Sunday 6 December 2009

Bits and bobs about this and that!



This morning I've been to a village in the Peak Park called Whetton. It is the village nearest a fantastic place called Thor's Cave. I walked there in the summer with my friends as shown in the pics.

Today however was something else, the sun was still shinning but it came after torrential rain in the night and for the last few days. So the tiny roads going up and down dale to this village were an interesting journey of floods and leaf mulch in the middle of the road. They were all single track roads. It was an adventure.

I went there cause my walking friend has baked and baked enough to run a stall at the Christmas Fayre in the village. And I'd been in her house when the Christmas cakes were cooking! And she'd made some little ones just enough for one person to have four or five slices over the holiday season. Which definitely worked for me!

Yesterday in working hard at keeping busy I went and did Christmas shopping over at John Lewis. I normally hate shopping on a Saturday and won't do it. But needs must and whilst my mind is in neutral I could happily carry on preparing for Christmas.

Anyway the point of this bit was..... Father Christmas was there outside the dept store. But not only was he there, but so were two of his reindeer. What wonderful creatures they are. The two that came along to support FC were happy to be stroked and photographed by all. And to complete the scene along came Snow White. It was all just magical.

One of the things I got yesterday was a CD for me, ok I know it's not Christmas yet, but what the..... So this CD is a five disc compilation and has got me completely in it's thrall and I've only heard two discs so far. But to have my all time favourite piece of music, Albatross by Fleetwood Mac, alongside Frank Sinatra, Dave Brubeck, David Bowie is just delicious.

So I've been happily escaping into that, each new sound taking me to a different place in my memories.From sitting on my windowsill hidden behind the curtains, Albatross, to Sunday mornings with the family listening to Dean Martin, Frank et all to hearing Take 5 for the first time when drinking coke with a couple of likely lads when I was in my teens.

Another place for wonderful sounds is on my early morning walks with Trix. The bird song is lovely. And recently courtesy of the Crafty Green Poet I found a link to British birds courtesy of the RSPB. So I spent a happy evening listening to all the birds I know who are roundabout regularly. So now I know that the two birds that make me the happiest with their birdsong are the Mistle Thrush and the Chaffinch. And right now the Mistle Thrush, Blackbird and the Robin are just a joy as the dawn begins to break.

And finally and somewhat bizarrely.... it's no secret that my name is Mandy. It is to my knowledge totally a girls name. Excepting of course, the Prince of Darkness, Lord Mandleson(UK politician) is referred to occasionally in the press as Lord Mandy. But that aside my name is female. So why oh why go I get at least three times a day, spam suggesting that I might like to buy some Viagra? Apart from the fact of my femaleness, I also don't have a partner at all, never mind one who might find the little blue pill useful.

And why me? Why don't I get nice girly spam. I mean it's not too much to ask is it that the blanket coverage of the spam sender could be asked to differentiate between male and female names is it?

10 comments:

Lyn said...

Mandy - I love your Christmas post. We are on the same wave length I think ... seeking out the memories and joy from all things seasonal. Thank you for dropping my spot -- I would like to become a follower of your blog but I couldn't find a Follow Me button. Cheers and good wishes as you navigate through the myriad of the holiday season.

Merry ME said...

My friend,

I'm not sure it gets much better on a Sat. afternoon in December than to run into Fr. Christmas, Snow White and reindeer. Perhaps the only think missing was a Dickensian Tiny Tim!

I don't know what birds sings what song, but I do love to hear the little things sing hello to the morning sun.

Perhaps if the price is really good you could order some of that viagra, drill itty bitty holes in the middle, and string them together to make a girly kind of bracelet!

Thinking of you with a great big smile.

Helen said...

Oh, I just bought the Susan Boyle CD and I cannot stop listening to it...

Zan said...

I'd be jumping up and down like a little kid if I saw a raindeer outside the shops. Oooh what a sight. They are just so darn cute!

I'd honsetly rather get the viagra spam then the weight loss spam I keep getting, that is just so depressing!
And now some spam comapany has hacked me old email address and sends everyone in my address book out some spam in my name.. oh so nice of them...

xx

Anonymous said...

The Viagra Bracelet!! Wow! Merry Me's idea is great!How popular would occupational craft activities become with the oldies making those in the aged care facilities! They could sell them at fetes too,'cos the frilly coat-hangers aren't selling like hot cakes have you noticed? I think you could be on to something with Viagra via spam. Think of all the old guys who could "deal" in Viagra via spam. and pocketing the profits to spend on...Um..what DO old guys want to spend their spare cash on...teeth?

Mel said...

*thinking of you and yours*

Gotta love Frank and Dean and...oh....Nat King Cole. *happy sigh*

Yup..I'll now have to go on a mission to locate the CD's.

Treat yourself.
Be kind to yourself.
And for heaven sakes--find some rest in knowing how loved you are, please.

((((( the byrdie ))))

<-- wants a reindeer and Snow White

Lyn said...

Mandy - thanks for adding your Follow button! I'll be back often ... keep your spirits high and have a wonderful week. L

e said...

Hi Byrd,

I was happy to see you'd popped over to my blog. The other two trays of cookies turned out well. I have an email with a portion of my very obvious female name in it, yet constantly receive spam exorting me to "extend my manhood by three inches" and I think that somehow these obnoxious bits of spam are somehow pre-set with no actual thought about gender...

Speaking of holiday shopping...
If you need a laugh, take a look at the Friday posting of Hot Toat and Jam at http://goodteatoo.blogspot.com. He has a Christmas vid of Mr. Bean that will leave you in tears laughing!

speck of dust said...

I met a reindeer for the first time this week. Aren't they adorable! It must be all the rage to have real live reindeers at Christmas now. I wonder what they make of all the nonsense :) BTWI loved your botanical pics that were up here for a short while. Perfect place to visit in the middle of winter and feel some lush warmth. An evening listening to bird song sounds lovely too. x

nitebyrd said...

Lovely pictures! Thor's Cave sounds so magical. Good for you for giving yourself a present!

BTW, I don't think there is any "girly" spam. Viagra and penis enlargement and Nigerian money scams seem to abound.