In The Pink

Mr Dancin took this yesterday while out at work, when he showed me it we both said the same thing. I thought it would be interesting to see what other people thought on first glance.

It's my last day at work today before maternity leave and it has been a long count down to get here. Typically I have been awake since 1.30 am and have finally decided to give up on my attempts to get back to sleep. In fact my alarm is due to go off in 20 minutes now anyway so there is not much point and once again it affords me some quality blogging time.  I am going to miss a lot of things about my job and it will be hard not to have the focus as it can be stimulating and demanding. In addition I have spent the last three and a half years building a department and I am really pleased with where we are. On the other hand I absolutely cannot wait for the next 8 hours of work to be over so I can start focusing on my little girl, due to arrive in about 10 weeks, who is also awake...or so it feels anyway. Right, time's up, shower here I come.

Tonight I am camping and I CANT WAIT!!!!! Its been a long while for one reason or another but it is one of my favourite activities and I always sleep the best with all that fresh air. Image Credit: Cool Hunting It probable wont be like this as it is raining here today, and I am on a camp site and not in the middle of nowhere, but I really don't care, I can't wait to get my camp set up and then go off for a yomp for the evening before retiring to my sleeping bag. I stay away for work once a week and have been planning to camp as soon as the weather was warm enough. I have camped all year round but when you are up for work the next day (early to boot) a goods nights rest is vital so I have waited until the cold spell shifted. Only 4 hours until I am off to get set up...and counting!

I am having a really weird time at the moment with temporarily missing items in my house. I know everyone has suffered from it at some point. I put things down, they vanish, cannot be found anywhere and then turn up in a really obvious place! It must be noted things are a little hectic at the moment due to end of term and end of year at work and therefore I am distracted and as usual trying to do too many things at once, never the less either I am loosing the plot or someone/ thing is playing tricks on me! I seem to have permanently lost a folder with lots of work in, my work I hasten to add, and this morning my blank test papers have vanished, although I had them last Wednesday and they have not left the house. Anyway, tricksters aside I had the most amazing time at the Isle of Wight festival and am looking forward to blogging about it later. This week is all about getting the 2nd years through so they can graduate next week, some of them have really pushed it with late submis...

Oh my god roll on summer!!!!!!! Sorry quick outburst needed (I know its a re-occurring theme for me at the moment!). It happens towards the end of every term, and end of year is worse. Any parents reading this spare a thought for your childrens teachers; teaching is both the best and the worst job in the world! Image Credit: 1000 Awesome Things

Hello Blog! Compared to my output last year I have been pretty absent from the blogging world this year but all for good reasons. Things have really kicked off for me personally with my photographic hobby, and professionally with work abroad and a change in career paths. However one of my favourite things about blogging is creating a record of just what you have been up to in the time you have which flies by so quickly. Someone told me the other day that the older you get the quicker the time flies by which is a little worrying however I have found that when I record my events for future reflection it does remind me that I have actually been achieving a lot, so although my perception of time is that it flies by in the blink of an eye, I know I have used some of the time wisely, by my standards. So here I am today, taking note of the of the events of the year. Its half term at the moment so I am not working at the college this week although I am using the time to over prepare for th...

I had the biggest sleep in this morning! I am happy to say that I am gainfully employed again and although it is not my usual job it is a job, it's local and I do shifts and so have time at home in the day even when I am working. I am however still getting used to the new routine and have for the past 6 weeks been constantly tired!!!!! Sorry actually I mean TIRED!!!!!! I am getting a little fed up of it actually and hope that my body soon acclimatises, it is intefereing with all of the other things I want to do and my family, friends and out of work activities have all suffered. Anyway, I have a day off today and having slept in until 10.30am!!! (I am almost too embaressed to put the actual time!) I should be caught up on all required sleep. So after spending a bit of time blogging, which is a pleasure I have not had for a few weeks, I will still have half a day to play with. As usual there is an abundance of activities I could choose to do which range from continueing the ...

I met this soul on Friday while at work. He/ she (I am a little ashamed to say I did not look to check!) kept me company while I surveyed the trees in the field. Horses are very good company. I have spent a lot of time with horses over the years, mucking out, fussing and a little riding. They are incredibly intelligent, (as all animals are) and without exception love to be told they are beautiful! I have been kicked, bitten, head-butted, stood on, thrown while riding and lifted off the ground and chucked against a wall by horses, the last of which was all over a packet of polos, and I never tire of their amazing company. Spotty here followed me around, gave me a nuzzle and undid the zip on my fleece coat, all in search of something to eat I am sure, but the experience lifted my spirits and made my day. There is something very special about moments shared with animals, and I am sorry for anyone who does not have that opportunity.

So after a fairly OK day, but a trying week, I came home to a dog with a poorly tummy, some pants work news and promptly burnt tea! Having been abstaining from alcohol for a few weeks to be healthy I decided on a large scotch to make things better; I don't think it has worked! However what is working is a good bout of Jethro Tull (and a great Scrabble session with my sister) and I am planning on sharing the joy. For all those feeling the strain this is for you. (For some reason we are now listening to a Bernard Cribbins track...hey whatever gets you through the night, it's alright, it's alright.)

