"You're nothing but a pack of cards!"

Hello there!  How are you?  Well, I hope!  Hello to my lovely new followers!  You are helping me towards my little, sort of wish/nice idea of having 100 followers for my 7-year blog anniversary in April! I've never been one for deliberately garnering followers (you can tell that from the 91 followers in 7 years thing) but it's always such a secret delight when I find someone is kind enough to follow me!  I am delighted that each of you found something you decided to come back to!!!  Thank you!!!

Last year, I took part in Annie the Felt fairy's A make a month and that kept me on track making something every month!  Somehow, the impetus has gone since the lovely Annie has not reissued the challenge, for personal reasons.

Anyway, I always enjoy making cards in the holidays but sometimes wish I were more focused in trying other crafts. I did try glass and ceramic painting last year, making boxes, brooches, jewellery, which was great but I wish I could actually be disciplined enough to try and learn a new craft such as crochet, knitting, dress-making, mosaic-making!  Sigh!  At some point I hope! Maybe the wedding (August!) can be the impetus for me to try something new!!!!

Anyway, I did make some cards.  All of them involve something recycled as usual!



1.  The top left one is for my friend's wedding next month.  The William Morris paper is something a work colleague dumped in the recycling (print-out) and I punched the flowers out of an old school letter.
I used an embossing tool to curl the petals of the flowers.
2.  J's birthday card- I've got sooooooooooo much ribbon that I never use!
3.  I punched the butterflies from some scrap for this one.  I liked using aperture cards
(I got a job lot from The Works for 29p for 8 cards!)

4.  The Star card reuses one of those free CDs they used to send in the post.  The star was a Christmas  tag from a child.  I used the embossing tool to add the line details.
5.  The gold patterned squares were punched from some old Christmas crackers.  It's a standing joke at our church Christmas meals out, that I collect up all the cracker ends to turn into my Christmas cards!  One friend even collected me cracker ends at a party she went to! More paper flowers from scrap and a gold gel pen
6.  This mosaic-style one recycled another cracker- I liked the fact it looks like these are all part of a picture.

7.  The NASUWT fee does provide something- the front cover of their magazine was a pretty swirly rainbowy pattern that was begging to be made into something pretty!  The blue background of both cards was a tissue box.
8.  A different tissue box.  Is it sad that I chose those particular tissues for their potential recycling qualities!
9.  See number 7.

10.  One of my favourite crafts is quilling!  I used some blue scrap paper to make the rain drops for CBC.  It was a pop-up card, can you guess what the sentiment is????
11. "            "
12.  I accidently forgot to give out flyers for a previous concert from my orchestra.  It seemed a waste so I turned them into envelopes!  Two of my blogging penpals may recognise them!

What have you been making recently?  Something lovely, I hope!
xx

Linking up to Lakota's Ta Dah Tuesday!!!

And also linking up to
Claire-Justine's creative Monday for the first time!
And Sarah's Super handmade Sunday



Oooh, and I forgot, it was Style Imitating Art with Jess of Animated Cardigan this week- the inspiration was this awesome Sol Lewitt's untitled lithograph (WHAT is a lithograph? Must find out!)


Here's what I wore for the interpretation!


Yes, it is the madras check dress again! And a vintage belt of my Mum's that I 'borrowed' years ago!!!  Try to ignore the heinous combination of magenta tights and turquoise satin ballet pumps!!! And the attempt at a side-parting! Go and check the link above to see how else the other participants styled it!

The projector
Oh, and if you are still with me.  Well the projector update that several of you asked about?
It was a new projector.  I turned it on for Singing assembly this morning and..
1.  The display was upside down
2.  It was out of line to the left in direct relation to where I hit it.
3.  It was blurry!!

Everyone gleefully told the IT technicians about how I had accidently hit it!!!
My kids found the above problems hilarious but luckily my lovely year 6 screen operator boys managed to rotate all the lyrics in the powerpoint upside down so we could read it and then shifted them to the right.  I love it when kids manage to troubleshoot!!!

Singer/song-writer

Hello there on this fine Monday!  I do hope you are well and happy! I have had a good day on the whole!  The day is always good when year 6 are not badly behaved! They were so focused on their group composition task, that they didn't have a chance to mess around as they had to write a piece in binary structure, consisting of two contrasting sections of 8-bars incorporating longer and shorter rhythms in the two halves.  It took them all that time to get that done, no time for mischief!  I suddenly had ideas for a maths investigation based on music rhythms for them!!!

It's inspiration Monday today and up for the inspiring is the rather pretty Elizabeth Olsen wearing this rather smart outfit!


Featuring the Olsen triplets- no really, there's three of me! All this time I've been tricking you with my blog, masquerading as one person!

Here's my version of it involving Primark dress, H&M beret, necklace- gift, boots- eYe, cardigan- Zara, jacket- thrifted new, earrings- thrifted vintage.
It's always typical, that on the day I wear heels and a smart outfit, that we end up having a PE inset (staff training) and I was having to play netball in this get-up! It was quite funny really! Well, it was funny until, after the warning from the ICT coordinator, to be careful of the projector (we had the training in the hall), I accidently thew my netball straight at the projector and caused it to twist!!! Oh my goodness, really hope it;s not broken and I don't get a £2000 bill!!!!!!

Sadly, I didn't get to meet my friend on Sunday as she had had a night out and was feeling rather worse for wear but I did get to see her this evening which was lovely! She hasn't changed and she seems really happy, I look forward to her wedding party in May!!!!

You're wondering about the post-title, yes?  Well, when I first wore this dress and boots together, not long after CBC and I started going out, he told me I look like a singer-songwriter in it and he liked the look! I've not worn it many times since, for shame!

So, here's my album cover, since I was obviously destined for song-writing fame!



Soon not to be found at a music store near you!

I'm linking to the Twobirds boutique with the lovely Megan and Nora- go forth to find more Olsen tributes!

I'm also linking to the lovely Patti at Visible Monday with this look that makes me feel confident, despite being a dress-shape outside my usual comfort zone!  Go there to see lots of beautifully dressed lovelies!

A pause for Lent 2: Love so amazing

I used to read a lovely blog by a girl called Chris Macfie when I first starting blogging.  She had such a beautiful heart.  She suffered from Crohns or something similar but she was such an inspiration and she was only a teenager. I wish she still blogged. I'd love to know what she's doing now.  Her blog had a motto (like my terrible alliterative description above) and it said:

Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.

