Here comes the sun...

...doodle doodle...

Today, the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and it was just too glorious a day to spend cooped up in the house working/writing- so the boys and I went on a little adventure.



Out in the sticks and loving it.



Ahhh- the open road!



I think Harvey is enjoying this adventure!



So tempted to explore...



Naturally, Harvey wanted to go this way.



Tired out puppy.

After all our exertions, I think we deserve a snuggle on the sofa now.

See you tomorrow xxx

Friday Five: best things to do on a rainy day

Happy Friday, people!

Now, although the weather may not be behaving like August (in fact, I swear it went from June straight to September without letting anyone know) there is no need to despair. It's not all about the picnics and trips to the beach- rainy days can be fun too! Here are my five best things to do on a rainy day.

Dust If You Must...

Housework. Ugh.

Not my favourite thing but, being too poor for a cleaner and too single for a house-husband, a necessary task. Or is it? I mean, who do we clean for? Really? If no one is looking, who hasn't left the dishes for a few days, or ignored the dust bunnies taking up residence under the bed? My attitude to wiping skirting boards, as with many things, is manana.

Super Sunday Sunshine and Smiles

Happy Sunday!

The sun is shining, I can hear lawnmowers and children playing in the gardens behind my house (though not together, I hope) and my laptop is fixed. Huzzahs all round!

But that's not why I'm writing today. In fact, I'm not sure why I'm writing today. Maybe it's because I've pretty much finished writing The Hungry-Man, but am still surgically attached to my laptop (which, thanks to the wizzards, now has internets again). So, prepare for a ramble while my butterfly-brain decelerates from the epic race that is writing a novel.

Happy New Year!

Well, what an interesting year 2013 was! Hang on- wait- or was that 2012? I'm losing track! Or maybe it's just that all my years are interesting? I certainly try!

Before the messy drinking begins, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported and encouraged me as I made the scary leap from aspiring writer to real one- whether it was spotting typos, suggesting names, fact-checking, or telling me everything there is to know about greyhounds. You're all awesome, and I'm sending you big hugs and lots of (virtual) cake.

Thank you too to all those who bought Late and the first of my Strange Ideas. I hope your 2014 surpasses your wildest dreams in terms of health, wealth, happiness and pretty things.

As for me, I have at least two books coming out in 2014, and I hope to have another go at public speaking where my leg doesn't shake so much I can't see the words to read aloud... I'll keep you posted on how that goes!

Happy New Year! Make 2014 the year you Live What You Love.

Lou xxx

The Power of Dreams

... or yume no chikara, as I learnt today (that's Japanese, if you hadn't worked it out).

I've had a rather pleasant work-day today, mostly because it involved not actually being at work! Don't get me wrong- I love my job- but it was fun to do something different and take a few hand-selected cherubs off to Big School and take part in a workshop run by Honda.

After having a go at juggling, we settled down to the nitty-gritty of defining a dream. Answers varied from "what you do when you sleep" to the more inspired "something that you wish for", but for me, very simply, a dream is the thing that makes living more than just existing. A dream is something wispy yet solid, far-away yet achievable; a dream raises us from the hum-drum and lets us soar, our hearts singing with the promise of better days to come.

So far, so poetic. But, too often, real-life wakes us up with the metaphorical equivalent of a blaring alarm clock and the knowledge that you've run out of tea-bags. Real life can get in the way of dreams, and I've made excuses along with the rest.

Looking for Love

I went looking for love...
... I looked in the tiny, rough cracks in the bricks of a house older than my grandfather's grandfather
... I looked in the delicate buds of the flowering weeds that danced in a mass of wild green
... I looked in the silver-hued patterns the children's shadows made on the playground

I went looking for love...
... I found it in the rich, purple berries that were hidden behind waxy leaves
... I found it in the cold, fresh gusts of wind that lifted my hair and widened my smile
... I found it in the face of my friend as she closed her eyes and faced the sun

And, after I had found it, I held love in the space between my hand and a child's hand
My hand surrounding his
Love's hand surrounding us.
And I was happy.

Birthday Weekend

Happy Pre-Birthday to Me!

 

 

Lucky me- not only is it my birthday tomorrow, but today I got to go to All About Dogs at Newark Showground for FREE! (I love a freebie!) I won a family ticket in a competition and, having no kids to drag along, I took my two fur-babies and their Nanny for a stroll in the sunshine.

Friday Five: Five reasons Why Thirty-Something is Awesome.

Happy Friday! My favourite day, filled with promise- and this particular time of day is special because it is the longest stretch of time left before Monday morning.

Not that I don't love my job. I have the second-best job in the world (I always wanted to be a tomb-raider, like Lara Croft) but I still enjoy my weekends.

This weekend is my birthday weekend (woop!) and it started off well when someone asked me today if it was a Big One. I was chuffed to bits when they followed up by saying they thought maybe it would be my 30th! (I'll be 33, but I clearly don't look it- it must be all the tea I drink).

Rather than bemoan the passing of the years, I'd rather focus on the benefits of (supposed) maturity that aging brings. I'm actually quite looking forward to 50, as I've heard rumours of a "Diamond Club" where you get discounted meals at certain restaurants- assuming you can eat it without getting heartburn, of course. And don't get me started on bus-passes! (I love a freebie!)

Anyway, Tempus Fugit, and all that- here are my five reasons why thirty-something is awesome.

Friday Five- Things to do before the End of the World

As you know, I'm a huge believer in living in the moment and grabbing opportunities. I already live my life as if time is running out, so I thought it would be fun to invite you to join me in a pseudo-panic as the clock counts down to the (apparent) End of the World. 

Here are my top five things to do this week.

Live What You Love

Two things happened this weekend that combined to bring me a sweet and perfect moment of clarity, and I felt compelled to share. The first, a message from a friend sharing some sad news. The second, a conversation with a lovely lady at Harvey's agility training today. I never caught her name, but her dog was called Blue (and he is one of handsomest dogs I've ever seen) so I shall call her Blue's Mummy. More on that in a moment. Let me set the scene first.