Make Yourself at Home ~

Serious Questions or Simply for Entertainment. This blog can be anything you want it to be ... Click the FOLLOW button ... makes me feel better. Add your message to Gills' Guest Book. Post a Comment at the end of a blog ... Email me with your questions: gmhesketh@yahoo.co.uk


Saturday 28 August 2010

Shopstyle Till You Drop ...

OMG have you seen this website http://www.shopstyle.co.uk/? You could do some serious damage here, not only to your purse, pocket, wallet, but to your eyes. The operational speed of the site is brilliant and could keep the worst of ADD [attention deficit disorder] victims, satisfied - me included.

The range is unbelievable … 111 pages of clutch bags including my very own treat, a Lulu Guinness lips clutch. I was lucky enough to meet the renowned English designer on a number of occasions last year. Lulu Guinness OBE, is so English and so sweet, you just want to take her home with you and have afternoon tea and cucumber sandwiches - or if you haven't tidied up, perhaps the Ritz?

*Photo ~ See Side bar for Lulu Guinness and Lulu G Lips clutch ...

Sweet is probably not an expression you’d associate with a woman who heads a globally successful fashion and accessories sales company. With only a year’s foundation course in art school, experience in video production and a passion for design and fashion, Lulu launched her company in 1989 in the basement of a West London house. Lulu’s often extraordinary bags have been described as ‘tomorrow’s treasures’ ~ So there you go daughters; passion, focus and a bit of a business mind … it’s the way forward.

Sorry about the name-drop, but you know it would have been rude not to. My best friend and I went into Lulu Guinness frenzy, bought each other make-up bags. We invested in a red patent shopper, sorry, ‘red patent Suzy’, and a neat lips logo’d umbrella. Cute. Take a look at Lulu’s website www.luluguinnness.com
to see some of her more unusual designs and check out the amazing Bird Bag [the World’s first automated handbag] on:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPvtflF0G9Y&feature=player_embedded

Okay, back to shopstyle … There are presently 1488 pages of dresses from New Look and Top Shop to Marc Jacobs, Missoni and Herve Leger. [most of the dresses are priced between £30 and £130]. The page scrolls as quickly as you want it to, easier to use when viewing so many products. ‘Too much stuff’ did I hear you say? Well the best part is that you can pick out the styles and shapes that suit you before you go to the high street. That way, when you’re shopping, you can be more focused, leaving time for that skinny latte or chilled Pinot Grigio. You might just return home without those items you didn’t really want or need in a deliberate ‘less is more’ thought pattern.

I also like to go imaginary shopping on shopstyle, adding specific items to my basket and then, sadly, never seem to get around to clicking the ‘purchase now’ button, probably because my list was totally financially unacceptable. But if you do want to buy something, a speedy link takes connects you directly to the specific store in nano-seconds.

All in all, a great shopping experience site. There are loads of sales too, especially in the beauty ranges, often up to 70% off.

Well worth a try. Take a glass of wine with you if you intend staying in for the night and missing out on that soak in the bath.

*Warning ~ http://www.shopstyle.co.uk/ ~ Don’t try this at work. It could be addictive.


Jill


Thursday 26 August 2010

Here it is ~ Touchstone ~ Chapter 1 ~ Edward

Here is the intro to Touchstone, Chapter 1 ~ Edward. You can read the full chapter on My Pages, Short Stories or on my writing and stuff blog at www.artywords.blogspot.com

Edward's character uses occasional taboo language. Should we let him? Or should this type of language be edited out? What do you think? Let me know...


Touchstone

Chapter 1 ~ Edward

The morning paper stuck through the door at a peculiar angle. Edward’s face, branded across the top corner, smiled unflinchingly at Verity. Her fingers trembled as she tugged it from the mouth of the letter box, tearing the edges of the flimsy pages into a series of corrugated triangles. She read the bold font which accompanied her husband’s portrait, buried the paper under the door mat and returned to the kitchen, her heart thumping.

Pre-programmed for his morning routine, Edward Spencer was already ahead of schedule. Verity listened tentatively for her cue. She squeezed four small oranges into a tumbler of ice and set it at his place. Two pieces of granary bread stood to attention in the toaster. A platter of freshly sliced pineapple and a white ramekin, half full with translucent honey, awaited their destiny alongside a carton of muesli. Edward’s favourite coffee strutted its bitter aroma as he positioned his leather-bound personal organiser and mobile phone squarely on the side of the breakfast table. He poured out a bowl of muesli.

