air Force and I want you to feel proud with me rather than sorry for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">After all my sacrifice is very small. It is M (his wife, my grandmother) and JS (his son, my father) who are making the real sacrifice. Sometimes I feel very mean having left them like I have to fight the great battles of life....."</span><br />
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In 1942 his tour had ended and he wrote to his wife and son (my father) to prepare to shift to Canada as he had a position training air crews there and that is where they would live. Then experienced volunteers were called for a mission over Denmark - my grandfather volunteered for one <span style="font-style: italic;">last</span> mission. Sixty aircraft took off on Sunday May 18th - the plane was hit twice by flak and crashed at 0210 at Galskling, 2km west of Middlefart.<br />
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My grandmother received the "missing believed killed" telegram just hours before my great aunt was to be married. She kept that information to herself until after the wedding. Another great aunt remembers finding the telegram under the mattress as she made the bed for a guest, later that evening. It was to be months before there was finally confirmation of his death.<br />
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Of the 60 planes that set off on that final mission, six were lost and only one of the crew lived, was seriously injured and taken prisoner. There is a memorial to my grandfather and the crew of MacRobert's Reply at Middlefart, Denmark - the stone was taken from the crash site. My grandfather's grave is at Odense near a memorial to the fallen.<br />
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My father, who is an only child never had the chance to know his father.<br />
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Here are a few excerpts from my great uncle's log book - he was an RAF Flight-Lieutenant Beaufighter pilot and night flyer. He was attached to the 29th Squadron, stationed at Brize Norton.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">July 23</span>: (his first sortie) enemy aircraft approached from the North East, scrambled after them, pitch dark night. Got to within one mile of them and they scooted for home.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">July 25</span>: Daylight scramble in bad weather. Jerry driven off - one crew missing.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">August 5:</span> Weather very bad. Dark, raining and bumpy as hell. Intercepted a JU88. It took violent evasive action and got away in the dark. It is believed I damaged him canon fire.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">August 13:</span> Tonight Jerry raided Canterbury in strength. Three of us went up to intercept. The flak was terrible. Dunne and Hay were shot down. For Jerry shot down.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">September 10:</span> (crashed at Bradwell Bay). Flaps damaged by flak and had to make a blind landing in nil visibility. Lucky to get down.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">September 13</span>: A JU88 got on my tail and I just saw it in time to peel off. Tried to dog fight with it but it was too dark so I buggered off before there was one less in the family.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">November 13:</span> Over Flushing my starboard engine was hit and started to emit sparks. Got an emergency homeing. Over base, the cloud base was just clear of hills and while on circuit the engine ceased. Maintained height on one engine but hit four trees on approach. Managed to crash land and plane went up in flames; got out by the skin of my teeth. Knocked about and not allowed to do any heavy flying for 3 months.<br />
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This marked the end of his first tour.<br />
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I will never forget those who have either lost their lives or been gravely wounded in any war.</div>
So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-64876317628775925852014-02-10T09:28:00.001-08:002014-02-10T09:28:35.670-08:00<h1 class="quoteText" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“He’s not perfect. You aren’t either, and the two of you will never be perfect. But if he can make you laugh at least once, causes you to think twice, and if he admits to being human and making mistakes, hold onto him and give him the most you can. He isn’t going to quote poetry, he’s not thinking about you every moment, but he will give you a part of him that he knows you could break. Don’t hurt him, don’t change him, and don’t expect for more than he can give. Don’t analyze. Smile when he makes you happy, yell when he makes you mad, and miss him when he’s not there. Love hard when there is love to be had. Because perfect guys don’t exist, but there’s always one guy that is perfect for you.”</span></h1>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/25241.Bob_Marley" style="background-color: white; color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">Bob Marley</a>So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-80064706048831013832012-05-15T09:06:00.000-07:002012-05-15T09:06:38.416-07:00***The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel***<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mDh754hQ9AU/T7J9hWdUgXI/AAAAAAAAAmM/me9ck-QQ5Ag/s1600/imgres-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mDh754hQ9AU/T7J9hWdUgXI/AAAAAAAAAmM/me9ck-QQ5Ag/s320/imgres-2.jpeg" width="216" /></a></div>
<br />
I've been waiting to see this for months and it was truly brilliant! Uplifting, heart warming - I didn't want it to end. <br />
