tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74982903107695947062024-03-14T08:52:50.645+00:00You'll get what you're given!Recipes, musings and reviews.Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.comBlogger188125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-73415210533077065602016-05-16T22:09:00.000+01:002016-05-16T22:09:15.595+01:00Saw a band...I saw a band!<br />
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Or two or three... I went to Bungalows and Bears on Thursday night to watch Yak but also saw Femur and another band whose name escaped me but vaguely reminded me of the Primitives and Stone Roses.<br />
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I thought I would mention this as sadly seeing live music has become a bit of a rare thing since becoming a parent but at least it's still something I can do every now and then. That's the end of that public service announcement.Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-10684594916863186952016-05-10T23:26:00.001+01:002016-05-10T23:26:30.642+01:00Best laid plans...So I thought it might be a good idea to sign up for the blog everyday in May challenge that I do every year but for some reason this year I haven't been able to blog anything. Not one thing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new hair cut selfie that I considered posting on the 1st.</td></tr>
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For some reason every time I sit down to write or draw for the blog all of my ideas make a run for it. I'm hoping to change that but so far this is it. Hopefully tomorrow I'll get chance to come up with something a little more exciting.Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-47430639970575388232016-03-13T23:38:00.000+00:002016-03-18T23:43:14.715+00:00Doodles.So I've lost my writing mojo a bit at the moment. It's a bit disappointing but I am hoping that I'll be able to rediscover the joy in it soon. Until then I still feel the need to do things and not just look at the internet or television so I've tried my hand at adult colouring books, I got a couple for Christmas.<br />
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The problem is trying to colour in the lines might soothe some but it kind of irritates me, I enjoy ragging a crayon across a blank sheet with my toddler but this doesn't make me zen. Drawing on the other hand I quite enjoy.... here are a few things I've drawn recently.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tux with a crazy eye!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toddler bear reading Doctor who comics.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clara with Dylan doodles.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pizza gluttony doodle.</td></tr>
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I've debated trying to do a doodle everyday to practise my drawing skills/ as a kind of meditation but I'm not great at doing something everyday. Watch this space it might happen or I might return to my writing! Anything could happen!Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-38974785343846502252016-02-02T23:28:00.000+00:002016-03-18T23:28:40.882+00:00Further adventures...So Christmas has been and gone. I was spoiled with lots of lovely goodies including some of my favourites: books!<br />
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The lurgy keeps rearing it's ugly head and infecting us in waves. It made January a lot more boring challenging than we'd have liked but we survived! (Ok it was only the fifth disease/flu/a cold/random viruses but it wasn't great.) Obviously the cats had to join in the fun for their annual boosters. Muwahahaha! <br />
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I've also had the pot removed from my thumb, been given some physiotherapy exercises and allowed to do a few more things. Not skating yet, the doctor advised me to hang fire a little longer and be more careful. That's pretty tricky when learning how to skate for roller derby... so I'm listening and buying more protective pads soon.<br />
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I'm also looking forward to lots more baking, excursions, my 30th later in the year and a good friend's wedding. It's going to be a great 2016! Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-52867595273435719182015-12-20T18:16:00.000+00:002016-02-02T16:53:39.048+00:00Another update.Sooo it's been a while! It's not that I've been ridiculously busy although there have been moments I suppose... since my last post I've tried and failed at Nanowrimo again, started roller derby pre-minimum skills practice, worked, baked, danced and parented.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Roller Derby practice.</td></tr>
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Roller derby is hard work! It requires lots of fitness, running and jumping to warm up then lots of skating skills to master. It requires lots of kit: mouth guards, wrist guards, knee pads, elbow pads and of course roller skates. I started out with ok/the wrong gear and am slowly getting better things.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old mouth guard.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New mouth guard.</td></tr>
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I am finding it great fun, learning new things like cross overs, jumping on skates and transitions as well as it being a good form of exercise. I've been trying to keep fit and healthy for a while now with differing degrees of success.<br />
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So I've also been sporadically doing work outs around roller derby practice, as well as a little baking.<br />
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The end of November and start of December was busy with Christmas do's, leaving parties and club nights, so I got to wear sparkly things! I also had to fix the gutters, car and kitchen tap so I've been a tad skint!<br />
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Unfortunately it doesn't look like I'll be doing much skating or baking for the next month or so as I have broken my thumb. Luckily it is Christmas and there will be plenty of nice things to eat without me adding to them! I'm just hoping that I don't lose too much fitness by the time my thumb has healed. Still at least there's a new Star Wars film to watch and a few weeks of work to look forward to. (I'm going to see it on Tuesday.)<br />
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So if I don't post between now and then have a very Merry Christmas!Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-89801395153111578912015-09-29T07:31:00.000+01:002015-09-29T07:31:00.201+01:00A tad more baking.So the other week I baked my first lemon drizzle cake and shared it with my work mates.<br />
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It proved an acceptable first attempt and another was requested... I guess that means it was enjoyable!<br />
Here's a few pictures of the baking process.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preparation...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crazy faced selfie.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butter and sugar creamed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished article.. after a small snack.</td></tr>
