Iramble has been given a new look thanks to my lovely son – it is now looking very smart and very pink!

This was part of my mothers day present and I think its lovely.

I remember a conversation between my son and I many years ago when he asked me what I thought about him spending £10 a month on setting up a webhosting company. At the time I was concerned that my impoverished software engineer student was taking a risk – but this risk has paid off.

www.betterwebspace.com was born and is still growing, not only with webhosting and reseller packages, but web design, content writing and full support including a back-up service and all still at easy prices.

Well done Keiron and thank you for my facelift!!!!!

It started well, I found myself time travelling through my life, writing about my Mum and Dad, then through my school years and teens. My music memories and of course when I met my husband.

I then realised that my words would not be enough and started to look for photographs that would illustrate the text. That is when it became a marathon – so many questions and so little time. My father had taken photo slides when I was a kid and I was hoping to get some of the pictures from them – especially the ones of my Irish cousins and childhood holidays back ‘home’. But sadly these were not ready in time.

Then there were the early photos of me and my husband to be – I realised my son may never have seen these photos and as his Dad had died some years back – would never see or hear about our ‘courting days’. So I climbed up to the high cupboard again to drag yet more of my photo albums out into the light of day – yes there were some of Ireland, many of me as a baby, through to my teen years and right up to our wedding day.

I managed to match a lot of them up to the answers I had written and stuck in a few fun ones to illustrate some of the madness from when my son was young.

The book became thicker and more dog-eared as i travelled through my journey – but at last, in the week before Christmas it was almost complete! the pen had run out of ink long ago and the text was in many colours but hey! I got there!

A few questions remained unanswered: one of them ‘What would you like your epitaph to say?’ – I left for a later date…… and some of the others need photos that I haven’t found yet.

But – my boy unwrapped it along with his other presents and he and his wife sat looking through my life…. there were tears and smiles and hugs – it was wonderful.

I have a feeling this book will be shown to generations of my family – yes, its started already – my son and daughter in law are expecting their first baby in May this year!!!

I do recommend giving this to a family member to complete but in some ways I feel for the recipient!!!!

I’ve added the description below – just in case anyone else wants to buy it – but if you want it back for Christmas – give it now so there’s plenty of time!!!

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WINNER OF GIFT OF THE YEAR 2008! Here is a gift from me to you . . . for you to give back to me! Capture precious memories, experiences, family insights and social history from the life of your mother in this quality hard-back journal. Have you ever wondered what your mother was like when she was a child? What was it like to be young back then . . . and what are the biggest changes she has seen in her lifetime? Intrigued about what she enjoyed . . . or even how she met your father? Interested in discovering fascinating facts about your ancestors? What about you and your relationship with your mother . . . how did she feel when she found out he she was pregnant with you? . . . what are her memories of you as a child & what made her proud? . . . what does she like about you & is there anything she’d change? We rarely talk about these things with our loved ones yet these are questions that lead to precious answers . . . answers that will, one day, be lost forever. This unique journal includes insightful questions to give your mother the chance to find that ‘book’ within him . . . and give you a story that you will treasure and pass down through the generations. The perfect gift . . . that lasts forever.

Read all about her here !

And here she is:

Always photogenic and never ever camera shy.

Its been a busy year, my girl and her dog moved out into their own home in March and the photo shoot was almost forgotten.

But, just before the voucher expired I made the booking.

Considering this was a gift – it was quite a surprise to find that I needed to pay a £20 deposit. This was to be refunded to me if I didn’t use it towards purchasing extra photos –although we would get one 10 x 8 “ free.

The chosen photographer was quite a long way away  (apparently they don’t have local ones) but they did say they were used to photographing pets and had toys and treats to get the animals attention and capture the best shot.

Sadly when my daughter and Hippie arrived there were no toys or treats, and Hippie was nervous of her surroundings. My daughter hadn’t taken anything, believing that these people would have, at least, the basics like a bowl of water and a squeaky toy.

They had nothing and Hippie was panting and not ready for this event.

But still it went ahead – the photographer suggested grey backdrops to show off Hippie’s colouring but my daughter wanted fun shots so she chose pink.

Many photos later – they left for home and yesterday we went back to view the photos.