<br />
As happens with treasures like this - it won't be around in cinemas for long - so please go see it. You won't be disappointed. Now I'm off to book my trip to India (in my mind).So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-16919964134336617602012-02-25T18:17:00.000-08:002012-02-25T18:18:41.526-08:00Life....<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rl3JX9Hsg2M/T0mWbcX6nFI/AAAAAAAAAl8/e6dG5DS-7qA/s1600/this-is-your-life1.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 385px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rl3JX9Hsg2M/T0mWbcX6nFI/AAAAAAAAAl8/e6dG5DS-7qA/s400/this-is-your-life1.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713263000513322066" /></a>So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-24968667521443511842011-12-09T15:30:00.000-08:002011-12-09T15:34:02.881-08:00Los Angeles<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>"Who are these people who've got a problem with LA, maybe they're just mad cos they don't live here".</b></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">- Ice Cube</span></div>So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-85758072593511089612011-11-13T12:53:00.000-08:002011-11-13T12:57:02.085-08:00Ann Carrington<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/24336441?portrait=0" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/24336441">W Hoboken "Manhattan Mettle" By Ann Carrington</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user6729971">tinklevision</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><div><br /></div><div>My favorite artist. For more of her art, click <a href="http://www.anncarrington.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>here.</b></span></a></div>So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-55048194103689514932011-10-21T15:30:00.000-07:002011-10-21T15:34:22.448-07:00Paperbacks<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ou7g_x9XA84/TqHynbzEohI/AAAAAAAAAlI/_pJgtU9TrJg/s1600/paperbacksblack1tracykendall.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ou7g_x9XA84/TqHynbzEohI/AAAAAAAAAlI/_pJgtU9TrJg/s400/paperbacksblack1tracykendall.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666076565499585042" /></a><div><a href="http://tracykendall.com/">Tracy Kendall wallpaper</a></div>So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-37819466903381985182011-10-04T16:53:00.000-07:002011-10-04T16:54:34.760-07:00Such a wise man~<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img class="post_image aligncenter frame" src="http://theexceptionalman.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ira-glass-quote.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Ira Glass on Creativity, Taste and Hard Work" style="padding-top: 0.75em; padding-right: 0.75em; padding-bottom: 0.75em; padding-left: 0.75em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 1.667em; margin-left: auto; display: block; float: none; clear: both; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-width: 0.083em; border-right-width: 0.083em; border-bottom-width: 0.083em; border-left-width: 0.083em; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div>So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-87076455842636320862011-09-11T12:09:00.000-07:002011-09-11T12:22:26.815-07:00Wild Geese<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 244); ">You do not have to be good.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 244); "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 1.5em; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; "><span class="poem" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; ">You do not have to walk on your knees<br />for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.<br />You only have to let the soft animal of your body<br /> love what it loves.<br />Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.<br />Meanwhile the world goes on.<br />Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain<br />are moving across the landscapes,<br />over the prairies and the deep trees,<br />the mountains and the rivers.<br />Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,<br />are heading home again.<br />Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,<br />the world offers itself to your imagination,<br />calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting-<br />over and over announcing your place<br />in the family of things.</span><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 1.5em; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; ">~ Mary Oliver</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 1.5em; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; ">Such a beautifully fitting poem, read at a 9/11 Memorial Service I attended this morning.</p></span>So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-37179801609467051682011-09-02T08:13:00.000-07:002011-09-02T08:19:33.015-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div class="blog-copy" style="font-size: 14px; margin-right: 25px; line-height: 21px; "><blockquote style="font-family: georgia, verdana, sans-serif; "><p style="font-family: georgia, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >REMEMBERING THE CHILDREN OF FIRST MARRIAGES</span></b></p><p style="font-family: georgia, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; ">Oh remember the children of first marriages
<br />For they are silent and awkward in their comings and their goings;
<br />For the seal of the misbegotten is upon them;
<br />For they walk in apology and dis-ease;
<br />For their star is sunk;
<br />For their fathers’ brows are knitted against them;
<br />For they bristle and snarl.