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So that was one of the more productive things I did last weekend, along with filing the first draft of my first novel away and boring boring household chores.<br />
<br />Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-36724592369613543522015-09-28T22:22:00.001+01:002015-09-28T22:22:50.025+01:00Animated gems.Recently I have been <strike>procrastinating</strike> watching a few more films with my son. Mainly whilst he was ill the other week but also occasionally when we've just needed a bit of a chill out. Unfortunately toddlers love repetition but there are only so many times a woman can watch Frozen in one day... so we watched a few other things.<br />
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I discovered this delightful short film called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7ARYCDna3E" target="_blank">Feast</a> about a dog and his owner's life shown through the meals they share.<br />
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Another film I've enjoyed recently was The Book of Life about a tale of three Mexican children involved in a game of the gods. The story spans from the land of the living to the land of the remembered and the land of the forgotten.<br />
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I also watched Song of the Sea which has a completely different pace and tone to The Book of Life but it still manages to bewitch through it's telling of Irish fairy tales and simple but beautiful animation. Song of the Sea is mainly about two siblings learning to work together to help the faeries and each other as well as the failings of the adults who should be caring for them. The animation of this is more traditional to the other films mentioned above but it blends well with the traditional Celtic music used in the film.<br />
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We've also watched a few more popular films like Despicable Me 2, Inside Out and Big Hero 6 which have been fun but the films above are the ones that really stood out for me.Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-78981150003612080252015-08-23T21:51:00.001+01:002015-08-23T21:51:19.799+01:00A bit of baking.Things have been quiet here recently as I've been working, procrastinating on the novel, dabbling in skating, keeping fit and baking as well as the normal child raising malarkey.<br />
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Here's a few pictures of recent bakes.<br />
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I felt the <strike>knead</strike> urge to make bread and experiment with pizza rolls. The pizza rolls made with pizza dough were rubbish though so I need to find a <strike>better</strike> recipe. (Although I ate them all so they couldn't have been that bad... or I could be a human dustbin!)<br />
<br />Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-81841939000678849472015-08-08T22:37:00.002+01:002015-08-08T22:37:41.814+01:00Quick catch up!For the last month or so I have been away from my blog by accident more than design. I've enjoyed treats and socialising with friends a little more than normal.<br />
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My cats turned 5! How did that happen!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks for the birthday chicken Mummy!</td></tr>
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The weather hasn't been amazing every day but that's ok.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post park picture - it rained unexpectedly.</td></tr>
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I've also tried experimenting with overnight oats and while this looks pleasing it doesn't actually work like this you have to mix it all together for the moisture to soak into the oats. Not one of my cleverer moments....<br />
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We also acquired a new vehicle and a few golf balls.<br />
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As well as venturing out to the main stage at Tramlines to catch a few acts.<br />
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I also met my sister Sarah, friends Tom B and Charlotte to celebrate their birthdays, saw The Dandy Warhol's at the Leadmill and had a belated birthday meal in Nottingham with my sister. So I guess there hasn't been loads of time to blog!<br />
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I'm currently still working on the first draft of my second novel Time for Tea and have passed the 57,000 word mark. There's still loads to do but it's getting there. 900 more words and I'll have written as many words on this as my last novel! (Which will never see the light of day.)<br />
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So this is just a virtual wave to say I'm still here busily trying to carve a niche out for myself.Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-90846160654101274012015-06-26T23:46:00.000+01:002015-06-26T23:46:47.876+01:00So I'm 29 now... it's rather fun!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week I turned 29 and was happy to enjoy spending a few days with my little family enjoying the finer things. You know croissants, ribs, sculptures, curry, full English breakfasts/brunches, cupcakes, marvel films... it's a hard life!<br />
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I got to have a lie in on the day which is a miracle with a toddler! Then enjoyed some nice warm buttery croissants before opening my many cards and presents.<br />
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After that we got ready and headed out for a birthday lunch at Damon's then a nice cultural walk around the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. (Of course we weren't shouting "poo", "sheep poo", "sculpture" you must have us mistaken for someone else...)<br />
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Later after a long drive back via Aldi we enjoyed a takeaway curry. The next day we ventured to my son's toddler Spanish class then enjoyed full English breakfasts at Fancie. It was good! I had Paul's mushrooms and black pudding and my son had my beans. The lovely waiting staff also gave him a giraffe toy which he adores. Obviously we ended the visit by purchasing some cupcakes as a cake-a-way. This resulted in a bit of a toddler meltdown on Ecclesall Road... turns out they can't handle the idea of seeing cake and not eating it. <br />
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We consumed the cupcakes later with a cup of tea when the sleeping beauty had awoken from his rage induced nap and enjoyed a kick about in the local park. The day was topped off with the rest of the left over curry, a visit from my Mum who babysat so we could have a trip to the cinema to see Avengers: Age of Ultron. It was an entertaining film and a very good day<br />
