One of those tags where I answer questions which require decisions which I am bad at...

The Sisterhood of the World Awards Tag was awarded to me by Tasha.  Thank you Tasha!

The rules are fairly simple for this one:

1. Thank the blogger for the award given

2. Answer the ten questions given to you

3. Nominate a further 10 bloggers for this award

4. Write another 10 questions for those bloggers to answer

5. Display the award on your blog or in a post

1. What is your favourite gemstone?

Ooh, this is a difficult question!  Long term, I've always been fascinated by opals- the way they can shine different colours of the rainbow! They are so pretty and I always feel sad when someone says, "But they're unlucky!" when I say I like them! They're super pretty!
Similarly, I love Labradorite- it also has a rainbowy shine and lustre to it! And moonstones.
So, basically, all the rainbowy gems!

2. If you had to spend the day as any historical figure, who would it be and why?

Tasha, these are HARD!!!!!!! I don't know,really don't know!!!!  

3. Do you have a favourite genre of film, and if so, why?

I like lots of types of movies but I'm not sure I can classify a favourite!!! I like Costume dramas ALOT, but also some (non-gory) sci-fi but also the tame and gentle rom-coms!

4. What was your favourite toy as a child?
Pinkie, my lovely, loppoly Panther who I blogged about. HE HAS GONE MISSING SINCE MOVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't find him anywhere and I fear he somehow got picked up with a charity bag and was culled (or deliberately by someone???). Very unhappy about this.
UPDATE: since I wrote this (ages ago). Pinkie was stuffed in with a duvet and a quilt (and bizarrely, the Joseph Joseph chopping board I had bought for my mother-in-law for her birthday and totally misplaced!!!)

5. What was the last book you read that you'd recommend to everyone?
Hmmm, good question. I think that Jolly Foul Play by Robin Stephens is brilliant but I think 'Hound of the Baskervilles' was BRILLIANT!

6. What was the best piece of advice you've ever been given.

1 Corinthians 15- Love is patient, love it kind.  Need to live by this one a bit better!

And Rach texted me with a proverb, 'Above all, guard your heart for it is the well spring of life.'

7. Who would be your dream dinner guests and why?
I'd love to have my Grandparents back for dinner.  If we were including famous people, I'd have loved to meet Robin Williams, I loved him. I'd also like to meet David Tennant too!!! The ultimate one is C.S. Lewis or Enid Blyton though or Dame Agatha Christie. C.S. Lewis because of his amazing works on Christian faith and Enid Blyton and Agatha because of my love for their books!

8. Do you prefer day or night?
Day, definitely! I am grumpy and tired at night!

9. If space travel became a possibility overnight, where would you go?

If we are talking REAL, then I am perfectly happy on Earth thank you, wouldn't really want to leave. If Doctor Who Space, then I would like to visit the 'Eye of Orion' the most peaceful and positive place in the Universe!

10. And because I'm always interested to know this, if time travel were real, what time would you go to?
Ack, decisions again... I don't want to go anywhere scary- I'd go to the 50's!!!

My questions are going to be Tasha's too as I am lazy and I want other people to have to go through the indecision too.
I tag anyone with an A in their name!!

Questions I've answered

The lovely Bevchen at Confuzzledom nominated me for one of those award thingies, so I thought I'd answer the questions for it! I love these types of posts to read so I thought I'd write one in response. Thank you for the nomination! 
If you would like to answer the questions, answer these ones too- I'd like to see someone answer them better than me! I nominate anyone with an A in their name!

1. Why did you start your blog?

In all honesty, my friend Rach had started one and I was a PA with lots of time on my hands (oh the days before school work in the evening, when I started work at 9.30 and ended at 5pm!).  I have always written in my spare time- stories galore,poems and having a real live audience and your own place to write seemed a super idea! That was 10 years and 5 months ago, after I'd been reading Rach's for a few months!

2. What is the best food you’ve ever tried while travelling?

There are a few places and dishes I just loved!