We were shown them on a big screen in a darkened room with soft music playing… how nice!

But – the photos were just hilarious, Hippie at her best, turning her back or her head – or running off – there was even one of her rear end as she ran away. My daughter and I were helpless with laughter as we tried to narrow down our choice for the free photo.

Eventually we got it down to 5 – and went through them again – my daughter chose one of the ones with the pink background and 
I was told if Iwanted one my £20 deposit plus another £10 would secure me a 7 x 5 print.

Yes – it was a rip off but there was one photo that I loved …

– possibly not the best but I  do miss Hippie around the house and I love the look on her face!

It was hard to get a photo of the pink background one…

but you can get some idea from this…..

Before leaving for this expedition I had left Alfie with my friend …..

He had been quite happy to go and play with his friend Buddy.

When I got back my friend looked worn out – Alfie had been into everything and wouldn’t listen – I think she was glad to see the back of him and I don’t blame her – he is hard work.

We got home and he went to sleep for the afternoon….. bliss!

But later he threw his dummy out of the pram ..

Do you think he wants a photo shoot too??????

It is either spent repairing the things that the puppy has destroyed, or puppy proofing my home a little more in an attempt to stop the destruction caused by the chewing and scratching of my six month Whippet.

Last weekend my son and daughter in law came to stay and, bless them they spent their weekend repairing chewed flexes (fortunately switched off when Alfie chewed through them) or putting hooks high up on the ceiling of my garage to stop him reaching them.

The garage has always been fascinating to this little pup – he likes to investigate in there and usually this culminates in him chewing at the walls until he can get some mortar from between the brickwork, or worse, pulling at the flex of my freezer. None of it is good for him (or me).

Last week was no exception – if he couldn’t reach things like the mop bucket because it was hanging from the ceiling he would look for other things to do – like pull at the wood pile – ready chopped for the chimnea, it was puppy mayhem!

The garage is at the end of my carport and there has always been an up and over door to it but I have never used it – until now…

It took three of us to move the hot tub the few inches it needed to bring the door down….. sorted you would think but no, it was filthy and after it was washed off – I discovered it was a nasty red colour… it just had to go.

I sorted through the collection of old pots of paint and then spent my weekend painting garage door in between dog walks and short trips in the car to try to stop his puppy affliction of car sickness and aversion to cars in general.

The result is amazing – it doesn’t look half bad at all..

And Alfie just had to have a sniff – of course… note the paint spot on his nose!

In between charging around his ‘safe areas’ namely the kitchen and the garden… playing with his toys..

Scratching at the tray in his crate until it broke into little pieces…

I have two more on order and a friend who is constructing a metal one.

I have swept the kitchen floor more times than I care to think of, clearing it of the stuffing from his toys…

And I am now getting ready to start another week at work …. at least I’ll be sitting down!!!!!

It’s been almost three months since I fetched Alfie from the breeder, who, by the way, i wouldn’t recommend….

The little bundle of fur has grown a great deal since his arrival…

Ah… wasn’t he sweet!!

He has also become an excitable ball of destruction in many ways.. he can remove artex from walls, something many builders have said was impossible…. dig up carpets, particularly in the hall – and that one was replaced after Hippie dug it up two years ago… the timer buttons for my cooker now reside in a pretty little glass jar because he removed them so regularly.

He has spent one day in hospital after eating a whole biro, chewing it into little shards before swallowing it, demolished any toy within minutes when unsuspecting friends supply them, and grown enough to reach the worktops!!! This the time the supersoaker water pistol comes into play and I am afraid ‘puppy power’ goes out of the window…. he is learning..

His dog guard for my car has finally been fitted – despite the problems with the first one that just did not fit. Thank you Halfords and particularly Joe for all your help in supplying and fitting one that works – fitted to the headrests on the back seats – it hold him back completely!!!!

However, he gets horribly travel sick and despite all my good intentions, if its a long trip he has to be sedated and travel in his crate on the back seat to get to our destination….. he can’t even get to the vets in the village without being sick!

But, with an enormous amount of patience he is coming through – and even ‘left’ a treat on his paw four 5 seconds this morning, he sits on command and waits to cross a road….. it is all coming but it takes time!!