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Since then I have also returned to work, watched a couple of roller derby bouts and enjoyed a birthday lunch with my Dad, Step Mum, Sister, Grandparents as well as my small family unit.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ipTx6EAW4qI/VY3PFr0ybxI/AAAAAAAANuU/r5EI-P9dqxg/s1600/IMG_20150625_160445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ipTx6EAW4qI/VY3PFr0ybxI/AAAAAAAANuU/r5EI-P9dqxg/s200/IMG_20150625_160445.jpg" width="150" /></a> After a couple of days of healthy eating I decided to test the Giant Cupcake mould I was given as a birthday present. It would be rude not to wouldn't it? So
obviously I have had to experiment. The results were not quite up to the
Great British Bake Off standards but still rather tasty. Might need to practise a little more.<br />
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So it seems that being 29 is every bit as good as being 28! I've been spoilt my my friends and family with nice cards, thoughtful presents and more nice food than I should really consume in a month. I think this will be a good year.</div>
Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-89364970464958999942015-06-26T19:33:00.000+01:002015-06-26T19:33:57.902+01:00A short story entitled Extraction.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Extraction. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Several gasps rang out as the ball sailed up into the air.
It was going high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was flying off,
far further than intended. Up and up it went and for a single dazzling moment
the shiny white ball seemed to glisten and touch the sun before descending over
the corrugated iron and barbed wire fence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nine faces crumpled in disappointment as the end of the game
was marked by the loss of the ball.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Might as well go home” one girl sighed,” they don’t return
balls.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At that most of the children nodded and turned heel towards
home but one just looked at the fence deep in thought.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Come on Addy it’s time to go home. You know the rules you
can’t play football without a ball now can you?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“But…
but… it’s just over there!” Addy protested.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“And?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“There’s
a wobbly fence panel here!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could
squeeze through, get the ball and then get out again. No one would ever
know!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not like we’d be doing any
harm and we’d be giving them a hand removing our property from their yard” Addy
argued with wildly gesticulating arms.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“But if they did find us…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“If”
Addy smiled as she approached the fence “it’ll be an adventure, a trip into
enemy territory to retrieve a fallen soldier or in this case my football.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The retreating group turned and looked at her nervously with
their hands in their pockets and curiosity in their eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Aren’t adventures a little bit risky?” One
boy enquired.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“They
aren’t called colouring with Mummy for a reason Jim!” Addy laughed as she
fingered the wobbly fence panel “I’m going to go in; you can follow me if you
like.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As she started to yank at the fence Jim complained “I know
it’s a new football but you will get in less trouble if you tell your parents
than if you got caught.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Go
home to your Mummy Jim!” Addy shouted derisively before slipping through the
gap in the fence she created.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once though she sought cover behind some dustbins which were
clustered by the fence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although she had
made light of going after the ball her heart was facing and all the stories of
what happened to trespassers on robot territory came flooding back to her. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some said that trespassers were dissected, others told of
them being eaten, the spotty babysitter that looked after her at the weekends
claimed that they liked to imprison, torture and sell off their prisoners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Addy wasn’t sure if any or all of the stories
she had heard were true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even so she
felt<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sick with fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was foolish to risk her life to get the
football but she didn’t want to go back home either. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nothing was better than running and jumping and kicking a
ball about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The feeling of the wind in
your hair as you raced for a goal was one of the best things she could think
of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then again she wasn’t doing a great
deal of that at the moment as Jim had belted the ball far higher than any of them
had ever dared… right into the neighbouring robots garden.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Technically going after the ball was trespassing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It violated all the robot human relational
codes that had been set up thirty years ago after the big war but surely none
of that mattered if she didn’t get caught… besides it wasn’t like she’d broken
a window or anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her Mum had told
her stories of breaking a window in the neighbour’s greenhouse years before but
Addy struggled to understand as she’d never seen a greenhouse and when she asked
her friends they shrugged and asked if it was the colour a house was programmed
to look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Addy wondered that too but
didn’t want to ask her Mum about it in case she looked silly and besides that
probably wasn’t the point of the story in the first place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With sweat starting to bead on her forehead Addy inched her
way around the bins and further into the garden stopping every few seconds to
look around for danger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The coast seemed
to be clear but the ball wasn’t as easy to spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had imagined that it would be right
there, ripe for the picking as it had sailed over so easily but that didn’t
appear to be the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a lot
of long grass and some clumps of weeds up ahead so it had probably landed there
and at least she could duck down into it for cover if someone or something came
to get her. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Despite all the horror stories she had heard Addy found it
hard to see robots as the bogey man, they packed bags in the supermarkets and
helped assist the teachers in school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some were even made to fill the empty spaces in the classrooms that had
