Category Archives: linky

Something BIG

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Have you heard about the Black Dog Tribe yet? It was set up by Ruby Wax who decided to become the ‘poster girl for mental illness’ after her mental health issues were brought into the public eye following a Comic Relief campaign. Ruby says:

“Four years and six months ago, I had the tsunami of all depressions where I had to be institutionalized and couldn’t leave a chair for five months. Depression doesn’t care if you’re well known or live in a mud hut or what colour you are, it just loves everyone.

What was really most healing, for me, besides the drugs, was meeting my own people, my tribe. When you meet each other the relief of knowing you’re not alone and that you both feel like the walking dead. It’s such a relief to be with someone who will never say,“Perk up.””

And she couldn’t be more right. Having as many people that understand what you’re going through, I mean really understand, is of huge comfort and support when you are suffering from mental health problems (or even caring for someone who is). It has taken me a long time to be able to speak openly about my own battles with mental health, over ten years in fact, and even now if someone asks me a loaded ‘how are you?’ I still temper my answer pretty carefully.

That is why my blog has been such a salvation. It has given me the confidence to be more open, support when I have been in desperate need and so much understanding. And that is why the Black Dog Tribe will be a success; it’s a place for people to simply belong. To be listened to and to be cared about. A place to find information as well as support. When you’re living with mental illness that is something that is both rare but invaluable.

In an effort to raise awareness, to make sure that others don’t need to suffer alone and to encourage a society where it’s OK to talk about mental health, there is a huge linky running over on Love All Blogs right now. The Grand Love Mental Health Blog Hop is open for the whole of 2012. Absolutely anyone can take part, all you have to do is link up the posts that you have written about mental health. Link up every single post, whether you have ten or ten thousand, this is a strength in numbers campaign. The more stories and opinions we can include the better. Let’s make a really loud noise. So many people will find support and comfort in seeing a collection of posts, trust me.

Please swing by and link up, and if you know anyone who should be involved, point them in the right direction. We can make a massive difference here and this is going to be huge, I can feel it.

There Is Always Beauty, You Just Have To Look

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This week I am taking part in a brand new linky, one that I discovered thanks to the Love All Blogs showcase.

I am seeing more and more that we all sometimes need to take a step back and appreciate the little things, and that is why I’m loving this idea over at Cheetahs In My Shoes. Here’s the idea:

What have you seen that’s beautiful today?  Was it a glorious sunrise, a pan of your favourite food cooking, something your child has done, a miracle of nature or just something that other people wouldn’t have stopped to notice but made you think ‘wow’?

This idea was inspired by a tweet from the Black Dog Tribe: All we can do is take one day and one step at a time. We’d love to hear what positive things you are doing today?

This linky encourages us to take some time out to enjoy the little things – anything from something your heard to something you saw. This is my offering for this week. I took this photo from the car this week, ain’t it pretty?

Click here to see other beautiful things in this weeks linky or to add your own post.

The Lovely Lovely List Of Loveliness

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Last night, myself and Mammasaurus stayed up way past our bedtime. We decided that with all the shizz going down in blogland recently we could all do with something light-hearted. Something fun and frivolous (dare I say silly) to get us all back to being the good spirited bloggers that we once were.

Forget the dramas, the stats and the rankings. Take your serious hat off, grab a cuppa and embrace The Lovely Lovely Love List Of Loveliness.

Catchy, no? And wait, there’s more – it has an amazing kitten picture too! Feel free to right click his furry little face and proudly display him in all his glory alongside your list.

So, let’s wrap the blogosphere up in a big cheesy grin. Answer the questions, join the linky aaaaaaand bingo! Smiles abound!

The Lovely Lovely Love List Of Loveliness

1. Cake or chocolate – discuss.

Caaaaaaaake! That’s an easy one. Chocolate of course has a lot of my love, but cake is better. It comes in all colours, flavours, shapes and sizes. It doesn’t melt. You get one dedicated to you every year on your birthday. Making the first slice into a big cake is a feeling like no other. Cake cake cake.

2. Your most embarrassing memory. Of. All. Time.

Way back when, before the husband was the husband, we lived in the same halls at university. I was going back home for the weekend and he offered to walk me to the station. So there I was, trying to be dead cool and alluring, trying not to sweat too much from the ohmigod he’s talking to me nerves combined with being in a rush for the train. We made it to just outside the station and I allowed myself to relax with gay abandon, resulting in one of those trips that starts and never stops. With aeroplaning arms and girly squeals I tripped and I tripped and I tripped, like some kind of demented ballet dancer I couldn’t bring myself to a halt. Finally, a good 10 meters later I landed on my bum with a great big OWWWWWW! and a chorus of laughter from both not husband and teaming crowds of waiting passengers. To make it worse, I twisted my ankle really badly and had broken the kitten heal off my boot so not husband had to get me sat on a bench, take my room keys and run back to let himself into my HELLHOLE of a room (clothes, knickers, EVERYTHING strewn everywhere) to find me another pair of shoes.

3. What’s your claim to fame?

I saw the lead singer of Toploader in a little boutiquey shop I was in once and he asked me for my opinion on a belt (‘nah, it’d never look right with those trousers’).

