tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83491317906482385432024-02-28T22:40:19.853+00:00the modern day spinster....A 21st Century look at the Victorian "Old Maid".GEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-49366341935355883442012-12-30T07:19:00.001+00:002012-12-30T07:19:09.324+00:00Spanked by a Russian lawyer!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Clcik on the link to read more.<br />
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<a href="http://insearchofarussianoligarch.blogspot.ru/2012/12/spanked-by-russian-lawyer.html">http://insearchofarussianoligarch.blogspot.ru/2012/12/spanked-by-russian-lawyer.html</a><br />
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GEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-91298370001899902132012-08-19T18:21:00.002+01:002012-08-19T18:21:28.497+01:00A Weekend at Peter's.....part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The second installment of my weekend in St. Petersburg.<br />
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<a href="http://insearchofarussianoligarch.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-weekend-at-peters-part-2.html">http://insearchofarussianoligarch.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-weekend-at-peters-part-2.html</a><br />
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GEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-12365207191489999652012-08-12T07:57:00.001+01:002012-08-12T07:57:16.893+01:00A weekend at Peter's.....part one<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
He didn't disappoint!<br />
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<a href="http://insearchofarussianoligarch.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-weekend-at-peterspart-one.html">http://insearchofarussianoligarch.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-weekend-at-peterspart-one.html</a><br />
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<br /></div>GEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-37998795013596813712012-06-27T13:27:00.002+01:002012-06-27T13:27:34.820+01:00Moscow - a river view<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://insearchofarussianoligarch.blogspot.com/2012/06/moscow-river-view.html">http://insearchofarussianoligarch.blogspot.com/2012/06/moscow-river-view.html</a><br />
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All aboard - a look at the sights of Moscow from a different angle.<br />
<br /></div>GEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-85600553759864156192012-06-18T17:39:00.001+01:002012-06-18T17:40:32.331+01:00What happend to May?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://insearchofarussianoligarch.blogspot.com/2012/06/what-happened-to-may.html">What happened to May...?</a> - find out over at In Search of a Russian Oligarch.<br />
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Getting into hot water....not!</div>GEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-8320542370677273322012-05-02T09:20:00.002+01:002012-05-02T09:20:25.323+01:00Somewhere Over The Rainbow......<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://insearchofarussianoligarch.blogspot.com/2012/04/somewhere-over-rainbow.html">http://insearchofarussianoligarch.blogspot.com/2012/04/somewhere-over-rainbow.html</a><br />
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Click on link to read about springtime in Russia.<br />
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Thank you<br />
<br />
GEM</div>GEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-5884098849204247542012-03-31T20:26:00.000+01:002012-03-31T20:26:43.839+01:00Four Chicken Filets Please.......No English, we're Russian!<br />
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<a href="http://insearchofarussianoligarch.blogspot.com/2012/03/four-chicken-filets-please.html">http://insearchofarussianoligarch.blogspot.com/2012/03/four-chicken-filets-please.html</a>GEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-68415951158943615172012-03-26T09:53:00.000+01:002012-03-26T09:53:04.259+01:00To the ancient city of Vladimir...Never say "should" in Russia!<br />
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<a href="http://insearchofarussianoligarch.blogspot.com/2012/03/to-ancient-city-of-vladimir.html">http://insearchofarussianoligarch.blogspot.com/2012/03/to-ancient-city-of-vladimir.html</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEMxY3ZH3oGbtsD7ozrEIYz62GE7_A9X4xoa4b1BAgKNqnsN0oDzBOvfwonmAFJSDisvQaHbF3I3WHW5adIPpoJKKFFUgCZvNvZ_oZyi66ucsc9Nh-EQ1G3OTI4CNJJIjeG7v-xCftPY/s1600/CSC_0080A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEMxY3ZH3oGbtsD7ozrEIYz62GE7_A9X4xoa4b1BAgKNqnsN0oDzBOvfwonmAFJSDisvQaHbF3I3WHW5adIPpoJKKFFUgCZvNvZ_oZyi66ucsc9Nh-EQ1G3OTI4CNJJIjeG7v-xCftPY/s320/CSC_0080A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>GEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-31081584519654317512012-02-20T20:03:00.002+00:002012-02-20T20:03:29.843+00:00Hi Ho Hi Ho....it's off to the forest we go!a bbq at -18!<br />
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<a href="http://insearchofarussianoligarch.blogspot.com/2012/02/hi-ho-hi-hoits-off-to-forest-we-go.html">http://insearchofarussianoligarch.blogspot.com/2012/02/hi-ho-hi-hoits-off-to-forest-we-go.html</a>GEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-43521043314740109232012-01-09T11:27:00.000+00:002012-01-09T11:27:35.164+00:00Life in Russia so far........<a href="http://insearchofarussianoligarch.blogspot.com/2012/01/life-in-russia-so-far.html">http://insearchofarussianoligarch.blogspot.com/2012/01/life-in-russia-so-far.html</a><br />
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Click on the link to read my latest post about life in Russia.<br />
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Thank you<br />
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GEMGEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-1307547553200792012012-01-03T13:12:00.001+00:002012-01-05T11:06:48.318+00:00Christmas in MoscowCome and read about my first Christmas in Moscow over at my new blog!<br />
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<a href="http://insearchofarussianoligarch.blogspot.com/2012/01/christmas-in-moscow.html">http://insearchofarussianoligarch.blogspot.com/2012/01/christmas-in-moscow.html</a>GEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-83065292405963754902011-12-14T15:55:00.005+00:002011-12-14T20:50:28.327+00:00In search of a Russian Oligarch.....?<img border="0" height="311" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4695809556_e982bd7568_o.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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I guess one of the advantages of not being married nor having had children is that rather selfishly I really only have myself to think about. My life decisions affect just little ole me which gives me the freedom to make radical changes. So 6 months ago I decided to change my life. I handed in my notice from my office job, gave up my apartment and moved back home and embarked on a quest to find out what it is I wanted to do for the rest of my years on this planet. When I announced this news to friends and family the consensus was that I was very brave but I didn't see it like that at all. There is nothing brave about gambling when you have nothing to lose. A little scared and anxious from time to time? Well yes as I spent many a sleepless night wondering what would become of me but stubbornly I kept a positive mind and believed all would turn out well in the end. I was in a position where I could pretty much go anywhere and do anything. I had no ties, very few financial commitments and some savings which bought me the most valuable of commodities.....<b>time</b>.<br />
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Ironically when you have numerous choices available to you, making a decision is nigh on impossible. The world is not only your oyster, it is a fairground of whirling merry go rounds and speedy rollercoasters. Knowing which ride to jump on and get the most enjoyment out of without too many stomach churning moments is akin to choosing lottery numbers that if you pick incorrectly you miss the jackpot!<br />
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For the first few months I concentrated on writing. Without the pressures of a stressful job to occupy the space in my head, my mind was free to wander and tap into an imagination that once unleashed threw out idea after idea to the point that I was writing three books at once! The writing continues today but I have sensibly chosen just one book to finish and to date I am a fifth of the way through. However, there is no guarantee that I will be published and as the months roll on and my savings dwindle I had to look for another fairground ride to jump on.<br />