started to appear in recent years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
hard to think of people, well robots as bad when they’re very nearly your
friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But obviously they can’t be
your friends because robots don’t play. They don’t get out of breath when you
play tag or football and don’t see the point of hide and seek instead they…
what do they do? Charge? Addy wasn’t sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All she knew was that they didn’t study more as they already knew all
the answers they were just there to keep the schools from shutting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some days she resented that and would do
anything from going but on others, well it was nice to be away from all the
shouting at home.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As she made her way through the long grass she stumbled on
branches and large stones until she caught sight of not one shiny white ball
but two! She was in luck! In her haste to get to the ball she started to run
but went flying on a large stick. Except when she started to pull herself up
she realised that it wasn’t a stick at all but an arm. A human arm!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well the bones of a human arm to be more
precise...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She let out a short cry
before jamming her hand in to her mouth to stop herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they have an arm just lying around here
where is the rest of the body?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Addy knew
the answer before even finishing the question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She’d tripped and stumbled her way over the rest of the body on the way
there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So she sat in the tall grass not far from the ball she had
come for but also not at all far from what she presumed was the last person to
come for their ball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sweat that had
been beading on her forehead was now starting to pore down her face and into
her eyes. She started to cry at being so foolish. It was not as if it was
terrible being at home alone but she had really looked forward to playing with
her friends and being the star player for her team. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was time to admit defeat and limp home without the ball
and serious maiming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Depite knowing
this<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Addy stubbornly<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>took a deep breath, rubbed away the tears on
her cheek with the back of her arm then told herself that the skeletal arm
probably just belonged to a Halloween prop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With that she started to crawl once more towards the balls, the big
clumps of weeds she passed were obviously overgrown plants and not landmines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They buried landmines didn’t they? Her
granddad used to tell her stories of the war all about landmines and heat
seeking technology but she never paid him much attention. Why should she when
she could be running around outside or playing with her toy cars?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides he always said to her parents that
she wasn’t a proper girl, whatever that was supposed to be… it sounded boring
to her!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After much uncomfortable crawling she finally got to the two
balls, stopped and sat in front of them to examine them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one on the right was obviously hers it was
white and shiny except for the small black scuff that Jim’s boot had made. And
yet the other ball was silver and shiny so she waivered as she went to pick up
her ball and it was at that point that the silver ball unfurled into a small
robot infant. “Hello!” It exclaimed looking at her with two small blue eyes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Addy fell backwards in shock. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hello!” The small robot said to her again
leaning forwards slightly to make eye contact.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“But… but… you’re a robot!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“Yeeesss”
the infant robot replied “but I was pretending to be a sphere.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You wanted me to think you were a ball?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“No!”
The robot stated in frustration “no, I wanted to try being a sphere.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“So you weren’t trying to trick me?” Addy started to hope
that maybe this robot toddler didn’t know about the rules and codes that she
was breaking.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“Who
are you?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m just a neighbour and my friend kicked my ball into your
yard so I’ve come to get it back” Addy confessed hoping that honesty was the
best policy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“My
sphere-ball now!” The little robot told her as it moved over to the white ball
and extended a mechanical arm to the top of it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Were this another child at the playground or a sibling in
the garden then Addy would have snatched the ball away and pushed them into the
dirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead she gritted her teeth and
nodded, technically the robot was right the ball had become its property and if
she wanted to leave without any trouble then she needed to respect that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ball was new and shiny though…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Do you want to play with me?” Addy asked the little robot.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“Play?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yes play” Addy repeated whilst trying to remember what the
robots at school refer to play as “the act of erm doing that you aren’t
programmed to do like pretending and running.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“So
I have been playing at being a ball?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I guess..” Addy had to admit that she didn’t know anyone
who would pretend to be a ball but why would you? Maybe robot play was
different to human play…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“Would
you like to pretend to be a ball too?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Nooo... no thank you… you see balls are actually designed
to be played with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You throw or kick
them then chase after them” Addy explained as best she could.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“I
see… but why?” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because it’s fun I guess…” Addy hazarded as playing was just something
she did, school, food and sleep just got in the way of it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“Fun.
