2015-04-10T05:00:00+01:00

Free- For-All Friday #5

April 10, 2015/Judy E Martin/16 Comments

Hello and welcome to my Friday Free For-All, we are on week five already! I have been busy reading lots of blogs and choosing my favourite posts for this week. As per usual, I would urge you to check out these wonderful blogs. They all have so much to offer, and I have tried to choose different types of posts that will appeal to you as they did me.

Please feel free to leave links to anything that you have come across, that you think others might also enjoy. I have had some lovely comments on here from people who have found new blogs to follow which is thrilling to hear, and I hope that continues to be the case.

So here are some posts that caught my eye this week:

Wild Daffodil. This post was lovely in so many ways. As you all probably know by now, I love words, and actually I like photos as well. Combine the two and you have a delightful, and funny post.

Dublin Housewife This blog I came across via the Blogging From A-Z Challenge I have been taking part in. Bernie is so funny, I just didn’t know which of her posts to choose as they all had me doubled up with laughter! She likes to use conversations she had with people which will have you rocking! She might use the odd swear word, just so you know!

The Offkey Of Life This post is one of those that make you think very carefully. We are all so quick to judge, and write people off. We forget that there is so much more to people than meets the eye, and we can in fact, learn something from them.

The Return of The Modern Philosopher. This blog I have not been following all that long, but it has so much going on! There are jokes, blog parties, even poems. I have chosen this post because I love the way it flows, and I love the message right at the end of it! Very touching.

Hugh’s Views and News – This is another blog that has a lot going on! Hugh is funny, very supportive of other bloggers and extremely helpful, giving out advice without getting cross at my ignorance! His blog has everything from Haikus to short stories, which is what i have chosen for this week. It is a beautiful, heart-warming story which I thoroughly enjoyed!

An Armchair Perfectionist Prajakta has written a really happy, inspirational post here about something that to me, is frankly hard to get excited about! However, such is her enthusiasm, it really shines through how much she enjoys it and how good it makes her feel. Lovely, cheery post.

Joeyfully Stated I have been following this blog for a while now. Joey writes about all sorts of things, She is funny, witty, sarcastic, and extremely articulate! I thought this post was really nice. It was something we can all relate to written in a down to earth style.

A Prompt Reply. I loved this post. It just goes to show that if you look hard enough there is beauty to be found. It is an optimistic look at what is around and being grateful for it!

The Daydreamer Challenge: Day 2

April 7, 2015/Judy E Martin/12 Comments

I am excited to be taking part in the lovely Caitlin’s Daydreamer Challenge and we are now on day two. Please check out Caitlin’s excellent blog The Teen Daydreamer if you haven’t already done so as it is filled with all sorts of delights from insightful posts to making cakes!

For today, Caitlin wants us to know all about us. we have the choice of writing all about a photograph that says something about us or is a good representation of who we are or we can use a word that describes us, plus make a new one up for good measure! As I think I have adequately described myself here I am going with the photo that is about who I am.

Actually, it is not easy trying to find a photo that represents me! I could choose one of me with family, as that is very important to me, or perhaps a beach (particularly Weymouth) as I do so love the seaside, maybe even my lovely (if not annoying) yellow car! No, the photo I have chosen is one of my graduation from University last year.

The reason I chose this as it represents a few things about me. Firstly, my constant quest for knowledge. I love to learn new things, and like to try to keep my mind as active as I can. This also represents my job which I do love. I studied for two years at university so am not a Registered nurse. At 45-year-old (at the time of applying), I didn’t know if I would cope academically with the three-year course, as it had been so long since I had been at school! Confidence has never been my strong point, However, I the passed the course with merit, so needn’t have worried, and met some wonderful people as well. It was a proud day for me but also a sad one as my dad had died at the beginning of my second year so never actually saw me complete the course.

So there you have it, me in a nutshell; I love laughing, learning , nursing, and nurturing. I am clumsy, mumsy, caring and sharing! Oh and an ‘eccentric’ in training!