That’s a bit rubbish isn’t it? How about one of the local newsreaders used to be my babysitter? Still boring? Can I claim fame by default? – My dad was in the music video for a very popular song by a very popular band in the 80’s. Nothing like seeing my dad on the big screen at a club as that song blares out to sober me up at 2am.

4. Would you rather lick Brad Pitts armpit or Johnny Depps foot?

I have never really ‘got’ Brad Pitt. Is he really that attractive? Really?! Johnny Depp however is possibly the most beautiful man on this earth and therefore I would lick him anywhere he asked me to.

5. What is the worst chat up line that has ever been said to you?

What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this? (Why, accepting free drinks from you before leaving without your number kind sir)

6. What is the worst chat up line you have ever used?

‘Sorry, I had to get a closer look’ said while brazenly plonking myself in some guys lap after a night of eye contact across a club. Classy, clever, funny it may not be, but it worked. (Jeeze, my mum reads this. Sorry mum.)

7. Shag, Mary, Push off a cliff: Jeremy Kyle / David Hasslehoff / Louis Walsh

Shag – I have to agree with Mammasaurus here, Jez does have an aura of a man who would be a bit of a beast in the bedroom. (Again, mum, I’m sorry)

Marry – Shit. That leaves me a bit stuck. Only because I HAVE to, it’ll be Louis. Purely because after the big wedding and all the OK photo shoots and a luxurious honeymoon I will essentially be married to an annoying little man who I don’t think likes the ladies. So I will move into a country bad somewhere and enjoy the life of a duchess. IN NAME ONLY people.

Sorry Hoff *shove*

And for the boys: Katie ‘Jordan’ Price / Jodie Marsh / Anne Widdecombe

8. If you were skipping gaily in a meadow of sweet buttercups what would you rather stop to pet – a fluffy bunnykins or a little baby mole whose little pink nose was emerging from the ground?

As much as bunnies have the fluffy cute factor, I am very particular about them. 9 out of 10 bunnies do not pass my strict test for non-scariness. There really is something quite evil about most bunnies. So as statistics dictate that I only have a 10% chance of skipping gaily past one that met all of the qualities I look for, I will be petting the little baby mole (how rude does that sound?!)

9. What biscuit is the best biscuit?

For their all round, goes with everything, the husband doesn’t like them so I get the packet to myself, tea-dunking qualities it has to be the ginger nut.

For happy making purposes, it’s Party Rings every time. I munched a whole packed in early labour so we’ve been through so tough times together.

10. If you had to sniff a fart would you rather it was the fart of Brad Pitt or Lady Gaga?

At first thought, Mr Pitt. But then isn’t he one of those crazy dieting, macrobiotic types? Surely that would make things all the more disgusting. So GaGa. But in return I ask for a pair of her shoes or similar. 

And just in case none of that got you smiling, here is Boris the happy owl.

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A Moments Silence For Silent Sunday

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Silent Sunday, the brilliant brain child of Mocha Beanie Mummy, is no more.

I have only been blogging for a matter of months but I have loved being a part of Silent Sunday. Not only has it made me look at my photography differently, it had also become my favourite way to spend early Sunday mornings…A cup of tea, toast and a massive collections of links to photos of what everyone else has been up to during their week. Bliss! Continue reading →

Inspired By…August

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Were you been inspired by someone or something in August? Share your inspirations over at Domestic Goddesque.

Last month I was particularly inspired by Love in The Nests Day Zero project.

I am a list maker extraordinaire so of course making my own Day Zero list really appealed to me. My normal lists tend to go along the lines of:

1)      Write List

2)      Have cup of tea

3)      Put wash on

4)      Eat Biscuits

…so it’s about time I had a proper list with items that not only will I cross off, but that will make me think or make a bit of a difference to my life. Continue reading →

Dear So and So

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Dear Mother in Law,

That cake I stayed up to bake, the big rainbow chocolate frosted one? Y’know, THE ONE YOU TOOK.

I would have liked a slice. Or a thank you. Either way.

Yours, Cakeless

Dear Big Spiders,

Hi, me again.

I am living every day on edge – watching and waiting for one of you to let yourself in the front door, slouch across the sofa, steal the remote and demand dinner.

I already have the husband to do all of that. Just as annoying but far less terrifying.

Pay me rent or leave.

Thanks, Me Continue reading →

A Song A Day

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I love music, there’s always something playing in the background whatever I am doing and my iTunes is stuffed full of an eclectic mix of songs and genres. When I saw this linky over at Mums The Word I had to join in!

Worryingly, most of these tracks can be found on my computer, others were harder to find. Enjoy the glimpse into my misspent youth (Bowling for Soup, Insipral Carpets, Suede) and my sometimes questionable taste in music (I like that Lionel Richie song, ok?!) Continue reading →

Little Legacy #4: Knitting

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Little legacy is a remembrance project , a positive and creative space, to celebrate small things handed down by predecessors.  Join in every Thursday and read about other little legacies over at The Alexander Residence.

It’s been a few weeks since I last took part in the fantastic Little Legacy linky, but I’m glad to be back again with another legacy… Continue reading →