A year ago

I was putting my 'week in pictures' together and realised that I didn't really have many photos. So had a look back at last year, and this my friends, is just how warm it was !

And I'll leave you with a few from this week.

The cost of being a revolutionary.

There are many people who would be classed as 'revolutionary' - some very ordinary, some who have done it on a huge scale. One of these people who has caught my attention in the last few years is
Aung San Suu Kyi.
Now this woman is truly an inspiring one. Even if you don't like her, you have to agree she is inspiring. She has sacrificed so much, so so much. She missed out on seeing much of her children's growing up. And has suffered with ill health and other problems i'm sure we don't know about.


Thinking about her raises questions for me though. How much is ok to sacrifice for a cause ? I don't presume to know her children, but can only summise that there would have been times when they would have given anything for their mum to be with them a little more. So is democracy in Myanmar (burma) more important than her children ? I don't have an answer or to be honest even an opinion as I'm too divided in my thinking on this one.


To me, bringing up my little girl is my first priority right now. And even if I was in full health, I wouldn't give that up for a political cause. I just wouldn't. But maybe that is due to the fact that I live in a country with democracy. Where she is safe, fed and has the right to a fair vote, education and freedom of speech. If she didn't, would I feel differently ?  Would sacrificing see her grow up, and providing that oh so important love and care to attempt to change an oppressive regime which she lives in, I don't know if I would.


But a woman like An yan su chi, no matter what the outcome of the elections will for certain be one who makes political history of some kind. She is a revolutionary in the true sense of the word.


I guess I am thinking lots at the moment about family and being a parent, and whenever someone is bought to my attention, I so often think about their family and what it has cost them. But the fact remains that without these people who have made such huge sacrifices personally and on behalf of their families, our country and world would be a very different place.


I can be so quick to criticise someone's choice, yet happy to benefit from the result of their actions. 


What do you think?

Ten on Tuesday

1. 'Play house envy' has set in, this is our next door neighbour's play house. Yes, we have a very very lovely playhouse which was kindly given to us. But look at this wooden, pink, scandinavian looking abode - I want that house !

 2. On the topic of domestic bliss, we have a new kitchen...........no it doesn't have self closing doors, but check out that toaster..........Can't buy one like this in Magnet kitchens let me tell you.

 3. Ready, steady...........Blow !

It was Aunty Nicola's birthday at the weekend, so candles were to hand, thus it was a birthday lunch at our house today !




4.  I am carrying a lot of 'eco' guilt at the moment. Since my teenage years I have been a bit of a tree hugging type, and have spent the last 15 years or so, educating myself about how our crazy planet is being treated, and the people it affects as we in the west slowly consume and throw things away til we ruin everything completely. But at present my levels of caring for our planet have reached an all time low. I have thrown away plastic this week cos it was easier than putting it in the recycling, I have used far too many new plastic carrier bags out of laziness in not taking one with me, I have ditched the eco balls cos I like the smell of chemically fresh washing, and use baby wipes like they are going out of fashion - cos a flannel is a faff....................................................Yes I know, this puts me along with most other parents in this country, but that doesn't make it good now does it !? 


Sometimes I wish I knew less about eco issues, nutrition, and Fair trade etc - ignorance can be bliss.




5. Having shorter hair has given me a cold neck.




6. Living opposite a retail park is testing my self control at the moment.




7.  Here are the lovely £1.50 purchases from this week's bargain isle. 

8.   Need to get new curtains for Little Tike's bedroom, I know what I want in my head, but can I find it...... NO. 




9. Today I took Little Tike to the library, got there and realised I hadn't put her shoes on......good job it was carpeted ey. 


Note to self, small child needs to wear shoes, must remember EVERYtime we go out.




10. It will be May soon, and I'm hoping that it's as warm as it was last year - pleeeeeease. 






Linking in with the other 'ten on tuesday-ers'.


theadventuresofbobbyandgeorge


familyjamesfive


yeastandwest


thethingsiwanttosayblog

Deal of the day

Today I found a wetsuit for my little tike for £1.50. Brand new, reduced from £15 on the clearance isle in tesco.
So I bought one in every size to fit her til she's 9 ! A little overboard maybe, but 5 wetsuits for £7.50 isn't bad, and seeing as Deane family holidays usually involve the British coastline and a bodyboard they will get plenty of use !