F u n… fun…” the robot repeated to itself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Is it a new word to you?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt;">
“Not exactly but I am not sure I
can experience it as you do, when you run you use your cardiovascular system
and…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I know we’re different but have you ever tried just kicking
a ball and running after it?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“Nooo…”
the robot replied looking more closely at the ball, then turned and stood up
with a whirr looked at Addy before winking and kicking the ball just past
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Robots can’t wink Addy thought as
the little robot started tottering towards the ball, its lights must have
blinked or twinkled… but by the time she pondered this she had been overtaken.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She jumped up as the robot kicked the ball once more and ran
away with it so she started to chase after them and could feel the long grass
whipping against her legs as she went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In front of her she could have sworn that she had heard a toddlers
laughter coming from the little robot, could she have taught it about fun?</div>
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Addy wasn’t sure about that but in spite of getting out of
breath she knew that she was gaining and it would only take a few more
steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as she got within tackling
distance she trod on a lump of weeds that made a big clicking sound and sunk a
little under her foot.</div>
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The robot stopped, grabbed the ball and backed away “uh oh!”</div>
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Suddenly Addy remembered her granddad’s tales of landmines
and jerked her foot up only to be catapulted into the air with an enormous
blast before falling maimed and bloodied to the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The little robot had disappeared and the eyes
of the children staring over the fence had widened at the sight and they had
run away screaming just as quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Addy screamed and wailed for help
where most of her lay as a red wetness started to cloud her vision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe, just maybe adventures weren’t always
for the best after all…</div>
Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-32131839527704547442015-06-14T21:58:00.001+01:002015-06-14T21:58:20.279+01:00Blog everyday in May - not quite.<br />
So I took on the blog everyday in May challenge and while I wouldn't go so far as to say I failed I would say that I went into it knowing that it was unlikely that I would succeed... why would I do this you might ask? Well what is life without challenges? If we only ever do the things we know we could do then I might just end up sitting in bed reading novels and hiding under a cat for the rest of my life.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this cat is fluffy enough to hide under...</td></tr>
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Although that would not be the worst way to live I don't think my job, the bank or my toddler would be too impressed by that course of action. So I decided to have ago at Blog Everyday in May to try to blog a bit more and in one respect it has worked as I posted more blogs last month than I often do in numerous months but I also found that I felt awkward posting many of them. It has helped me realise that there are some things that I am happier blogging about than others. <br />
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I prefer writing about food, books and films than about myself. That isn't because I'm not amazing, my hair is like the ocean and my imagination spans multiple genres; of course I'm brilliant! I just prefer writing about other things I am enthusiastic about. <br />
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So I ended up tailing off my blog posts around the middle of last month as I was focusing on work and getting ready for our family trip to Spain at the end of the month. Now that has come and gone and it's nearly the middle of June! How did that happen? So since May I have carried on learning Spanish with <a href="https://www.duolingo.com/" target="_blank">Duolingo</a>, re-started learning code with <a href="http://www.codecademy.com/learn" target="_blank">Codecademy</a> and plodded on with trying to finish my second novel <i>Time for Tea.</i> Not bad for a working Mum in her late twenties I reckon... <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the things I saw in May but didn't have time to blog about.</td></tr>
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<br />Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-33416236034782623292015-05-16T22:47:00.001+01:002015-05-16T22:47:20.760+01:00Blog Everyday in May - day 16 for the love of books. #BEDMToday's suggested post idea was date night but that isn't a thing me and my boyfriend really do. Sometimes we both sit in the study with our computers and chat when the toddler is in bed or watch a film together but we don't tend to schedule romance. What I prefer is thoughtful gestures like when he brings a book back from the library which he knows I want to read.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from: <a href="http://www.stephen-baxter.com/books.html">http://www.stephen-baxter.com/books.html</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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For this reason I was thrilled to see a copy of The Long Mars on the kitchen table on Thursday. I must say that I've only just started it but have enjoyed what I have read. I like how the climax of the last book has been dealt with and the new story is being introduced.<br />
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Recently I have been reading a mixture of fiction and non-fiction but have found the fiction far more enjoyable. (Then again most of the non-fiction books and blogs I have been reading have been related to childcare so I guess it's understandable that they would mainly be less fun.) Before reading this book I read Stardust by Neil Gaiman and Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. <br />