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Some years ago I qualifed to teach English as a foriegn language but personal circumstances at the time prevented me from embarking on a teaching career. The idea had crept into the back of my mind again about a year or so ago but I had ignored it's niggling presence, my own fears at the time refused it to be anything but a pipe dream. Now with the changes that I had made I decided to look in to this again. I tested the waters and volunteered to participate in two English Immersion Programmes in Spain and Poland. Whilst this was not strictly teaching in a classroom setting it did involve certain elements which required patience, understanding, quick thinking and enthusiasm. Most importantly it re-ignited my passion to teach. I had hit the jackpot and spent the following weeks applying for numerous teaching jobs across the globe. My lack of experience went against me and I heard nothing from most of my applications. Thankfully after a few refusals and frustrating periods of radio silence my perserverance and positive thinking paid of.<br />
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On Sunday 18th December, 6 months after I quit my job and 10 years after I returned to the UK, I am boarding a plane to Moscow where I will work, teaching English to Russian folk before being shipped out to Siberia to continue to teach in a new school. The only Russian word I know is Vodka....but hey I always like making things difficult for myself and I'm sure it won't be long before I've learnt the words for "it's f***ing freezing here"!<br />
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I've always wanted to visit this once Imperial Land. It's unobtainable, out of reach existance gave it a mystical quality that has always fascinated me. My life long ambition is to travel on the Trans-Siberian Express but I never in a million years thought I would work in the country responsible for its creation.<br />
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Where this fairground ride is taking me, I've no idea. How fast it will go and the thrills and spills it will bring along its way remain to be seen. One way to find out is to follow my new blog which will chart my life in Russia. I hope to bring to you a little piece of Russian culture, food, travel and people as you join me in my journey of discovery over at <a href="http://insearchofarussianoligarch.blogspot.com/">In search of a Russian Oligarch</a><br />
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The Modern Day Spinster will be taking a back seat for now and who knows should I find my Russian oligarch or even Russian prince (aim high) then our beloved Spinster can climb off her soap box and hide herself away. I want to thank all those who have taken the time to read my posts on here and especially those who took the time to leave encouraging positive comments. I hope to see you over at my new blog very soon.<br />
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Take Care<br />
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GEM<br />
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xxGEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-75045384093054562352011-10-29T20:17:00.000+01:002011-10-29T20:17:25.324+01:00"and they call it puppy lurve........."Meet Charlie....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BZ4kwnXrhyxcyRpNmBq2FznucvjCAYtMgtdAdxodi3xFuxbRLnehYohEdY2TAoLvmfA2SQ3gjznCFQETCUv9cr-JMbTZLZk5OKbU6CSuYW2ggNFuBdHHTu7a6gpzjdkuSHLCzkR9OAA/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BZ4kwnXrhyxcyRpNmBq2FznucvjCAYtMgtdAdxodi3xFuxbRLnehYohEdY2TAoLvmfA2SQ3gjznCFQETCUv9cr-JMbTZLZk5OKbU6CSuYW2ggNFuBdHHTu7a6gpzjdkuSHLCzkR9OAA/s320/038.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm having fun!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I love this little fella. An adorable, cute, affectionate bundle of fun......everything a puppy should be. He's an 11 week old Working Spaniel and is the newly acquired addition to my sister and brother-in-laws home. They both go out to work everyday while I stay at home and write which is pretty much impossible when this little guy needs constant supervision. He's only been with us a week and whilst he's worked his way into our hearts big time, he's also worked his way into the kitchen cupboards, washing machine, plant beds and it won't be long before he attacks the fish pond! <br />
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We've made the house and garden as Charlie resistant as possible but he's getting more and more adventurous each passing day. This guy loves to chew and there's nothing he won't have a go at. Despite the plethitude of squeaky chewy toys that he's already accumulated, he'd rather get his puppy teeth into the cupboard corners, table and chair legs, radiotor valves, towels, garden wire and my feet (did I mention he's very brave too?!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-EJMjO3AbAfMCYlsW8KqCDx3cw1vZgK8eQq6E-3TdMMP9G6qAsezFIVv_XOMxAZ2p6PErlwUzwr2h63A9QmH0Qgrp2tGsYos8ep6GEsw4ncHTEakiT9s0qNIveFy2j08RO5RcmWatYU/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-EJMjO3AbAfMCYlsW8KqCDx3cw1vZgK8eQq6E-3TdMMP9G6qAsezFIVv_XOMxAZ2p6PErlwUzwr2h63A9QmH0Qgrp2tGsYos8ep6GEsw4ncHTEakiT9s0qNIveFy2j08RO5RcmWatYU/s200/016.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmmm yum!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
At the moment he is a machine.....a pee and poop machine that is. Even though we 've taken every precaution to assist in his toilet training, if we don't get to him fast enough he's doesn't hang around crossing his legs and paws holding it in....no way! Fortunately the kitchen floor is tiled and cleaning up his mess isn't a drama but in the first few days it was happening so frequently that once I'd put the rubber gloves on I didn't bother taking them off, there really was no point.<br />
A new kind of smell has impregnated the house and I don't mean the smell of dog. This boy can fart and not in relation to the size of his body. The pungent throat clogging stench can only be described as evil and lingers in the air long after it's expulsion. It's hard to believe it was brewed within the inner workings of a little ball of fluff and not the decaying bowels of a dinasour.<br />
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The quality of my days are measured by the quantity of indoor little "accidents". If there have been none or very few then I've had a good day and if there have been alot then I've had a shit day......quite literally! Our conversation on an evening is no longer filled with everyday issues such as work, tv, dinner and general news. Now we discuss in minute detail Charlie's pee and poop. how many, how long between each one, solid poop or soft poop, the size and shape of his poop, does it resemble a chocolate covered sausage or dispensed lump of Mr Whippy ice cream and how far up the stinkometer etc etc. The scary thing is that it seems perfectly normal to talk like this in our all consuming Charlie bubble while the outside world ceases to exist.<br />
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We haven't spent a night on the comfy sofa in front of the TV since Charlie arrived. No we'd rather sit huddled in the kitchen watching him sleep, watching him eat, watching him drink, watching him play, watching him chew, watching him poop!! Are we obsessed? Yes, I think so.<br />
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And why is it we talk to each other as if Charlie was their child? My sister has become "mummy" my brother-in-law is "daddy" and I'm his aunty. Our brains are being turned into mush. Lord knows what the neighbours would think if they were to overhear me in the garden encouraging my "nephew" to poop and pee on the lawn "pee pee Charlie, do a pee pee please for aunty". Repeating a phrase like this is what they advise in the training manual yet I can't help but feel that whoever wrote this did so while laughing manically "mwahahahahaha!"<br />
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In truth, when the toilet training goes wrong and he leaves us a "present" on the kitchen floor or a table leg succumbs to his mauling mouth it is oh so easily forgiven because "butter wouldn't melt" is what springs to mind as his eager face peeps from behind the gate, wagging his tail in excitement as he sees us. A sudden unknown noise and he darts to "hide" behind our legs. Should we be standing at the kitchen counter making a drink or preparing food he will squeeze inbetween and snuggle down on our feet. And when he's tired he wants nothing more but to be cuddled in our arms and nuzzle his tiny head into our necks as he softly slumbers. <br />