‘Newspaper?’ he asked without lifting his head.

Verity disappeared into the porch, counted to ten and returned without it.

‘There isn’t one’, she lied.

Using the weight of his Blackberry to hold Monday in place, he ran his finger down the Tuesday appointment column. Two brief but strategic meetings would fill up most of his morning; the first with the city’s chief planning officer, Geoff Hardacre, the second with Dalton’s Senior Councillor, Bill Watson. Edward had done his homework and presumed Watson, a dedicated sportsman, would relish the concept of a brand new leisure development in his home-town, even take credit for it. Convinced of the councillor’s flexibility, he moved his finger assertively over the time slots, verifying the two-thirty start for his `Xtreme` flagship presentation. Satisfied with the day ahead, he made a start on his breakfast.

‘Newspaper?’ he asked again.

Verity repeated her journey to the porch, returning with the same answer.

‘Milk’, he called out to Verity who was teasing the toast back into the toaster and scrambling eggs for the children’s breakfasts.

‘Sorry?’

Edward pushed his bowl across the table, scooped up his occupational paraphernalia and left the room just as the toast, crisped to perfection, sprung from the toaster. In front of the hall mirror, the businessman monitored his appearance, slipped his tie firmly into place, collected his keys from a black Mandarin cabinet, standing like a sentry on guard at the front door and embarked on his journey into the city.

Forty minutes later, Edward’s face was staring back at him from his desk. He hovered in the doorway to Jack’s office, his right hand clenching involuntarily into a fist, his left, pulsing the morning paper on his thigh. Jack’s late arrival and feeble attempt at witty office banter served only to intensify Edward’s mood.

‘Cut the bullshit’ Edward snapped through tight lips. He thwacked the newspaper onto the desk wafting documents into the air like oversized confetti. The headline divulged Edward’s unease; ‘`Xtreme?` Leisure Industry Tycoon Works-Out on Corruption Racquet.’ Pacing the short distance between Jack’s oversized desk and the smoggy glass expanse, Edward squeezed crevices into his temple, burrowing upwards and outwards to relive the pressure. The Managing Director of Xtreme Leisure resembled a stereotypical private eye, unwittingly overacting a badly written episode of Columbo. Throughout Xtreme’s’ suite of offices, which occupied Prestige Towers’ fifth and sixth floors, it was a well known fact that questioning would not diminish until someone had been reprimanded, used as a scape-goat or even fired.

Edward picked up the newspaper and began to read out the offending article out loud. Although his voice could barely be heard beyond the transparent partitioning, his body language spoke volumes to those who dared to witness it:

‘It has been revealed that local business tycoon, Eddie Spencer has been lowering the blood pressure of planning officers by gifting them holidays in the sun. A council employee has spoken out. He also alleges Mr Spencer has been involved encouraging expense rackets, gifting cash …’

‘A council employee? What is the hell is an office minion doing with access to this sort of information?’

Knowing it was going to be a difficult day when the same headline had greeted him at breakfast, Jack stuffed his hands deep into his pockets, shuffled his feet and kicked imaginary stones around the polished wooden floor like an adolescent in front of the headmaster. In the five years that he had worked for Edward and latterly as his personal aide, Jack had learned when not to respond with empty words.

‘This isn’t a one inch column on a back page, Jack. It’s a fucking headline!’

Edward shook the paper at Jack and flung it across the room ...


Full chapter here on My Pages - Read My Short Stories or read it on
My Pages ~ Touchstone ~ The Novel at www.artywords.blogspot.com

Jill

Wednesday 25 August 2010

Fitness Pal ...

Good Morning all,

OMG, my daughter has just got me into this:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/

It's an amazing motivational place where you track your eating and exercise habits - in my case, more eating and less exercise. But things will have to change. With a widening middle and lethargicness that I should be able to win a prize for, I will have to cut out the white toasted bread with real butter, the occasional Cornish pasty and regular intake of cheesecake and choccy biscuits !!

I might as well have been living everday as Saturday on The Butterfield Diet Plan - see link or:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjnuBTPOaKY

We all know when we eat well, we feel better, we're energised and probably look brighter. So give it a go. There's an app for iphones etc. - I know how much you young people like messing with stuff on your phones.