<br />All you light-limbed amblers in the sun,
<br />Remember the grovellers in the dark;
<br />The scene-shifters, the biders, the loners.</p></blockquote><p style="font-family: georgia, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; "><em>Lucy Tunstall is a doctoral student at the University of Exeter.</em></p><p style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 21px; "><em><span class="Apple-style-span">From The Paris Review.</span></em></p></div></span>So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-81161376871181570712011-07-21T08:07:00.001-07:002011-07-21T08:09:22.868-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>"Some people get you and some people don't, and to spend your life trying to make people understand how deep, complex and varied you are - I think that way lies madness".</b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>~ Cate Blanchett </b></span></div>So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-53631472051988233462011-05-18T19:24:00.001-07:002011-05-18T19:28:45.261-07:00All things Jane Austen<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S1ONR7Pl5_g/TdR_xzllILI/AAAAAAAAAkg/GbyBW4m-lps/s1600/imgres.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 183px; height: 275px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S1ONR7Pl5_g/TdR_xzllILI/AAAAAAAAAkg/GbyBW4m-lps/s400/imgres.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608247929621258418" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">Having a hard time focusing on books right now. This is such a great idea and I love the cover.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You can buy it<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Posh%C2%AE-Jane-Austen-UK/dp/1449403565/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1305771648&sr=1-1"><span class="Apple-style-span" > here.</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-48550774337926953092011-05-09T13:53:00.000-07:002011-05-09T13:57:17.455-07:00Man's Best Friend<span style="font-weight:bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >"The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him and the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog".</span><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-weight:bold;"></span></span></span><div><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span >~ George Graham Vest</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >For the lovely <a href="http://taniakindersley.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Tania</span></a> who just lost one of her best friends.</span></div><div><span style="font-weight:bold;" ><br /></span></div>So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-49533212163648485622011-04-27T08:31:00.000-07:002011-04-27T08:45:43.023-07:00This Friday - the Royal Wedding<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xCRTRMMOXiU/Tbg3CloYHsI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/DZv-evtX2As/s1600/imgres.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 199px; height: 253px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xCRTRMMOXiU/Tbg3CloYHsI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/DZv-evtX2As/s400/imgres.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600286654235942594" /></a>Alarm set, Coronation chicken to be made (<a href="http://http://www.libertylondongirl.com/2011/03/12/home-my-mother-featured-in-waitrose-food-illustrated-her-bb/"><span class="Apple-style-span" >will use this great recipe</span></a>) and will then be ready to watch a piece of history unfold.So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-13311983520449205972011-04-22T15:17:00.001-07:002011-04-22T15:19:59.306-07:00Hot Cross Buns<div>Homemade......</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oXNgBOSqxSs/TbH-uFSLe9I/AAAAAAAAAkI/UQak_ayHIoc/s1600/DSC_0344.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oXNgBOSqxSs/TbH-uFSLe9I/AAAAAAAAAkI/UQak_ayHIoc/s400/DSC_0344.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598535879444102098" /></a>So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-6629423059194188322011-04-11T11:31:00.000-07:002011-04-11T11:58:32.203-07:00Winners and Losers<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xEgfdW3lQgI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-82787533887197882782011-04-07T10:00:00.000-07:002011-04-07T10:03:31.631-07:00from Leaves of Grass<meta equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><center>32</center><center>
<br /></center> I think I could turn and live with animals, they're so placid and self contain'd, I stand and look at them long and long. <p>They do not sweat and whine about their condition,
<br />They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins,
<br />They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God,
<br />Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with the mania of owning things,
<br />Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that lived thousands of years ago,
