Thursday's Song - Military Wives Choir - Wherever You Are

It's been a while ...... I know, I know, I know.  What can I say!  I wish I could say that I have just been lazy and can't be bothered, but that is so far from the truth.  I have had my head stuck in my accountancy books studying away for the 9 exams I have sat in the last 10 weeks.  I KNOW, 9 exams in 10 weeks, crazy 'eh!!!  Anyway, only one more to sit next week and I am done ....... until March when it kicks off for another year of craziness.  It will be worth it in the end #keeptellingyourselfthatandyoujustmightbelieveit!!!

But hey, I'm here now and wanted to share this song with you.  If you live in England then you will know all about this group of ladies as you can't seem to get away from them .... and a good job too!  For those of you who have never heard of them, I will attempt to fill you in.

There was a three part BBC documentary about a well know Choir Master Gareth Malone, who went to an Army base in Devon and put together a choir made up of the wives of soldiers.  I think all or certainly a majority of the soldiers were away fighting in Afghanistan at the time of filming and he hoped to bring them together by music ...... and boy did he succeed!!!  It was an lovely to see women bond over the weeks and to see how singing brought them together and gave them something to focus on whilst their husbands were away was fantastic.

Now, just a word about Gareth, I think he is just amazing and has such a love and passion for what he does, that you just can't help but be drawn to him.  I think I have a little bit of a crush!!

The last episode was an absolute tear jerker and I cried nearly all the way through it.  What happened ???

1. Gareth announced to the ladies that they would be singing at The Festival of Remembrance at the Albert Hall (a VERY big deal).  
2. They had a song composed just for them by Paul Mealor, the man who composed the lovely music for Prince Williams and Kate's wedding.  This was not just any song, but he used all of the letters the wives had sent to and received from their husbands and took bits out of them and composed the song.
3. Their husbands returned from Afghanistan.
4. They sang absolutely brilliantly at The Albert Hall.  The icing on the cake was a woman called Samantha who sang the most amazing solo, who at the beginning of the series was so un-confident she wouldn't even attempt to sing on her own.  

As I said, I cried and cried and cried a little more!!  The best news is they are releasing it in time for Christmas and hopefully it will be number one.  The only down side to this is that whenever it comes on the radio in the car I start crying all over again!!  

Anyway, enjoy the video and if you can see any of the documentary online, then please watch in and most importantly ...... DOWNLOAD THE SONG!!

Thursday's Song - Maroon 5 - Moves Like Jagger

I had to put this one up today because when I was in the kitchen on Saturday making a quilt, I found myself standing there wiggling my bum to this.  You know, proper wiggling from side to side and singing along.  I caught myself doing it and laughed .... and then promptly carried on.

Enjoy a little wiggle whilst you listen xx


Love Marge x

Thursday's Song - Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton - Together You & I



I thought that on a Thursday I would post a link to the song that when it comes on the car radio I just HAVE to turn it up and sing along at the top of my voice.  Yes, I do get strange looks from other drivers, but hey, life is too short to worry about that.

I love Dolly Parton's new song.  It is such a romantic song and I made my hubby listen to the words as I think it is perfect for us.  I'm not a 'fan' of Dolly as such, but I just love this one.

Enjoy!!!!

Losing my Mojo and all that jazz!

Def: MOJO

1. Self-confidence, Self-assuredness. As in basis for belief in ones self in a situation. Esp. I context of contest or display of skill such as sexual advances or going into battle.
2. Good luck fetish / charm to bolster confidence.
3. ability to bounce back from a debilitating trauma and negative attitude

Well, the above is certainly true.  I can't believe that it has been over 2 months since I last blogged (not a good start eh!?!).  I really can't explain what happend and when it happened, but it seems that a fog has been taken away from me in the past two weeks.  It may be because I have been on holiday or it may be because I have just found out that I have a new job (this is SO exciting!!!) which is term time only, better money and a more interesting job.  It is going to completely change my life as my working hours will change and I get school holidays off.  I CAN'T WAIT!!

During the fog, I have not done anything 'nice'; no sewing, decorating, projects.  Nothing, diddly squat!!  But that is going to change!!

This week I will be painting the Younger Son's bedroom.  He is going for a union jact theme, so the walls will be red, white and blue (get me eh!), a new carpet, all new furniture, lots of shelves for all his rubbish treasures and I'm going to make him a union jack patchwork roman blind.  That in itself will be hard work, but I'm looking forward to it. 

I have lots of projects planned and will putting the all up on here for you to enjoy. 

Love Marge x

He lost his mojo when she dumped him…
He got his mojo back now.

Modern Country Style - Kitchen Link PAAARRRTTTYYYY!!!!

Hi everyone

Sarah over at Modern Country Style is holding a Kitchen Favourites link party today.  Press this link Modern Country Style - Kitchen Favourites Link Party and go and have a good nose at lots of lovely kitchens.

If you have found yourself on my blog, you are very welcome.  Please leave a comment to let me know what you think as I am VERY new to this game.  I hope you will come back and maybe become one of my very first followers.