Enter your gender, age, weight, targets etc and your Daily Calorie Intake is worked out for you. It's simple - even I could do it [although my daughter did sign up for me - do you think she was hinting something ?]. I'm glad she did. Sometimes you just need a gentle push into losing weight / getting fitter etc.

Eash day, enter everything you eat/drink - and the calories are worked out for you. Input your exercise - [in my case, a sad 10 minute slow walk which burned off 28 calories] - and that gets knocked off your total. It doesn't take long to recognise what the daily reports highlight - just how many calories we ingest without realising! [a bit like garlic - calories seem to be ubiquitous !]

When you begin tapping into the plan, you can feel the challenge motivating you. Seeing your food intake on a long list is distubing at first. For instance, a glass of wine is 120 calories! A piece of cheesecake, around 310 ! But once you've sussed the calorie intake - eating a more balanced diet becomes easier. Remember, it's not all about dieting, it's about healthy eating and fitness.

Then the light bulb moment - that a little excercise would help burn off some of those dreaded calories - it doesn't have to be a lot at first. Don't dive into a fitness regime of 5 days a week that you can't sustain. Just add a few walks or join a gym, play tennis, go for a swim ...

Now I've promoted and bragged about myfitnesspal - I've doubly committed myself haven't I? Okay, I don't really want to reveal my real present weight but I'll say that the 8 - 10 pounds which has crept on and been hugging my body for almost two years, needs removing.


I'll let you know how I get on ... loss or gain, then there'll be no way out of it for me.

Here's to more energy and a dress size smaller - my blood pressure may even go down too ...

Jill [not too hungry yet]

Tuesday 24 August 2010

Money Saving Tips ...

Check out Martin Lewis's money saving tips

See My Links ...
http://www.moneyexpert.com/

Jill

Monday 23 August 2010

Daughter visit ...

Hi everyone,
The real reason I haven't got back to the novel ~ my daughter came home for the week-end. Yes, the whole week-end ! With time to do things like, lunch, shopping, cocktails, dinner ... then go on an urgent diet [me, not daughter - obv.]
[Note to all daughters and sons: Mums usually love this type of pastime - the company - not the diet]

So tomorrow, as soon as the pitch for Ramper Pot Adventures, chapter book for 6-10 age-group is in the post, the novel will be retrieved from the outer edges of my desk ...
Talk later,
Jill

Friday 20 August 2010

The secret lives of people in love ~ Simon Van Booy

The secret lives of people in love by Simon Van Booy, has been my read for the week.

Hmm ... What can I say? Van Booy's stories have lulled me into a calmness that makes me not want to bellow out words of enjoyment or disapproval. Not that I disapprove. Van Booy's mystic aura and poetic narratives make you feel as though you’ve been transported to another place, to a soundless island where loneliness abounds. A place steeped in sadness and loss where no-one ever wants to be.

You might think this doom and gloom read is not for you. Van Booy's stories drape the sense of losing someone around your shoulders. Motherless youths, drowning sailors and redundant parents place you in the depths of lost relationships. Simon singles out the loneliest people on the planet and peers into their lives through a magnifying glass. The only sense of relief is knowing you haven’t had to endure the life Van Booy's characters have suffered.

Unlike some short story writers and a fashion that enjoys leaving the reader in the lurch at the end of the tale, Simon often gives some indication of resolution and for this, I thank him. I don't always have time to think too long about what might have happened.

Some of his expressions are so fresh and crisp or so lavishly intense, that I found myself re-reading them just for the pleasure. The calming narrative will make you want to celebrate life and people. Give it a go. It can only help you breathe life more passionately.

Jill

Wednesday 18 August 2010

Currency Card

Relaxing on a sun-lounger in Vilamoura, [mothers in distress getting de-stressed], my friend, mother reasonably unstressed, noticed an offer in the Daily Mail, for a FREE Currency Card. Sounds suspect, I know. Of course the currency isn’t free, but the service is – and so are Ryanair card admin charges.

This is money website offers this information:

‘This is Money readers can sign up for a FREE Mastercard prepaid debit card from FairFX, which usually costs £9.95. The main benefits include highly competitive exchange rates plus zero exchange rate fees.

Readers are offered three choices of cards and if you take out the new Anywhere card, to be loaded with Sterling, it will allow you to dodge the administration fee that Ryanair charges for each ticket booked.