<br />Not one is respectable or unhappy over the earth.</p> <p>—Walt Whitman</p>So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-66849459612432214892011-04-05T10:02:00.000-07:002011-04-05T13:58:57.499-07:00Simon Doonan<object height="315" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://a.sccdn.net/flash-1/player.swf?201103301&video_id=330&server=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stylecaster.com%2Ffeeds&source=undefined&more_videos=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://a.sccdn.net/flash-1/player.swf?201103301&video_id=330&server=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stylecaster.com%2Ffeeds&source=undefined&more_videos=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="315" width="560"></embed></object><br /><br />Via StyleCasterSo Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-83787130983696326892011-04-04T11:34:00.000-07:002011-04-04T11:48:14.523-07:00Changing....I've been contemplating for months the next phase of my blog and here's what I've decided. <div>I feel there's just too much me, me, me and self-promotion in the world right now and wanted to make this a place to come & find maybe a great piece of music, a thoughtful poem, some delicious photography - a place to inspire, a place to kick off your shoes, lie down on the grass and rest a while. <div><br /></div><div>The comments section has been shut off so that you can feel comfortable to come and go, roam around and not feel awkward if you don't have time to sign the "visitors book".</div><div><br /></div><div>All are welcome and you can stay as long as you like!</div><div><br /></div><div>x So Lovely</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-83417415837775108842011-02-23T09:23:00.001-08:002011-02-26T19:55:07.774-08:00The Earthquake in New ZealandNew Zealand has had a time of it lately - the earthquake last September, the horrific mining disaster and now this........<br /><br />Hello sweet abandoned blog and my wonderful, faithful readers - I've been away and didn't want my first post back to be about money. The money is not for me though - its for my homeland and the people of Christchurch. This is the first time in the history of New Zealand that a State of Emergency has been declared - tragically lives have been lost, hundreds are still trapped and the city itself is rubble.<br /><br />Many people have asked me what's the best way to get donations to New Zealand and my suggestion is through the Red Cross.<br /><br />So here's the link to the <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.redcross.org.nz/cms_display.php">NZ Red Cross -</a><br /><br />I truly appreciate anything that you can donate - I know times are tough but everything little bit helps.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Update</span>: An official donation website has also now be set up <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.christchurchearthquakeappeal.govt.nz/">here.</a>So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-15987437688145042882010-12-01T19:40:00.000-08:002010-12-02T10:30:54.595-08:00Pike River disaster - the Twenty NinePike River Official Remembrance Service: 2 minutes' silence at 2.00 pm, Thursday 02 December<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">We Will Live</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">by Helen Wilson</span><br /><br />We must live, get on with our lives.<br /><br />I am someone who lives here, and I am no one in particular.<br /><br />I am not a close relative, just relatively close.<br /><br />I live amongst you, work with you, pass you on the street,<br /><br />and as luck would have it, I came home again.<br /><br />I went to work on that Friday as you did. That's all.<br /><br />My labrador ready for a run when I got home, my lawnmower and fishing rod waiting eagerly for the weekend.<br /><br />I lived, and should have got on with my life.<br />But as I write, my neighbourhood is at a standstill, and I am with them,<br /><br />paralysed by the enormity of despair, guilt and helplessness.<br /><br />My lawns have bloomed dandelions, my dog, bored, is digging holes in the weeds.<br /><br />The media says we are a close-knit community. I prefer to think we are tightly bound to be here,<br /><br />because living here is not a normal, comfortable life but a strong and uncertain existence;<br /><br />forever at the whim of our surroundings, we go up the back and go down the mine, up the hill and across the bar.<br /><br />The earth moves, the winds strike, the rain falls, and the hills remind us of their omnipotence.<br /><br />We nod to each other in the street in a quiet way because we understand we have lived more than most and we really know how to get on with our lives.<br /><br />And in a flash, life has stopped us in our tracks and can never be the same.<br /><br />And in the days after Friday and the anguish, as if we had forgotten and needed a remedial lesson,<br /><br />we are reminded what it is that is most precious about our community.<br /><br />And in our despair, we are kinder to each other. We spend more time. We knit ourselves tighter and we behave a little better,<br /><br />and that in itself brings us the comfort we need.<br /><br />We will mourn some more, and then wearying of that, we will remember this day and what it is to be alive.<br /><br />And in the memory of those we have lost, we will promise to be kinder to each other,<br /><br />Because we have learned all over again what is important and what is not.<br /><br />To do this gives purpose to their lives, and some sanction for their death.