I used to find it so beautiful.  I was a new Christian at that point.  It seemed so right, so important, so true- a real motto to live your life by. Every time I read her blog, I looked at those words.

And then at Easter a year or so later after reading her blog first, we were singing 'When I survey the wondrous cross' and there I saw where those words had come from- in the last verse.

 
When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride.


Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,

Save in the death of Christ my God!

All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to His blood.


See from His head, His hands, His feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down!

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?


His dying crimson, like a robe,

Spreads o’er His body on the tree;

Then I am dead to all the globe,

And all the globe is dead to me.


Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

And for me, this song is what is all about.  This song makes me pause, reflect, wonder, stand in awe.  It is for nothing unless it is for him. 

I wrote my own version of this one Easter with this last verse as a chorus such is the importance of that last verse to me.  I've never managed to finish the piano accompaniment and get it written down so we can sing it at church.  Perhaps this year, I will manage to sit down and finish it. Perhaps that should be my final pause for Lent- offering that?

Hey Baby, welcome to the 60's!

Clearly, I was channeling my Mum in my choice of outfit this morning!  When I pick up anything by Orla Keily, I always think of the 60's with the psychedelic flower patterns!!!  I'd really recommend the Uniglo heat-tech range, they really do keep you warm- I was just wearing this top outside and I wasn't at all cold!
I decided to go with my Mum's 60's bunches and a baker-boy hat with added daisy!


You may even tell that I am wearing turquoise-blue eye-liner to celebrate the 60's, and I wasn't even going anywhere!! One of my favourite (and only) make-up looks of my twenties was the wearing of turquoise eye-liner and turquoise mascara. 

I intended to spend the day doing school-work but instead spent the day on Operation Mouse and found the turquoise eye-liner during the process!  I am not supposed to be moaning during Lent but am fast getting really annoyed with the mice! How dare they visit uninvited to my house??? Why are my neighbours not doing anything about them!?  I have purchased all manner of mouse deterrants and ways of ridding but they are still visiting!  I discovered from my neighbours that they have them too (and I should be able to tell that from the scamperings I can hear under floorboards from one end of my house to the other!) but they haven't done anything about them, or at least they hadn't at first!!!

I am so excited tomorrow I get to see my best friend from primary and secondary school who I haven't seen for at least 6 years!  She lives in Denmark now but we're meeting up tomorrow to go to Vivien of Holloway!  She's also getting married! 

Hope you are all well.
Lots of love,
Kezzie xx

World book day costume ideas

If you are a parent or teacher, then you know about this day, the 6th of March (I think!) in which your children end up going into school dressed as a book character!  If you are despairing, fear not, as I compiled last year, a large amount of different ideas for costumes:
Go to World book day costume ideas and you should find a large amount of ideas.

In addition to that,I've had a few more ideas since:

The three musketeers (D'Artagnian, Aramis, Porthos or Athos.)

Image found here

You need a bit floppy hat (70's style)- add a bit white floppy feather if you can.

• Big white sleeved skirt.
• Tightish, high-waisted trousers- tuck them into your...
• ...Knee high boots
• You can make a tunic out of a stretch length of material if you'd prefer to imitate the muskethounds (DOGTANIAN!) .  Make yourself a fancy collar out of material OR cardboard! 
• Grab a sword.

Here are my costumes from previous years:



 Guinevere in 2012

Helen of Troy in 2011 (in which the children voted me best costume and was given CHOCOLATE as a prize!)


aaaaand Catherine Morland from Northanger Abbey in 2010 (once I manage to get the photos off my phone!)


I'll add to this as I think of more ideas!!!

Five minute Friday: What Mama did...

In just five minutes. Tell me all about what your mama did that made her yours….


My Mum has always been someone in my mind who is free-spirited, not afraid to be different and likes what she likes.  This is certainly part of her legacy in me.  She has always been someone with eclectic tastes who has an interest in many things and again, this has been part of me.  Her love of nature and the natural world is something that has passed from her parents to her and onto me.  I am happiness when I am seeing the beauty of the natural world.  Somehow though, her green fingers have not reached me yet!  She was always very very strong on the subject of smoking and drugs- she found it to be something that made her cough and she knew the dangers of it- I was aware of this from a young age and knew that peer pressure would be something that would never convince me to start.  I did try it, just to say, "Yep, that's disgusting," and out of those who I tried it with, I am the only one who didn't start and continue smoking. 

My mum has always been a hard-worker, she worked hard for us as children, juggling several jobs, none of them particularly well paid, in order that we might have our music lessons and learn skills, and well, live!  We ate vegetable stews that we had grown the ingredients for ourselves.  I think this is why I have certain thrifty ways, particularly regarding food, because I know how hard it was for my mother to earn the money and to spend money on food seemed less of an importance (somethign I know that CBC gets a little cross with me about).  Her love of the dramatic, music, acting, creativity and the such like has formed such an important part of my life.  And giving us an independence and a real perspective on the world.  All these things make her mine. 

And most importantly, she went without for a good many years that we might prosper in our professional and social lives- I never had the time to get into trouble- I was always busy!  What has she done to maker her mine? Well, she is part of me in so many facets of my personality and life!
Today’s your turn. What did your mama do that makes her your mama? Let’s unpack those memories today. Let’s trace our fingers along the lines of the unexpected. The ordinary beauty in a day of motherhood. The food or the laughing or the dancing or the story telling.
Where is your memory buried?

{and don’t forget to spend some time commenting on the post of the person who linked up just before you}


Linking to Lisa-Jo Baker at Five Minute Friday.

52 weeks of happy: 5?

This is a little over-due!
What has made me happy the past week? (meaning last week! I am a little behind!)
Many things many of which connect to not being at school- wonderful, blissful holidays!

Clockwise from top left:

1.  This picture combines lots of happy things:
a) it being half-term, meaning b) I could travel to my friend's birthday c) her happening to live in a gorgeous town on the Thames d) the fact I love rivers and water e) it was sunny
2.  CBC's cooking:  Delicious fish pie with beans, radishes and cabbage, delicious.
3.  Spring flowers:  We're not quite there yet,but these cheerful yellow ladies were brightening up the graveyard in Blackmore.
4. Interesting architecture and stucco-work (?) :   I loved the nursery rhyme characters on this house in Blackmore!
5.  Rediscovering old friends:  I found Crabbe and also Kreeket (bat. Get it?) and Pinky (Panther), not pictured who now have seats of honour:  Oh and that's CBC under there. Crabbe's friendly.
6.  Jamming with CBC- great fun playing music together!

