Christmas report

Christmas here was a bit different for a few reasons one being we didn't go out for lunch between some inter family stuff that tested patience to the limits and Mommy and I being very unwell just before and still recovering  so even if we had, it really would of been a waste as we'd not of eaten much.
With that we ate at home between ourselves,with the Turkey being put in over night to cook right through, vegetables done across the morning and the Christmas Pudding zapped in two minutes flat before eating!
As it was 2015 I had to help out getting stuff out, setting the table, clearing the table and with washing up.
I did have a number of presents this year although somethings are in transit as as I wasn't well enough to organize them to just before Christmas which does give me something to look forward toward I guess.

A perennial with me is comic annuals which are a direct run on from the Christmas presents I has as a child featuring special and sometimes Christmas themed cartoon strips from my all time favourite characters such as the no longer running apart from specials, Dandy which had Korky the cat, Desperate Dan of Cow Pie fame and others in it. 

The BIG comic with me as a Child was Britain's Beano a veritable parallel world for those of us who were of official school age  during the 70's thru 90's it's peak period with it's own school and characters in the form of the Bash Street Kids, my heroine Minnie the Minx and Dennis the Menance who like us also got smacked if they were naughty (and they were!).
As time went by some strips like Lord Snooty got retired and others like Bananaman who did have a tv series too joined the old favourites and the questionable practise of featuring in the news real people like pop stars and the like in story-lines crept in.

To say I like Jacqueline Wilson's stories is an understatement outside of the likes of Enid Blyton and co which I was raised on (and as you may know do have a good number of complete series by), she treads the line well between old school story telling but set in the world of todays children (and sadly some of society's issues) producing funny, very readable and thought provoking work.
This is set of short stories, some Christmas related featuring some of her best loved characters like Tracy Beaker and Hetty Feather with quizzes too which is just the sort of thing I like, a more middles take on an annual in a paperback book format.

Mommy bought me  this, Maddie who is a 14 inch soft rag doll who I think is adorable in her pink candy stripped outfit and some grey long school socks which is a very sensible choice for an adult middle like me.

My Auntie brought me a selection box which was a super inspired choice on her part as she not formally known about my Middle side but can tell straight I'm very child-like.

To be honest I'd sooner people either asked ideally or just bought me things more like this because I just so not relate to *adult* likes and that at all so buying for a middle child really is more sensible.

Happy Christmas.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Santa is very mooch for real!

There will be a 'paws' for Christmas and then I'll resume posting folks.

Post 600

I mentioned  a short while back at various places we were approaching the 600th post of this blog which by coincidence was just over a year and a week back and I was thinking about doing something a bit special.
Well other things intervened altering the posts between as well as the frequency a bit for good measure not least being very unwell recently and during that period I thought about some of things and people that matter  the most to me.
The first thing is there's a person who I've only known for a few years and due to distance I only see from time to time who in their own way has been such a inspiration and source of reassurance at times even though they themselves have had their own difficulties some of which we do have in common.
They've encouraged me to be more open about myself, who I am, what interests me with other people, to feel comfortable doing arts stuff like drawing which I've always had hang ups with just for the fun of it and above all just accepts me as I am.
The year has been hard for us both following the death of our (and probably for a good number of you, yours too) close friend where we've both been supporting each other  and both of us have been supported by others which has been a great source of comfort.
You're a star.
Then there are other people such as those that have given me a home from home where I can just relax with my mind free from some of the stuff that gets on top of me here, enjoying a meal and like minded company together.
Which if on it's own is something I'd be thankful for but you go much further than that, you look after me, not in a super fussy way but more an observing the scene and responding way, knowing that if I'm giving signs of been tired (and I tire easy) you'll get me to where I need to be, bed, in  suitably child-like way that leaves me feeling relaxed and very little.
Then there people who help me deal with some of baggage from the past because a number of my responses to situations has tripped me up, not just say from not doing something important but also making it harder for me  fit in cos I do things that can conflict with everyday norms, a good number of which I never really learned and was never expected to take any account of.
Sometimes because of some very bad encounters I had, I'd disengage first to avoid situations that had distressed me rather than mastering them.
Instead you've had higher expectations starting from the outset that I was to at least try to do what everyone else was expected to even if I needed a close eye on me and when I didn't you were prepared to follow through with appropriate child-like discipline to help me change.
A lot of people in a way gave up on me thinking I couldn't be given a second shot at getting this right but they didn't. Rather than feeling I could only mess up, they helped me replace it with a feeling I could get it right and if I messed up once, the by learning the right lesson, I get it right the next time.
For once I started to begin to look forward to social encounters knowing I'd be helped by firm, loving and caring people to handle them so I could enjoy my time with people more (and hopefully they'd feel the same).
And that does wonders for my self confidence.
In so many ways then  these things are the things that matter and have mattered so much to me over the last 100 odd posts here, the gifts that are priceless and to whom I am most thankful for.
**Thank You**

