Sad heart, empty brain...

Have you ever felt so swamped by emotion that you can't actually begin to describe it? When your head feels so full that you can't even pick out a single thought? (Or even write about them lucidly?) Well, it has been one of those weeks for me.

On Friday 3rd July, someone very dear to me passed away suddenly. This person wasn't related to me but his passing has affected me deeply. I am privileged to have known him, and he will be very sadly missed and never forgotten.

This is a poor tribute a truly great gentleman, but I am lucky enough to have no regrets for sentiments felt but never said - he knew how much we loved him, and were in no doubt of his feelings towards us (purely platonic on both sides I hasten to add!!)

R.I.P Peter xxx

Ohhhh it's HOT!!

Lovely summer vista from my hammock :)

I really shouldn't be complaining that it's too hot while I have a week off work... but it is, well if you want to be out doing stuff anyway!

It's been 29 degrees C here today and very humid so has been waaaay too hot to start staining the garden fences as planned. I did have a wee sunbathe before lunch and lasted about 10 minutes before my lily-white English skin begged for mercy - not a good start for the attempted I've-been-lazing-in-the-garden-while-you've-all-been-working tan...

Spent most of the afternoon begrudgingly indoors trying to keep cool whilst watching Wimbledon. Too hot for housework ;) The Murray v Wawrinka match is currently on - COME ON MURRAY!!!!!!!!!

Am going to see my Mum tomorrow so am looking forward to spending lots of time with my Mummy while my sister is at school :) I never see her alone, as much as I love my sister and step-dad, so it'll be great.

Enjoy your summer days! x

Happy Father's Day! x

Before I forget, I just wanted to thank two very special men today - my daddy and my step-dad. I cannot express how much I appreciate everything that you have done for me over the years. You mean the absolute world to me and I love you both millions xxx

Dad and I xxx

With my step-dad, Mum and sister xxx

Happy Father's Day to the Dad's of the world!

xx

In my bag....

Hello! Two posts in as many days, woo! I have seen this on a few blogs, so thought I'd post my own.

What's in my bag?? Well my lovelies, have a look and you'll see:

Firstly, the bag is a silver shopper with lilac and silver lining by the wonderful Kathy Van Zeeland (I love her bags!)

Hot pink Filofax

Pink BlackBerry Pearl 8100

Light blue iPod nano (3rd generation) 8Gb

Hello Kitty purse

Mini Revlon hairbrush

E45 Cream

Nivea Creme tin

Benefit Bad Gal Lash mascara

Carmex Cherry lipbalm

No 7 Lipgloss

Flirt mints

Sunglasses

Tissues

House keys

Car keys

Office keys

Oh, and the camera is usually in there as well! So basically, this is what I usually take everywhere with me (give or take make up bits and bobs), although I change my bags like the weather - must do a handbags blog soon :)

Believe me, there is an art to packing this all into the KVZ as it's quite compact at the opening. I love really big handbags but find that I end up with so many bits and pieces that I can never find anything!

J xx

I'm back!

Wow... I haven't been on here for sooooo long! Apologies that my last post was sombre - I was obviously having a sentimental day. Grief does that sometimes!

I'm not sure why, but I've never been able to get into blogging - very annoying as I love to write and I thought that I'd be blogging away like crazy. Maybe it's the thought that others can read it.... who knows!

Anyway, I have now resolved to blog, blog, blog (I don't think anybody ever reads this anyway so what the hell).

Hmmm... well, summer's here and I feel energised and inspired to BLOG :), to read that HUGE pile of books that I keep buying, to decorarate the house and to finally sort out my garden - beginning with sprucing up the fences with a fresh lick of cuprinol!! Hopefully I'll get lots done in the next few weeks as I have a week's annual leave beginning 29th June - I can't wait!!! (Hopefully I won't be too distracted by Wimbledon hehe).

Enjoy your weekend x

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

This morning it snowed!! Not just the usual flurry in the wind, but good old-fashioned sideways snow that settled everywhere within about ten minutes. It never usually snows properly here until January / February so of course the bets have been slashed for a white Christmas. I love watching snow falling, it's so relaxing and hypnotising...

I'm starting to feel really Christmassy now - and I love all of the tv ads featuring the best holiday songs ever! I'd love to spend Christmas in the M & S house :) but we all know that it isn't really Christmas until the Coca-Cola ad! "Holidays are coming... holidays are coming..." I do hope they show the polar bears one again this year!

I've been on the internet for hours today, ordering presents - I simply cannot believe that next weekend is the last free weekend I have before Christmas!! Where has the time gone?!

We're putting the Christmas tree up at work tomorrow to the sounds of a festive CD, it's something that my colleague Amanda and I do every year and we both look forward to it. I've even brought a second tree to stand in my kitchen at home this year!

This is absolutely my favourite time of year and I still get that excitement in the pit of my stomach on Christmas Eve - I think it's because my Mum really loves it all too and always makes the festive season so special.

My sister holding my mum's gingerbread house creation!

The house is always filled with holly and ivy, and the tree is always breathtaking, and we watch the Carols from King's College, Cambridge on tv... then we all hang a stocking and prepare Santa and Rudolf's snacks before my little sister goes to bed - oh I can't wait!!!

Christmas Eve 2007

It's not all a jolly-hockey-sticks English Christmas though, as we always take time to remember absent loved ones. It's a big part of our Christmas, especially as my dear grandparents are no longer with us.

They were always the centre of the entire family, the lynchpins that held us all together, especially at this time of year. Christmas WAS Nan and Grandad. Their house was always the place where we all congregated and spent time together, where presents were hidden and wrapped away from excited eyes, where we all helped to dress the tree and decorate the house after they became too aged to do it themselves.

Nam and Grandad were enormously important to us all. Very much loved and respected, and will ALWAYS and forever be missed.

Nan and Grandad, Christmas 2003

This was the last time that they spent Christmas together at our house.

A lot of people think Christmas is over after Boxing Day; in our family however it continues until the New Year. We don't have presents every day or anything like that - we just have a LOT of family time. Board games, family walks, friends and family visiting, carols, thank you letters... it's all our special tradition that I hope to be able to continue with a family of my own one day.

Christmas morning, 2007

Ant & Dec... two of my favourite men!

What can I say about these two.... gorgeous and talented, they never fail to make me laugh.

I've been a huge fan since I was 12 and STILL have discussions with my girlfriends as to which one we fancy the most! Personally that choice changes all the time and I love them both :) but currently Dec is on the wishlist for Future Husband along with Josh Hartnett... well a girl can dream!

Ant & Dec, you're great - keep up the good work lads xx