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Yep this little fellla has us wrapped around his little finger (or claw) and who can blame us?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwC1uc_xL1dgWKCjPFIRHYDWxtVjFW7TSkEppStfOpv6mRX-jqqAJ3gporgeCA6GEn0YiIugYQhASSBbuqBF_l11dSszLy-wUQKXiH-IYW0EWjvVvK0jAxvGj7PMKmYmjd8tLi7HXrEx8/s1600/036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwC1uc_xL1dgWKCjPFIRHYDWxtVjFW7TSkEppStfOpv6mRX-jqqAJ3gporgeCA6GEn0YiIugYQhASSBbuqBF_l11dSszLy-wUQKXiH-IYW0EWjvVvK0jAxvGj7PMKmYmjd8tLi7HXrEx8/s320/036.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favourite toy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>GEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-4529252103025828122011-09-13T02:37:00.003+01:002011-09-13T11:18:28.003+01:00Ahoy the good ship Talia...!Earlier this year I had the good fortune to be invited to help crew a Catamaran for 10 days off the south coast of England. I had done some sailing in my years but these seafaring ventures were brief, few and far between. Clearly, however, I had involuntarily painted a different picture when in my alcohol induced state I discussed my love and experience of sailing with exaggerated aplomb through new forged friendships on a skiing holiday in Italy New Year 2011.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>So when the invite landed in my inbox a few months later I gladly accepted with the hope that my 4 fellow crew mates were all "Old Salts" as it were and that a 5th member was more of an added bonus than a necessity. How wrong I was....!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-3brfJ6V8C8860waJaBd5rOFgMM69_yaYRIXcRIXUB4eKarIAmjGMoxxN-fJz0jFZThYFPk_uSS3CTupvk6pdECdl4yTYBsmmkTWEhxrgNqiZQHxSXJwCjUdH_o0sockNTa9r__EZfY/s1600/DSC_0382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-3brfJ6V8C8860waJaBd5rOFgMM69_yaYRIXcRIXUB4eKarIAmjGMoxxN-fJz0jFZThYFPk_uSS3CTupvk6pdECdl4yTYBsmmkTWEhxrgNqiZQHxSXJwCjUdH_o0sockNTa9r__EZfY/s640/DSC_0382.JPG" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Talia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>On arrival I was informed that 1 male crew member had suddenly "abandoned ship" before even climbing on board due to unforseen cirumstances. This left a crew of 4 consisting of 1 male and 3 females. Our Captain (the only male) and Catamaran owner had thankfully 10 years sailing experience behind him. The other 2 crew members also had clocked up a fair few hours on the ocean waves. And so with my best barefoot forward I rose to the challange ahead and prepared myself to be "thrown in at the deep end" as it was quite literally "all hands on deck" for the next 10 days of our advenure at sea.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_71RazGZ8yKLcluW1vLQPTdKecEDyBMhm2N2k6rhpPLa7RXShfsE4Gi0we-8c2W1LdsYuYJEROcMYIhIZ4fNscRxt3mDxxv-vTvAN7GoRgXAhbrIl2rgUPgAP0H-POoVWhlMLAED-0ME/s1600/CSC_0770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_71RazGZ8yKLcluW1vLQPTdKecEDyBMhm2N2k6rhpPLa7RXShfsE4Gi0we-8c2W1LdsYuYJEROcMYIhIZ4fNscRxt3mDxxv-vTvAN7GoRgXAhbrIl2rgUPgAP0H-POoVWhlMLAED-0ME/s640/CSC_0770.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harry's Rocks</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91D7P2ndNtb8X1lG_7mik9705nWWqieiaO7u4R7uOuDQ9ZmZmlNRS5ASFKYYrtyqANhcRdREPeLSxFHWkc0qvL5PCSs__VSlR7jXhXD6x9vYWH6hlHR1H0ybE19M33O0lD4EJQ26co68/s1600/DSC_0065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91D7P2ndNtb8X1lG_7mik9705nWWqieiaO7u4R7uOuDQ9ZmZmlNRS5ASFKYYrtyqANhcRdREPeLSxFHWkc0qvL5PCSs__VSlR7jXhXD6x9vYWH6hlHR1H0ybE19M33O0lD4EJQ26co68/s640/DSC_0065.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Talia</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNTWuU32KLObSP7X9scq0VfwUy6KKZtTdNHZwPS69HQXYJXenIDY9HGHj41RUGwFf7hskqJndIfzt5zrfkAuXQFxbtXMKKf-NlNffDqFRgoj2YYdm6Uz3-7Gk_FWKoVgfaqqhogDTkoY/s1600/DSC_0171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfDO9Vy1My6NbWr96ygVBU-TzhDFkKY1-NWrlKYRp3U7PVh9UGYp5F6UBFJXuOT7S04DPdkCg8uFbfoeNF8zpHgTFsgAGy_QC1jcwj1Macnaq_QxN_PmBPUMDDyijCNsa-KgzLt7rD44/s1600/DSC_0403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfDO9Vy1My6NbWr96ygVBU-TzhDFkKY1-NWrlKYRp3U7PVh9UGYp5F6UBFJXuOT7S04DPdkCg8uFbfoeNF8zpHgTFsgAGy_QC1jcwj1Macnaq_QxN_PmBPUMDDyijCNsa-KgzLt7rD44/s640/DSC_0403.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91D7P2ndNtb8X1lG_7mik9705nWWqieiaO7u4R7uOuDQ9ZmZmlNRS5ASFKYYrtyqANhcRdREPeLSxFHWkc0qvL5PCSs__VSlR7jXhXD6x9vYWH6hlHR1H0ybE19M33O0lD4EJQ26co68/s1600/DSC_0065.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZq2q500k1bbR4ZN1krvUpLaa7KfXSH1rqkmjzx0eKqPCHEQ6GmkuXJCxIVcFVP58Ih9EYy6rYRRorSFGavIb2pdRieQhfPNlI-roE-R8XqO015pFKJtVpX7Jphdft0hBqHRhCHuztIlo/s1600/DSC_0743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a name='more'></a></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZq2q500k1bbR4ZN1krvUpLaa7KfXSH1rqkmjzx0eKqPCHEQ6GmkuXJCxIVcFVP58Ih9EYy6rYRRorSFGavIb2pdRieQhfPNlI-roE-R8XqO015pFKJtVpX7Jphdft0hBqHRhCHuztIlo/s1600/DSC_0743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM55JA85iyx0A23i9JRDn_SzPL5X6uQcVCKXWxmSkCUYL18GhpCBImmJ33HvpGddvHUjDEgp62ieeAY3NrQE3tszXN-Yq6pQVSSayXXtAtum2lhea2Fio778LHhER0Fu1Tdt69qmllX20/s1600/DSC_0140A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM55JA85iyx0A23i9JRDn_SzPL5X6uQcVCKXWxmSkCUYL18GhpCBImmJ33HvpGddvHUjDEgp62ieeAY3NrQE3tszXN-Yq6pQVSSayXXtAtum2lhea2Fio778LHhER0Fu1Tdt69qmllX20/s320/DSC_0140A.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yarmouth, Isle of Wight</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Despite the beautiful weather for the most part, there were some mishaps along the way. Day 1 we were hit whilst moored up in Yarmouth Harbour, Isle of Wight, happily enjoying a few well earnt drinks sat on the foredeck after a hard days sailing. Not our fault I may hasten to add, as some idiot at the helm of a motor yacht appeared to lose control and veer into the side of the Catamaran. Despite the loud crack which reverberated from fibre glass hitting fibre glass we were not sunk and after necessary marine insurance formalities we were able to continue our nautical escapade.<br />
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So we jollied on our way across the sea and from time to time interjected the sound of the ocean waves with our dulcet tones as we bellowed out a sea shantey or two. Unsurprisingly, even Rod Stewarts "I am sailing" <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1v60FITAfY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1v60FITAfY</a> although not technically a sea shantey, still got an airing. Even the wild dolphins swam along for a singalong.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9ccqY13YXI4K8yPGBnIG8nSkVZDo5cRaBuDI7k0d1X8qagN_VwGAy4cZsET5ZxUbzyvRTrS4LL7jySTHBqipyrLoQDEEDUH7uCkX1tTcNJid78hBGHYotBrb4kk92DlnXhPWEYeMVQk/s1600/CSC_0822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9ccqY13YXI4K8yPGBnIG8nSkVZDo5cRaBuDI7k0d1X8qagN_VwGAy4cZsET5ZxUbzyvRTrS4LL7jySTHBqipyrLoQDEEDUH7uCkX1tTcNJid78hBGHYotBrb4kk92DlnXhPWEYeMVQk/s640/CSC_0822.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dolphins in the wild!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
And so onto our next misfortunate incident. We had been anchored overnight outside Christchurch Harbour and were preparing to set sail the following day. The water level was low and required an expert hand to steer us out of harms way. So why in the hell was I given the helm?? I struggled to keep on course and grounded the boat....oops! Our Captain ordered his crew to the foredeck where we had to huddle together and jump up and down like skippy the bush kangaroo, in order to allow a flow of water to run under us and promptly provide enough bouyancy to lift us off the river bed. After providing several minutes of free entertainment to the curious and highly amused onlookers, we were afloat. It was also here where I managed to capture on camera some shots of the resident swans. (not whilst I was steering)!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQX0NcmS9lfYYdsRBrw-XN5vKfe7f3EpttpNJM0X56TbBF6jYYlIxk47ewgpXf5xTyx-hLHjZGV4yKUmLb7zIFhpe_-s-EmCk8eJYItWU5vI2xVRDgeysg4a_D426g-NhXe6u9l8Bb6Hg/s1600/Copy+of+CSC_0832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQX0NcmS9lfYYdsRBrw-XN5vKfe7f3EpttpNJM0X56TbBF6jYYlIxk47ewgpXf5xTyx-hLHjZGV4yKUmLb7zIFhpe_-s-EmCk8eJYItWU5vI2xVRDgeysg4a_D426g-NhXe6u9l8Bb6Hg/s640/Copy+of+CSC_0832.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4otfVJOZ35O2j26EElYlEeWwVYJvH2JZKFo80K29ugtCSiDQFVJaG0PFb0IMbAq2S6bjIh7lJuaGqiBz0ulf46HinavgRsfCLArNAWNHO9wOu4qo_zA5vW9jyjeWQlNj0YmVR0T8_OxM/s1600/CSC_0829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4otfVJOZ35O2j26EElYlEeWwVYJvH2JZKFo80K29ugtCSiDQFVJaG0PFb0IMbAq2S6bjIh7lJuaGqiBz0ulf46HinavgRsfCLArNAWNHO9wOu4qo_zA5vW9jyjeWQlNj0YmVR0T8_OxM/s640/CSC_0829.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicz6fjDmOOFwFe3znpRZsNMUv7xZ_-n9FNXUbFctbVwTRHvNGOng5XnSzr6yeXFPZNVjBecVwcK0YAdvxRgopabExNrFzjiAo8UyijO3WZ7FDdJyr12m9FR-vD5zoA85sVhZ387UifCMs/s1600/CSC_0831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicz6fjDmOOFwFe3znpRZsNMUv7xZ_-n9FNXUbFctbVwTRHvNGOng5XnSzr6yeXFPZNVjBecVwcK0YAdvxRgopabExNrFzjiAo8UyijO3WZ7FDdJyr12m9FR-vD5zoA85sVhZ387UifCMs/s640/CSC_0831.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I should mention here that certain crew members were often under the influence of drugs.....well a slight exaggeration.....sea sickness tablets to be precise. Even on the relatively calm waters, this debilitating illness was evident on board and in order to cope a prescription of chemical cosh drugs was regularly and over eagerly administered by the Captain. Mmmm....was this his ploy to keep certain crew members sedated or fear that the newly upholstered cabins would otherwise come under attack from projectile vomit? Either way I was one of the unaffected and it was my cast iron stomach (idiom only....certainly not literally) that meant I could stay down in the galley and prepare food and drink whilst lurching back and forth like a drunken sailor as the waves lashed against the hull.<br />