Episode 275: Window Shopping!

April 7, 2015/Judy E Martin/12 Comments

It is a lovely day here today with the sun shining, and my cold is a lot better (It has decided it has had enough of me and had gone to settle on Mr Grump instead)! Myself and Miss Hap decided it would be nice to have a quick trip into town and treat ourselves to a very unhealthy breakfast (bang goes the lbs I have lost so far)! I have to say a sausage and egg Mcmuffin really hits the spot when you have been ‘healthy eating’ for a few weeks!

Anyway, we looked around for a bit and got some odds and ends, then I noticed a lady that did ‘threading.’ Seeing as my eyebrows were a bit straggly I told Miss Hap that I would quickly get them done, Of course. I had forgotten how much it bloody hurts, and needless to say my eyes streamed with water. Before I had properly come back to my senses, she asked about doing my top lip as well.

Oh. I hadn’t realised that it was a moustache in progress. so I told her to go ahead. Having never had this threaded before, I was rather taken aback by the pain! Miss Hap must have noticed my grimacing (I had my eyes screwed tightly shut as well) as she grabbed my hand and squeezed it for comfort, bless her.

That ordeal over with I tried to leave with my dignity intact. but it was not easy with a snotty, runny nose and streaming eyes (I could have put it down to the cold I suppose)! Miss Hap wanted to go to the phone shop to get a replacement sim card as she had damaged it. so we headed there next.

I am never keen on going to these places as they are of course very knowledgeable about phone technology etc and I am a dunce. I asked for the sim , and then the assistant started going on about me being overdue for an upgrade and did I want this or that?! No I bloody didn’t. My daughter gets rather fixated on things and although she already has an iPhone it is not the latest one. She is not getting it either so I did not want him discussing upgrades or I would never hear the last of it.

I looked at him with my blotchy, red, snotty face and told him sternly that I was not prepared to discuss upgrades now, and he decided it might be a good idea to shut up and give me the sim card!

Once we had finished shopping, Miss Hap and I got in the car to come home. Now on the way into town Miss Hap was playing ‘Rapper’s Delight’ (I have very little new stuff in my car). She loves it and knows most of the words, and recently Mr Grump had fitted this huge speaker thing covered in carpet(?) into the back of my car so my stereo sounds quite loud!

She had cranked up the volume and we were both making a nice racket along with the Sugarhill Gang on our journey. However, on the way out of the multi-storey car park I had to Wind my window down to put the ticket in the slot to get out, and it wouldn’t go back up! All the way home I tried to no avail. Miss Hap was not so keen now on the stereo loudly blasting out Leo Sayer’s ‘When I need you’ and I refused to turn it down!

We were lucky it was such a lovely, sunny day and didn’t get soaking wet!

Blogging From A-Z Challenge: ‘F’

April 7, 2015/Judy E Martin/16 Comments

As the end of week one draws to a close for the Blogging From A-Z Challenge we find ourselves at the letter ‘F.’ Now there are a few words that I could do for this letter, but they would not be very polite, so I am going to opt for the beautifully sounding flummoxed.

Now this word is mystifying in a kind of ‘what’s going on?’ type of way. It is the vacant expressioned bamboozled look of someone totally discombobulated! It is the blank face of bafflement, the perplexed look of puzzlement.

This word is for when you haven’t got a clue, The shrugged shoulders when you realise that something has just gone way over your head, and is way beyond your grasp! A bit like the feeling you get when reading one of my posts!

Episode 273: As Clear As Mud!

April 6, 2015/Judy E Martin/16 Comments

Everybody loves a cliché. There seems to be one for every occasion; some words of wisdom that convey a message or moral. Given my love for words, as well as for the silly and unusual, I thought I would have a look at a few of my favourites.