Have a good party!!!

Love Marge x

How to make a .......... Strawberry Pavlova

Ingredients

• 3 large egg whites
• 180g golden caster sugar
• 1 tub of double cream
• Lots of strawberries!

Pre-heat the oven to 150 deg cen

Separate the eggs making sure you don't get any yolk in the whites.  I find the easiest way to do this is to crack the egg and then tip the white and yolk in the palm of my hand.  I then open my fingers a little to allow the whites to drop through to a REALLY clean bowl below.  This stops the yolks breaking on a sharp piece of shell.  Whisk the egg whites, slowly at first, until they are standing in stiff peaks.  Another good way is to tip the bowl up (above your head if you wish!) and if the whites start slipping down the bowl they need whisking a little more.

Next, add the sugar a 1/3 at a time and whisk until the whites are silky smooth and all the sugar is incorporated (this won't take long).

Line a baking sheet with either grease-proof paper or tin foil which as a teeny tiny bit of oil smeared on it.  Dollop 2/3's of the whites on the sheet and smooth around into a circle, about the size of a dinner plate.  Using the remaining 1/3, with a dessert spoon drop some whites all around the edge of the big circle.

Don't worry how it looks, we will pretty it up in a mo.

Now using a fork, go around the small balls of whites and stir them in a circle and at the end pull your arm up to make a lovely flick (I hope I have explained this right!!!)

Place in the oven and straightaway turn the oven down to 140 deg cen and cook for an hour.  After the hour turn the oven off and leave the pavlova in the oven for another hour and then remove oven to completely cool.

Note:  The above timing is is you like your meringue nice and chewy inside.  If you like it more crispy leave in the oven until completely cooled.

Now all you need to do is whip up the double cream.  I like my cream still a little sloppy and not too firm, but you can do it however you like.  See, I'm so nice!

Top with what fruits you fancy.  It was a strawberry day for me, but I do like it with raspberry and blueberries.

All that is left to do is eat.  I won't tell you how long this one lasted!!!

Enjoy!

Love Marge x

New Shoes, New Shoes, Everybody Loves New Shoes!!!

Oh, I love new shoes, not as much as I love new handbags, but I still love them.  I went into Oxford last weekend to treat myself to a pair of red Converses.  I had been eyeing up a pair for weeks and finally decided to get them.  I do this you see, I see something I would like but I won't buy it and then I'll think about it for weeks and then suddenly decide I need it, NOW!!  So, Sunday was the day and off we all went as The Daughter was going to by some shoes with her first wage packet and The Youngest Son needed some new shoes as his old ones were a bit smelly!  I couldn't make my mind up between the boots or little pumps but the children made my mind up as apparently I'm too old for the boot style.  Do you know what ........................ they didn't have my size!!!!  AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH 

Don't you just hate it when that happens?  I was just about to come out of the shop empty handed when the most lovely shoes caught my eye and do you know what .................. they didn't have my size!!!!!  DOUBLE AAAARRRGGGGHHHHHH

But, I really want these ones so I got them to order them direct from the warehouse and delivered straight to the house within 2 days.  So I waited ...............

and they came.  The box was just as lovely as the shoes were and I've kept this for putting all my sewing scraps in for using later on.

Do you like them, do you?  Lovely tan leather brogues.  Leather all the way through to the soles.

I llluuurrrvvvv them.

I love the little purple tag on the side of the shoe.

I love how they look like 'proper shoes' .... if you know what I mean.  They look and feel that they will last for years and years and years and will probably look better the more they age.

And I love how they look from where I'm standing!!

I LOVE NEW SHOES!!!

Ta for reading and please leave a comment

Modern Country Style Give Away - Spode

Over at Modern Country Style, they have a give away of some GORGEOUS Spode goodies.  Please follow the link and have a look.
http://moderncountrystyle.blogspot.com/

You wont regret it xx

What I love ...... My Pantry

I thought I would show you around my pantry today ....... only because I tidied it!!  I LOVE my pantry and every time I open the door, I smile at it's loveliness.  You wouldn't believe what it looked like before.  There were hardly any shelves on the wall and it was full of clutter.  You know, the things that you don't use all of the time, but you don't want to get rid of.  Well, you found all of that in there.

The Husband cleared it out, plastered the walls and made, painted and put the shelves up last winter and I've been loving it ever since.

Anyway, here you go ......

 I love the font of the old railway signs and wanted one for my pantry, luckily the hubby was able to oblige me (he is so clever, bless him).

I had a light bulb moment when it came to the inside of the door.  I was trying to think where I could hang a memo board, when I suddenly thought of painting the door with blackboard paint.  So, whenever we use the last of something, up it goes on the door.  It works brilliantly and we don't run of  flour, sugar etc.  I couldn't resist putting the red boarder around it either.  I'm going to do something similar in the kitchen, but using seven squares and using it as a weekly planner for the family.

It's very important to have plenty of chalk nearby for lists, or if you just feel like doodling.