We have had some great winter weather recently and lots of fog which makes for some interesting photos. I took a load of shots locally on a beautiful, foggy, early morning, dog walk last week, and got some more shots with my phone around Ironbridge yesterday. The shots on my phone did not come out as well as I would have liked but never mind. Here are some collages of the shots I took. The weather man promised us a foggy day today but it has not emerged which is as shame as I had planned a trip out to get some more shots but I am sure there is some more good wintery weather to come!

I have had a trying day work wise and like most days of this ilk have found myself making many mental blog posts, but when the time comes when I can sit down and blog I am exhausted and ready for bed. I did however find some peace of mind in this wonderful song. So I am blogging the end result of the day. Enjoy!

I had a top day today. I was very busy in the office...well the spare room but Monday to Friday it doubles as my office. Anyway I got loads done and won a contract in Walsall that starts next week. (With trees it's always can you start yesterday!) On my lunchtime walk I turned at the sound of jet engines to see the Red Arrows do a flyby which was very special. They were in two V formations and very low. I waved! And after that I was treated to a close and pre-longed flyby by the Buzzards who inhabit the hill fort in our village. Just lovely. I did not have my camera with me which is a shame in some ways as the birds and the planes were so close, but on the other hand I got to enjoy the moment completely without suddenly trying to get my camera out of its case in time and focus. I just sat back, smiled and enjoyed it! The Red Arrows is such a special site and gave me that welled up happy feeling that makes you laugh out loud. I would have loved to have been a pilot but most ...

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I have been away for a week in Suffolk working and attending a 3 day course and took my tent with me. Mr Dancin' got lots of comments like 'Can't the company afford to put her up in a hotel?' but the truth is I would really prefer to camp. I love camping and really mean if I could live in a tent I would. Also I hate staying away in B & B's on my own. I never sleep well and it is always awkward doing things in the evening like eating and going out in the town as a girl on her own is always a little odd to other folk. This way I got to spend my evenings sitting out in the open, in the glorious weather, or walking through the countryside, or when it was raining sitting in my tent reading or playing on my laptop. It was fab! The people on the camp site were really friendly and I even got a visit from a dog when I most needed it. I did actually have one bad day and returned to the tent feeling a little blue and a dog appeared out of no where to cheer me up. It'...

Well its been another good day. Mr Dancin has the dogs with him today and I was out surveying. I have returned home first and it is very quiet in the house. (Well apart from our washing machine which is on it's last legs but hanging in there and currently making hideous noises in the kitchen!) I am used to dog noises. They are quiet but ever present in my home life and it is very odd when they are not here sighing, yawning or dreaming and making accompanying squeaks. By the way this is not my dog but I love the picture! It has been quite warm today and I am feeling a little more weary for it I think. I expect Mr Dancin and the pups will come home feeling the same although I'll wager that the pups got at least one swim in today! I on the other hand just thought about it. It is such a shame that all of the outdoor public swimming pools in this country seem to have gone, especially as we seem to get hotter summers now! I love swimming and will tolerate a pool just to get in the wa...

Actually to be honest Monday morning did not look too fine through my tired eyes as I stayed up a little too late last night however Monday evening looks fine and I am feeling good! I have had a great day out surveying and have returned home at a good time with enough energy to enjoy the other side of my life! Its all new to me! The past few years I have worked harder than I have ever had to and after a while it wore me down. I am used to returning home shattered with little mental or physical ability left to look after my man, the dogs and the house properly, as well as indulging in a few of my hobbies. Not so today! Loving this new job!

I am in a very good mood having just sat and past the exam for my recent training course in Utility Arb. To celebrate I have treated myself to a glorious half hour of wailing to the very brilliant Showaddywaddy! They were a favourite of mine as a small child and I had a bit of a crush on Dave Bartram. (The cool one standing up at the back with the shades!) Anyway I have decided to share some of the best You Tube clips, available for my favourites songs, with you! (Lucky you!) Really though, crank it up and if you can only manage one listen to When, if you are not grinning by the end of the first verse then.....well then I guess you are not a fan! But give it a go! Image Credit: Epiclectic's Vintage Vinyl

I am really disappointed with my current book. It sounded good in summary and started fairly well however I am now finding it slow and a little dull. Also my mind wanders while I am reading which is not a good sign and defeats one of the objects of reading! I have been somewhat spoilt having read brilliant books in the past 18 months, none of which have been a struggle, and this one is a real let down. I have lots of good books waiting to be read, including two I picked up for pennies at a May Fayre today, but I do hate not finishing books. It does not seem right. I am already a third of the way through and as such a little effort over the next two nights should see me through it but it is a chore not a delight. I can remember the books I have started reading in my adult life and not completed and feel a sense of failure at the memory. I usually keep hold of them to revisit at a later date; thankfully there are not many. Anyway, I will plough on with this one for a little while longer....