miss marie's miscellany

Daily snapshot:4

I have been adopted by a friendly cat who lives nearby. He pops in often for a nosey around my house!

June 2011

Things have been hectic for a while in these parts. You've probably noticed a slight lack of posts recently, for which I'm sorry, real life has taken over for a bit; lots of worries about money and work, which I don't want to bring here. I'm trying to keep positive and this blog is one of my escapes from the austere times in which we are living. Just so you know, if I'm a bit absent for a bit, there'll be stuff happening; but I won't be gone for long!

June has been quite a good month in the end, and I've had some good times. And lots of cake! I think the cake kept me sane..........as they say, Keep Calm and Eat Cake. The photo was taken in Belfast overlooking the river, where I stayed in a very smart apartment, complete with its own gin & tonic balcony!

 

 

Clifftop knitting

I am off on a little jaunt to London today ; it's a whistle stop trip but hopefully I will have some photos to show you when I get back :-)

I found this hilarious film on YouTube; everyone who likes knitting (and any other handicraft, for that matter ) will recognise that " just one more row " feeling!! It made me laugh, I hope it will make you do the same...... enjoy!

 

August collage

I can't believe August has been and gone, it flew by. I started with all the garden improvements, I went back to work, and did a humungous amount of crocheting. I took a trip across the sea, went on a hen night and I have painted, dug and chopped things down in the garden. Perhaps that's why August whizzed by, I have been very busy!

 

Big sticks

Sometimes you come across something unusual which seems to have drawn inspiration from a variety of different sources  

 
 

Seen outside the smart new Grand Canal Theatre in Dublin...... big red knitting needles!

 

Chopsticks? Abandoned stilts?

They also remind me of Venice...... the theatre is right next to the canal after all.

And at night.....

 

they light up.......may the force be with you?!

 
What do they remind you of? 

Chameleon explained

Do you remember the yellow tulip in my last but one past, the one called the chameleon tulip? 

 

I didn't know why........but I do now!

This is how they look today

 

I've never grown a flower which has changed colour before :-)

 

Watch the birdy

I drove back to Glasgow from Inverness this morning and stopped for a naughty cake and coffee. It was so warm and sunny that sitting outside was a must and a pleasure. After a short while I had 2 unexpected visitors at the table.

 

Ahh!
 

Statuesque

I noticed I'd taken quite a few photos of statues whilst wandering around Liverpool;  some new, some old, some of famous Liverpudlians both real and  fictitious, and some flights of fancy.

John Lennon

 

Eleanor Rigby

 

Ken Dodd in Lime Street Station (sadly there were no Diddymen to be seen!)

 

He is right next to this lady, just as thought they have met in the station, and are having a natter. She is Bessie Braddock who was the MP for Liverpool in the 1950-70s and an ardent socialist campaigner.

 

She was known as 'Battling Bessie'.......I can see why!
 

William Gladstone (I bet you didn't know he was a Scouser)

 

The 2 angels at his side represent Truth

 

and Justice. Taken in the gardens behind St. George's Hall, where the Law Courts were once housed.

 

Inside the Walker Art Gallery, this imposing fellow presides over the cafe

 
 Nearby is the Sculpture Room

 

Outside the World Museum these 2 giant inflatable flowers adorn the building

 

The flowers grow larger and the petals open out during the day, just as a real flower would 

 

And there are still some of the SuperLamBananas 

I haven't gone mad, they really are called that!  There were 125 of these colourful statues all over Liverpool during 2008, when it was the European City of Culture. As their name suggests, they're a cross between a lamb and a banana, and all were differently painted and themed.  (There is a great Flickr group here if you'd like to see more.) I really like them; they are fun and make me smile, and I'm glad they're still adding a touch of good-humoured colour to the city.

 

 

 And finally, here's some rock of a different kind!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

21st

There are always some old comedy classics on TV over the festive season, some good which stand the test of time and some you wish they really wouldn't show again; even Morecambe and Wise can pale a little after the umpteenth viewing. For me, this is one of the former! I remember laughing at 'Some Mothers Do 'Ave'Em' and being amazed that Michael Crawford did all his own stunts. So enjoy his antics as an inept Angel of the Lord, complete with beret!

via www.youtube.com

Weekend links

 A collection of random links today;  things that I've been reading and looking at in spare moments this weekend.

 

 A funny story about how the composer Elgar was not quite the accomplished trombonist he claimed to be!

I want to decorate the living room.......for the first time in my life, I'm going to paint a room  all-white, so it's bright and fresh.......with this material for curtains?

I've just taken delivery of these trainers, to compliment my winter fitness regime and get me out of my couch potato state. They are so comfortable!

Something for my Christmas list.........or yours , maybe??!

Looking forward to watching my latest DVD rental, The Duchess. I read the Amanda Foreman biography a couple of years ago, and enjoyed it very much;  it will be interesting to see how it translates to film.

If you can't afford those Manolo Blahniks, how about all these shoes instead? 

Hope your weekend was fun!