All that glitters is not gold. Now I love a bit of sparkle, and like to wear a bit of bling when I am not at work, and yes it is real gold (I prefer the white variety though). However I also like sparkly nail varnishes and eye shadow as well. Glittery hair clips and sequined tops are very pretty also. I don’t think they would have quite the appeal if they were made of real gold though, Not only would I be scared to go out of the door wearing a fortune, but it would be bloody heavy to carry it around!
Don’t get your knickers in a twist. This one is quite amusing, I do get myself agitated at times but it is not because my knickers are all twisted up. Having said that, I remember once putting them on side-ways on! I don’t quite know how I managed that, but I was not very comfy.
They must have hit every branch falling out of the ugly tree. This is pretty cruel as people can’t help the way they look. Just recently Mr Grump was told by a colleague that his new boss was not blessed in the looks department, and this cliché was used. He did confirm it to be true when he actually met her, but he doesn’t care about that. The fact that she is doing a great job and is a lovely person is what matters to him.
Tickled pink. This expression conveys delight and happiness however not for me it doesn’t. Well not in the literal sense anyway. I HATE being tickled. It just makes me squirm and cringe as I find it extremely unpleasant. I might have mentioned before that I hate feet as well. If my feet are tickled I will kick out! So this expression of being ‘tickled pink’ for me would have to be changed to ‘tickled purple’ and it would be used to convey rage not happiness!
The cat’s whiskers or my personal favourite, the dog’s bollocks. These mean the same thing which is to be envied or admired. You know when you have a snazzy new outfit and you think you are ‘the cat’s whiskers.’ Or perhaps a bloke has got some new Playstation game of something, which his mates think is the ‘dog’s bollocks.’ God knows where these expressions come from but I do not see what is so wonderful about some facial hair or testicles for that matter, maybe we should combine the two to get ‘hairy bollocks’ or something? Nope! That doesn’t cut it either!

I think clichés are under-appreciated really. We are all told to be original and not to use them, but perhaps if we dig out some of the lesser-used ones and give the, an airing once more, it will brighten things up a bit!

Episode 269: Mixing Business With Pleasure!

April 4, 2015/Judy E Martin/26 Comments

Looking for love can be quite a daunting task. Some people prefer the more traditional methods such as going out to pubs, clubs and other places hoping to get lucky and meet that special person. Some rely on friends to fix them up with someone who they know, and arrange a kind of ‘blind date’ scenario.

Other people go for the more modern approach, internet dating being the most popular. There are many websites now that are dedicated for the sole purpose of finding your soul mate. Some might be a bit pricey though and put people off.

Now, you might want to use your initiative and find your own way of attracting your perfect partner. It all depends what you are looking for in your life-long lover, as to how you go about it,

So you have to admire a builder who decided that he would take matters into his own hands to find romance. Actually, he needed an apprentice as well to teach them his trade so that they could help him at work. He had a sudden brain wave to combine the two! Why waste time on writing out separate ads when you can get both for the price of one!

Now this man (called John) did not have a list of qualities, traits or preferences for his potential paramour, no indeed! As long as they were female and between the ages of 30-40 that would do for him! What would he offer in return?

A ‘craft that would change your life!’ Now there’s an offer you can’t refuse! Whether your life would be changed for the better or not was not stipulated, as John is a man of very few words, and even fewer emotions it seems. although no-one could doubt the fact that he is obviously extremely practical and economical.

It would be wonderful if John found himself the apprentice/partner/lover that he wanted, but I am not holding out much hope!

Episode 268: Hot Cross Edwina!

April 3, 2015/Judy E Martin/14 Comments

What a busy week it has been, I normally only work 4 days per week, and what with one thing and another, I have not done my usual hours for a while. However, this week I have ended up doing 5 days and shattered! I know many of you probably work a lot longer hours and more days, but I am just finding it tiring getting back into the swing of things.

Anyway, today was my last day at work before the Easter holidays. Miss Hap broke up from school yesterday, and as me and Mr Grump were working, got to spend a lovely day with her Nanny.

