two of the four

i have four nieces and one nephew.  another one is on the way.  two nieces live far away.  two nieces are close by.  one of the nieces loves ignoring me every once in a while.  she thinks it's funny.  there are times at bedtime she will kiss everyone else, ignore me and run upstairs laughing.  sometimes she comes back.  she sometimes does it with photos too.

Emma

relaxation

amidst the work that needed to be done this week, i found time to relax.  i am one of these people who feel better when things get done.  i enjoy writing lists too.  i enjoy crossing off items as they are complete even more.  better not to say too much about that.  you can analyse me at will.  so this week i shared dinner with friends. went to see films; indoor and outdoor.  pottered in my garden.  went for drinks in the sunshine.  and walked.  not too much but just enough.  there is a lot to be said about a change being as good as a rest.  as long as you get some rest in there.  oh, did i mention i slept.  a lot.

Emma

no rain on their parade

this week off could not have come soon enough for me.  wrestling with stress and the inability to switch off i needed to be elsewhere.  why is it that sometimes the need to be anywhere other than where you are takes over?  i am lucky enough to have family round the corner and nearby.  i am also unlucky enough to have family far away.  with the sun shining in manchester and a new haircut acquired i headed off to wales.  along with everyone else. after the longest car journey i arrived to find i'd left the sun in manchester.  not a usual occurrence.  but with little people excited to be at grandma and grandad's for a few days, no amount of dull weather would rain on their parade.  there was nothing for it.  the beach was calling our names.

Emma

new

yesterday was the start of a few days off.  i went to a gallery with a friend.  it was a week of new things...

start of the new week

drinks in a new gastro pub that has opened locally (will post more on this another time)

new warhol exhibition at the lowry, salford

i love the building...

and across the canal, the new bbc north studios, media city.

Emma

Beautiful children

These are some of the images from Thailand- the houses in the mountain villages, the orphanage and the beautiful children with their amazing smiles......

Jane

best laid plans

plan for this morning; jump in the car, head to wales.  last night; my car made other plans. the garage turned it around.  plans were already re-arranged.  so today brought a different plan.  breakfast out. an hour in the park with a niece.  flowers. i bought them for mum.  now they adorn my lounge.

Emma

can we talk about the weather?

seriously.  it's summer.  so what's with all this rain?  i know manchester is renowned for the stuff. but. it's. july.  this looks like it could be february.  or march.  but this is today. and yesterday.  and if weather reports are to be believed; tomorrow.  and tuesday.

buck up summer.  come back and play.  we're ready.

Emma