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The days ran leisurely in to one and the sun beat down on us as we sailed along the southern coast of England anchoring in little picturesque bays and ports along our way. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbmUmRb_YjfKHntVAwmcNtjbzPlbDlnrSPAJeDyGkvinZKUlFee276hyfw34w_WvafJHTTI9pdGVgCpVrgBHEIWyY-GCfnYSPGibQ9meyBXFzAQHKLejnIvMejNOdFu1t1v5EigM0g10/s1600/DSC_0475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbmUmRb_YjfKHntVAwmcNtjbzPlbDlnrSPAJeDyGkvinZKUlFee276hyfw34w_WvafJHTTI9pdGVgCpVrgBHEIWyY-GCfnYSPGibQ9meyBXFzAQHKLejnIvMejNOdFu1t1v5EigM0g10/s640/DSC_0475.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weymouth</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_V_DjfFV1rFRLK0QOapjhnAJXhu8R0SfqpcHW_7jicz61S7urglm1y3vFrSF7_xPUyiX3nTQLJiTVfCXURuz0OUYNmJpu_tE9T_CApZI2JU1OWpj6NjdZ_qJoruEMnxacHFunR6OHSA/s1600/DSC_0434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_V_DjfFV1rFRLK0QOapjhnAJXhu8R0SfqpcHW_7jicz61S7urglm1y3vFrSF7_xPUyiX3nTQLJiTVfCXURuz0OUYNmJpu_tE9T_CApZI2JU1OWpj6NjdZ_qJoruEMnxacHFunR6OHSA/s640/DSC_0434.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poole Harbour</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeHQPEhOTsE20VYVaUWMG5UP52n3rmWdmsl6hrYBEUVs_T_V64NN9jaPkj1OetbGNNyh9yv8twzm5pABJ_DirDIOnm1uoxyNAHgXKk-UHUDpqdAIY8yKbuX6-vOYbSWx1ER5eidnVstb0/s1600/DSC_0435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeHQPEhOTsE20VYVaUWMG5UP52n3rmWdmsl6hrYBEUVs_T_V64NN9jaPkj1OetbGNNyh9yv8twzm5pABJ_DirDIOnm1uoxyNAHgXKk-UHUDpqdAIY8yKbuX6-vOYbSWx1ER5eidnVstb0/s640/DSC_0435.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poole Harbour</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMt3tIUiRx9Pa7hSufTQr6yaw9f3vjyjyPtIncQacxMSxaMmOglaAOI8UoNjtu2zZYhIVpolua5YbE6vmOCQSemq1KdgxNqWkmaKal8l8i_G04SQYqv9YDPVB4wv-UzXUMkJxz-1z0So/s1600/DSC_0682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMt3tIUiRx9Pa7hSufTQr6yaw9f3vjyjyPtIncQacxMSxaMmOglaAOI8UoNjtu2zZYhIVpolua5YbE6vmOCQSemq1KdgxNqWkmaKal8l8i_G04SQYqv9YDPVB4wv-UzXUMkJxz-1z0So/s640/DSC_0682.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lulworth Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU25Xim-1z6TqD0QB8Q41yq6FgYhxOJeRxb3YWy0kdp0WNVmMXP_0Xj3G9HG0JQudb8YKFF8QGHiS-DA5UWHReRkAUadjGGaZGeXxrNLCd-p88Bs7Q4b6ETPLKFKO0-eIfhLUdQ_hsDvg/s1600/DSC_0679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU25Xim-1z6TqD0QB8Q41yq6FgYhxOJeRxb3YWy0kdp0WNVmMXP_0Xj3G9HG0JQudb8YKFF8QGHiS-DA5UWHReRkAUadjGGaZGeXxrNLCd-p88Bs7Q4b6ETPLKFKO0-eIfhLUdQ_hsDvg/s640/DSC_0679.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lulworth Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNy7dDleeU1ol6laFJQT_C9o7VUi2uV-tkY7rWo90oF2iBxy4Ph0Ea3VQbRIXxFEzT3Tmcu4uY8_N3wfZZcqIH7I1VaLWWTJQ5HTHc0eLUvan0Cj14yn-RrZON9N19BDg-wf9HbIUhb6o/s1600/DSC_0579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNy7dDleeU1ol6laFJQT_C9o7VUi2uV-tkY7rWo90oF2iBxy4Ph0Ea3VQbRIXxFEzT3Tmcu4uY8_N3wfZZcqIH7I1VaLWWTJQ5HTHc0eLUvan0Cj14yn-RrZON9N19BDg-wf9HbIUhb6o/s640/DSC_0579.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lulworth Bay...again</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7xbOnUFj-M9QyL1HqMiLbQbShEakKDBnJUCSt9mYwlVtgHAwit8fwK6Jl0kVYRlTAYFZYmQXzSnRKva8TbUBnslCQPNAKhJj5sQ3OKzwOfBMWlWgYVmHyqCLLOQvZpzgmyNoGC68mIM/s1600/DSC_0170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7xbOnUFj-M9QyL1HqMiLbQbShEakKDBnJUCSt9mYwlVtgHAwit8fwK6Jl0kVYRlTAYFZYmQXzSnRKva8TbUBnslCQPNAKhJj5sQ3OKzwOfBMWlWgYVmHyqCLLOQvZpzgmyNoGC68mIM/s640/DSC_0170.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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Everything was going swimmingly and I became more and more familiar and comfortable with the workings of the boat and the duties required on the upper deck.. .....and then we lost a sail.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2ner4v0lIkgx2qbh8B_bDuGRZcupqzudmLRJ3FkXr_PlDC-hALKfSmaq_5xCkj7WtDxrLEz-QP6MGrGCImeSNb42FgKgx6KsgBkbpZ-CuK-ZKA8YWzNW6BtuNmgw5vTelU2R-UYt9cQ/s1600/DSC_0349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2ner4v0lIkgx2qbh8B_bDuGRZcupqzudmLRJ3FkXr_PlDC-hALKfSmaq_5xCkj7WtDxrLEz-QP6MGrGCImeSNb42FgKgx6KsgBkbpZ-CuK-ZKA8YWzNW6BtuNmgw5vTelU2R-UYt9cQ/s640/DSC_0349.JPG" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> and later this one broke....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrnbJI66pnz9y4cqZs7II1HQ9cUZ16F_QYIvJ1I_ag2Yhgdq_vOJPubiafjo-a0V1F5pNA7qWMw8dOMUIkwW6h2IApSyBGNsSOc0gH1HDA3hwXFHmWvXei_c6R-hcOEXYsNFo59RXqWQ/s1600/DSC_0713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrnbJI66pnz9y4cqZs7II1HQ9cUZ16F_QYIvJ1I_ag2Yhgdq_vOJPubiafjo-a0V1F5pNA7qWMw8dOMUIkwW6h2IApSyBGNsSOc0gH1HDA3hwXFHmWvXei_c6R-hcOEXYsNFo59RXqWQ/s640/DSC_0713.JPG" width="428" /></a></div><br />
Ah well "worse things happen at sea".<br />
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But despite a depleted crew, nearly being sunk, running aground, losing two sails and being plagued with illness we all survived and thoroughly enjoyed 10 sun filled days at sea! <br />
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I haven't been invited back yet though....; /<br />
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And finally.....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofC4vpejnNtsTYJw5mQ3-dk7So86CExxc9fjqEF1LHH2PQnnoaXY6Z_xazZouCqwJNSSmPOEw2lkXI8MrunGVKhIoCAAQK78cdtDm5MPL3E-nkBrrXCndHJwyfb-vxmuMxsy4sisSO2k/s1600/DSC_0788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofC4vpejnNtsTYJw5mQ3-dk7So86CExxc9fjqEF1LHH2PQnnoaXY6Z_xazZouCqwJNSSmPOEw2lkXI8MrunGVKhIoCAAQK78cdtDm5MPL3E-nkBrrXCndHJwyfb-vxmuMxsy4sisSO2k/s640/DSC_0788.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brownsea Island</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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</div>GEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-13641449555590024912011-09-02T16:24:00.008+01:002012-01-20T08:14:55.352+00:00Is age really just a number??<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.quizilla.com/W/WakaKaminari/1103549986_entoschild.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" id="il_fi" src="http://images.quizilla.com/W/WakaKaminari/1103549986_entoschild.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></a></div>I have often been told that I look (and act) younger than I am. By rights I should look a very haggard 42 year old considering I have partied considerably hard since my teenage years but thanks to good family genes (and afew make-up tricks) I am still able to cling to the last vestiges of youth. And before time catches up with me and the copious amounts of alcohol, cigarettes and lack of sleep form deep etched lines and wrinkles in my face perhaps I should take advantage that my face still has some structure and is not yet a cloth sack. So next month I will turn 43 but have decided I will tell new acquaintances that I am 38, a full 5 years younger.<br />
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Why would I do this when I am actually not ashamed of my age? Well first of all to see if I could get away with it, I am taking a risk afterall. It would be such a knockback (and hilariously funny) if I received shock responses and pitying looks that scream of "she must have had a hard paper round"!<br />
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In fact, I am curious to see if I would be treated any different as a woman in her late 30's than a spinster in her early 40's. They say that the forties are the new thirties so technically I wouldn't be lying. Would I attract the attention of younger people to me? Would it be more socially acceptable for me to hang out with people in their twenties? Does 38, never married and no children sound so much better and justifiable than 43, never married and no kids? Well it shouldn't but it does.<br />
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Age is used as a yardstick to measure how good you look, how much you have achieved and how healthy you are and what more you have left to offer the world. No wonder so many people approach their 40th birthday with trepidation and a sense of "it's all downhill from here". Society dictates that you pretty much should have it all wrapped up by your forties. Education, travel, marriage and kids and that now "life begins" since the kids have flown the nest and you can perhaps put yourself first for once. Take up hobbies or buy a holiday home and spend every weekend enjoying the freedom that "cutting the apron strings" brings. But what about those of us hurtling fast into our forties who got to first and second base but never quite obtained marriage and kids. Do we still go in search of that? How are we depicted by society.....failures or life's Peter Pans?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.enjoyfrance.com/images/userimage/peter-pan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" id="il_fi" src="http://www.enjoyfrance.com/images/userimage/peter-pan.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></a></div>Recently on a train I sat opposite two older ladies who had certainly been visited by the menopause and youth had long since waved "Sayonara". However, on striking up a conversation during the journey one of the ladies in particular was very entertaining, spirited and extremely funny. The twinkle in her eye outshone her weather worn wrinkled skin and grey hair. It was her spirit and character that captivated and attracted everyone around her. We all grow old but we don't have to be old. The quote below sums this up perfectly:<br />
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<div style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul".</span> </span> ~Samuel Ullman</b></i></div><br />
