Shopping list for Life ...

5 top tips to get you moving and grooving and-a-moving - and a gr ...

First instalment:
[you won't lose sleep - these posts will be short - this is a light-hearted blog, not a power-happy must have mogul making guide - but now I'm thinking along those lines ... erm, well, er ...]

Whilst we hang around waiting for the weather to change and the financial climate to warm up ... Let's get planning ...

First thoughts :~

Write a random list of Anything and Everything you Need, Want, Wish for in Your Life - even if you're thinking there are obstacles in your way...

Get thinking, jotting, writing, typing, doodling, drawing, day-dreaming ~ oh ~ and don't forget your day job [is that your boss behind you? ] ! !

Second instalment tomorrow.

[so is that one 'l' or two? - don't check it out - just get planning ! ]

Enjoy,
Gillian

PS - couldn't resist: it's one 'l' in UK, 2 'l's in USA - phew, glad that's settled.

100 Random things to do at a a place near you ...

100 Random Things to do  ...

1  Join a rambling club

2  Write a letter to yourself

3  Draw your lunch

4  Read a book

5  State 5 good things about yourself

6  Go to a gym

7  Give yourself 3 pieces of advice

8  Buy something inexpensive as a symbol

9  Visit an elderly relative

10 Find a poem you like

11 Re-write it and stick it on your fridge

12 Fill an envelope with things you have collected on a walk

13 Do some gardening or buy a houseplant

14 Check out your photo album

15 Spend a day drawing only blue things

16 Make a list of everything you bought last week

17 List everyone you know

18 Buy some flowers for someone else

19 Make cakes for a neighbour

20 Chalk something on your path

21 Tidy out one cupboard

22 Make a map of everywhere you went in one day

23 Draw your shoes in detail

24 Make a shopping list of everything you want in life

25 Draw a tree

26 List 3 habits you have

27 Slice an apple and eat it

28 Learn something new

29 List 5 all-time favourite songs

30 Begin a diary

31 List 3 famous people you respect or admire

32 Go on a train journey

33 Run on the spot for 5 minutes

34 Join a choir

35 Organise a charity event

35 Go swimming

35 Play a board game

36 Make something silly with card or material

37 Clear a storage cupboard 

38 Make a private den in the garden / shed / garage 

39 Learn a joke and tell it

40 Cook something new

41 Read a story or poem out loud

42 Contact 2 friends you haven’t seen for ages

43 Make a blog

44 Enrol on a course

45 Give blood

46 Write a letter to someone you admire

47 Draw your food shopping list

48 Bake some biscuits

49 Go for a run - join a running group

50 Save glass jars and make them useful

51 Listen to the birds

52 Sit on a street bench and listen

53 Study the faces of your work colleagues

54 Doodle a whole page

55 Take unwanted items to a charity shop

56 Make a home-made greetings card

57 Make a list of all the places you have lived

58 Pick apples and make some chutney

59 Draw your favourite room in detail

60 Describe yourself in 5 words

61 List all the things in your garage / shed / loft

61 Go on a bike ride

62 Write a letter to your local newspaper

63 Draw all the things in your handbag or pocket

64 Clear our your wardrobe

65 Write a journal

66 Draw a map of your town / village / environment

67 Name 3 favourite characters from your childhood stories

68 Go to a beach in cold weather

69 Make a collage

70 Go to a market

71 Write a list of colours in your favourite order

72 Do a crossword

73 Make something for your home

74 Research another culture

75 List 5 things you want to do one day

75 Change your hair-style

76 Set the table for someone else

77 Go to a car boot or table top sale

78 Look up 3 words you don’t really understand

79 Draw some of the doors from your life

80 Join a dance class

81 Collect some flowers and press them

82 Research a Greek myth

82 Choose a colour. Go for a walk. Recognise anything in that colour

83 Mend something that’s been broken for ages

84 Make up with family members

85 Find a new hobby

85 Write to a magazine 

86 Go to a poetry reading

87 Look at photos of you as a child - say how you felt

88 Write out pent up feelings in large letters

89 Visit an art gallery

90 Write a list of all the places you want to visit

91 Find a new word and use it all week

92 Make dot to dot images - ask other people to connect the dots

93 Go on a picnic

94 Research someone from history

95 Have a street party in your house

96 Visit a zoo, wildlife park or conservation area

97 Find a library

98 Cook your favourite meal for a friend

99 Go to the countryside - or the city

100 Do something useful today

101 Write a list of 100 things to do 

Please feel free to add to the list - add a comment, tweet, Facebook or email gmhesketh@googlemail.com