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I digress... myself and my partner both enjoy reading. We don't always enjoy the same books and authors, he won't entertain the idea of reading Harry Potter and I'm not sold on the Foundation series. While I like to read a reasonably eclectic mix of books, he tends to stick with science fiction. We do enjoy some of the same authors like Jasper Fforde and Terry Pratchett so it's great to be able to share these books and discuss them together. Often I think that a well chosen book from the library is better than a bouquet of flowers and lasts slightly longer. Then again I have hay fever and flowers make me sneeze so maybe romance is lost on me!<br />
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Basically I love reading as does my partner and I think that as the toddler is very interested in books, he may enjoy reading too. When he's old enough to obviously... I think there is little better than opening the pages of a book and diving into the world contained within. Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-63177442183664522382015-05-15T23:10:00.000+01:002015-05-20T05:25:50.763+01:00Blog Everyday in May day 15 photography - #BEDM<br />
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It's pretty obvious that I'm no photographer although I do take at least one or two pictures most days I don't tend to share most of them on my blog as they are nearly all of my son. (My long suffering family members are the only ones those pictures are inflicted on!) Occasionally I consider adding pictures of him where you can't see his face but then end up in a moral quandary so I have decided against doing that on all but the rarest occasions. I might put pictures up of him when he gets older if he gives his consent but as he hasn't quite got the hang of sentences longer than three words, that's still some way off.<br />
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The above photos have been taken using my mobile phone as most of my pictures are but I do have a compact digital camera which I hope to use more often in the future. Watch this space!<br />
<br />Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-69974469454743347852015-05-14T17:00:00.000+01:002015-05-16T22:07:12.179+01:00Blog Everyday in May - day 14. Cake. #BEDMSo I haven't managed to keep up with the blogging everyday thing very well because I've been busy with work, helping my boyfriend survive the election, counting votes after the election, getting my hair done, going out, looking after my son... you get the picture!<br />
After all of that I haven't found much time to engage in either of my writing projects or any of my other hobbies. Then yesterday the toddler decided to have a nice long nap and enabled me to bake!<br />
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Hurrah!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every cake should be served on a dinosaur plate.</td></tr>
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I got to make a sponge cake with some butter cream and I went slightly overboard with the jam. It tastes lovely. "Nice" even... that's what the little monster said about the cake mix and the cake. Little joys!Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-46391490953692637442015-05-04T22:28:00.000+01:002015-05-04T22:28:56.901+01:00Blog Everyday in May - day 4. Guilty pleasures. #BEDMI must admit that I'm not a very cool person, in fact I'm a bit geeky. (Although I wouldn't go so far as to say that I'm a nerd as I'm not interested in binary code...) I don't tend to think of myself as having guilty pleasures as life is too short! I readily admit that I enjoy Doctor Who and Star Wars. I prefer my entertainment to be fantastical or action packed so there are only a few things that I watch that buck this trend like Sex in the City or Revenge.<br />
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Musically I have reasonably eclectic tastes and mainly enjoy listening to Indie-pop, rock and a bit of motown/soul. That said I quite enjoy a few chart acts like Meghan Trainor and that Bills song by Lunchmoney Lewis.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G-xk1H0QJz4/TpM3dDLZi0I/AAAAAAAAASY/uDjT-erNgP0/s1600/118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G-xk1H0QJz4/TpM3dDLZi0I/AAAAAAAAASY/uDjT-erNgP0/s320/118.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u6NrIm7wla4/TpM3OztR4II/AAAAAAAAASU/NlAh3jA_8-k/s1600/115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u6NrIm7wla4/TpM3OztR4II/AAAAAAAAASU/NlAh3jA_8-k/s320/115.jpg" width="180" /></a><br />
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I think I have more guilt about the food I eat than the films, tv or music I enjoy. I think this is true of most people. It's not that I diet or obsess over it I just know that eating a block of marzipan is wrong yet it doesn't stop me wanting to... or knowing that I ate Marshmallow Fluff from the jar when I was pregnant. Lets just say I'm not surprised that my son loves sweet food. Another guilty pleasure of mine that at least has vegetables in it is baked aubergines, which is a guilty pleasure as it has two balls of mozzarella in it. Yum!</div>
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I also really like cake, cookies, donuts and scones but I am trying to eat healthier now partly because my metabolism won't let me pig out any more but also because I want to teach my son healthy habits. It's hard but sometimes when I crave chocolate and have an apple instead I find myself really enjoying the apple. (Sometimes I want an apple but my son takes it right out of my mouth!) With guilty pleasures I think everything is good in moderation, want that donut then eat it! Just don't eat it if your bored make a cup of tea or change tasks instead.Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-24257401979134024232015-05-03T23:28:00.000+01:002015-05-03T23:28:04.522+01:00Blog Everyday in May - day 3 Silly Sunday! #BEDMSo the topic today is supposed to be self care Sunday but I have actually spent today eating buns, bacon butties, chocolate and ramen so I'm not sure if that counts as self care.... It was fun! Although the ramen eating was occasionally interrupted by my toddler trying to feed me some of his breaded sweet potato and butternut squash cake. (I didn't resist very hard.)<br />
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I did do a few star jumps after the chocolate mainly because it