When I first moved to Bali, I was scared and homesick and didn't know what to do about finding somewhere to live. Luckily, my friend Sophie was studying (on the same scholarship programme as I was but she was in her 3rd year) in Solo, Java and she heard from Ross, the other English Scholarship student that year, who I'd met in Jakarta when we arrived, that I was a bit miserable and scared and she invited me to come and stay in Solo until my Orientation programme in Yogya.

The first morning I was there, she took me to a warung (food place) near TBS and we had a simple Nasi Campur, which means you get a bowl of plain boiled rice and you pick bits to go on top. 

One of the extras they did was Tempeh Goreng which was a thin slice of tempeh (fermented bean curd) which was battered. It was THE most delicious thing I had ever tasted and I LOVED it. Better still, the meal in its entirety cost me 1500Rp which is just over 10p!

The dish I ate most evenings in Bali was at a market street stall and it is called Cap Jai (pronounced Chap Ji (rhyming with eye). It consists of leafy green veg, carrot slices, scrambled egg, tiny bits of chicken and a spicy chill sauce/stewy thick soupy mixture. You ate it with a bowl of plain boiled rice. I frankly adored it and not once did I get bored with eating it 5 evenings out of 7 for a year!

In Croatia, we stayed on this lovely little island called Sipan and ordered a regional speciality called 'lamb under the bell' in this lovely restaurant called 'The three sisters'. The lamb was cooked for a day under an enormous bell in a stone dish and it was SO delicious and tender with all the juices, amazing potatoes and veg.

The last choice is our honeymoon in Switzerland. We had travelled on the Glacier Express to the east of Switzerland to the Engadine valley and we stayed in a beautiful village called Guarda where they spoke the Romansch language.  On the first night, we went to eat in a local hotel and CBC ordered this beef dish. It arrived, this massive piece of beef that had been amazingly cooked, the gravy had been long prepared with juices and it had a massive plate of broccili and green vegetables cooked exquisitely. It was truly delicious and I rather wished I hadn't wanted to try a local speciality and ordered this! 

3. If you could have a second home where would it be and why?

That's a difficult question.  I really do love Austria, Switzerland and Germany, so actually a Swiss village in the Alps would be wonderful.  Alternatively, I adore Hay on Wye or Cornwall!

4.  If you were a ghost, which place would you haunt?

Er, what a bizarre question! I really don't know! Probably somewhere I wouldn't be able to access in real life!

5.  Have you ever planned a trip just because a book/film was set there?

I'm really not sure I have!  Aren't I an unsentimental one!

6. What is your favourite item in your home?

Awwww,  this is HARD!!! I'm pretty attached to my bed (the one in the spare room  more as it was my bed before, pity I don't sleep in it now!) . My flute is pretty cool and I do have a lot of affection for the bookcases and the squirrel painting!

7. What is your favourite pancake topping/filling? (depending on how you make your pancakes :-))

I'm afraid, despite trying a few other items, it's lemon and sugar all the way.

8.   Which song title best represents your life right now?

I really don't listen to the type of songs this question implies so I genuinely cannot answer this! I've sat for a while and still can't think of anything!

Ok, so many minutes later..

 If I could, I'd maybe say that the sentiment in 'Purify my heart' by Brian Doerksen as I think I've been really disappointed in myself for a while, my attitudes, actions.

9. Which of your blog posts has the most views? 

It's really rather odd but this one where I was wearing a sailor dress in this post and it wasn't a particularly note-worthy post but one day, a few months after the post, for some bizarre reason, there were 1000 pageviews in one hour on it, so it shot to the top of my page views list. It must be some sort of computer blip because I can't fathom why that happened in one hour! 

Other than that, again, it's a weird one- the blog post entitled How NOT to produce a blog outfit post. where I schlepped around in an unironed, creased outfit with unbrushed, messy hair (but with cute fox necklace!)

10.  What is a book you’ve been meaning to read for a while but keep putting off?

War and Peace by that Russian gezzer and Coot Club by Arthur Ransome- it's been on my shelf for ages! I need to read and finish it so I can give it to WOMOTM who expressed an interest in it when I mentioned it a year ago or so! Also, CBC bought me the 'Finkler Question' for Christmas a couple of years ago for some reason and it didn't look like a 'me' book so I just kept ignoring it subliminally!