Twirling around the day

So it's day 14 of Advent according to my Calender  and already I had a few people over  bringing gifts for much later and at least the last lot did appreciate my dolls and plushies.
I'm not awfully well presently with a rotten cold that makes all my bones hurt so I'm on hot lemon, chicken soup as well as eating tons of oranges to fight as much of this off as is possible and thanks for your concern and suggestions at various sites.
Looking at that picture, I only wish my stairway was that elegant as our house is typical late 60's, early 70's semi lacking a certain finesse when it comes to such things.
What's so wrong with making features of them???
One other thing I do wish my fairy godmother would get me classic 50's style girls dress like this, a bit puffed out in a plaid fabric  cos I do so love walking and hey twirling around in dresses.
In other news I did redo a few Eagles cds I copied for my personal music player the other day between the sneezes although to be really period one really needs a Decca all tube stereogram to play them over which ironically I had growing up (allegedly).

Jo gains a badge edition

I'm a bit late in publishing todays edition I'm afraid with a few unexpected things to deal with and just as I was about to get into the swing of it, Marmalade comes along and sits right next to the laptop so I had to move!
I'm a bit later getting up today  after having fun talking at G.I chat with Pj, Abbie and Chris last night  for a bit although I can see I'll need in future to stick to my official bedtime although I had gotten a dispensation for that night. Routines are things that seemingly I do need to help with stuff like getting to sleep.

As well, I has been appointed as Head Girl no less at G.I's school which is quite something for me as hadn't been there very long, to help out and I'm sure the red badge will look good on my uniform.
Talking of good stuff and me, something that's been a problem area in the past, I was super good this week and just did what I was told and helped Mommy shopping as dad wasn't (and isn't) well and she needed a paw without any fuss which only goes to show helping me behave can work wonders as the only difference this last year and bit has been extra input into that by my Caregiver and others.

Chilling little style IV

The last entry of this series looked a bit more at presentation in the form of uniform and how that's changed and how that is a part of my life.
There are other parts of it too which have changed over the years, socks being oddly enough one of the first manifestations from buying school socks from the schools department of British Home Stores  every term usually grey from the late 1980's before moving gradually toward an exact replica uniformed presentation via 'Senior school' or 'Secretarial' wear.
Sometimes I have bought patterned socks like Harlequin ones in different plaid colours before moving more into that exact replica uniform by wearing actual school socks with it such as these Grey ones.

These are some I recently got although I usually wear white one of the same sort of design
except the bow would be a matching white.
The other thing that goes with it is underwear which has changed a bit over the years from all white around 2010 to grey or bottle green full school briefs when the original replica uniform came about.

 Now it is to go with the newer uniformed presentation I'm to be wearing mainly black high waisted Carta Gym Knickers which apart from being good for sports do keep me warm and cozy which is good thing at this time of year.
These arrived a few days ago and are to be worn from now on.

Burrowing time

I don't know about you but I'm really taken with super cute things as well as plushies so what would happen if you mixed them?

Taking the rabbit theme your braids are in rabbits, your foot wear and your plushie as you sit licking your lolipop. I'd just love that!

In other stuff, apart from Yet More Rain in deepest cat Cheshire, I had lots of fun talking to Abbie and Kiddo in G.I. chat last night, got some Christmas stuff sorted and finished off the community magazine deliveries that had to postponed due to strong winds.
As well I organized my photo equipment manuals complete with invoices in a folder and replaced my Olympus Modern Classics user guide from 18 years ago as I had an accident and spilt tea all over it a while back when my paws were shot at, shaking, leaving it badly stained in places and water damaged.
Thankfully I was able to find a slightly earlier edition used cheaply in much better shape than even before as my original had been well thumbed through.
I might warn Susan I do have my cats ears now!!!

Advent edition

Well, it's a brand new Moth which by coincidence  also marks the start of the great countdown otherwise known as Advent which from childhood always was a magical thing aided by having a calender.
Way back then, they were card based  with you pulling back a flap to uncover various things and at least in our house, nominally religious in character.

 This is a very nomable which is currently atop of a short floor standing bookcase facing the front room window cos I don't care anymore. 
A middle lives in this house and does stuff like this apart from colouring her Frozen colouring in most days!
Just open a door each day, eat some chocolate and see the days before Christmas go before your very eyes.