This was our little bundle of swimsuit and rubber ring last year, this year she'll be running round the sand chasing the waves. ( can't wait !)

Beautiful little feet

Beautiful feet, that's all.

Dancing

I love dancing. I'm not 'good' at it, but I love to move to a good bit of music. Just around the kitchen or house will do, but in a bar or at a party is fun. Don't get to do it much at the moment, but when I do - it gives me a release.


'Mumford and sons' really make me want to dance dance dance. I challenge you to listen to this an not want to jump about, just a little.




I watched this nearly 2 years ago, yes ok, in my bed, on tv, but man did I want to be there having a good ol' jig.


Enjoy your Sunday my friends, drinking tea, being at church, watching giants, working, or hungover. Whatever your activity of choice is today, have a little dance - go on....you know you want to !

Churchy ramblings

It's funny (well the opposite really ) when things in life don't go how you plan isn't it ? I don't think they ever go exactly as you plan cos you only have the knowledge and experience of things as you are now, and a plan is usually in the future, so you never know how things/you/life will be then, so how can things go as we plan ? huh ?................................. I have no idea.


I think I am finally realising that when things don't go how you had planned for a loooooong period of time, it's time to make a new plan. Or dream a new dream. 


I have always been a 'churchy' kind of bod. Whatever plans there have been in my head, have always involved God, His plans, His church. But more recently 'church' the place you go on a Sunday, has been a tricky place to get to. The old CFS monster forces me to rest lots over the weekend, so that has to come first. I guess it has been like that for a loooong time, but pre baby I always had monday as a recovery day. ( a recovery day from church - I know it sounds weird ey !) but now my Mondays start at 7.30am if I'm ready or not, and require me to be vertical for most of the time until about 6pm. So the Sunday trip to worship God in church with a bunch of other crazy God botherers, mostly doesn't happen. Let alone any other activities like this during the week.


But family goings on and a tricky health type situation isn't always easy to fit into something you have always done. My faith is more than just going to church on a Sunday, but not being an active part of a church rattles my cage a little.


So it's time to have a re think, how does all this fit together? This stage of life, the bit now, in this decade, the bringing up small kids bit. how does it work with church/CFS/kids/husband/staying sane.


It's time to look at it all from a different angle, rather than trying to force my life, our lives, into the package I thought it would fit into about now. This feels like a more positive way of looking at it, not just what I/we as a family can't do, but what we could maybe make work somehow. 


I don't have any solutions to this conundrum just yet,  but I'm beginning to try to discover one. I would give anything to go back to when Jesus was on earth, or in the early church, and hang out with some families from that time. I would love to see how they intertwined family/marriage/children/poor health/bereavement into the way they lived as a community of people following Jesus. I think I get it a bit, but I'd love to know more. I'd love to read some letters to the early church written by a woman. Don't get me wrong, I love paul's letters, but he was a man, and well, lets be honest, probably a slightly chauvinistic one. So yes, ACTS written by a woman, I'd like to read that. Or the Gospel according to Mary, or Martha maybe. 


Anyway I digress from what can only be described as really rambling ramblings.


I read recently one of those quote type things - the ones I usually dislike, it said 'live the life you have, cos it probably won't change and might not get any better '. 
.............Yes that sounds awfully pessimistic, but I think you can make that a moto with hope dolloped alongside it, with one eye on the glory that is to come. I find this prospect painful, but exciting at the same time.


Life on this earth might not get easier, but finding Joy and delight in Him and what I have now is the way to go.


I think for the time being anyway.

Weller weller weller

It's not often I devote a whole post to issues of music and style, but after watching one of my favourite tv programmes 'Later with Jools' I felt I had to put into words my feelings ..........................