Miranda's questions

Miranda at Little Gold Pocket watch chose me as one of the 10 people to pass on the Liebster tag onto, so I am thanking Miranda (who is very sweet and pretty) and answering her questions.

1) What is your personal style like?

Usually girly. A bit hippy, I like bright colours, patterns but not neon. I like florals and vintage-style but not the whole hog. 

2) What got you interested in blogging?

My friend Rach sent me her blog link and I loved the fun and the dialogue and the fact it was your space to say whatever you wanted to the world.  As a relatively new Christian then, I loved interacting with other young Christians of my age.

3) Any pet peeves?

Are we talking about blogging or generally in life?

Blogging, I had to think about this one- it's a small thing,not even a peeve but I somehow notice certain stock-phrases that repeatedly crop up in sponsored posts- I don't know I'd like to see it said in a different way but that's just me being a pedant.  Admittedly, I am just a trifle hypocritical saying this as I am quite sure I use the word 'lovely'  in blog comments about 10 million times a day, but still, I just notice certain phrases! Anyway, I usually like the rest of the post...

In life- when children repeatedly ask me, "Miss, can I go toilet?"- it REALLY riles me-  I am really picky about it and then make them repeat it with the oh-so-crucial  missing preposition and definite article (and the please if that is also missing), and perhaps substituting Can for May which I understand to be more grammatically correct.

Also, I cannot stand spitting  on the ground. I don't care if you have a mouth full of phlegm, you WAIT until you can find a bin, a piece of tissue, a toilet, something BUT I DO NOT WANT YOUR FILTHY NASTY YELLOW SECRETIONS just spat into my path, you animal! (see, I really don't like it)  I often get really bad mucus, much of the time (sorry TMI) and  I manage to adhere to this conduct and have never spat on the ground so everyone else can manage it.

4) Celebrity crush?

JJ Feild who played Mr Tilney in Northanger Abbey. He was also in Austenland, Ruby in the Smoke, Telstar, Death on the Nile and various other things. He's so cute and has the most gorgeous twinkly eyes when he smiles.  I have had the privilege of meeting him when I went to watch him in a play in London and I met other members of the JJ Feild fan forum. I wonder if it is still going? It was great fun!

5) If you could go back in time, which era would you choose?
Much as I love Regency books and things, I think it would be a tough time to live- if you weren't rich, it would be hard, as a woman you were dependent on the whims and mercies of men.  So, I wouldn't go too far back.  Again, I like the idea of the roaring 20's but not so sure I could do without all the mod cons so I am going to plump for the 1950's as it's a bit further back before all the madness of the 60's but not too far back!

6) Morning hair and makeup routine?

I am always running late! Make up is zero- I do moisturiser and that's it! Hair, is brush it and add a headband!!

7) Favorite movie?

Hmmm, I love lots of films- I love Ever After with Drew Barrymore, The Slipper and the rose, Ella Enchanted, Legally Blonde, Roman Holiday....

As long as it is not gory, scary or too full of gratuitous sex, then I am bound to like it, especially if it is funny or has a romantic plot line (or Anne Hathaway!)

8)Where have you not travelled that you would like to visit and why?

Well, I am off to Croatia soon and I wanted to go there because it looks interesting and relaxing and sunny as well. I'd love to visit Thailand because it sounds interesting and I had some lovely Thai friends who studied with me in Bali.   I'd love to visit  New England in America or St Lucia just because they look gorgeous!

9) Morning person or night owl?
Well, I don't like getting up but I am pretty chirpy once I am up and going.  I am also ok at night, I can keep working. I must say though, I do hate going OUT till late.

10) What's something you're passionate about besides blogging?
Ha, you must know this already unless you only just popped in here (in which case HI!)- music of course- I love my flute, orchestral-playing, reading and of course, as a Christian, I am passionate about Jesus!