<br /><br />This weekend I will mow my lawns, retrieve my dog from her pit, and the greyest kahawai will not be safe.<br /><br />And we will all live for them a little bit better and get on with our lives. <br /><br />~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~<br /><br />An absolute disaster happened in a country far from here - it happened in my homeland and those who perished were my countrymen. I watched the memorial service on CNN tonight with tears streaming and stood to sing the National Anthem with a very shaky voice. The youngest miner was just 17.<br /><br />As the Prime Minister read out the names of the 29 who perished, a lone bird started to sing as if on cue.So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-43750287603261751672010-11-25T08:18:00.000-08:002010-11-25T08:29:15.625-08:00Happy Thanksgiving<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gwGGo23BESc/TO6OwPCvtPI/AAAAAAAAAjM/0S55WPD0Y-I/s1600/DSC_0235.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gwGGo23BESc/TO6OwPCvtPI/AAAAAAAAAjM/0S55WPD0Y-I/s400/DSC_0235.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543525150662571250" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif;">For rest and shelter of the night,<br />For health and food, for love and friends,<br />For everything Thy goodness sends.<br /><br />~Ralph Waldo Emerson</span>So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-79245577832921453422010-11-07T11:28:00.000-08:002010-12-02T10:08:04.201-08:00The PitIts always a sickening feeling when you have to come to the realization that you have or are being used. Its the pit in the bottom of your stomach feeling, you don't really want to admit to yourself that you were that stupid. From the start, there are ALWAYS signs - big, huge, flashing ones - saying DANGER AHEAD and yet we persevere, well I do - thinking that it will be different - I won't fall into the trap, I'll scoot around the outside, fully aware of the situation.<br /><br />But then something happens, all those signs get washed away or disappear behind the bloom of someone new with shared views maybe. A friendship begins SO when does it change from helping a friend to being used or starting a friendship with someone that you later find out was just a little lonely at the time and you were just a filler until their preferred social network started to take shape? Does the length of the friendship/relationship count? Is it after a certain numbers of days it changes from new friends to friends that you help out or is it the amount of time you spend together, length of phone calls/emails etc? Is there some sort of scientific equation or graph!<br /><br />But then the flip side is if they are your friend, are they using you or are you helping out a friend, wanting them to succeed, happy to help them with contacts or meeting people? When is it using?So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-18280497628561275782010-10-16T20:20:00.001-07:002010-10-16T21:43:13.627-07:00Catching my breath<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gwGGo23BESc/TLp0RYiUbqI/AAAAAAAAAis/DboKy6158KY/s1600/images.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gwGGo23BESc/TLp0RYiUbqI/AAAAAAAAAis/DboKy6158KY/s200/images.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528859334543699618" border="0" /></a>I never feel I have a moment to catch my breath - I've truly felt guilty at times writing my blog or reading a book as that attention should be directed towards the ever growing virtual stack (via email) of scripts that I should be reading for clients and my own production company.<br /><br />I've also realized that not spending as much time on Twitter or on my blog has made me direct more attention back to my company and therefore wonderful things are happening. I've always wanted to have my own company - I'm not good taking orders from others, I will do if I must! Having spent most of my life working in the corporate world I took a risk a few years ago, leaving a high profile job, the security of a monthly pay check and a very hefty expense account to initially start up my new company from the dining room table in my house (I had to leave sooner than expected). I remember being so afraid - I worked 7 days a week without a break, not wanting to divert my attention for a moment as the bills were starting to pile up and it seemed like money was drifting out the windows. That's a hard habit to break - working 24/7. <br /><br />I'm trying to teach myself that the sky is not going to fall if I read a design magazine, wander through blogs I like or perhaps even read a book! And also to catch my breath - and remember its not all or nothing.So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179023993468590076.post-76758157330177033682010-10-04T12:00:00.000-07:002010-10-04T12:02:18.561-07:00Happiness<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gwGGo23BESc/TKokVAh9_jI/AAAAAAAAAic/0U8J8AZ9VrE/s1600/image001.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gwGGo23BESc/TKokVAh9_jI/AAAAAAAAAic/0U8J8AZ9VrE/s400/image001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524267836261662258" border="0" /></a>via this <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://ffffound.com/image/d5e1f9ebe34f66ad5783b167b37d56b4d51f5eb2">brilliant website. </a>So Lovelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090206663800207951noreply@blogger.com3