Monthly Archives: January 2010

I’m wearing my PJs!

Well I am alone and within my own four walls.

If you were around here in October you will have seen them.

Earlier this week notices were put up in Tescos supermarket at St Mellons in Wales saying:

“To avoid causing offence or embarrassment to others we ask that our customers are appropriately dressed when visiting our store (footwear must be worn at all times and no nightwear is permitted).”

Elaine Carmody, 24, a full-time mother of two young boys, described the ban as “ridiculous” and “pathetic”. She said she had regularly gone shopping at the store in her pyjamas until about a week ago when she was turned away when she went to buy cigarettes.

“I think it’s stupid really not being allowed in the supermarket with pyjamas on.  It’s not as if they’re going to fall down or anything like that. They should be happy because you’re going to spend all that money.”  Elaine said.

Back in August 2003, Elizabeth Webster, 43, from Ruskington, Lincolnshire, went into the Tesco store in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, wearing a pair of shorts and a bikini top because of the hot weather. A member of staff asked her to dress more suitably next time. Mrs Webster said she could not believe it.

At the time a Tesco spokeswoman said “The supermarket did not have dress code and the issue was at the store manager’s discretion, they have to balance what other customers think in the area, what customers come up and say… it’s all a question of balance.”

I can think of a lot more offensive things than pyjamas, like some women proudly leaning over the fruit displays or the cheese counter with multiple layers of naked mid-drift and their thongs showing over the top of their low slung jeans.

Taking it to another level, I remember when I had first moved from living in a city, standing in a queue with a basket full of my selected groceries waiting my turn to pay for them, when my stomach heaved and I had great trouble trying not to throw up all over the place. The store was small, stuffy, the aisles narrow and the service slow. I set the basket down exactly where I was and left the store. The reason….. The customer behind me, fully clothed right down to his wellie boots, had come into the shop from the local cattle market. He looked and smelt like he had wrestled with three dozen unruly cattle with diarrhoea!  Even his hands were filthy.  I wonder how many uncovered food items he handled before making a selection?  

So what exactly is the correct dress code for shopping?

Staying in bed

I think I will stay in bed today.

Dum de dum de dum…..

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Where is room service?

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Ah well, It was a nice idea, but I am starving,

Maybe tonight I will bring a picnic to bed for my breakfast.  What do you think?

Silence and Singing

The contented band of Anu, Ashok, Conrad, Gaelikaa, Ginger, Judy, Magpie 11, Maria, Ramana and I, of the Loose Blogging consortium (Helen is on sabbatical & Ashok might be otherwise engaged right now) once more entertain us with their offering on the topic for the week, chosen today by Ramana.

The Perfect Life

Playing in the background as I type is a CD of Gregorian Chants – Sacred Hymns of Peace and Inspiration – I wonder if it will bring inspiration to my fingertips?

For some the silent life of contemplation and prayer would be the ‘Perfect Life’, and although I do spend long hours on my own, I certainly would not consider it perfect. Perhaps my fathers teasing when I was a young girl, of me joining the Poor Clares has something to do with it. His description of the life included: silence, a rough woolen habit and bare feet, waking to dig 2 feet of my own grave every day at 2am and never seeing my family again or being allowed to go home. They would of course visit once a year and speak to me through a covered grille. Is it any wonder I still have trouble sleeping!

Right! Time to change the record I think.

Back in March 1965, Ireland had not heard of the Irish Blog Awards and the great craic that that event was to become (It is such great fun that I have my bed booked already).  Instead our little nation joined the 18-strong line-up for the first time at the Eurovision Song Contest in Italy. There was fierce competition in Dublin for weeks as every showband and soloist worth their salt wanted the honour of performing Ireland’s maiden song and a free trip to Naples for a slice of the action. After a series of heats, that honour went to local hero Butch Moore with ‘I’m Walking the Streets in the Rain’. Just look at the suit, the shirt and tie… pay special attention to the haircut… my mother would give him points for that alone!

We sat round the fire and watched in perfect harmony as each entrant was announced and sang their little hearts out for their homeland. The eighteen names had been drawn out of a hat before the proceedings started and we all had special interest in the names on those scraps of paper in our hot little hands. Well at 1s. per name, the pot stood at 18 shillings! There would be a First, second and third place divvy at the end of the evening. If I won… I could buy a new pair of nylons for the dance the next week!! Ireland came sixth but I have no recollection of which countries I was shouting for, or indeed who won the pot at the end of the night. It didn’t matter; the fun was in the banter. And for those few hours life was perfect.

Art with My Needle ~ Week 23

Last week Fly stitch was the focus of the piece.  It was shaped like a letter Y.  Today by adding two further stitches, one at each side of the fly stitch tail it will form the base or spokes of a web.  Weave over and or under the spokes until the circle is filled.