I<span style="font-family: inherit;">t really is what's inside that makes us who we are and not the number of years we have been on this earth. Our bodies are merely a temporarily home for a spirit that never ages and time has no bearing. If tomorrow I was granted two wishes, one to be in my thirties again but with about as much personality as a dripping tap or be forty +, spirited, enjoying life, open minded with a wicked sense of humour then I know I would chose the latter. Like attracts like after all and I feel very lucky to have met those kind of people whether they were twenty, forty or sixty, it is irrelavant.</span><br />
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When the iconic beauty Audrey Hepburn was asked to give her beauty tips below is what she replied. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><ol><li><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><b>"For attractive lips speak words of kindness".</b></i></li>
<li><b><i>"For lovely eyes, seek the good in people".</i></b></li>
<li><b><i>"For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry".</i></b></li>
<li><b><i>"For beautifulr hair, let a child run his or hers through it at least once a day".</i></b></li>
<li><b><i>"For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone".</i></b></li>
<li><b><i>"People, even more than things, have to be restored, revived, reclaimed and redeemed; never throw out anyone".</i></b></li>
<li><b><i>"Remember if you ever need a helping hand you'll find them at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others".</i></b></li>
<li><b><i>"The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides".</i></b></li>
<li><b><i>"The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode, but the true beauty of a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows".</i></b></li>
<li><b><i>"The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years."</i></b></li>
</ol><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Contrary to what some may think, Audrey Hepburn did not write this beautiful poem, Sam Levenson did. Levenson wrote "Time Tested Beauty Tips" for his grandchild, and it just so happened to be one of Audrey's favorite poems. She read it to her children on the very last Christmas Eve she spent with us here on Earth.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I could however ignore every word of wisdom and reason to justify aging indiscreetly by doing this one very clever trick. I could tell every one I'm actually older! I would be a fabulous 50 year old. People would ask themselves "what's her secret?", "what moisturiser does she use", "what is her exercise regime", "what is her diet?". And as the years progress I would continue to look much younger than my ficticious age without going under the knife .... I would only have to stay looking older than my chronological age....easy. I could, therefore age not only gracefully but calmly and peacefully which in itself would take years off me, a win win solution don't you think?</span>GEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-37012050955568750492011-08-17T00:22:00.004+01:002011-08-17T15:02:36.409+01:00Summer Lovin'..............Can you believe it .....summertime is whizzing by and almost over. In a little over 2 weeks the schools will start a new term, the evenings will grow darker and advertisements for Christmas will fill our TVs. Depressing I know. But as we look back and reflect on another typical wet and windy British summer I wonder how many returned from sunny, hot, far flung places, were hit by "Summer Lovin'"?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a class="rg_hl" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=Grease+images&hl=en&sa=X&rlz=1B3GGLL_en-GBGB384GB385&biw=994&bih=514&tbm=isch&prmd=ivns&tbnid=HhG9MYhsfgNUTM:&imgrefurl=http://www.sodahead.com/entertainment/grease-or-cry-baby-what-was-the-best-musical/question-473938/&docid=zXbqor-_fnDnGM&w=400&h=300&ei=ruJKTpHiGc6q-AbvuuHuCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=150&vpy=126&dur=1223&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=138&ty=115&page=10&tbnh=149&tbnw=191&start=70&ndsp=8&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:70" id="rg_hl" style="height: 194px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 259px;"><img class="rg_hi" data-height="194" data-width="259" height="149" id="rg_hi" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTwqeu7_i0EX_7DN95mYPVrV4Niyn6TofkkJzmqe3aRQBnYWO2ezA" style="height: 194px; width: 259px;" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Hot temparatures, half naked bodies, cocktails and dancing ...... the perfect recipe to spark a holiday romance and bring "Sandy" to her "Danny". The stresses and strains of everyday life are left far behind as we become chilled out, easy going, bronzed "happy" people. The sexiness of the Mediterranean to the exoticness of the Caribbean seduces, tantilises and makes "falling in love" fast and easy...all part of the holiday package.<br />
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But do they last? Is a holiday romance the start of something special or just fun in the sun?<br />
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All the ingredients pretty much disappear as soon as the airplane hits the tarmac back at home. Sun replaces rain and days melting in to one are now structured and dominated by office hours. What are the chances you live near to each other? Despite Facebook, Skype etc when everyday life gets in the way how long can you be bothered to make those long distant phone calls or even visit each other trying to rekindle the "connection" made under a burning sun? Will you still lust after each other when the sun kissed half naked bodies turn a whiter shade of pale after being covered up against the cooler temperatures? How long before the novelty wears off?<br />
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You on holiday is unlikely to be 100% the same person you are at home. The fun loving carefree person on the beach maybe more stressed, hurried and serious in the cold light of day. I mean that's why we go on holiday isn't...to relax? So it's pretty much expected that you will meet other relaxed people.<br />
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Some years back I had a holiday romance. It lasted 9 months after we got back and during that time we even went back on holiday to where we first met. However, like any relationship when the first flush of romance wears off it depends whether there is enough leftover to work hard enough at keeping it going. <br />
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Generally speaking though the chances that you will be walking down the aisle with your holiday romance is pretty slim. It's called a holiday romance for a reason because really that's precisely what it is.<br />
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GEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-69448088509900440812011-08-05T15:18:00.007+01:002011-08-05T16:24:38.235+01:00beauty and the mass media beast!Looking back at my dating experiences I realise that the majority of men with whom I've gone out with, dated or had a relation<span class="rg_ctlv"></span>ship with, have been younger than me. I'm not talking about the Demi Moore - Ashton Kutcher 15 year age gap however but enough of a difference to put my self-consciousness on high alert. Facial lines appear more pronounced despite the plethora of anti aging creams in the bathroom cabinet and the once every 2 monthly visit to the hair salon increases to 4-6 weekly, should he,God forbid, find a stray grey hair or two.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a class="rg_hl" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.metrolic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/dating-cougar-women1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.metrolic.com/new-study-on-cougars-119956/&h=400&w=400&sz=40&tbnid=VZkBOLEi2g4-jM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=90&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dcougar%2Bwomen%2Bfree%2Bimages%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=cougar+women+free+images&docid=Tq5VJi8-Ur1nCM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RPo7TtaIMsSIhQfezLCjAg&ved=0CE0Q9QEwADgK&dur=1792" id="rg_hl" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; outline: medium none;"><img class="rg_hi" data-height="225" data-width="225" height="200" id="rg_hi" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS1xRtXL7XZcFIvyiJqiexnrhx6VVqDrjkWWdOq8-XXu4yArnay" width="200" /></a></div><br />
The pressure to stay looking young is evident in all that we read in magazines and watch in movies or on TV however it is fiercly highlighted when dating a younger man. Referring back to Demi More and Ashton Kutcher's 15 year age gap, it is rumoured that she has spent £250k since 2007 on plastic surgery, liposuction and even knee surgery. If an A list Hollywood star, as naturally beautiful and talented as Demi Moore, feels the pressure to stay young looking for her toy boy husband, then what hope is there for the rest of us? Does Michael Douglas feel under pressure to embark on a quest for eternal youth in order to stop his stunning wife Catherine Zeta Jones runnning for the (Hollywood) hills? Apparantley so. It's been reported that he has undergone a face and brow lift. But even Catherine Zeta Jones herself has had help from the surgeon's knife in maintaining her beauty.<br />
