Sarah

Quiz

The following initials represent the first lines of well known nursery rhymes:

1. R A R O R – Ring a ring a roses

2. D D B P I T W

3. T W A O W W L I A S – There was an old woman who lived in a shoe

4. O T, B M S -One two, buckle my shoe

5. T L P W T M

6. R A R T G – round and round the garden

7. J A J W U T H – Jack and Jill went up the hill

8. L J H S I T C – Little Jack Horner sat in the corner

9. J S W E N F – Jack Sprat would eat no fat

10. J B N, J B Q -Jack be nimble, jack be quick

Can you tell me which is which?

It’s hard to make a comeback when you haven’t been anywhere

I took the summer off, basically. Well, if you can call doing two jobs, managing the house and garden and going through a family bereavement ‘taking time off’.

It was however time off from blogging.

Anyhoo I’m back. Continue reading “It’s hard to make a comeback when you haven’t been anywhere”

I haven’t added them up, but I have covered a fair few miles in the pursuit of a suitable University for 2nd son. Durham, York and this weekend Glasgow. Applications for University for the coming academic year have to be in as soon as possible: I know some have already submitted and had offers. Not my boy.

This latest weekend trip has required a pricey fuel top up twice – and I’m only up and about now because my back has seized up from all the driving.

Continue reading “Many miles”

Wetlands

It has been a beautiful day. Sunny and cold early on, warming up as the day progressed, up to about 8 c.

However, after the snow melted last week, there was no where for it to go and the fields are saturated.
These swans were making the most of it

Later today the sun set in a glory of red: so here’s to tomorrow.

Results…..

Sorry to be a little late, but I was called away to lend a hand with a new baby and only returned, rather shattered yesterday : tired but happy.

There were very few entrants to both competitions: in fact only one in the short story section. But what a story, Mr Royal! I’ll never be able to see a giraffe again without thinking of you.
SO, although you had no competitors, you are the worthy winner of the short story competition, and I look forward to a theme set by you for the next round.

There were a few more entrants for the photography side of things – I had expected photographs of little hands clasping larger hands, hands undertaking tasks, such as cooking, knitting, painting…. but no, you had other ideas…

OZ had this contribution: viar amoozing take on the ‘hands’ theme, and viar topical on the equine theme!

Ara posted this a beautifully side lit picture of Alice, Duchess of Suffolk who resides in her resting state in the church where PapaG was Christened, no less!

Christopher posted this, though sadly the hands were not very clear in the size of image.

Last, but not least, JM posted here with a vair amoozing piece, full of puns and several pictures – (the bananas nearly won, hands down, but for the misplaced figure in the background which to my eye spoiled the composition)

But in the end the prize does go to JM for the most unusual take on the theme: the graffiti handwriting of Clarice Cliffe (nee Shorter).

So I hand the baton to you, John: your turn to set the next photography competition.

Oxfordshire sunset, tonight

Snow good…..

We awoke to a white world, with the snow still falling. It wasn’t forecast until tomorrow, I thought. By late morning it was sleeting, and finally it turned to drizzle. There’s very little snow left now – just a line at the bottom of the car windscreen where it had gathered more thickly. From the kitchen window I could see the bushes decorated with sparkles of melted snow.

It’s about 2c out there, but it’s a ‘wet cold’ which gets through to your bones – (the sort of day my Ma always called ‘raw’) – and I am disinclined to go out and take my daily walk. But I should really. Maybe if I put on the heating (which I had only just returned to its usual ‘morning and evening only’ setting) and know I can come back to a warm house, I may then be less disinclined?

Hands up those who are planning to put in a picture or a short story…. closing date on 15th.

See links at right hand corner of the page.

O Zangado, you asked for it….

NEW EVENING CLASSES FOR MEN

ALL ARE WELCOME

OPEN TO MEN ONLY

Note: due to the complexity and level of difficulty, each course will accept a maximum of eight participants

The course covers two days, and topics covered in this course include –

Continue reading “O Zangado, you asked for it….”

Ladybirds: have they flown away, home?

Last year we had so many ladybirds. This year I have hardly seen any.

ladybirds hibernating seedhead Ladybirds in my clematis last year

ladybirds hibernating clematis leaves2

I was reminded today of the ladybirds while on a walk with a friend, when I looked closely at the old man’s beard illuminating the hedgerows. No nesting ladybirds. Continue reading “Ladybirds: have they flown away, home?”

‘All Hands on Deck’ – photo competition and short story competition: – closing 15th February 2013

My challenge for the photo competition this time is to submit photographs of hands – resting or active, aged or very young, or anywhere in between, singly or in pairs, working collaboratively or alone, helping hands or not… do feel free to submit a series, if you wish.

The closing date is midnight (UK) on 15th February, to give you a chance to include romantic Valentine gestures in your submissions. (nothing smutty of course)

And I thought I’d see if anyone wants to take up the challenge of making this the theme for the short story competition too? Same deadline.