Oh and in blogging world, what has made me happy?

1.  Katie at Hook, Line and Sink Her, making rainbow cakes. I adore rainbows!
2.  Louise at Ramblings of a roachling getting onto a teacher training course after 3 years- fantastic perseverance!
3.  Charlotte at Tuppeny Happeny dying her hair pink.
4.  Lauren at A Daisychain dream wearing a cute bunny top!
5.  Jille at Love to Craft making rainbow heart bunting! I adore rainbows, did I mention that?

What has made you happy this week?

Monday and Tuesday united!

Hey there!  I am linking a little late to Inspiration Monday with the lovely Two Birds due to my sister taking the photos (and me forgetting to take them!)!  I made a little mistake with it! When I quickly glanced at the look on Sunday via my Google follow list, I only noticed the girl in the background on her phone, so er- my inspiration look was based on her rather than Ms Theron on the left:  DOH!!!
Anyway, I saw an all black outfit with a scarf and boots.  However, I did go for leggings, so a little bit there!
I decided since we were going shopping, to combine a black cashmere sweater with a flippy multilayer skirt, floral/stripy scarf with daisy-print leggings and purple boots!  And, the lovely Salazar of 14 shades of Grey has inspired me with her great brooch collection to wear this Mullenhauer recorder brooch I've had for about 22 years- it's an actual working recorder brooch though it's very high and squeaky!



I am aware that this is not the most stylish of looks but it was quite comfy and easy to get on and off for shopping!!

Also, since it's Tuesday, I am linking to Tah Dah Tuesday.  What is my tah-dah, I hear you ask?





Well, I never really find many really exciting vintage pieces when charity shopping but I was pretty excited to find a vintage Aquascutum skirt in Oxfam- it looks rubbish in the picture but it's a lovely khaki button down skirt (no buttons missing, just undone) and it will be perfect for lindy-hop- I'd like to try to work it into a sort of 40's look maybe???   Anyway, I am pretty excited about it! I'm not really one to care about labels but it's always nice to find something you actually have heard of in a vintage item!!

I also made a lovely mound of roasted veg with goats cheese! I love this dish as a really easy way to eat lots of veg and it's great for the winter months! It's very easy to do as you are probably aware. However, if there are any roasted veg virgins out there, then here's your chance:

Chop everything up (in this case, butternut squash (skin on), courgette, sundried tomatoes, carrots, pointed red peppers, onions) and put in an oven-proof dish with lots of marjoram, balsamic vinegar and olive oil (you can also mix this lot up with tomato puree too to make it more saucy) and mix the veg so it is coated in the oil, vinegar and herbs.  Cover it up with foil and put in the oven for about  45minutes on 200 degrees (might need to be longer depending on your oven, possibly an hour until the squash is tender. To be honest, this is guess work, so keep checking it!)  Finally, add in the goats cheese and roast without the foil for 10 minutes more!  And voila, a tasty meal.  I served it with chinese leaf cabbage and spinach!  Delicious!

I am having a lovely time watching Ugly Betty whilst typing on my laptop!  I love the holidays!!!

Hope you are well!

xx

Oooh and HOW lovely and sweet of the lovely Val Sparkle to do a post using me as her outfit inspiration!  I was really flattered and touched- she rocks the tweed and florals look together- check her out!

A pause for Lent 1: positivity

 

Hey!  Greetings from a happy Kezzie, though rather tired, huddled round a warm laptop, trying to imagine a roaring fire!

I decided to take part in Floss's A pause for Lent.   I really enjoyed the Advent one so I thought it would be lovely to have a go again.  She mentioned a series of things you could fast from including the following:

Fast from discontent; Feast on gratitude.


Fast from anger; Feast on patience.

Fast from pessimism; Feast on optimism.

Fast from worry; Feast on divine order.

Fast from complaining; Feast on appreciation.

Fast from negatives; Feast on affirmatives.

All of these are things that anyone, Christian or not, would understand and feel it would be fruitful to fast from- or at least try to work on.  One of the things I decided I wanted to do for Lent is to focus on the positives and actually try to have a fast from moaning if I could.  I used to rarely moan (well, less so) until I became a teacher and somehow I end up having a big moan-fest when I've had a difficult class. Does it help?  Well, apart from being slightly cathartic and making me feel like others understand, well no, not really.  I ALWAYS feel negative about myself and regret moaning, I am aware in retrospect, what a bore I sound and somehow, I find it so easy to get sucked into the moan! In general, I am a positive and bouncy-person, I do try to be the ebullient one, because I know that this is important- my Father tells me to be joyful in all things, but in teaching, it is hard.  Thus, I really do want to try and work on that this Lent.  I have not been totally successful so far- I was a right misery-guts on Saturday, not enough sleep made me irrationally gloomy but we really managed to dispell the gloom by playing music- CBC and I played through a variety of music on flute, cello and keyboard and I felt that cloud rising.  I mentioned this before, but I do believe that God gave me the skills, love and appreciation of music- to glorify him yes, but also because he loves to give us good things that bring us joy and playing music really does that for me!

We went swing-dancing tonight at the 100 club in London and had an absolutely smashing time, I laughed and smiled and CBC's having-to-go-into-school-at-half-term blues were dispelled.  So I am grateful for that!

Here are some other things I am grateful for:
1. My dear sisters and their patience and time today.
2. Knowing what I love
3. Knowing and acknowledging my skills and not hiding them.
4. Having my own bed to return to after staying away at family.
5. The joy of dance!

Make the effort

Greetings on such a wonderfully  sunny Sunday!  How beautiful it is to be bathed in sunlight.
We're driving off to sunny Oxfordshire to see my old Uni friend for her birthday. I don't see her very often due to geographical location but I was determined that I should make the effort to drive the 2 hours,well CBC driving,to go along. She's the only real uni friend I am still properly in touch with. It is so easy to say, that it's too far away and your good friend will always understand, but it takes effort to maintain a friendship.  It's always worth the effort. CBC totally understands this,he,even more than I,understands the importance of this.

It's now the evening and we had a gorgeous time.