Spider web stitch

When this stitch is used in Drawn Thread embroidery, the spokes are not all completely covered by the weaving, only half the circle is filled which gives the filling an open, lacy appearance.  For correct interlacing an uneven number of threads or spokes are needed in the foundation row.

A Ribbed Spider’s web has an even number of foundation threads or spokes which are covered with a continuous line of Back stitch, starting at the centre, and continuing round until the desired size is reached.

My sample above shows different sized wheels all using eight spokes, some are uneven in length.

Different effects can be achieved with the many threads available today, from those manufactured specifically for hand embroidery, knitting yarns, those drawn from fabric or sacks right through to raffia, twine and ribbons used for gift and floral ties.

Listen

‘Listen to your body!’

I have heard those words directed at me before and I have even quoted that very same phrase to others.

So why do I find it so difficult to live by them?

Yesterday I was living through a fog, this fog was not of the outdoor variety but the kind that confines itself inside my head.   It was not the first time, so I know what I should do – GIVE IN for a couple of hours and sleep!  Instead I always struggle on with the task in hand….. not a good choice of word there girl! 🙁

It was almost lunchtime and the house was dusted, polished and vacuumed.  The shower and the bathroom sparkled, the washing was complete and the kitchen counter cleared and the floor washed and clean enough to eat your lunch off.

The head had not cleared so I decided to make a Cafetiere of coffee and a sandwich for my lunch and go put the feet up for an hour.  I boiled the kettle as I made my sanger, it was sufficiently off the boil when I added it to the ground coffee in the Cafetiere.  I had forgotten the long handled spoon to stir the mix and in turning, I caught the Cafetiere in some way…. Yes, you guessed!  I put out my left hand to stop the fall but the liquid went all over my hand and actually scalded me from knuckles to fingertips!

So it was a hands and knees job to clean up one cup of hot half brewed coffee… it went everywhere!  The counter, the cooker the washer and right across the floor.  My jumper, trousers, socks and shoes were not left out of the brown shower!  Once I had washed the floor and put my clothes in to wash I sat one handed to have my lunch with the wounded one steeping in ice cold water.

It was a timely reminder of how dangerous hot liquids are, especially when young children are about.  I did eventually give in, and went to bed for the afternoon.  I slept on and off until 8am today.

Thankfully the fog has cleared and although tender, there is no real damage done to my hand.

Next time I WILL LISTEN!

Food Monday ~ Pork & Brandy

Pork & Brandy
Preheat the oven to 180°C

1lb pork pieces
1 onion, peeled & chopped
1 green pepper, deseeded & chopped
1 red pepper, deseeded & chopped
4ozs mushrooms sliced
2 tablespoons dry sherry
1garlic clove
salt & pepper
2 tablespoons brandy
5fl ozs fresh cream
2 tablespoons sunflower oil

Fry onion & pepper in a little oil.Add crushed garlic, salt and pepper.Add pork pieces, dry sherry and mushrooms.Transfer to casserole & cook until tender about 1½ hours.Add brandy and cook for 3-5 mins.Stir in cream and serve.

Serve with baked potatoes & green or tossed salad.

Over The Top


Darlene from Darlene’s Hodgepodge has given me a meme award Over the Top. The idea is that you have to answer the questions with one word and then pass on the award to three other blogs.

Now let me see what I can do…..

1. Where is your cell phone? pocket

2. Your hair? seasoning

3. Your mother? dead

4. Your father? deceased

5. Your favourite food? shared

6. Your dream last night? none

7. Your favourite drink? gin

8. Your dream/goal? living

9. What room are you in? lounge

10. Your hobby? needlework

11. Your fear? Hypothermia

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? around

13. Where were you last night? home

14. Something you aren’t? sad

15. Muffins? blueberry

16. Wish list item? fun

17. Where did you grow up? Ireland

18. Last thing you did? blogged

19. What are you wearing? shoes

20. Your TV? nonexistent

21. Your pet(s)? none

22. Your friends? special

23. Your life? content

24. Your mood? happy

25. Missing someone? certainly

26. Vehicle? car

27. Something you’re not wearing? jewellery

28. Your favourite store? handicrafts

29. Your favourite colour? Jade

30. When was the last time you laughed? now

31. Last time you cried? Tuesday

32. Your best friend? Elly

33. One place that I go over and over? bed

34. One person who emails me regularly? Nancy

35. Favourite place to eat? home

Finished!

Now if you fancy trying this meme, grab the logo and copy and paste the questions…. and in a word, provide your own answers! 😀

Have fun.