Like the name suggests, the Anywhere card can be used in any country, with funds being converted to the appropriate currency at the point of sale.’
Read more: www.thisismoney.co.uk/reader-offer

*Do please read all the small print and check out their rules before you apply.

Jill

Swap Handmade, Craft & Vintage ...

Hi everyone,

Topics this week are about de-cluttering. Don't groan ~ you know it'll be good for you. But before I / We get started and for all of you who like something special ~ for example, handmade, vintage and craft ~ try my friend's new website ...

The basic idea, taken from swapworkshop to show you how it works, is this:


Members connect to swap or trade their things. No item is for sale, no money is exchanged, just the cost of shipping your item! It's a way to promote your talent and at the same time a fun, inexpensive way of acquiring the things you love. See our introduction to learn about our unique points system and then feel free to join our community.

check out here ...
http://www.swapworkshop.com/ ... to see or swap cute stuff

Jill

Tuesday 17 August 2010

De-tox for Less

DE-TOX for less...

Before your holiday, try Epsom Salts [available from any chemist]

Pour approx 2 cups of Epsom Salts into a bath and soak for 20 minutes.

Epsom salts are full of magnesium and can help the body shed toxins which not only encourage water retention but cling on to fat !

Let me know what you think,

Gillian

Alexandra Heminsley to appear at Blackpool's Festival of Words

Blackpool’s Festival of Words 2-9 October

Author, freelance journalist and broadcaster, Alexandra Heminsley, author of Ex in the City ~ You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Dumps You, will be joining Blackpool’s Festival of Words. She will be giving a talk and attending a forum at Blackpool Sixth Form College along with Sarra Manning, author of Pretty Things and Lets Get Lost, during a week full of wordy events which runs from 2nd ~ 9th October.

[I’ll confirm exact venue and dates and times as soon as. ]

Author of Ex and the City, Alexandra Heminsley initially worked in the publishing industry before becoming a freelance journalist. She is a contributing editor for Elle Magazine and writes regularly for the Telegraph, the Observer amongst other major newspapers and contributes to Waterstone’s Quarterly. An industrious broadcaster, she is involved in an abundance of radio and television programmes including, BBC Radio 2’s Arts Show headed by Claudia Winkleman and The Simon Mayo Books Panel. Alexandra is also Book Club Expert on Sky 1 Daytime show Angela and Friends.

Her book Ex and the City: You're Nobody `Til Somebody Dumps You, hailed as a self-help book, is an honest and funny account of being dumped. Alexandra finds comedy in some of love's painful moments. In this intimate memoir, she shares her experiences, taking us on a witty journey from her own helpless dejection, being dumped in a restaurant, a stairwell and even a graveyard. Suffering a rebound fling and other failed relationships, she finally locates the path to recovery.

Alexandra shares insights she gathered along the way, from what heartbreak really does to your hormones to what he really means when he says, 'It's not you, it's me.' She portrays female solidarity and reveals the important truth she learns: that being dumped should not be a source of shame but should be a badge of honour. ‘Because unless you're ready to risk all, you'll never find love.’

If Dumped was a Kingdom, Alexandra Heminsley would surely be its Queen.
Alexandra offered to do a Question and Answer session for Words, Words & Stuff, Blackpool’s Festival newspaper which will be available very soon. You’ll find supplies in cafes, libraries, hotels, bars, or email me on gmhesketh@google.googlemail.com. Here’s a few of Alexandra’s answers on her career, her book, Ex and the City, and which writers influenced her ...

Question
You have created a very successful career for yourself, did you always know what you wanted to do from a being young?
Answer
I knew I wanted to work with words, but I wasn’t quite sure how. It was only at university that I thought about publishing.
Question
What were your favourite subjects at school?
Answer
English, Latin and languages. I also loved History. It was more stories!
Question
How important do you think, is a university education for young people wanting to follow a career similar to yours? For example, in publishing, journalism or becoming a writer?
Answer
A degree is not essential in journalism or writing, but you would have to develop other skills.
Question
Moving on to your book, Ex in the City ~ You’re Nobody `Til Somebody Dumps You’, I understand your friends prompted you to write it? How long did the writing process take?
Answer
It thought about it for about a year, and talked about it a lot, but I did little about it. Then, when I finally got on with it, it was two chunks of about three or four months.
Question
Would you advise new writers to enter writing competitions?
Answer
Yes, I think you should do everything that you have time to do. All practise and experience is good. Just make sure that it doesn’t take away from writing what you actually want to write. Writing just to try and win a competition is not a good habit to get into.
Question
Self publishing – Is this really possible?
Answer
It is possible to do it, but it is expensive and in my opinion, not worth to.
Question
Do you blog for a Hobby or Marketing Tool?
Answer
A hobby. I use Twitter for work a lot though. Facebook is entirely private.
Question
Which author[s] influence you?
Answer
Nora Ephron, Jilly Cooper, Jeffrey Deaver, David Mitchell, Andrew Miller, Sloane Crosely, Enid Blyton, Helene Hanff, PL Travers,
Question
Are you in love with words or perhaps the structure of language?
Answer
I am not in love with them - that would be weird. I am passionate about communication.
Question
Is there a word you Love to Hate?
Answer
Gusset.