The outfit above features a late 70's dress I bought from Brick lane which I adore, it's so comfy and an antique brooch I bought from a church fair which belonged to thr mother if the seller

Beloved: Five minute Friday

1. Write for 5 minutes flat with no editing, tweaking or self critiquing.




2. Link back here and invite others to join in {you can grab the button code in my blog’s footer}.



3. Go and tell the person who linked up before you what their words meant to you. Every writer longs to feel heard.

-----

When I think of the word beloved, immediately what comes to mind is that I am beloved of my
Father in heaven.  He knows me and he's there for me.  Or so the Bible tells me.  Sometimes, it is hard to feel that- I sometimes feel that I wish I could hear his voice clearly, knowing that he's definitely with me, hearing clearly that I am where he wants me to be and I am not just doing my own thing. I sometimes doubt whether I am doing what I should be.  Is he there with me?

And yet, I see and feel and have felt through my life, that I am his beloved:  I have been extraordinarily blessed in my life.  I have had so many opportunities to do things, to try things, to go to places, to meet people and I have been safe in many situations that could not have been so.   He has nurtured a side of me that has kept me safe, a caution from a young-age, that is in-built. There is a comfort, deep within me, a sense of being beloved.  I don't necessarily have to have a loudspeaker message saying, "Kezzie, you are mine," to know that I am beloved, that he loves me.  I feel it any time of despair.  Any time I feel I need to run, to be away from things, a calmness comes over me in the knowledge that I AM beloved. I've felt this extraordinary sense of being watched over and loved right from a young age.

One of my favourite songs when I came back to church as a 22 year old was, He brought me to his banqueting table.  The second verse begins with the lines:
"I am my beloved's and he is mine."

CBC said to me once that he didn't necessarily need to say, I love you for me to know that he loved me- it is there in the way he speaks to me, looks at me and in other ways.  That's how it is with God. There is a comfort in knowing that I am his beloved.  And he is mine.

Valentines by day and by night TA DAH!

Hello!

Since I am not allowed to moan (tis hard- what exactly is classified as moaning!), I will say, my day started off in an unfortunate way since I woke late and had to take Year 6 boosters at 8.15.  I then couldn't find their books (which were in a hidden pocket in my bag which I found after raging round for minutes!)

However, it continued in a fun way.  Lovely text from CBC.  Ostentatious bunches of flowers arrived from delivery people to various school staff. Very nice, but I'm happy with just a card as I am too lazy not skilled in the art of caring for flowers

Having seen the lovely Kate-Gabrielle talking about Valentines-themed outfits, I thought this would be quite fun to do!

It all stemmed from a chance sighting of a heart-print top which I teamed with a selection of bright (Including that skirt!) and dark clothing and the most obnoxious magenta tights ever.  Eeek, can't moan- how to say this- let's just say, my tights decided they rather liked the idea of gravity and battled tenaciously against hoiking for much of the day! (oh and wellies of course, because it rained this morning!)



The afternoon was spent with year 1 making Valentines cards for their parents and Chinese New year, snake puppets!  This was THAT class, mentioned last week.  Surprisingly well-behaved and chilled afternoon. Lots of lovely looking cards were produced and I cut some filigree paper hearts as I was wandering! Didn't want to get annoyed at anyone, was all very positive even though it involved sequins, PVA glue and glitter!

After a great, fun drumming club in which we prepared for a Samba-performance to Nursery and Reception tomorrow (totally excited about this!!!!), I headed off home.

There was a gorgeous, gorgeous sunset as I walked the main road home but unfortunately, due to lots of buildings and wires in the way, there was no real chance to take a picture of it! Sufficed to say it was bathing everything in a glorious golden hue!

I changed into my Valentines night outfit when I got home! More hearts! Pity I didn't see fit to locate the iron!!!



After attempting to do interesting things with my hair which looked interesting, to put it positively, I headed on over to CBC's for dinner which was yummy Breton chicken, rice and coriander, endives and "Tough-stem broccili" (which actually wasn't!)!  He has a real knack for putting together lovely dishes!

Here's the card I made him:


I always like to use male-colours and of course a little recycling!  In this case, envelopes!  It is a well-known fact (to, well-me!) that I am totally useless at origami but I saw a really easy tutorial on the Freebies for crafters blog which I decided to give a go and it was surprisingly quick! Topically, making an origami frog was the focus of the instructions for Year 6 boosters!

After last year's no-card debacle, CBC presented me with one of his wonderfully original and eccentric hand-made cards:



He also makes use of household items and recycled some bits! The thing I love is the detail he puts in.  The inside always resembles a rather tastefully-wall-papered living room which lots of fun elements! The postcard of the chap and lady is one that I have long-loved that CBC has sitting on his dressing-table!!! Thank you CBC, I love it!

The joke on the back refers to my love of Jenny Packham wedding dresses (in my dreams!)

And choccies!


Random funnies of the day:
My little niece has named her Triceritops toy Cirro-cumulus.   (She's a genius!  Or a cloud-enthusiast! I'm so proud!)
Deputy-head, overheard going through a maths SATs paper:  "You're throwing away marks like confetti!" (Mwa ha ha!!)
Year 2 pupils, who rushed up to greet me and hug my legs in the playground, admiring Valentines outfit: As I walked away, one stated, "She's soooooo pretty!" (I was touched!)

CBC is currently zonked on the sofa, so naturally, I snuck off to blog!!! However, I'd like some key-lime pie so ciao for now and incidently, may I wish you a really happy Valentines day!

Linking to Lakota's Tah Dah Thursday!!! (Ooooh, spooky, I called my post TAH dah and then saw Lakota's post!!!!)

That itchy jumper: Memories of childhood!!!!

As a child, I was really sensitive to certain materials or LABELS in clothes uhrgh, certain clothes in the 80's had SUCH itchy labels!!!!  I spent much of my childhood, wriggling because of an itchy label in a pair of knickers or a skirt/trousers with a high waistband (or worse, a t-shirt!).  I bought a gorgeous skirt from L'orsay in Saltzburg as a teen which was great bar the most unelievably itchy/scratchy label I have ever had the misfortune to own!