Work was of course busy as always, but we had a great team on shift. The patients were all treated to a hot cross bun this morning with their mid morning hot drink, which went down rather well. (It would have gone down even better if they had been given a bit of butter with their buns as they were rather large and quite dry-looking)!

I did go to the kitchen and grab a load of spreads and butters, but by the time I went around with them, anyone that was going to eat them had already done so! Still, they cheered up a bit when the Easter eggs were being dished out. A local charity had donated loads of Easter eggs so that every patient got one.

Two of my ladies in particular, had started tucking into theirs straight away. I jokingly told them that lunch would be served any minute and I would not be happy if they ate the chocolate and not their meal. It was so nice to see them laughing and happy, enjoying their unexpected Easter treats.

When I got home Mr Grump was here having finished early, and Miss Hap came home soon after. Now i could relax and enjoy my two weeks holiday from work. Only problem is…my throat is prickly.. and my nose is blocked up….I’m all hot and cold! Typical! I always feel rough when I am on annual leave!

Blogging From A-Z Challenge: The Letter ‘C’

April 3, 2015/Judy E Martin/9 Comments

For the Blogging from A-Z Challenge today we have the curvaceous letter ‘C’. Now the word curvaceous is in itself worthy of a post of its own, but is too similar to ‘ample’ so my word for today is corny.

A sentimental, cheesy, old-hat kind of a word. It’s the Dad-dancing, embarrassingly gushing love song, that almost makes uncool great again! It is the mushy, slushy, DJ at a family wedding (and the ‘tunes’ that he plays).

The schmaltzy game show host that is so filled with corn, you want to put a skewer in him and slather him in butter! Some of the old films where the scenery wobbles and the plot line is as transparent as a specimen pot! These are all examples of corny at its finest……It pretty much sums up this post as well!

Blogging From A-Z Challenge – ‘B’

April 2, 2015/Judy E Martin/22 Comments

Day two of the Blogging from A-Z challenge and today we have the lovely letter ‘B.’

My word for today is blunder. Now this word is all about getting it wrong. (I manage to do this on a regular basis). It is a clumsy word, a gaffe, the art of ‘putting your foot in it.’ To me it also speaks of barging right in, unknowingly or not thinking; blurting something out, to the amazement of others present. It is also a word that makes me laugh, as it sounds old-fashioned, even a bit pompous.It is not often you hear somebody say it nowadays,

“Ooops, I am sorry, I just blundered.” No, they are more likely to say that they ‘cocked up’, ‘made a hash of it’ or maybe something a little stronger!

I think blunder is under-appreciated, and that is in itself a terrible blunder!

Blogging From A-Z Challenge Starts Here!

April 1, 2015/Judy E Martin/40 Comments

I have been pretty excited about this challenge, and am thrilled that it is finally here! So let’s kick off with the letter ‘A.’ Now my theme as I have previously mentioned here is ‘words’ so here is a great one to start with:

Ample – This is one sexy and voluptuous word! It has quite an onomatopoeic quality to it, as it conjures up images of roundness, and abundance (another good word). It is plentiful and generous. broad and accommodating. For some reason, in literature the word ample is very often used in conjunction with ‘bosom’ (you can tell what type of books I read. Yes, I love a good bodice-ripper)! to describe some ‘buxom wench’ or matronly figure. I think this word is the perfect adjective to describe me (well it certainly beats ‘stocky)!

Rhyme and No Reason!

Blogger, author and rhymester who likes to find the humour in life.

Tag: silly

The Daydreamer Challenge: Day 2

Episode 275: Window Shopping!

Blogging From A-Z Challenge: ‘F’

Episode 273: As Clear As Mud!

Episode 268: Hot Cross Edwina!

Blogging From A-Z Challenge: The Letter ‘C’

Blogging From A-Z Challenge – ‘B’

Blogging From A-Z Challenge Starts Here!

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Blogger, author and rhymester who likes to find the humour in life.

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