I used to have the jars up on the top shelf, but we use them all the time, so today I moved them down to a lower shelf and put some packets on lentils, arborio rice, cornflour and such like up on the top.  We don't use these as often, but when we do, they are easier to lift down.  How I haven't been covered in flour yet is beyond me!!!

The Husband asked me to get some labels to go on the front of the jars, but I couldn't bring myself to stick some horrible stickers on them.  Anyway, didn't he know that the little red dot on the seal of the jar told you it was self-raising flour!!!!!  Obviously not if his Yorkshire puddings were anything to go by!!  I was racking my brains what to use when I came by a similar label on Cherry Menlove's website.  I think they look great.

I get great pleasure seeing the packets and boxes all lined up, ready to be used.  I do a lot of baking and three shelves have been dedicated to all things baking.

Can you see those lovely little cupcake cases ........ aahhh!

...... and then we have all of the sauces and also the different pastas.

Some of my tins at tucked in the corner, ready to be filled with something lovely and tasty.

I think this is a very good quote to live by (but not about the bought cake!!)

Thanks for reading and please leave a comment x

What I love today

I was in town the other day and had a walk into Paperchase.  I L.O.V.E. that shop and could spend all day looking through all the lovely 'stuff' they have.  I am a card hoarder by the way.  If I see a lovely card, I buy it, whether I have an occasion coming up or not.  But then when it comes to writing in them, I can't do it, I can't spoil them,  hence why I have a large card collection.  One day I will get around to putting them in frames and getting them up on the wall.

Any how, when I was in there the other day, this little collection well and truly caught my eye, I think it is gorgeous, I hope you agree.  Do you?

Ok, what do I love about it?  I love the colour, I love the birds, I love new pens and paper!!  The notebook is for me to carry around with me all the time and to write things down in there that I see, hear, want and love.

I have lots of new pens in this baby!

This notebook/journal is a replacement for one that I have had for 5 years now and which is just about to fall apart.

I have already transferred some of my favourite poems over to the new one.

And have some precious photos and cards that other people have given.  This is a photograph of my sister that died of breast cancer 5 years ago .......

and this is a card that a friend gave me with a lovely poem a short time after she died.  I carry it everywhere with me and read it during the hard times.

I like looking back through them and seeing good this as well.  Telephone numbers of people you have met, that go on to become good friends, beautiful things you wanted and are now lucky enough to now own, trips that you have planned and enjoyed, Christmas lists, shopping lists and many other things.

I can't wait to look back over this one and I'm excited at what it will be filled with.

A Weekend In Devon

We enjoyed a weekend in Devon over the long bank holiday ...... and what a great weekend it was, enjoyed with family and friends.  A little too much drink was consumed on Saturday night, but the slight hangover was worth it.  I went armed with my camera and enjoyed taking some lovely pictures.

I loved this house.  It was sat right beside an estuary all on it's own.  You had to drive down a mile lane to get to it.  My idea of heaven.

I love this one.  Can you see the sand being whipped up?

Hector the dog sat waiting for me, bless him.  Not long after this he was attacked on a different beach.  Not very nice at all!!

I couldn't resist taking a snap of Hector's paw prints in the sand!

I found lots of mussel shells that had turned a lovely purple/blue colour.  The looked just like Spode china.

This is The Younger Son having his first go at surfing.  Not a bad first effort I think you'll find.  I haven't seen such a big smile on his face as he was coming out of the water.

A Proud To Be English Day

Firstly, I make no apologies for the amount of photo's in todays post and therefore the length of it.  I could have put many more on here to try and get across the day, but I had to limit myself!!

So .......

It was certainly a day to be very proud to be British.  My town gave the Freedom Of The Town to the Scots Guards on Saturday and this was celebrated with them coming and matching through the town and receiving the honor in the center and then a party in the local park .......... and it was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.  Really, it was!!

As we stood amongst the crowd waiting for the parade, I got a huge lump in my throat and I just knew that I was going to cry.  I'm a very emotional gal I tell you.  The smallest thing makes me cry and certainly big things like this, but I didn't care.

First of all six Guards came and stood in strategic places which we later found out was to mark out where the soldiers turned  ...... very clever!

You could feel the excitement growing and you just knew that everyone was proud and really looking forward to the parade.

And then they arrived with the band playing ......

and the bagpipes playing.  Well, that was me off crying!!  I can't begin to tell you how amazing this sight was, really, I can't.  They looked amazing and I really wasn't prepared for how it would effect me.  Even the hubby admitted to having a lump in his throat.

How do they stay in such straight lines?

I loved their jackets.  The red was so deep and rich.

The noise of them marching gave me goose pimples

I just wish that I was at the end of that line to get a really great picture!!

I couldn't resist a black & white picture, especially with that lovely sky up above.

 The Duke of Kent, their regimental colonel was there to accept the freedom scroll. 

It was nice to see that some houses had got the flags out as well.

We then went to the local park for a picnic and to listen to the bands.  A little later we had a parachute display to watch.

Can you see them?

This is one of my favorite pictures of the day.  It just sums the day up completely ..... blue skies, proud of our army, proud to be British.

God bless them xxx