Paul Weller, yes I accept he is a talented man, has written some pretty good songs, and has thousands of fans around the world. But no amount of musical ability, song writing capacity or performance charisma can provide a good excuse for his haircut.

Seriously, it is awful, and has been for some time. It appears to have got worse, more angular and like he plans it.

It's just wrong.

Ten on Tuesday

1. I have never really been into the whole 'pensioner chic' but check out this chintzy little teapot cosy - I quite like it !

2. Little Tyke is starting to learn her colours. Mostly she gets it wrong, but it's so adorable watching her try. 'yed'  'yewow' 'puuurpull' and 'geeeeen'  are the current favourites. I almost feel scared of introducing her to orange, cos as far as she's concerned that's something you eat and drink. Weird English language !


3. We stayed at my parent's house for a bit last week. They have a fairly large house which kind of all interlinks - so is a great race track for her to run from room to room. There is also a train line near by and lots of 'amnals'...................... so all in all, she was one happy little tot.


4. I have been thoroughly enjoying sprucing up my spring summer wardrobe recently. I realised it has been about 3 years since I've bought anything spring summery apart from maternity clothes, so has been a real treat getting a few things. But I hadn't realised how expensive clothes had got ! But with a splurge on a nice dress and a scrimp on a pair of £2 jeans from ebay and I'm a happy lady.
Oh, and a new cardigan - it's amazing what a new cardigan can do for an old top ey :)


5. I am a bit of a fan of the itv crime drama 'scott and bailey' I love a bit of a female detective programming ! One of the lead characters goes from one disaster to another, the lady who plays her has got that 'distressed lady on the edge ' face down. She's a brilliant actress.



6. Strawberry picking season begins in a few weeks - Love love love strawberries. So much so I got Little tyke these dungarees.........

Husbando thinks they're gross, I think the opposite, but will need to be reminded not to nibble her arms while she's wearing them. #eatable


7. Bit of chalk drawing on the floor ( before you get too concerned it isn't a solid wood floor, but some fairly cheap vinyl - beautifully washable )

8. We bought one of those silicone moulds in the shape of a rabbit, doesn't bear a huge resemblance, but it's a fun way to bake with the Little Tyke.

The outcome looks more like something which didn't quite make it into Jurassic park, and needs beautifully decorating, but hey here is what we made.


9. Two family members have had Job interviews this week, not sure who's more anxious them or me.


10. I thought I would leave you with a slightly odd photo of my lunch......... Guess who forgot to get the shopping delivered yesterday. So here is what I found in the fridge. Veg, Fruit, Cake, and cocktail sausages.

Action shot

ok, double click on the first photo to view as a slide show...............


Little Tyke in the park with an energetic Daddy. (excuse the raindrop on the lens)

Joy at Easter.

The last few posts have been little brief ones. 'Cos it's been the Easter holidays - Daddy at home, sometimes the 3 of us, sometimes at my parents, where there was a beautiful 5 adults to 1 child ratio - hap peeeeee days.

I have to be honest, I was kind of dreading the Easter holidays, even though it is one of my favourite, if not my favourite time of year. That is precisely why I was dreading it. You see I love celebrating Easter, the resurrection, spring arriving, being able to go out in a mac not a thick wooly coat, there being more daylight, and of course tulips. I love tulips. 

But it often ends up that I spend most of this time in bed, which is just not so good. But this year, yes my friends, we had a lovely Easter time. There were trips to the park, chocolate, church services, tulips, visiting family, seeing friends and lots of laughs. Yes of course lots of rest times, but just the correct amount. 

Hooray ! It's nice when things work out isn't it ?


We even had one of those oh so rare moments (which anyone with a small child will understand) where you are all happy, not tired, everyone slept well the night before, and enjoying the same activity at the same time ......... !

These are the moments we limp through the tricky times for aren't they ?!


To be honest if these holidays hadn't been good, I think I may have cracked up just a little bit. I have just been struggling, with the constant struggle, you know what I mean ? 
But this past two weeks were a breath of fresh air. 


Yes I feel nervous about the weekly normalities and struggles resuming tomorrow, but with a bit more juice in my tank, and the promise of sunny skies -  I think i'm ready to face it all head on.