11) What is one of your life goals, big or small?

I'd love to have some more music published. At the moment, I only have one piece published and I'd love to publish a song book or orchestral pieces for primary school or even a serious orchestral piece or a flute sonata.

If you want to answer some questions, please feel free to attach a big imaginary shiny pink rosette saying Liebster award winner to your imaginary blog chest and get on and answer Miranda's questions too- I like hers!

The Brunette's questions

Lisa-Jane at the Brunette Diaries- she of floaty light-coloured prettiness has nominated me for a Liebster blogger award so I am thanking her graciously for it: "Thank you Lisa-Jane!"

The Rules:

Share 11 things about yourself.

Answer the 11 questions that your tagger gave you.

Choose 11 other blogs to nominate.

Think of 11 questions to ask the bloggers that were nominated. 

Thank the person that nominated you and link back to their blog 

Well, I'm probably not going to nominate anyone- sorry but I can't decide who, computer too slow to find links and you probably have already done it, and probably don't want to, but feel free to nominate yourself!  I always enjoy answering questions so I thought I'd do that bit!

1) Have you already broken a new years resolution?

Well- I didn't formally make new year's resolutions- every day has resolutions in the sense of trying not to do the things wrong that I have done previously and I fail at this regularly.  But, in my mind, I decided a couple of things- which meant phoning family and friends more regularly, particularly my Grandad and Dad every week and whilst I have done that- I haven't actually got to speak to my Dad these past times- I've talked to my stepmum and sister but not caught my Dad. Also, we decided we were going to go Lindyhopping every Wednesday, despite school work and stresses because you have to have something for you. However, we've not managed until this Wednesday- the 29th- we decided to go and I phoned up to check the class was happening and it's not happening at the moment- typical!! Anyway, we went to an East Coast Swing class instead and that was fun!

2) Did you celebrate on new years eve?

I'm not really that bothered by the new year, since every day is a new year technically but this year, we did actually do some fun things- we drove out to Mersey Island in Essex and went to the Company Shed for dinner- we had fishcakes, baked oysters and salt and black pepper tiger prawns and they were delicious!! Nice location too.  Pity the weather was awful! Must go back.

We then went round to CBC's old flatmate's house and we ordered pizzas from Papajos and then played Cranium, drank some prosecco (I didn't) and I slept in a chair whilst they watched the fireworks on TV etc!!! Get me- such a party animal!

3) Do you worry about what the New Year will bring?

No- why worry about tomorrow- tomorrow takes care of itself- just look at the birds in the air, they don't worry and they cope and find all they need (paraphrasing Jesus!) - I worry when worries occur- not about what might be.  Always happy to plod along in my life and have sudden stresses rather than a long-term anxiety.

4) Are you booking a holiday sometime soon and where to?

CBC and I contemplated Spain- maybe Barcelona at Easter or May, but not sure.  We'd like to visit a Greek island in the summer maybe.  Oh, and applying for Music Camp!

5) Was 2013 a good/bad year for you?

2013 was an excellent year for me- I got married in August, moved into a rented house with my husband and obviously planned a wedding. The house finding was ideal- we didn't have to look as our friends were moving out of this house, round the corner from CBC's current house and the dates lined up perfectly with ours.  I wont deny that wedding planning was very stressful- in the sense of agreeing on budgets and things but the year was great. School was also very successful and I enjoyed many occasions, a wonderful honeymoon in Die Schweiz and lots of fun.  Moving house- the actual process- not so fun and I still have a black lumpy toenail from the bookcase that was dropped on it accidently!

6) If you could buy one thing now with £20.00 what would it be?

Accck- can I have £35 please and I'll buy one of the lindybop dresses on EBay! With £20.00, maybe I'd buy a knee-length tulle petticoat- a black one or a blue, to go with my swing dresses.  Wish I could buy a more expensive one though, so it's not itchy! (ha- edited since beginning: And now, I'll have the Greater Plains Velo dress that Char wickedly put into a blog post!)

7) If you could buy one thing now for £500.00 what would it be?