I was always particularly sensitive to certain wools or materials.  When we went over to my Dad's, he and my Stepmum had clothes for us over there to wear, that we'd change into.  These included, for both my sister and I- a white cardigan.  I don't know what on earth it was made out of but I detested it!! I'd refuse to wear it, or wear it protestingly!   Recently, I was talking to my stepmum about it and I didn't realise it had had such an effect on them.  We somehow got onto the subject of itchy clothing and she referred to it as "that wretched cardigan!" that I absolutely refused to wear in rather heated tones! My sister, as good as gold, always wore hers uncomplainingly.  What a fiend I was!

To this day, I still find certain materials itchy.  The hilarious thing is- my stepmum and Dad bought me the above jumper for my birthday last year and whilst it is a pretty colour, by heck, is it itchy!!! I attempted to counteract the itchy by wearing a long-sleeved cotton top underneath and a scarf!   I dearen't tell them it's so itchy for fear of causing memories of that white cardigan to erupt!
I am debuting this snow-leopard patterned beret which I found in the sales! I'm not a big fan of animal print, but I quite liked this one.  Worn with my turquoise cordhuroy Toms and a Primark belt and top plus thrifted trousers!

Speaking of memories of childhood, I am going to try and post my first linkie thing soon, so get your thinking caps on for writing and linking up a post about your childhood on the subject of 'Clothing I loved or loathed'

Jolly hockey sticks! Tales of school times.

I adored the Malory Towers and St Clare's books by Enid Blyton as a child and I always bemoaned the fact that there were only 7 of each!  A couple of years ago, I delighted in discovering that someone had written some sequels and prequels but then that was it!

When I was younger, in my local library, when I searched for Sweet Valley High books, I always used to see books called 'Trebizon'- has anyone read them?  Do you recommend them? I regret not giving them a try then as there seemed to be lots of them!

Finally, the first Christmas that CBC and I had been going out, he bought me a Vivien of Holloway voucher for Christmas and put it inside one of those book cards from Foyle's that looks like an old hardback book entitled 'The jolliest term on record' by Angela Brazil!  For a couple of years, we were both longing to read that book and finally found a copy when we went to Hay-on-Wye last year! I read and enjoyed it!   I also picked up another Angela Brazil book, named below but only just read it!

|Finally, I found a couple of Chalet school books in a charity shop (some already read and reviewed!).

I am very happy to discover that both authors wrote a myriad of other titles, so what delights I have in store if I ever find any of them!
So, what did I think of these?
Images from www.amazon.co.uk- if you want to read the books, just click on them!


1. Angela Brazil For the sake of the school
This story had the familiar school-story formula of: rough diamond girl turns up and is gradually assimilated to the ways of the school! Even though it is stereotypical, I still love it though!  You always like to think someone can change!  The school sounds a lovely place which I'd love to be a member of, and it has all the key characters such as kind, honest prefect-type who helps out (in this case, Una Stanton) and total class-snob (Stephanie).  It's set in Wales and includes lots of fine description.  If you loved the Chalet school books or St Clares or Malory Towers, then I'd recommend the Angela Brazil series!


2.  Elinor M Brent-Dyer Mary-Lou of the Chalet school
The 4th Chalet school book I have read, this one was just as fun as the previous ones.  Likewise this series, Enid Blyton lovers will get on with it!  A lot more excitement happens in this book, as usual, a rebel member of school is reformed by the end. The description of the setting is beautiful as useful with lots of activities and old familiar characters mentioned!  I think that's what I like best.  I am a real one for nostalgia and things not changing so I do like the constant references to past pupils.  A great, fun book which I would have great pleasure in recommending!


3.  Noel Streatfield Apple Bough

I was first bought this book aged 8ish and I adored it then.  Of course, it has been lost or given away in the mists of time so I was quite sad, given my recent Noel Streatfield interest, not to be able to find it so of course a happy charity shop discovery was made!  This story tells the story of a family who have to leave their beloved home, Apple Bough, because of the eldest son, Sebastian's genius at violin playing.  The child prodigy travels the world for 4 years and all the time, longing for home.  Finally, Myra, the eldest, and seemingly the only one without a talent, conceives a plan called 'Operation Home' to ensude that they can stay in England.  Like all Streatfield books, it has the showbiz world firmly embedded in it and you gain an idea of how the music, dance and acting industry was for children in the era the book was written.  The Madame Fidolia dance school is a part of the story, as with many of her books (Mentioned first in Ballet shoes).  I think I like this book so much because of the message of needing a place to call home.  I love the sense of the family wanting to be together but being realistic at realising that they still love each other, regardless.  And most importantly, the message of the parable of the talents- finding what your talent is and nurturing, appreciating and using it, like Myra in the story, who seemingly has no particular talent.  Streatfield's books will continue a good sense of working for what you really want, a message that would do any young person good these days and I still find them to be very relevant!


Do you know of any books of these sorts that I might not have read?  Leave me a comment with a title and an author if you are so willing?  I'd love to discover more!

Oh, and here, by the way, are my questions for the Liebster award.  Thanks, Val Sparkle, for reminding me!!!

1. What would you find hardest to give up for Lent, if you had to give something up.  Why would you find it so hard?

2. What's the most controversial thing you have ever eaten?

3. What was your favourite book and TV programme as a child?  Why?

4.  If you could have a dress made for you by the most skillful dressmaker around, what would it be like?

5.  Which animal are you most like and why?

6.  Which invention are you most appreciative of in this century?

7.  Tell me about a new blog you have recently discovered that you are really fond of!

8.  Is there anything you can't do, that most other people can do?

9.  Conversely, is there something you can do, that most people can't?

10.  Which blog post are you most proud of or pleased with in the past? I'd like to have a look!

11.  How did you first discover blogging?


I'm going to be taking part in Floss's A pause for advent and I am going to try to have a fast from negative comments and moaning particularly  about school so instead of saying what I was going to say about children's behaviour today, I will say- it's really hard on the children, being in, without playtime and time outside, which they have been for 2 days- it then makes them irritable and highly chatty.  It's good to try and understand their perspective, even though at the time, they are infuriating!!!


xx

Magic Penny

Over at the Two-birds today, it has been Inspiration Monday- not heard of this one called Dianna Agron



Here's my none-too-similar rendition but here it has served as a stimulus for the outfit!
In my defence, I do have a sweater dress on with some stripes, a Khaki-ish coloured coat and black boots! (Funny leg position due to discovering a hole in my leggings!!!!! You can see it with my thermal white leggings underneath shining through!!! Hello Granny!)
I just felt the outfit was a little bland and a bit of a vibrant colour scheme on a Monday does no end of perking me up!  Linking up to Patti's Visible Monday with my symphony in turquoise!