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So is the pressure to literally peel back the years from having a younger spouse? or really from being in the fickle scrutinising eye of the mass media?<br />
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<a class="rg_hl" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://proverbs.jitterbeangirl.com/anne_bancroft.jpg&imgrefurl=http://proverbs.jitterbeangirl.com/2008/11/making-a-comebackheres-to-you.html&h=420&w=336&sz=19&tbnid=Q0ejcPu_9G7u5M:&tbnh=90&tbnw=72&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dcougar%2Bmrs%2Brobinson%2Bimages%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=cougar+mrs+robinson+images&docid=r73Tu2poUqhFxM&hl=&sa=X&ei=zvo7TpiCPcmJhQe_-LymCA&ved=0CBsQ9QEwAA&dur=1393" id="rg_hl" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; outline: medium none;"><img class="rg_hi" data-height="251" data-width="201" height="200" id="rg_hi" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRTw1vPNi0Jw7n900SKFnJdQ17IBXRAP7wx2jtcCPrOdGut2xaqbA" style="height: 251px; width: 201px;" width="160" /></a>"Cougars" are the vastly growing number of savvy ladies on the hunt for younger men. This woman has the self confidence to command awestruck respect from her younger prey that she can manipulate him to go along with whatever she says. Enough life experiences have taught her what matters and what doesn't and she has faced her insecurities and fears. She is not going to bother her latest squeeze with feminine frivalities that often turn men off, ie: "Does my bum look big in this?". She knows what she looks good in and what to avoid. Probably most importantly for her less experienced partner, is that she can teach him a thing or two between the sheets...with the light on and not worrying about showing her stretch marks or cellulite I might add! She's there for a good time for as long as it lasts. No strings, no long term commitment. This seems to be a happy middle ground in recapturing your lost youth yet not worrying whether he sticks around or not. No wonder "Mrs Robinson" is still such an iconic role model for these temptress ladies.<br />
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As a society though are we still made to feel a little uncomfortable at the thought of an older woman dating a much younger man? Were eyebrows raised when Michael Douglas married Catherine Zeta Jones, 25 years his junior?Rod Stewert married Penny Lancaster with also a 25 year age gap? Not really. Some thought it may not last, the younger spouses wanting to stay up late and party perhaps. But these men bring alot to the table. Not just wealth but experience, maturity and most importanly less likely to stray. Turn the tables, however and we are not so readily able to accept such an age gap between an older woman and younger man. <br />
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But why? Because we have been brain washed by the mass media that beauty and youth are the only attributes that serve a woman. We have been led to believe that men are influenced first and foremost by physical beauty and not inner beauty. And yes even in the 21st century. Lets be honest ageism is very much alive and kicking down the self esteem of women and men eveywhere. You would be a liar and a fool to deny it. The proof? Just look in the magazines and shops. Anti wrinkle this and anti age that. The companies that make such products would not survive if we were not slaves to the beauty industry. Ladies, we are the ones who buy into this misconception that we are only as good as the moisturiser we use. And whilst I wholeheartedly subscribe to taking care of oneself both in health and appearance, I do not want to waste my life worrying whether I look 10 years younger than I really am.<br />
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Can you imagine a world where make up, hair dye, plastic surgery, botox, anti wrinkle creams and designer clothers did not exist? In that world we would have to look for something else to act as our self worth. How about intelligence, sense of humour, kindness, patience and a positive outlook. Guess what? I already have these attributes and so do most men and women out there. It's just a shame that they are not the primary focus in the mass media, the most powerful influence in our lives.GEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-68115329176626091372011-07-27T10:51:00.009+01:002011-07-28T11:29:19.538+01:00over the top....has the fight against identity fraud gone too far?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
I received a call recently from m<span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"></span>y credit card company. It was a callback that I'd requested in order to advise them I had a change of address. Apparently the customer service rep I spoke with a couple of days earlier was not qualified to change addresses!? Anyway suffice to say that they did indeed call me back. This is how the conversation went:<br />
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Rep: "Hello is that Miss Murray?"<br />
Me: "Yes, hello"<br />
Rep: "Hello Miss Murray it's xxxxxxx.Credit Card company phoning regarding your change of address"<br />
Me: " Yes that's right, I have a new address"<br />
Rep: "No problem Miss Murray. I just need to run through some security questions with you"<br />
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Normally at this point I remind them that it was they who had rung me and I would refuse to prove I was in fact the person they had rung.<br />
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I did this once with my mobile phone company and she suggested I call them back on a specific number in order to verify it was indeed them. She failed to realise that she had actually done the exact same thing. By phoning me on my mobile number (issued by them) wasn't adequate proof that I wasn't an impostor. Yet they expected me to phone their number (not issued by me) and be satisfied that they were genuine. For all I know it could have been some cowboy outfit with access to thousands of phone number scamming us by pretending to be a well known mobile co. and accessing our personal information. I knew it wasn't but out of principal I didn't call them back.<br />
<br />
On this occassion however I had to get my address changed and apparently this was the only way possible despite all the advances in technology and the numerous means of communicating at our disposal. I was also expecting this call and so had no reason to be suspicious. I took a deep breath and proceeded to answer the following <strike>idiotic</strike> security questions:<br />
<br />
Rep: "Can you confirm your full name please"?<br />
<br />
Oh I soo wanted to snap back "You've been calling me by it for the last few minutes!". However I refrained and through gritted teeth gave him my full name.<br />
<br />
Rep: "Can I have your full date of birth please". Again I answered, trying to remain ever so polite and not burst into some angry rant.<br />
<br />
Rep: "Can I have the last four digits of your credit card please Miss Murray?"<br />
<br />
I don't know how I was holding it together but I played along.<br />
<br />
You would think by now that would be enough. They had phoned me, I'd confirmed my full name, d.o.b and last 4 digits of my card surely all suspicion that I was a fraudster would be removed. But there was more....<br />
<br />
Rep: " Can I have the first and third letter of your password?"<br />
<br />
Surely now this would suffice??What next? My vital statistics?!!<br />
<br />
Rep continues "can you please tell me Miss Murray the last two recent purchases made with your credit card?".<br />
<br />
I actually could not remember what these were as fortunately I do not use this card very often and I didn't think it was that crucial in the crusade against identity theft. I really wanted to argue this point with him but I'd got this far I didn't want to risk being cut off and having to go through the entire ridiculous process again. He must have sensed by now that I was at the end of my tether...I was practically hissing the answers out...and so the perverse little creature decided to punish me further...<br />
<br />
Rep admonishes me " Well in that case Miss Murray please provide me with your email address?" Good grief!!<br />
<br />
Clearly this is how he gets his kicks and I know why Rep # 1 was not qualified to deliver the change of address process. He obviously wasn't a member of the KGB's mental torture unit!!<br />
<br />
Has the fight against identity fraud gone too far or was I just being a teeny wee bit premenstrual?GEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-23908864770874983112011-07-18T23:25:00.005+01:002011-07-19T00:00:38.431+01:00"Once a prostitute always a prostitute.."??<a href="http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/gallery/train-wrecked/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Train Wrecked" height="200" src="http://static.thehollywoodgossip.com/images/gallery/train-wrecked_398x595.jpg" width="133" /></a>I thought I'd seen everything that reality TV could throw at me...programs offering a platform to showcase hidden talent along with disillusioned wannabees we the viewers all love to mock and ridicule or B list celebrities thrown together in a tropical jungle facing their fears not just by wrestling with snakes and spiders but spending any length of time in close proximity with former "I'm a Celebrity get me out of here" contestant, Janice Dickinson would make chewing on kangaroo testicles as easy as eating marshmallows! Along with a multitude of other "fly on the wall" shows what next in the realm of so called "reality" TV?<br />