We have long walks – sometimes with my daughter..

While ‘our’ big girl gets jealous….

and sometimes, just the two of us, but we meet amazing people with their pooches and that is great!

He has also eaten most of these Livingstone Daisies in my garden that looked so lovely when the sun shone..

But he tells me he is sorry?

And that he loves me…..

And of course I believe him (!?)

I have also, despite the odds, finished making a ‘hug me tight’ for my friend’s expected grandchild – the pattern was one my mum made for my elder sister and obviously my brother and then me – so called because the knitted garment just wraps around the babe and ties at the sides with no awkward sleeve issues.. I like it – and so would Alfie if he could get his paws on it…. No way!!

Oooh and at last i have found the perfect shower curtain to suit my bathroom….. Hooray for Ebay!!

Sorry Cortes – I know its boring girlie stuff but sometimes it just has to be done!!!

Keep Smiling!!!

Saturday – our second day and another lovely morning. The early mornings are quite the best time of day, there is a freshness in the air which is soon taken over by immense heat and humidity.

Mark and Lisa came over and we set off for a trip to Little India.

But first – a bus ride… using the same cards as we were given for the underground – it is a wonderful system – it just takes off the amount you have used when you leave the bus or train and can easily be topped up when the money is running low.

Our first stop was an art shop, Liz wanted to buy some Chinese brushes and it turns out that Mark dabbles with painting too – something else they have in common – apparently Mark used to draw when he was young but now does ‘Abstract’ paintings.

After there we went to Bugis Street, called after a sailing ship from long ago and it was around here we heard the haunting sound of the ‘call to prayer’ from one of the mosques.

It was Saturday, the world was out selling Lottery tickets and the good people of Singapore had wheeled out their Buddhas and opened up their temples to pray for a big win and pray they did patting the buddhas with their tickets and feeding other Gods in the hope that they would win.

Liz and I patted this guy

But we didn’t buy flowers – or a lucky ticket – the flowers were beautiful though!!

Then it was time foe an iced lemon tea in a street cafe

And some fresh fruit – it was delicious!

Then off to Little India – not the little shop houses of my rather old guide book- at least, not all of it….

But if it could be sold – it was there and fascinating to see..

I bought a string of elephants and two tiny Buddhas – it was explained to me in great detail what each Buddha meant and what they signified – so they were carefully chosen.

The Hindu temple was very pretty both outside and in….

But the thought of samosas led us down a side street to an Indian hawker shop…

Not the most up-market of establishments

But their samosas were delicious, as big as cornish pasties!

Followed by keema curry and naan bread

And washed down with tiger beer..

Very nice!

Then it was off to Mustafa’s the biggest emporium in Little India – a huge store – so out of character really but there you can buy anything – although you can’t take your bags in – you have to check them at the door. The place was enormous and seething with people, floor after floor of everything you would need to survive!

By the time we had finished in the store it was 7 p.m. and we fell into a taxi and went back to Orchard Road.

Mark and Lisa stayed a little while and then went home.

Liz and I went over to TGI’s for dinner around 9 and after an hour people watching we we went home to bed!!!

Another very full day!!!

Singapore breakfast and a bit of pampering next……….

Isn’t it beautiful?

So amid the lovely smell of incense and the smoke from the men smoking their Turkish Shishas there was a shop selling these wonderful lamps…

And the shishas too!

But they were expensive and I knew that I would have to wait until nearer the end of the holiday before I could think about buying one!!

I think by then I had hit exhaustion because suddenly I knew I needed to stop – the thought of a cold beer and a sit down was uppermost in my mind and as Mark had finished work we made our way back to the hotel calling in at a handy 7-11 store for a cold beer on the way – I think I was suffering from information overload!

When we got back to the hotel Liz ran some water and bubbles into the bath and the three of just stood in it… giggling like kids. Keiron rang me just at that time and Mark has a video of the three of us standing in the bath with me trying to have a sensible conversation on my mobile!!

Then we got ready to go out to dinner – I wanted to try the hawker stands – little stalls selling a variety of food – so Lisa put a call in to one of her friends and we headed off to ‘Newtons’ … a large area with picnic tables in the middle, surrounded by lots of very small shop like kitchens each selling different (or not) food.