Yesterday, I TIDIED my old bedroom (now my spare).  For anyone who knows me or the room (so that's Mum, Clo, CBC) here, this is a serious undertaking.  It is by no means finished (e.g. book shelves and dressing table are a mess), but it is oh so much better!!! I felt better for doing it even though it took aaaaaaaaaages!!!  I'd started off the day with a dreadful headache so finally getting up at 3ish (!), I still could not bring myself to stare at a computer screen so tidying stuff seemed a good use of my time! I found lots of things I had forgotten I still had, I put together a bag of things to cull and put some stuff away! Floor and bed are visible!

It was all rather mushy, slushy horrid grey snow round here today- a shame- I did live in hope of something beautiful!

A lot of times in singing assembly, people like to put on all singing and dancing new songs for the children to learn, it's all about new and to be fair, there are some amazing new songs, many of which I like using!
However, with the KS1 children (including all of reception classes now, so 4-7 years), for this half-term, I have been using an old, long-published book called Alleluia, which has all sorts of really nice songs in it which the children just adore.  We're singing them a cappella, so no relying on technology, which is refreshing! One in particular, Magic Penny is a firm favourite:
Love is something if you give it away, give it away, give it away.
Love is something if you give it away, you end up having more.
Love is like a magic penny, hold it tight and you wont have any
Lend it, spend it and you'll have so many, they'll roll all over the floor.
So let's go dancing till the break of day
And it there's a piper, we can pay
For love is like a magic penny,
You'll end up having more.

What nice lyrics!
It just proves, that you don't always have to reinvent the wheel, there's usually a perfectly lovely wheel waiting to be found!

Did it originate in Germany?

I always wonder that when I see the Liebster blog award! I have been nominated by three seperate bloggers and I finally give in and am writing my post in response! (I apologise, I can't remember who the third was- it was age ago and I've had a look over past posts but can't find it!

The following rules apply:




1. Answer the eleven questions that your nominator has given to you

2. List eleven random facts about yourself

3. Nominate nine other bloggers with less than two hundred followers to win the award

4. Ask eleven new questions to your nine nominees

5. Visit each of the bloggers blogs to let them know that they have been nominated

Mel's rules seem to be different and seem to involve passing the award onto just another 5!



 Here are my random facts:

1.  As a child, due to what my Mum called things, I thought that eclairs (as in the choux pastry) were called, "Naughty but nices" and fuscias were called "Prima Ballerinas".
2.  I have never lived in a house with a properly functioning shower.  I've had baths every morning for most of my life! I look forward to living in a house with one when I am married!  It IS tiresome having to always run baths!
3.  I am not overly fond of many biscuit varieties- In a normal school day, I  would rather go hungry than expend energy on a garibaldi or malted milk!
4. My sight-reading skills for music are possibly one of my most useful skills!  The ability to wing it is most useful!
5.  I have been proposed to by 4 different people- 2 joking, 1, being a bit rash and one whom I accepted!
6.  My recurring bad dream is that my teeth fall out!  I hate it and believe it's true every time I have it and that the previous dream was a portent of what has happened!
7. I was petrified of a certain Doctor Who episode called The curse of Fenric  as a child, and lived in irrational (in that I KNEW it couldn't be true, but was still scared!) fear that the haemovores lived in my Mum's room and were going to get me!
8.  I have really bad visualisation skills for size/perspective and anytime anyone asks me to compare sizes of things, I have no idea and really cannot invisage things.  Which is crazy, as I otherwise have a really visual memory!
9.  In a previous blog-award, I stated that I had a piece of music published aged 12.  I don't really know what happened about it and any earnings as the man who published it died and his company was taken over. Last week, one of the kids at school came up to me and told me that they were playing my piece in her woodwind ensemble!
10.  I really don't like spiders but I can deal with them and have now perfected the brandy-class and card manouvere!
-----

Rebecca's questions
1. Which came first the chicken or the egg?

The chicken.  If I am to look at Genesis, God created the animals first!

2. If you were trapped in a lift for 36 hours with one other person and 2 items, what/who would they be?
I guess with CBC and it would have to involve a keyboard and a big book of piano duets! OR a cello and a flute! We'd keep ourselves occupied for hours


3. Favourite read and why? be it book or magazine
There are so many books I adore!  It's very hard to choose but a book I dearly, dearly love is Phillippa Pearce's Tom's midnight garden or Northanger Abbey.


4. If you could be any TV/Film character who would it be?
Catherine Morland in Northanger Abbey- technically a book but ah well!


5. What is your favourite era of clothing?
The 50's definitely!  So pretty and modest!


6. What advice would you give to new bloggers?
(not the best person to give advice! It's taken me 7 years to gain my 88 followers!)
Go and explore and always be nice- there's no need for unpleasantness on blogs- blogville is mostly a lovely place where everyone is kind to everyone which is refreshing! If you can't say anything nice, then look and try harder for something to say- there's always a positive! Also, write what is important for you, even if you aren't sure it's going to be popular or makes you feel silly!  Where else can you write what you want? Oh and choose a blog title that isn't your name!
7. What has been one of the funniest moments in your life?
Do you know, I can't seem to think of a single thing but I am sure there have been many!  One memory that does make me laugh was when I was in the Sound of Music and we were rehearsing the scene in which Captain Von Trapp and Maria dance together and look into each other's eyes.  For the life of me, I could not stop cracking up whenever I had to look into his eyes and burst into hysterical laughter every time!  It was terribly funny!
Also, we were on a holiday riding in the back of an old Datsun Sunny and my sister and I decided to try and sing 'Any dream will do' from Joseph staccato (i.e. all the notes and words,incredibly short)- we spent hours trying to get past the "Ah-" echoes in vain as it sounded so ridiculous saying "Ah, ah, ah!".   To this day, I can't do it without laughing!
8. If you were an alien what would you want to look like?
I'd like to be furry!
9. A recent UK weather related question - How do the guys who drive the snow ploughs get to work?
I have TOTALLY been thinking about this question myself, for a while!  And the grittting guys!  I imagine their vehicles have some sort of distributer on the front and the back of them that grits in front of them! They park the vehicles outside their homes!
10. Of all your crafty makes which has been your favourite?
Ooh, hard to choose, but I was really really pleased with the wedding card I made for my sister!  She didn't seem overly fussed by it, it being her wedding day, having over priorities to worry/deal with, not least, me being haplessly disorganised and slow, but I really liked it!
11. How do you eat your Cadbury's cream egg?
Oooh, disgustingly!  When I was little,we had these long-handed plastic spoons with a tiny scoop the size of a cocktail stirrer and I used to nibble the top of and then scoop out all the cream, scraping it clean and finally eating the chocolate.  I do something similar nowadays- usually involving a spoon!