Not a clue- I never spend that much on one thing! If it were school, I'd buy a really nice Bass Metallophone chromatic and diatonic sets combined- they cost about £500 or more! 
(Ha- also edited because I just ordered one from Music Village in their special offer section for £138!!! Hope it's a good one and not some rubbish!)

8) What month is your birthday?

In the month of leaps

9) Have you ever been to Devon/Cornwall?

Yes, been to Cornwall- Penzance to IMS Prussia Cove with my orchestra and family holidays when I was young- that's where my name comes from.

10) Have you got a best friend and why are they your best friend?

Sadly, I don't have a best friend currently, not had one since I was at Uni really. I just have friends. I guess CBC is like my best friend, but I'd love to have one again. I adore my Uni friend Kathy and wish she lived nearer as she's my ideal best friend. Also my church friend Margaret is a good friend I value highly!

11) Do you like your job?

I count my blessings every day that I work in the school I work in, with (most of) the colleagues I work with, with my unique job.  I love so many aspect of it- my choir, orchestra now the children behave, my recorders, my lovely year 6 recorders. I get so much delight from my job.  And yet, despite all that, I still dread going back after the holidays, wish I didn't have to, and count the wake-ups until the next holiday!  Funny, isn't it!

If you'd like to answer my questions, please do and leave me a comment with a link, saying you've answered them:

1.  What is the meaning of life?

2. Favourite sweetie?

3.  Princess Jasmine or Belle? Why?

4.  What do you like most about blogging?

5.  And what do you like least?

6.  Who was your favourite childhood stuffed/cuddly toy and why? Do you still have them?

7.  Favourite board game?

8.  Would you rather be a sheep or a cow? Why?

9.  What word do you have issues with spelling?

10.  What pet would you love if you could have something?

11.  What question would you like to answer that you've never been asked?

Cards for my Mum

I drive you round the bend, maybe you drive me round the bend (occasionally) but I am grateful for everything you do for me and have done in the past. Thank you for each opportunity and moment you give me! I love you lots and I admire you for many reasons!




Here is the card I made for my Mum!  I am very pleased to say it was inspired by a 5 year old.  I worked in year 1 on Thursday afternoon and they were finishing off their Mother's day cards for one lesson and they had butterfly sequins which they stuck onto bunch of flower collages (very nice!) they had made.  One very artistic little girl had carefully bent the wings of her butterflies like the above! It looked so beautiful!
At the end of the day, after drumming club, as I grabbed by bag to go from year 1, I noticed 9 sequins on the carpet that the cleaner was about to hoover up!  I jumped and grabbed them and scraped the caked-PVA and carpet fluff off them (I figured they were fair game as they were about to be hoover bait which I had just rescued in the nick of time: I checked with one of the cleanes!!)and used them on this card!  I used an aperture card to give a little depth and ran some turquoise card through a paper patterned crimper and added some gems and a little silver gel-pen!  It was super easy!

At church this morning, we had a super long but lovely service- we had a choir of about 25 women from the congregation (I played flute for the worsip songs as usual) - posies to give to our mums, the men serving cakes and hot cross buns after the service and copious amounts of songs.  The vicar's wife gave a great sermon which made me think about mothers.  How easily one's life can be messed up if their mother/father is abusive or does not provide that stable environment. What a difficult and onerous task it is to be a parent- how much impact you can have on a life. I certianly know, if I were ever a parent, I would have to pray each and every day for the guidance to do the right thing, to be the best mother I could be, to protect, nurture and grow my child: I certainly think there's no way  I personally could do it without God's help! Really and truly.

Linking up to Sarah's Super handmade Sunday. (YOU MUST check out the gorgeous needle-felted owls she's posted!!! I am smitten!)



Linking to Clare Justine's Creative Monday


In and out of the kitchen link party with Cynthia

and Tah dah Tuesday with Lakota


Hope you are well!  And thanks for those kind commenters who reassured me about my LSO documentary video in the last post! I just hope the full documentary won't show what a blethering idiot I am!

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