Enjoy, Gillian

Essays ! Arghh

Thank-you Son-in-distress for your questions on writing University essay responses.


Not wanting to sound like your mother but probably going to ... here's a few simple tips for getting on with those essays - follow these for stress-er-free essay writing experience. 


* Warning: you may have to use paper and pen !

• Begin early !  Like - as soon as you have the titles !
• Spread out the process in stages.

• Get some topic-related books from the Uni library !  
• List all the books on a Bibliography - asap.                                           

• Look at key words in your title and jot down on separate pieces of paper. 
• Look the words up in a dictionary and thesaurus.
• Note anything you know from lectures, want to discuss or learn about.                                               

• Decide roughly how many Topic Key Points will cover your answer i.e. 5.
• Head pieces of paper with each Topic Point / other Ideas for paragraph.
• Head other pieces of paper with: Quotations, Introduction, Conclusion.

• Read or flick through books - jot down related points and page numbers under headings on the papers - to return to later.
• Research internet - jot down findings under related headings on papers.                          
• Put all internet sitings/dates on Bibliography                                           

Now you have the Basis to Transfer your Information, Ideas and Quotations to your computer screen. Transferring will help you absorb the subject matter.


Type these temporary headings:


QUESTION AND PROPOSAL 
[say what you're going to do - research - consider - answer - discuss - contrast]
INTRODUCTION 
[introduce your ideas about the subject matter]
PARA 1 - [insert topic here]
PARA 2 - [insert topic here]
PARA 3 - [insert topic here]
PARA 4 - [insert topic here]
PARA 5 - [insert topic here]
CONCLUSION 
[bring together your points and state your opinion/answer to the question]


Use the headings. 
[These can be deleted when you've finished each topic area]


Work in stages - Write one paragraph or one topic area at a time - ie one a day.


*Make a point / Back it up with research or quotation  / Discuss it.
*Ensure you name authors scientists etc with correct name. 
*Use full name first, then surname. Repeat same name-use throughout.
*Remember to put correct link to author, book, page, in brackets after quotations.


Most of all - try to enjoy learning.
Don't see essays as a chore - see them as an opportunity.


Email for further essay pointers: gmhesketh@yahoo.co.uk


Gillian


]BA Hons English lit/lang/creative writing. MA creative writing]

Don't slam the door !

Thank you Daughter-in-distress for your question:

'How can you stop a door slamming?'

Well, obviously, I want to say, hold onto the door longer, turn the handle and/or the lock and close it quietly - but that's probably something your mother would say, so I say this ... if your door is clanging into it's door frame and driving your neighbour nuts ...

Either -
Spray some oil into and around the lock. Wipe off excess oil.

Or -
Buy a door closer.
http://www.doorstuff.co.uk/doorclosers/eurospec-t2024-overhead-door-closer.php

This is the Eurospec T2040, £22.50 inc VAT. When the door closer is fitted, you can adjust the hydraulic system according to your requirements [= amount of door banging].

Enjoy !

Gillian

Which Way ???

Thank you Son - in - Distress for your question about finding your way to London from the North of England - without the aid of a satellite navigation system[poor you ! ] ... well, that's no problem at all ... in the olden days, no-one had a sat-nav.

I always tell my semi-grown-up-children/adults to Be Prepared for any event on a long journey during an obvious but necessary conversation before they set off :

Make sure you have:
Fuel or money
Map
Phone / cash for a call
Coat
Drink

Before You Set Off ...

Of course, you could print out your journey [www.theaa.com] route planner] or google maps - but the print may be difficult to read when you are driving.