Amongst a recklessly busy schedule, Alexandra is also an avid blogger. You can follow her at: http://thedefinitecuticle.wordpress.com where she rubs shoulders with Mariah Carey, searches for the perfect red, finding it on Dot Cotton’s manicured nails and treats herself to Rococo gold leaf nail apparel. Check out her website at http://www.queenofdumped.com/.

Alexandra promises an interesting get-together. All welcome, just come along. Bring a friend. But maybe, not your ex.

Gillian

Saturday 14 August 2010

Lesley's Quick Chicken Paella

Slice Onion and de-seed /dice any sweet coloured Pepper

Use large open pan or wok.

Fry Onion in Oil
Add pieces of chopped Chicken
Add Sweet Pepper [any colour]
Add beaker of Uncooked Rice

Stirfry all ingredients for a minute or two

Add Stock Cube and couple beakers Water
Add 1/2 teaspoon Paprika
Add 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric

Boil and simmer for 10 minutes

Add handful Frozen Peas
Add slices of Chorizo Sausage

Heat for a few minutes till hot.


Optional: Add any of the following and cook for a few minutes till hot.
Prawns / Smoked Haddock / Tuna / Olives
If you want it fishy.

Serve with large glass wine ...

Enjoy


Gillian and Lesley

Wednesday 11 August 2010

Carole's Quick Minestrone Soup

Here's another Fill 'n' Slim Soup, courtesy of my friend Carole ...
[not distressed at the moment but as soon as I hear of anything ...]

Chop: Onion / Carrots / Celery / Turnip

[Add Garlic only if you want to taste Garlic and not the vegetables - and if you don't intend kissing anyone for a couple of days ... Sorry about Garlic rant - I'ts my pet hate - sure Garlic's not always needed in as many recipes as it occurs ... it seems to have become a habit - Yes, I know it's supposed to be good for you - they'll be putting it in cup cakes next. That reminds me, where is my daughter with her cup-cake recipes .... ??? hint hint ...]

Soften vegetables in Butter [yes, that's right, butter]

Add Chicken Stock Cube, Water

Cook till nearly soft

Add Tin Chopped Tomatoes / Tomato Puree

Cook a bit more

Add a handful of pasta [any kinda pasta that's lying around in your kitchen]

Cook 5 mins, till pasta cooked

Season to taste

Eat !!! Enjoy !!!

Jill and Carole

Stay Full, Get Thin ...

Hi Daughters and everyone else reading this,

Courtesy of my friend Caroline, Mother of two beautiful daughters [possibly in distress - the mother - not the daughters - will find out and let you know] :

In this lovely rainy weather we're having ... try this Heartwarming Yummy soup with a possible minus 30 calories per spoonful ...

Peel and Chop a couple of Carrots, quite a few Parsnips and an Onion.

Fry Onion in some oil.

Add Carrots, Parsnips, Stock Cube, Water, Pepper [maybe Salt?]

Boil, Cook, Simmer.

Liquidise.

Eat ...


If you feel you must add a few calories ... Just add Cream ...

Jill - and Caroline

Monday 9 August 2010

Mother in Distress ...

What do you do if you have successfully grown three large tubs full of strong tomato plants with a prolific yield of good shaped green tomatoes and then ... the sun disappears ?

They do look fab but they are all greeeeen !

PS ~ At the moment, my crop stands me at around £17.50 ...

If / when the tomatoes finally turn red, maybe I'll count them and work out the cost.

Can't wait for delicious tomato and orange soup with cream and black pepper ...