A holiday day.

My wee girlie, running free......................a happy day.

We found a very lovely park, with a free carpark - even better. She kind of went a bit crazy, you know when they just kind of run around in circles squealing a bit. 


Thankfully we were in a wide open space where all water had a fence around it, and there weren't really any other people. 

Easter flowers

I usually don't like Daffodils, I find the yellow of them insipid, but these little beauties are like their more beautiful cousins. Not bad for 89p from Aldi.

This little Rose was in a bouquet of flowers given to me by a friend, which I think had been passed down from 3 other people ! Highly recycled flowers - still stunning.

And lastly a beautiful Orchid. We had Orchids and tulips at our wedding, my two favourite flowers. This little beauty was a gift from my lovely man on our anniversary.

Flowers make the world a happier place, don't you think ?

6 years ago

6 years ago today, we tied the knot.

It was a beautiful day, and has been a fantastic six years.

I genuinely love being married. Yes it takes work, but mostly it is great fun, and a real privilege to have a companion to walk through life with. 

Ten on Tuesday

  .......on a wednesday.


Yesterday was just one of those days where the blog wasn't a flowin'. So here are my eight on wednesday......cos I don't have 10 in my head.




1. Little tyke has some serious issues with her size and how it relates to inanimate objects. She keeps trying to get IN her small ' bob the builder's surf shack' house toy thing. Think about 6 inches by 8 inches and you about have it. She also does this with toy chairs from a dolls house at out local playgroup, and tries to sit on them. Weird.




2. It is the beautiful Easter holidays. Two weeks of lovely time when there are two adults, not just one. Bliss. A few lie ins, and a bit of company, not forgetting the sweet joy of having a shower on my own, or not in 2 seconds flat while she watches andy pandy.




3. So, there was sunshine ................and then there was snow. Having bought myself a rather beautiful new spring/summer dress, I was more than a little bit frustrated that the lovely yellow shiny sunshine has hidden itself firmly behind those chilly white clouds.




4. Easter is upon us, and this year there shall be Easter eggs in the Deane house. Last year there weren't any. Little Tike was too small for chocolate and the husbando and I couldn't really afford to buy any. It's a bizarre thing, cos for me Easter just isn't about Chocolate eggs. It's about the celebration of Jesus' resurrection. The stone rolled away, new hope, eternal life, victory over death. But I am happy to eat chocolate, so will be combining the two! And yes I guess there is the egg-new life link, but lets face it, that really is tenuous.
(But the Easter bunny, for me is just a step too far. Not a fan of the Easter bunny) 


5. For the third week in a row, a friend has made me cake. This week it was a very tasty lemon drizzle cake and a bunch of flowers too. Thankyou thankyou thankyou. There should always be cake.




6. The beauty of having the lovely Husbando off work, is that I get to go out and about a little more. And dashing for bed as soon as Little tike has her lunchtime sleep isn't so pressing, as this can happen later in the day if needed. So yesterday we had a lovely coffee together while she slept. 

Life's not too bad when you get to sit somewhere pretty and have a much needed chatter with your favourite Man ey. I am one lucky lady.




7.  Wires, I hate them. Really hate them. This is why........

8. I am loving the new TV show 'the voice' It kind of scratches my itch for a bit of fairly good live music threaded nicely into my television viewing. I also really like the combo of judges on there. Tom Jones with Will I am - interesting combination. Such a relief from the X factor which I gave up on many years ago. 

( wouldn't mind one of those chairs either ! )

A little trip out

One of my favourite places in the UK, the lovely Albert Docks. I never tire of it a little outing there. The weather was was drizzly, but just hit the spot.

Sunny days

One sunny late afternoon, that portion of the day when we are out of ideas of how to keep our little tike happy at home, and can't be bothered to cook tea. .......... Chips in the park, by the lake. Lovely. ( bit colder than expected, but lovely )

I am fairly easily pleased really, a little bit of energy to go to the park, husband, daughter, near some nature and the sunshine.......equals a very contented me.