Mel's questions, at the Follybird are...
What was the last book you read? Did you enjoy it?
1.  The last book I actually finished was 'For the sake of the school' by Angela Brazil, written well over 80 years ago!  I adored it!  Currently re-reading Apple Bough by Noel Streatfield which I loved as a child and also Angels- God's messengers by Billy Graham which is very interesting!


Andy Warhol claimed "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes". Have you had your fifteen minutes?

2. Hmmmmmm, doubt it!  I was on Bali TV for about half an hour playing the klenang for Arja (a Balinese style of operatic singing)- the klenang is a small knobbled pot which you hit with a wooden beater wound in cotton to dampen it. I played on the off-beat (every other beat).  Apparently, I looked really really really bored and people came up to me for weeks afterwards saying, "Nang, nang!" (the Balinese onomatopoeic word for the sound that instrument makes), laughing hysterically after they said it! Not a good claim to fame!

Is there a past fashion trend, (let's say pre-1962) that you find absurd?
Fake beauty spots!  I had a real dislike of them as a child!

Are they any vintage fashion 'icons' that you really just don't like?

To be honest, I don't really know any so I can't really answer this!


What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
Isn't it ridiculous that I can't think of anything!

Have you met any famous people?
Yes- Tom Baker, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy,  Peter Davidson, Nicholas Briggs (The Brigadier), John Leeson (K9), Lalla Ward, Sophie Aldred, Cy Town (Dalek), Tim Brooke Taylor, Jasper Carrott, JJ Feild (swooon- Mr Tilney in Northanger Abbey!), Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith), Michelle Dockery (before she was famous!), Jeremy Paxman (he unexpectedly helped me up the stairs when I fell flat on my face on a staircase the Underground), Belinda Lang (2 point 4 children) and a whole host of other Doctor Who actors I can't remember!

What was the last thing you purchased?
Well, if we are being totally to the letter of that question, it was a portion of mature cheddar cheese! It was about 2 hours ago and I headed to the corner shop to buy some milk and bread.  It was snowing and there was a scary, slippery mixture of mush on the ground!

What's in your handbag/purse right now?
Inside my cartoon handbag is an assortment including: snow-grips, purse, Touche eclat, hand-sanitizer, kleenex tissues, yellow hair ribbon, keys, book, Bible!

What is your favourite television programme?
Well, technically, I don't have TV now- I have 3 tvs in my house but have only used them to watch VHS videos for the last year or so (DVD player is evil and doesn't work so have to watch on the laptop) - the only thing I have really watched with any regularity is Home & away on the channel5 website, but programmes I have loved in the past include: The Good life, The Crystal Maze, Neighbours, Home&Away, Downton, Ugly Betty, To the manner born,


Is there something that most people can do, that you simply can't?
Drive, read with my left eye, swing on monkey bars...


I would like to award the award to lots of people but the majority I read have more than 200 readers and some are signposted as 'blog award free' and others have already had the Liebster award- eek! Let me have a think about it for another 5!!!! Otherwise, I am just going with Mel's required 5.

1.  Val Sparkle: http://latebloomingsparkle.blogspot.co.uk/

2. Vanessa: http://mylifemywaymyopinions.blogspot.com/

3.  Louise: http://roachling.blogspot.com/

4. Millie at New World  http://varsitygurl.blogspot.com/

5.  Helen: http://oopsaccident.blogspot.com/

Some of them might not blog all the time, but I always love visiting their blogs and they are all genuinely lovely bloggers!

Friday letters

Dear Year 1 teachers, nationwide, HOW oh how oh how do you continue to do your job each and every day!!!! I would go mad if I had to cope with that each day!!!! You are saints!



Dear Year 1, You are annoying but at least you did nothing too bad.  Thank God you weren't at your worst!

Dear mice, You can run but your days are numbered!!!! I know you are there somewhere!!!! I WILL get you my pretties, so watch it! Spack off!!!

Dear Rachel the hat,  Hugs and blessings to you, you are fabulous!

Dear J, Thank you for your wisdom and kind-heartedness x

Dear bed, I cannot wait till sleep time!!!

Dear Hair,  Have you enjoyed your week of experimentation and trying some different ways of wearing you?  It's early days and we are rather like a year 1 pupil at hairdressing but let's try and have some more adventures together soon and perhaps I might actually get better at doing something with you ONE day!?  If you could work on staying where I put you, that'd be most appreciated!

Dear Clo-clo,  Please oh please oh please, can I come and see you, even for just an hour?!?!







For more Friday letters, please visit the link above!

The rainbow skirt of cheerfulness!

Hello there!  Thanks for your responses to my previous post- it was interesting hearing all your different (actually mostly agreeing) advice and experiences! I rreally do appreciate you taking the time to leave me such detailed and sympathetic advice. It is reassuring to know that you are not in the minority and it IS ok to say something.   Thanks!
It's amazing how my week has rearranged itself this year!  I used to dread Wednesdays and Fridays because I had nightmare classes (and orchestra was a pain last year!).  Now I love both those days because I have lovely classes and orchestra is so much better now!  I was all set for a lovely Friday afternoon of pentatonic compositions in year 4 (anything pentatonic sounds nice!) and now I have to cover the WORST class all of tomorrow because someone is off sick (not surprised with that class!) They are only five but they are horrid!!! Actually, that's an exaggeration but they are very, very hard work. I shall have to pray about and for them and for me!!! TThat's the only thing I can do about something I'm dreading, I guess!

I decided to wear this vintage Windsmoor skirt the other day- I love its bright colours, cheers me up no end, so decided to pick out all the colours of the skirt through the rest of my outfit, which made for a really cheerful day! Usually, I pair it with more muted colours!  I thought I'd take a photo in front of the cheery curtain!!!