entertains the little one. Anything for a laugh, eh? Thankfully there
is no photographic evidence of that but here are a few other whimsical
and silly pictures.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The animals have the draining board.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not freezing here honest!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Much prettier than mugs and glasses...</td></tr>
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I hope that you have had a good Sunday too and managed to at least contemplate relaxing.<br /><br />
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<br />Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-34983986532425801592015-05-02T23:02:00.000+01:002015-05-03T23:03:27.110+01:00Blog Everyday in May: day 2 - adventure. #BEDMWhen I was a child I loved the idea of adventure and excitement possibly due to living in the suburb of a town sandwiched between two cities. Nothing interesting seemed to happen there so I liked to dream about dinosaurs, time travel and swashbuckling heroes. I went through phases of idolising King Arthur, Marty McFly, Indiana Jones, Robin Hood and Peter Pan... I'm not sure why but I never imagined being a princess or bride or anything.<br />
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Later I started reading and hoped foolishly to get to Narnia one day... then I enjoyed the escapades of the Famous Five and Secret Seven before moving on to Harry Potter, The Dark is Rising and the Earth Sea Quartet.<br />
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Now I'm older I realise that maybe being in a fantasy novel might not be the best idea I've ever had, especially not Game of Thrones or Gormenghast! These days with the help of a little film called UP I realise that there isn't just one type of adventure.<br />
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I would love to have a grand adventure exploring the world and experiencing different sights and cultures. This is not a dream I plan to give up on but it may not be possible to travel the world for a few more years... I may have to stick to the corner of the northern hemisphere with occasional excursions to the south of Spain and parts of the British Isles.<br />
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The other adventure I have is the big adventure of buying a house with my partner Paul and living in it with our cats while trying to raise our son.<br />
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I guess it's easy to think of travelling as being the epic scary adventure and general day to day life as being humdrum but life isn't that simple... you get challenging situations everywhere in Sheffield or Shanghai! For now my planned adventures miniature steam trains, farms, polling stations, public transport and Ryanair.<br />
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What are you adventure plans?<br />
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<br />Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-51403064290413645392015-05-01T22:30:00.000+01:002015-05-02T00:07:22.858+01:00Blog everyday in May 2015: day 1 introduce yourself. #BEDM It's that time of year again... hay fever season... I mean the blog everyday in May challenge time! I thought it might me fun to have ago at blogging everyday to <strike>procrastinate away from novel writing</strike> get into better blog writing habits. The blog a day challenge is nice because there are suggested topics to follow everyday but I may have to deviate away from some of them to other things I might actually be able to write about... more sci-fi than beauty I think!<br />
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Anyway, the topic suggestion today is introduce yourself, so here goes. <br />
I'm in my late twenties, I work part time for a Sheffield based company and I live with my boyfriend, 19 month old son and two cats.<br />
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Frankenstein enjoys being photographed.</div>
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I have a lot of interests like playing guitar/ukulele, baking, dancing, sewing, reading and hula hooping which I try to pursue in my bounteous free time. Ha ha ha! I also like to watch my local roller derby teams play and took my son with me to their October bout.<br />
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We've also been to art galleries, rock climbing groups and day time gigs together as well as the swimming baths, cafes, restaurants and cinema...<br />
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On maternity leave I decided to treat myself and dye my hair blue, I also tried green and purple but have settled on blue for the time being as it makes me feel like a comic book character. Once upon a time I would've liked to have looked like a 1950s pin up but now I would rather look like a superhero as I feel like one some days.<br />
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So that's a bit about me. I could babble on about independent films and music, trying to learn Spanish from an app or coding from a website or the many parenting lessons I've learnt since 2013 but I won't. The night is here and my bed beckons with promises of sleep and dreams. Good night!Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-24753016019833842682015-04-15T23:21:00.000+01:002015-04-15T23:21:00.097+01:00Little victories.Whisper it quietly... but I managed to finish the first draft of my first novel! It was a nanowrimo novel and it's only taken just over 3 years to get to this point. Before you ask, no you can't read it. It is one big horrendous plot less piece of writing but it is MY big horrendous first never-to-see-the-light-of-day novel.<br />
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Now I need to work on finishing the second more interesting/fun but stupidly complicated one between toddler wrangling and work. Wonder how long that will take?!? Wish me luck!Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-28130320121064211472015-03-31T18:56:00.000+01:002015-04-15T23:11:12.852+01:00Leeds lunch and afternoon cakeage.So this weekend when I wasn't busy chasing after my toddler and introducing him to the delights of fancy breads I managed to escape to another part of Yorkshire. I somehow managed to get a bit of free time for myself and met up with my friends Heather and Beth in Leeds.<br />
