For more Silent Sunday go to CosmicGirlie

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Yesterday, for my birthday, I was given by the 3 boys in my life this wonderful pendant. It is so so special simply because on it are the finger prints of my two babies and they are so clear and perfect. I can’t even begin to explain what this means to me. It is perfect to the point that you can even tell from it that V has slightly wider fingers than E which is the true representation.

Tara’s Gallery theme today is New and here is my new necklace…

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C has just left on his bike to join the Thames Bridges Bike Ride 2013. He is cycling to raise funds for the Stroke Association, and although he has been taking part for years, this year is a special one for him.

His grandmother died of a stroke a couple of months ago and it is for her that he will be riding this year.

Nanna was a great lady and one that made me feel part of the family straight away. Having lost my own grandparents a long time ago she became my surrogate grandmother and I loved her very much. I also loved how she would look at me straight into the eyes and tell me I was a good mother.

This is what C wrote about her on his page:

Hi,

Thank you for visiting my page.

Many of you will know that I try to support the stroke association every year by completing the Thames Bridge Bike Ride. Every year I send out an email asking for your support for this charity high lighting the devastating affects that a stroke can have not only on the person who suffers it but also on the family and friends. Each email also contains the ACT FAST instructions that will help you recognise when someone is suffering a stroke. This year I am not going to include that, if you want to read up about the ACT FAST instructions you can fine them here (http://www.stroke.org.uk/about/recognise-symptoms).

This year at the age of 93 we lost my Nanna to a Stroke, I don’t know if its acceptable for a grown man to call his Grandmother Nanna, but I don’t care, that was the name she wanted all the grandchildren to call her and that was it.

Nanna was the matriarch of the family, you always knew exactly where you stood and what she thought. As the Vicar put it during the funeral she was known through the village for being someone who was not shy at letting you know what she thought. She was one of the most caring people I have ever met who would put her a family and friends first.

One of my childhood memories is of staying at her house for a couple of days and Nanna getting up at dawn to go downstairs to scrap out the fire grate and then light the fire. Then and only then, was I allowed to come downstairs when the rooms had warmed up. This may show my age but it was a few years ago before all houses had central heating and all the heating and hot water for the house was from separate coal fires.

I remember was always keen to go into the garden to the coal shed and refill the coal scuttle. As a parent now I can imagine her exasperation as each time I did this, and despite being told to use the shovel, I promptly ignored the shovel and carefully selected each lump of coal by hand. In typical boy fashion, I would use my t-shirt and trousers to clean my hands. I would then proudly carry the fruits of such careful labour inside. Never once did she tell me off for doing this, but boy, did my hands and arms got scrubbed.

I could write pages here about Nanna and what she did, however all I am going to say is that we miss you and this ride is dedicated to you.

If you would like to donate even a few pounds to this great association you can do it there http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/4Nanna and thank you ever so much if you are doing so.

Px

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There is one thing that I am totally obsessed with at the moment. It is furry, barks and can reduce me to tears then bring a tender smile to my face in an instant. That’s Jasper, our new puppy.

Not that you don’t already know we have a puppy because it’s pretty much the only thing I speak about on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, wherever you find me really.

The boys must be relieved that I have finally found someone else to point my camera lens at.

He is pretty cute but can also be pretty evil (in a nice way).

He is soft and fluffy, as is coat is thickening it is suddenly hitting home that I will spend my life hoovering mounts of dog hair. I might recycle them into jumpers who knows. I am sure some people already do that.

He is obsessed with water. He scratches the bottom of his water bowl after admiring his reflection at the bottom. Then he walks leaving paw prints all over my floor… All I can say is thank god for spray mops and laminate flooring.

He learns very quickly and I am very proud to say that not only I have been shortlisted for a national award this month (totally irrelevant I know) but I have also been told by the vet I have a polite dog. Not good or well behaved, but polite dog. I am walking with my head very up high at the moment. Me and my polite dog are very proud indeed.

We are finally on a count down to our first adventure past the back garden. The last jab was injected and I am sitting tapping fingers watching the days go by, because quite frankly there has been days when we have all hit such a high cabin fever syndrome that I am surprised that we are all fairly sane and alive still.

This all waiting game really sucks as there is nothing we all want more but to run freely along the hills, going home all happy and refreshed and I watch them all crash in front of the TV and leaving me in peace. I am dying for a slice of that at the moment because having a brand new puppy at home is like having a new baby and I am not over exaggerating this.

On a very positive note as long as your hand is full of treats, he will learn and do anything. He is only 12 weeks and he has learnt: sit, down, stay, wait, off, drop, hurry up (meaning “go pee!”) and settle. This is obviously the sign that this dog aside of being very polite is also highly intelligent.

Having a dog again is a delight and I am everyday happier that we have made the decision to have him. We missed having a dog as a family and this one was definitely meant to be our new friend.

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Can you notice anything here?! There, up on the right, do you see it? do you? DO YOU? Oh and at the bottom of this post…

I am shortlisted for a Brilliance in Blogging Award and in the STYLE Category! THE category that means so much to me. Not that the others don’t but Style, yes Style!

In January I took the step to totally rebrand this blog and to hear I am shortlisted in the style category makes me very happy.

So now my dearest lovelies, please click on this button and go and vote for me, pretty pretty please.

You have until the 12th of May to do so and I will love you forever!

Thank you…

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Here is the latest instalment from Susannah at SHM Personal Styling for Perfectly Happy Me. This month she is looking at another key piece for your wardrobe: the Jacket. Once again let yourself be inspired by Susannah and make sure you like her page on Facebook and check her Online services for great advice on style. 

With the British weather as it is we really need to make the humble jacket our best friend this season if we are ever to wear our more summery togs. And fortunately the jacket comes in many shapes and styles so all sartorial needs can be catered for, no matter the event, no matter the weather!

The denim Jacket – this faithful staple of all things casual can always be relied upon to add an element of ‘tom boy’ cool to even the most feminine of outfits. Wear over a pretty summer dress to stop a look becoming too ‘girly’ whilst providing a layer of much needed warmth at the same time.

The padded jacket – very popular this season and a nice snugly alternative to a cardigan. Looks great worn with jeans or trousers for a relaxed ‘off duty’ look that can be dressed up or down according to the occasion.

The bomber jacket – the bomber has burst back on to the fashion radar this season. But forget visions of varsity jackets worn by annoying American teenagers on our TV screens in the 80’s. Instead think of fresh up to date versions that come in all manner of colours and patterns and are worn by everyone from Rihanna to the Grande dame of cookery herself- Mary Berry!

The biker jacket – this perennially stylish jacket has long been a favourite with those who like to add a suggestion of the subversive to their look. It can be worn with anything from jeans to wide legged trousers to pencil skirts to strappy dresses. And neither does it have to be leather. There is a wide spectrum of colours and styles out there and in a multitude of fabrics too. So choose the one that works best with the rest of your wardrobe. A classic piece that will never disappoint.

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For more Silent Sunday go to Mocha Beanie Mummy

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Jasper has been with us for 4 days and the least we can say is that it is full on to live with a puppy but it is also great.

He is a fluffy delight and once we crack the potty outside business we will be set for a great life together.

He is such a happy pup and learns extremely quickly (bar no poop on the front door mat but that’s probably our fault).

We chose the option of having his crate in our bedroom the first couple of nights and gently ease the night time process and it worked! He settled very quickly from the first night and slept through straight away. Last night we left the crate downstairs with a sleepy puppy in it, slowly made our way up and we didn’t hear a sound until this morning.
Awesome! 

So now all we want is no poop on the front door mat please!

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All we need now is Jasper…

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