I went to orchestra wearing this outfit (my London orchestra) and I played my flute for Brahms and all felt well with the world!  I haven't played in an orchestra (rehearsal or concert) on my flute since the start of December and it's what I have been missing!  I do believe God gave me this skill and love and I should remember to use it, because it really does make my spirit soar! Remind me, if I am feeling grumpy, to play!!!

What makes your spirit soar?!!?

Splitting the Bill

After my discussion about the demise of the RSVP, I thought I'd bring you another topic I have been thinking about to find out what you think.

I went out for lunch for a birthday. It was pleasant, with people I really like.  I ate Udon and vegetable and prawn tempura. It was quite nice.  I then followed it with a Chrysanthemum tea.  I drank water because that's what I drink at home usually with my meal and I'm not particularly bothered about drinking anything else. Even though I am out for a treat, I'm not extravagant for the sake of extravagance (especially with a wedding to save for).  The bill came to the table and I, knowing my portion had come to £12 when I'd ordered, fished the money out, plus a 10% tip (£1.50 or so) and thought, 'I am sorted, I don't need to faff with cards or change'.  Then someone said, "That's £25 each.".  At which point, I looked down at my money and thought, "I am now going to have to double what I've put here,". 

And this, ladies and gentlemen (Adam, WOMOTM, Chris of the Chrlog, Stev/phen, CBC) is where I find myself in a dilemma.

Because I am so rarely a drinker, or don't buy expensive drinks or don't always have a dessert or extras and often go for a veggie or smaller option, I invariably end up getting stung with splitting the bill! CBC's birthday last year I ended up paying out £30 for a £9 meal (!!!!) and everytime I end up feeling really uptight and cross (when I am embarassed this is how it translates).  Today, I obviously looked disgruntled/dismayed/askew because either CBC or someone else asked if I had enough (and then people started saying, "Oh CBC and Kezzie could pay a little less because they didn't have starters (we came late) and we could all put in a pound more," at which point I feel a complete cad if I take it up (but also- how much is a little less more? How much was a starter? This is all so unclear as it invariably is when someone throws a comment like this into the equation! Nobody ever states anything specific) and I threw across my £25 to the pile.  CBC started saying to me, "Don't worry Kezzie, I'll put in a bit extra and you can pay less," which of COURSE I didn't want him to do, because he doesn't have much money and why should he have to pay more for me.  He then took back £10 of mine (based on the CBC and K pay less) and he himself put in £28 (which then confused matters because someone thought only one of us had paid because of the card) which he gave to me later (I didn't understand what .was going on at the time and was confused when they said something about CBC only putting in £15 and then his card. 

(I'm sorry if anyone who was there ends up reading this but I wanted to put it out there for debate)

Now, I feel mean saying this, I really do and I'd feel mean saying anything about it, it really does feel .  I feel embarassed about it- because it is embarassing to say, "Look guys, can we just pay for what we had," or, "Er, actually, I don't want to pay for someone else's food," (if out with people, I am happy to say in certain situations, "I will pay," but it's the assumption or the not thinking that I find hard in these situations!  And the silly thing is, in most situations, people I usually go out for dinners with are usually friends, and I am quite sure (at least I hope!) , if they knew the situation and I could state it clearly, would be fine with paying our own.

But the thing is, I wish there could be a vote in each situation, I wish people could say, "Shall we split the bill or pay for what we had?" because then that embarassment would be avoided, especially with friends.  Because I find it really hard to speak out, I really do- I know it's then my own fault for not speaking out, but you look like a meanie, I felt a meanie, I felt selfish, I feel selfish, I feel bad and guilty about it everytime it happens.  Even if I had the most expensive meal (probably more so, in fact, I have in the past- said, "No, I had more, I should pay more," which is funny that I can mention it when I don't look like a meanie!) I would still want to pay my portion. I do think every meal should be dealt with case by case.  I know it's done for ease of getting on with it, or because we/you are a group of friends etc and it comes from the 'My round thing' but I do find it hard. Especially not being a drinker- I don't drink much of anything when I go out!  Money was very tight during my childhood- I was blessed with so many opportunities and things to do in my childhood and always had what I needed, but food and drink was something that we didn't spend loads of money on, much of my diet was based on allotment produce.  My Mum didn't have much and she gave us so sacrificially and these experiences do make us who we are. I have experienced debt and I don't like it!
Perhaps I am feeling sensitive regarding financial matters at the moment because I feel like CBC thinks I am a complete meanie (he doesn't because he has a kind and understanding heart- however the devil whispers in your ear!) , Scrooge, cheapskate, whatever, over the wedding because I keep saying, to everything he says, "But how much will that cost?" or "How are we going to pay for that?" because we already have an idea of how much we're going to spend and we don't have enough even with our saving plan, but I do believe that I am realistic and I hope that I will always live within my means.  I don't mean to sound like I don't want to spend ANY money but I feel that, by saying it, at least we are consciously thinking about it and not getting so wrapped up in the 'I want' that we forget to be realistic! I am digressing here away from the main subject so I will shut up but I'd love to know what you think about the issue of splitting the bill?!

Yes or no?

Cultural grey-out

Sometimes, I sigh with despair when I look at pictures of me! But sometimes, I quite like them!! Despite the grey, I felt very visible, confident and happy about myself in this get up so I am linking with the lovely Patti at Visible Monday!  Forgive the overload of photos, I know they all look the same but I actually liked them despite the bush of hair!!!

A brief sojourn around Trafalgar square:  I have such affection for this place.  I have paddled in those fountains on several occasions and had water fights with random people. (in fact, in fountains in several major Europeon  cities!) Once, I had to sit through an entire church service at All Souls in damp clothes after stupidly getting wet!














The fourth plinth:  I am still gutted that the interactive organ which doubles as an ATM didn't win instead of this one- I voted for the latter!


My gorgeous photographer:


Outfit details:
Hat (Christmas gift)
Umbrella (Christmas gift)
Cashmere rose sweater (Midienette, Florence: present from CBC)
Scarf and skirt (Primark)
Blazer (ASOS heritage)
Tights (Tescos)
Shoes (Irregular choice)

Verse of the day:
"Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be men and women of courage, do everything in love,"
I will try again and again, though I feel I don't always manage to communicate that love.

*If you know what the blog-title is referring to, you are obviously an ethnomusicologist!!!