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While in Leeds they took me for Indian Street food and beer at <a href="http://www.bundobust.com/" target="_blank">Bundobus</a>t. It was quiet when we got there shortly after 1 on Sunday afternoon but very nice. They serve excellent Indian food (all vegetarian) and craft beers so it would have been rude not to partake! Unfortunately I was having such a nice time I didn't actually take any pictures so you'll either have to go for yourself or I'll have to have another fact finding mission.<br />
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After stuffing ourselves with bahjis, dosas and okra fries we had a little peruse of some of Leeds stores including the rather nice <a href="http://www.travellingman.com/" target="_blank">Travelling Man</a> a comic book and game shop if you are not familar with it already.<br />
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Once we got our appetites back we headed to a cafe called <a href="http://www.mrsathasleeds.com/" target="_blank">Mrs Atha's</a> which was very busy but also served three different types of hotchocolate and a good variety of cakes. Again I failed here to take a picture of either the cafe or my gianormous slice of red velvet cake. I need to have words with myself... the cafe itself had lovely food and was furnished with vintage furniture so I'd recommend it if you like those sorts of things.<br />
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Basically I had a good afternoon in Leeds eating all of the things and putting the world to rights with my friends in some very nice places. Thanks Heather and Beth!Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-4806557313454005472015-03-30T19:00:00.000+01:002015-04-12T16:04:25.036+01:00Local Loves: Abbeydale Food and Produce MarketI popped by the Abbeydale Food and Produce market on Saturday 28th about an hour before it ended with my son to check it out as it looked good from everything I saw about it online. Stupidly I had lunch prior to setting off so didn't have the space to sample any of the street food available. I also forgot to take pictures of the street food stalls which were set up outside so all the pictures are of market the inside of the Abbeydale Picture House. It was my first visit to the picture house and I think it looks like a nice building with the potential to be gorgeous once it's properly restored. (Look at the size of it!).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We enjoyed wandering around looking at the food on offer, listening to live music, as well as consuming tea and cake. It was a hit with the toddler because of all the space for him to roam in and all the things to see and eat. (I got him a lovely bit of focaccia bread and he also sampled some cheese, beef burger and cakes.) This market is now on my radar for future outings! You should add it to your radar too if you are in Sheffield or visiting when the next one is on.</div>
Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-37702974084492602242015-03-22T18:23:00.000+00:002015-03-22T18:23:54.888+00:00Life exactly as we know it.Recently I have been mainly trying to rid myself and the other members of my house hold of the dreaded sniffles. It's not been a very successful fight I believe the sniffles have the upper hand... despite this we have been having lots of fun.<br />
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I have also been working on my fiction writing when my son had been asleep, at nursery or when my partner has taken over the child wrangling duties. It's been slow going but I've finished my first short stories in a while and am looking forward to writing more. I've also bought tickets to Tramlines for myself and my boyfriend and look forward to doing a lot of dancing.<br />
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There's been a bit less film watching going on here but more baking so swings and roundabouts it's just a shame it's been more of the same blue berry muffins and carrot cake. That, a little hula hooping and all the house work in the world ever! (Slight exaggeration I just hate housework...) It has however included washing plastic balls which look quite funny on the draining board.<br />
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This week coming I plan on fitting in as much writing as I can around work and everything else going on in my life and going to the Abbeydale Picture House produce market on Saturday with he who I prefer not to name. So that's a little snapshot of what is going on in this little corner of the world at the moment.<br />
<br />Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-67237355491551895942015-03-13T10:02:00.000+00:002015-03-13T10:02:02.589+00:00A thank you to Terry Pratchett.I am not normally one for getting upset over deaths of people I don't know or whose works I enjoy but Terry Pratchett has been one of my favourite authors for a while.<br />
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So instead of saying rest in peace I thought it would be better to say thank you. Thank you for all the disc world books. For all of the chuckles and guffaws. The silly names, the hours spent reading, the interesting concepts and witty one liners.<br />
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You may not be here to grant us more stories and for that I am sad but at least in print you are immortalised. I look forward to introducing my son to your stories as he grows and sharing the love for your words.Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7498290310769594706.post-77451752612385940562015-03-11T12:00:00.000+00:002015-03-11T12:00:05.033+00:00Midweek bake - spicy carrot cake.So last week I fancied carrot cake and when I eventually got my son down to nap I decided that it was time to make one. So I tried the Spicy Carrot cake recipe in my Coffee and Cake recipe book, with a couple of adaptions to suit the ingredients I had to hand and my personal tastes.<br />
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This is it before I took it to work and it got demolished. I thought that throwing some fudge cubes on it might make it extra nice and while they were tasty they were kind of superfluous. It was just very nice and moist, not bad for a bit of post park procrastibaking! (Obviously I should have spent this time tidying or writing... but hey I'm a rebel.)<br /><br />Correenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563333196337765656noreply@blogger.com0