Check your journey on a real map !
Find key motorways and junctions.
Find key cities / towns you will pass through or near.
Plot your journey - write a few bullet points in thick felt pen on large piece of paper:

M55 to junction 32 Preston
M6  to jct 4
M42 to jct 3
M40 to jct 1A
M25 to jct 13
A1 to ...
past: Warrington - Crewe - Birmingham - Banbury - High Wycombe

* If you become tired when driving - make a stop off at service station or other.
   Wash your face. Eat. Power-nap if necessary.

PS - Don't text, speed or have loud music playing down head-phones when driving.

I know, I know, I sound like your mother ...

Drive Safely and enjoy the journey.
Gillian

introducing Henrietta and Feather ...

Good morning everyone ... Introducing Henrietta and Feather [ex battery hens] - but wondering why, when or how they got into the conservatory without anyone noticing !

Feather arrived with around 50% of her feathers and you can see, they've grown back already.

People say keeping hens makes you happy - so what's the connection ? I'm afraid I've no idea ... but for some reason, these two make me smile every morning. All they need is a warm hen house, some straw, water, food  and maybe a garden. They don't answer back, get speeding tickets or empty the fridge.

Of course, they love roaming around the garden - and making a wonderful sloppy mess here and there [nothing that a garden hose-pipe won't remove].

On the plus side, they lay eggs ! [sometimes]

Battery hens are often free or generally around £2. They make a great gift - but be sure the recipient is prepared for the journey !!

Enjoy, Gillian

Dressing Tables Sand and Satin

Hello Daughter in distress - thanks for your question:

' I have ruined my dressing table with make-up and want to paint it - how do I do this?
[its cream finish but not sure if its wood or MDF (medium density fire board)]'

This job is simpler than you might think ... please check your dressing table isn't of antique value though ! ? !

This is how I did a

wardrobe ...

You will need:
extra find sandpaper
clean cloths
turps or white spirit
paint brush [ preferably two]
cream emulsion paint
small tin satin quick dry varnish

Wash the dressing table top and let it dry.
Sand the surface till smooth.
Brush off the dust and wipe with turps-damp cloth.
Paint with cream emulsion and let dry.
Sand the surface again.
[if the coverage looks sparse, paint another coat]
Wipe with clean damp cloth.
Paint with the varnish. [you may need a second coat]

Sit back and feel smug.

Enjoy, Gillian

Hot Tomatoes ...

Thanks for your question ~ Daughter-in-distress:
How do you make tomato soup - do you use a tin of tomatoes?

Here's how I make my home-made Quick Hot Diet Tomato Soup:

It's as quick and easy as this:

Find a market and buy:
Large bagful of ripe Tomatoes, an Onion, an Orange and a Stock Cube.

Peel the skin off the tomatoes:
[Slit the skins around the circumference of the tomato with a sharp knife.
Put in a pan and cover with boiling water.
The skins will begin to curl back and you can peel them]

Chop onion and fry in a drop of oil.

Add tomatoes, stock cube, pint of water - grate some orange peel into the mix.

Cook for 20 mins or so.

Squeeze the orange and add the juice to the mix.

Add Black Pepper to taste.

Liquidise.

EAT.   [ You can add a drop of milk or fresh cream / top with croutons or cheese]

..... or all of the above.

Enjoy,
Gillian

Ahhh ... the act of giving ...

Hearting the John Lewis ad ...

http://www.johnlewis.com/Magazine/Feature.aspx?Id=993&s_kenid=07e2ab29-2bb8-9069-aad7-0000344874b1&s_kwcid=3x2426632 

ahhhh ... enjoy, Gillian

Make a Terrarium ... why don't you?

Fancy growing something?

Try your hand at these indoor plantations ...

Not particularly attractive or edible but make you feel green - partly because you're re-using a glass bottle ?!?

Check out this site for great ideas Crafting, Living, Loving, Sharing ... lovely site with interesting stuff to do ...
http://woolfoodmama.typepad.com/weblog/2008/05/terrarium-instructions.html

Enjoy, Gillian