<br />
"Once a prostitute always a prostitute" is not the title of a new reality show but the opinion of a male resident of Lusaka, Zambia in response to hearing about the new TV show which has been launched by Zambian TV to help "former" prostitutes find a husband. " it is very difficult for them to just change overnight" he concluded. What!!?? Faced with the prospect of a husband, roof over their heads and food in their mouths does this man really think a former prostitute would turn it down preferring to live a life thwart with danger, self loathing and shame?<br />
<br />
<br />
"Ready for Marriage" is the new reality TV show which involves18 sex workers who stand to win a cash prize of $9000 and have their wedding paid for. They have been taken from the streets in different parts of the country and the program makers claim that "we want to make a difference to these women's lives. These are people after all". Really? Nothing to do with pretty much guaranteeing huge audience figures then? The viewers participate by voting off contestants every week. Those contestants get a consolation prize of $1000 - $1500 and help in finding a full time job so that they do not return to prostitution....very commendable. <br />
<br />
But why a TV show? Why make a parody of a very serious issue with sensationalism if it's not for monetary gain? Exploiting these women's misfortune. What happens to all the other prostitutes not chosen? Are they lining up hoping to be picked for series 2 or 3, until then do they remain prostitutes in order to one day qualify?<br />
<br />
Forget the camera, lights, action and lose the cabaret...if the sentiment was genuine then the TV company should donate money to set up a support network for these women. They could then film the progress and success stories.<br />
<br />
And what of the potential husband? Is it a wife he's really looking for...??GEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-39010051461916950892011-07-06T01:18:00.008+01:002011-07-06T09:09:54.281+01:00A friend in need...................... is minus a fish.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEign2YnejejuhCzIQzfHb2C9FkePIxMpOJHalBJbrhMN6XiPCTTd8a2WHYrOUDRO4L4IiEDClzwoqgG5WNPIFoS2H0N1tskQkQSm1_lpx8OP0X-TICeZ7hnOsSqAZyDN852GryBZhAw3VGR/s1600/forever-friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" id="il_fi" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEign2YnejejuhCzIQzfHb2C9FkePIxMpOJHalBJbrhMN6XiPCTTd8a2WHYrOUDRO4L4IiEDClzwoqgG5WNPIFoS2H0N1tskQkQSm1_lpx8OP0X-TICeZ7hnOsSqAZyDN852GryBZhAw3VGR/s200/forever-friends.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">One of the many advantages of being a spinster is that I am more often than not available to my friends to help them out in their hour of need. At a drop of a hat I can jump in my car and be at my friend's door to deal with whatever crisis prevails, offering support whether emotionally or financially. I do not have to worry about a hubby or any children being fed and taken care of, as I only have myself to deal with, giving me time and emotional energy to sacrifice to those very important to me, a deed which is gladly undertaken, time and time again.</div><br />
<br />
So it was without hesitation that I agreed to "house sit" for a very good friend of mine whilst her and her family went on vacation to sunny Spain for 2 weeks. This meant moving in to their 6 bedroom house enjoying some much needed solitude and relaxation. This is not without its demands however and after an hours crash course in the operation of household appliances, door locks and a briefing of local knowledge, I waved farewell to the "Winner" family, closed the door behind them and allowed peace to descend.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/royal-visit/5043295.bin?size=620x400s" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" id="il_fi" src="http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/royal-visit/5043295.bin?size=620x400s" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></a></div>But not for long....... part of the package included a menagerie of family pets. 1 dog, 5 cats and 6 fish....oops make that 5 fish as of this morning! I already knew about the existance of the dog and 5 cats and was purrrrfectly happy to play the part of dog lover and cat loving spinster, however it was not until the eve of the "Winners" departure that I learnt about the family of fish that lived on the top floor of the three storey house belonging to the youngest male member of the family. The "Winners" (in every sense of the word) were on their way to Viva Espagna and I was on my way to Viva Dr. Dolittle!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.moviemarket.com/library/lobby/790595-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://www.moviemarket.com/library/lobby/790595-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br />
I have only ever in my life taken care of 1 fish. Won from a funfair, a goldfish swimming around and around in its archetype goldfish bowl, enjoying a typical 2 week life span often associated with merry go round prizes, is a very pleasant but non eventful non tasking experience in a young childs life! So for me to have the responsibility of 6 fish inhabiting an aquarium ....what could possibly go wrong??<br />
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a class="rg_hl" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://l.thumbs.canstockphoto.com/canstock5170045.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.canstockphoto.com/illustration/bowl.html&usg=__8FQ5lcOzEG6_VWWWtbFSHYdF9xo=&h=147&w=150&sz=25&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=vPaQ799gU62h1M:&tbnh=103&tbnw=105&ei=y5UTTraLCIao8QOE4-D7Bw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dgoldfish%2Bbowl%2Bcartoon%2Bimage%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rlz%3D1B3GGLL_en-GBGB384GB385%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D527%26tbm%3Disch%26prmd%3Divns&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=408&vpy=255&dur=371&hovh=117&hovw=120&tx=69&ty=90&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0" id="rg_hl" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="rg_hi" data-height="117" data-width="120" height="117" id="rg_hi" src="data:image/jpg;base64,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" style="height: 117px; width: 120px;" width="120" /></a></div>I know as much about fish as I do about quantum physics, ie: I like the idea of it but it seems too much like hard work for very little gain. Besides, it makes my head hurt!<br />
<br />
The instructions were, however, simple enough....feed twice a day (small pinch of flakey fish food) and turn aquarium light on and off accordingly. <br />
<br />
The first week passed without event and my confidence grew as the Noah of the "Winner" residence.<br />
<br />
Into the second week my lack of marine knowledge was highlighted as I ignored the telltale signs of aquarium in distress. As the days passed the tanks water turned a deeper and darker green until I could no longer see the fish unless they swam as near as possible up against the glass trying to amplify their silent plea of "I'm a fish...... get me the f**k out of here"!!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumb_428/12500957940k8u6l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" id="il_fi" src="http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumb_428/12500957940k8u6l.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="159" /></a>I had no idea, I didn't realise, I was not suspicious of the ever increasingly invisible fish in the whirl of neon glowing, nuclear waste disposal coloured water.<br />
<br />
<br />
Until this morning.......<br />
<br />
I eat fish for supper. I handle their grey scaled skin. I smother in butter and herbs without issue. But when faced with a 3 inch long, silver, dead fish, early morning, eye balling me from the water's surface, I felt physically repulsed. I struggled to "fish" it out of the tank...'scuse the pun! I used a dessert spoon and a leftover take away carton in which to remove him/her??? and for some strange reason held my breath the entire time!! WTF!! The demised fish is now in the "Winner" kitchen garbage bin!!<br />