Recipe to follow.

Jill

Just for Fun ...

Take a look at this lovely picture story ...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADuSnt6PFn8&feature=related


So Sweet ahhh

Sunday 8 August 2010

The Book I'll be Reading this week is ...

Hi daughters and everyone else checking out this blog ~ you are all very welcome of course.

Just thought I would share this with you …

The book I’ll be reading this week, suggested to me by my daughter, is:
‘The secret lives of people in love’ by Simon Van Booy.
[note: actual book title is in lower case – would hate you to think I made a typing error].

It's a collection of short stories set in present day New York City, Wales, Cornwall, Paris, Rome and Greece [something for everyone]. ‘Simon Van Booy explores love’s labour and love’s loss with masterful simplicity and in touching detail.’

Quotes from the big guys: poets and critics:

‘Van Booy’s stories … stay with you like a significant memory.’ Roger Rosenblatt.
‘These stories take on the benign quality of fairytales …’ Daily Telegraph.
‘Intense, deliberate and calmly beautiful stories’ Irish Times.

So therefore, ‘The secret lives of people in love’ must be all of those things. I’ll let you know. It’s looking cool so far, the jacket; arty, mystic, elegant and tactile … not too heavy to read when lying on a sun-lounger or in bed, page number failry low [useful for train or flight reading]. So far, so good …

Looking forward to it ...

Jill

Thursday 5 August 2010

What was I saying ? ? ? `Lethologica`

You know that moment, when you can't remember someone's name - but deep down, you know it ... ?
What about the word that won't come to the tip of your tongue ...

Well, apparently, there's a word for it ... Now what was it? ...

Dictionary.com: Lethologica
Definition: inability to remember a word or put your finger on the right word.

Wikipedia:
Lethologica is a psychological disorder that inhibits an individual's ability to articulate his or her thoughts by temporarily forgetting key words, phrases or names in conversation.

Lethologica was first identified as a serious, debilitating disorder by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung in 1913 in his Wandlungen und Symbole der Libido (The Psychology of the Unconscious).

Lethologica's severity amongst sufferers is dependent upon a variety of factors including stress, physical fitness, social interaction and base memory capacity. As such it can be classified as a lifestyle disease which is also affected by individual personality traits. These factors have been shown to affect the temporal lobe which in turn causes the sporadic functioning of episodic and semantic memory capacities.


Hmm ... Interesting ...

Sorry but no effective treatments for the disorder exist !

Jill

Onions

Peeling onions makes me cry
I think of you
Layer after layer
Lie after lie
Wet
Stinging
Acid
Tears
Huge
Heart felt drops.

Chicken in Soy Sauce

Fry pieces of chicken in drop of oil, little salt, pepper.

Squeeze lemon juice over and cook.

Just before finished, add soy sauce.

That's it !!

Set on top of salad.

Simple. Quick. Cheap. Yummy. Makes you look like a good cook !!

Monday 2 August 2010

Stressss ...

Stress ~ Thought I would share this with you ...

Stress is one of the greatest creators of energy that we have. Stress not only creates energy, but also creates urgency. The secret of its managment is not avoidance, but the balancing of internal and external stress. Stress generally comes from the outside. A situation develops creating internal pressure but the cause is external. If you balance the internal pressure with the external pressure, you can withstand tremendous loads. It is the imbalance that hurts you. For example, the farther a submarine descents, the higher the pressure is increased on the inside to keep it from collapsing externally. If you over-pressurise internally, then the submarine explodes. Under pressurising creates an implosion. Our lives are the same way. The first step toward healthy stress is defining the problem. One of the best definitions of 'problem' that I know is: something I can do something about. If I can't do anything about it, its not my problem. It doesn't become a problem until I can do something about it. If I can't do anything, it is a fact of life. Many people call problems things that aren't problems at all -- they are facts of life. They can do nothing about them. I have to constantly be able to recognise facts of life, accept them, live with them, and not consider them problems. Healthy stress results from the definition of the problem.

[Author: Fred Smith]

Jill

Sunday 1 August 2010

Sons ! oka Mothers in Distress

Socks in the Laundry

Odd Socks in the laundry
Teaspoons in the bin
Teenagers with headphones
Listening to that din
Lights left on, doors unlocked
Shoes on stairs, parents mocked
Half empty juice cartons
And where’s the gin?
Sons!
You just can’t win.


Jill