Mark and Lisa’s friend ‘Liverpool’ – so named because he always wore a team shirt from that club – found us a table and we sat down. Bottles of Tiger beer were brought to the table and set down in a plastic bucket of ice – glasses, marked with coloured tape to denote which bar we were buying from, plastic picnic plates, disposable chopsticks and plastic chinese spoons… our table was set.

And then they brought out the most lovely food …sate, chinese vegetables, stingray (for mark), sweet and sour chicken, spicy beef and an amazing fried rice..

We ate loads and drank far more than we should but every time we took the last bottle from the ice bucket another two appeared – superb up selling.

Thank you Liverpool!

Much later – it had become a social gathering with a group of guys on the next table- one was a Michael Jackson lookalike and by then Liz was getting quite vocal trying to get a photo: ‘Come on boys’ she shouted …Yes Mark that is your Mum!!! Isn’t she wonderful!!!?

We had a really good night and it was so good to see my friend and her boy together, laughing and happy…. priceless!

The end of a perfect day – a taxi ride home followed by much needed sleep…. The next day Mark was to be taking us to Little India!!!

Of course Max thought it was a huge game, running off with my current ball of wool and beating it up in a corner!

Even Hippie thought it was wonderful – I found all my knitting in her bed twice!!

But, I finally got it finished!

You saw the early pic:

Where I had started to put different colours in ‘cos there was never going to be enough main colour.

It grew very quickly and soon I could see how I wanted it to look – I only followed the pattern for the size so this is true designer wear….

And soon I was ready to sew it up, but with what? None of my needles would take the chunky wool, so it was back to Mum’s sewing box..

Just look – a needle for all occasions!!!

Max just loved it – I’m sure he thought it was a soft new blanket just for him.

Hippie decided just to lay on the settee and watch from a distance… if Max was involved she didn’t want to play..

So I now have a new designer wear jumper!

Just the thing – instead of a coat for this time of year!

Thanks Mum!

He is a sweetie and very loving but has been having a very bad time lately.

Another cat, a stray I think has been trying to move in, and Max has been defending his property with a vengeance. The fights have been ferocious and completely unstoppable – eventually my boy had to go to hospital with broken teeth and abcesses. After surgery I decided to keep him in, which drove him mad but I could think of no other way of protecting my boy.

The stray continued to visit and to be very fair I could only think that he was a monster, the vets bill had been £200 and Max was a mess.

Last Saturday I decided to let Max out for short periods in the day and it went quite well. He went back to sitting on the roof, viewing his garden, and there was no sign of the stray …. until last night.

I was sorting out the recycling for our refuse collection today and was in and out of the car port with plastics and paper when I noticed Max behaving strangely near to our indoor dog kennel which is kept in the car port until we have to leave Hippie alone in the house.

On closer inspection I saw that the stray cat was inside the kennel and Max was growling at him from outside.

The kennel is a thick wire construction and obviously large enough for a greyhound….

I leaned forward and shut the kennel door, effectively trapping the stray inside …. sorry no photos here, I was thunderstruck, and Max was now spitting and hissing while the stray just looked at him!

On closer inspection this cat was in a sorry state, broken teeth, nicked ears and abcesses – he was also very thin and unkempt.

I rang the local animal hospital for advice, after all they had dealt with Max’s problems. They were brilliant and asked me to call the RSPCA and get a log number, then I could take the stray to them for treatment. I did this and was then left with the problem of getting this cat out of the kennel and into Max’s travel box.

But there was no problem – he went straight in after I put a dish of cat food in there. Then all I heard was frantic eating followed by the noisy licking out of the dish.

Suddenly he wasn’t a monster just a misguided cat looking for help and food.

I took him to our vet’s hospital and they booked him in – I also took a can of Max’s food which they said they would give him.

They will treat him and if they cannot find his owner, they will send him to the RSPCA where he will be re-homed. If they do find his owners I hope they give them the bill for his care.

Anyway, back home and at first Max was scared to go out, walking very gingerly and checking out each area of his domain.

But, today he is back to his normal self – a little battle scarred but as loving as ever.

Until the next time!!!!