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The lightbulb in my head has illuminated and the tank is now clean and shiny complete with crystal clear water. That said I am now officially on "Fish watch" for the remaining 5 days!!GEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-48090935161153792492011-06-19T00:57:00.004+01:002011-06-19T10:31:41.121+01:0036 month glitch.........!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/rro/lowres/rron230l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="arguing couple cartoons, arguing couple cartoon, arguing couple picture, arguing couple pictures, arguing couple image, arguing couple images, arguing couple illustration, arguing couple illustrations " border="0" class="directory_result" height="384" src="http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/rro/lowres/rron230l.jpg" title="arguing couple cartoons, arguing couple cartoon, arguing couple picture, arguing couple pictures, arguing couple image, arguing couple images, arguing couple illustration, arguing couple illustrations " width="400" /></a></div><b>According to recent studies in the UK the 7 year itch has now become the 3 year glitch. This is the time that stress levels in relationships peak and the first flushes of romance have well and truly disappeared down the toilet! Those minor irritations that are harmless, almost funny and cute at the start of love develop into major annoyances which fuel arguments, cause the slamming of doors and force the back to back sleeping position. Yes we've all been there at some point in a relationship when your gorgeous adorable "sweet cheeks" becomes a vile monstrous specimin all because the toilet seat is left up, the top left off of the toothpaste or dirty socks abandoned on the bedroom floor. Little nuances which were once overlooked and readily dismissed when the rose tinted glasses were on and love really was blind.</b><br />
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<b>The top 10 everyday niggles and passion killers in relationships are defined as follows;</b><br />
<ol><li><b>Weight gain/lack of exercise.</b></li>
<li><b>Money & Spend thriftiness </b></li>
<li><b>Anti Social working hours</b></li>
<li><b>Hygiene issues, personal cleanliness</b></li>
<li><b>In Laws & extended family seeing too much/too little of.</b></li>
<li><b>Lack of romance (sex, treats etc)</b></li>
<li><b>Alcohol - drinking too much</b></li>
<li><b>Snoring and anti social behaviour</b></li>
<li><b>Lapsed fashion sense - losing touch with fashion & wearing the same old underwear/clothes</b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>Bathroom habits failing to lock doors, stray toenail cuttings, cleaning up etc </b></li>
</ol><b> As I look down this list I see clearly that there is a correlation between these points. Each irritation is the cause and effect:</b><br />
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<b>Weight gain is inevitable. Going out to dinner, sharing take aways, curled up together watching a movie eating ice cream, pop corn , chocolate etc will all contribute to that expanding waistline. Once realisation hits that you literally eating the contents of your bank account then common sense prevails and cut backs are introduced hence the need to watch the pennies and decrease the spending. Cue the arguments over how much was spent in the hair salon and the night out with the lads. In addition to keeping the wolf from the door, extra money needs to be earnt and what does that mean? Yep you guessed it....anti social working hours of course! And if your working all the hours in the day, who has the time and energy to devote hours and hours in the bathroom?? Enter # 4!</b><br />
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<b>So how do numbers 1 - 4 lead to # 5? Well if my gorgeous sexy partner had turned into a lardy lazy arsed, stinky pits haggered looking scrooge, I would be too embarrassed for anyone to see him or would use spending time out with my friends and family as an excuse just to get then hell away from him! # 6 - lack of romance/sex.....well do I really need to explain?? 1 - 5 have already put paid to any bedroom antics or loving gestures.</b><br />
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<b>At this point you are now in a relationship with no sex, no money and no time together so there's only one thing for it....alcohol!! You've been driven to it. Drowning your sorrows or getting blind drunk to block out the reality! Bring on # 8! Excessive drinking leads to anti social behaviour and a drunken slumber leads to loud body shaking snoring.</b><br />
<b># 9 & 10 I'm sure you can figure out yourself but I think I've made my point. </b><br />
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<b>The slow demise of a relationship stems from the beginning. This knock on effect sequence snowballs and gets out of control.....however only if you let it. If I've learnt anything from past relationships it is focus more on what he/she does well and don't sweat the small stuff!</b><br />
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<span id="goog_1583116417"></span><span id="goog_1583116418"></span>GEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-80589344964447690952011-06-12T00:08:00.002+01:002011-06-12T10:55:19.396+01:00My Second Award!<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVykHRJVbxDeUhO2siHouUS43C5ewPfkvhUlCgyJXZg7kKricMSORkdhyphenhyphenfHwh0QJAFwjFkxTLnabNFuTNtRtixHF_GNMqmm-5C1ZnYcdn0HmsbZD136mRyCAxQQYNxYIv-iM-FX73x1b4r/s1600/pay+it+forward.jpg" /><br />
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A second award was bestowed on me some days ago....I am a little remiss to ackowledge it but would like to thank Kelly from Psychocarnival: <a href="http://psychocarnival.blogspot.com/2011/05/award-from-minute-mans-wife-and.html">http://psychocarnival.blogspot.com/2011/05/award-from-minute-mans-wife-and.html</a> for this honour.Greatly appreciated!! Now you never know what you are going to get from this guy, I guess that's why the word "Psycho" feature in his blog title. Most of his posts are not for the faint hearted or anyone who offends easily, yet other posts are full of sensitivity giving him an edgy appeal. If you want a good laugh then visit his blog NOW!<br />
Having received this award I am to also mention another 5 bloggers who I feel are noteworthy of this accolade which is about supporting other fellow bloggers. So here goes.............<br />
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<ul><li>Count Sneaky <a href="http://countsneakysjournal.blogspot.com/">http://countsneakysjournal.blogspot.com/</a> : <div class="description">MORAL AND REFINED, UNIQUE, AND ECCENTRIC ENTERTAINMENT FOR LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF ALL AGES... A man full of great advise, thank you.</div></li>
<li><div class="description"><a href="http://klahanie.blogspot.com/">http://klahanie.blogspot.com/</a> - </div><div class="description">A Man Challenging His 'Inner Critic'. Klahanie is a great support to old and new bloggers alike. I received my first award from him and consequently more interest and interaction with my blog. Gary, thank you!</div></li>
<li>Little Pink Rain Boots - <a href="http://littlepinkrainboots.blogspot.com/">http://littlepinkrainboots.blogspot.com/</a> - A very endearing blogger who has written her own book and I hope to follow in her footsteps. Download or buy her new novel "The Collector" by Julie Elliot - <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vROrpgbYWDE/TeGbVIn57JI/AAAAAAAAAdA/k2tuIsm1h_A/s1600/Paperback.JPG">http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vROrpgbYWDE/TeGbVIn57JI/AAAAAAAAAdA/k2tuIsm1h_A/s1600/Paperback.JPG</a></li>
<li>Soundoff by Heather P - <a href="http://1soundingoff.blogspot.com/">http://1soundingoff.blogspot.com/</a> A lady going through her trial and tribulations yet remaining positive throughout! An Inspiration!</li>
<li><div class="description"></div>The Wolf writing at <a href="http://thesnafureport.blogspot.com/">http://thesnafureport.blogspot.com/</a> - unbelievably blunt, none PC, says it how it is, no skirting around the bush, no looking through rose tinted glasses. Again not for the easily offended but certainly for the open minded, dare to go against the grain, reader.</li>
</ul>A BIG THANKYOU TO YOU ALL!xxGEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-22840930485957886992011-05-25T00:19:00.008+01:002011-07-24T22:04:00.997+01:00If you've got an itch....scratch it!???<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://quezi.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/squirrel-scratching-an-itch-150x100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://quezi.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/squirrel-scratching-an-itch-150x100.jpg" /></a></div>Whilst having a quiet drink out the other evening I involuntarily overheard a giggling female proclaim rather loudly to her girlfriend that she had purchased an Ann Summers "Whisper" vibrator! I thought to myself that she should perhaps <b>whisper</b> about it, rather than loudly advertise her intimate DIY sessions across the crowded bar! That aside like most single women of any age, her sexual needs are there to be fulfilled and a vibrator is one sure way of getting there.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The altenative? Acquire a fwb (friend with benefits) or have casual (safe)sex with whoever, whenever it takes her fancy. Dating sites are numerous, catering for all needs, whether you just need to scratch that itch - "Shagbook" is the adult version of Facebook, claiming to be a safe secure no strings attached adult dating site. I fail to see the relavance of using the word "dating" in the profile of the Facebook of sex! This is clearly a way to just hook up for one on one, no dating required. What next, the sexual gratification alternative of "My Space" ....... "My Place...or yours"?? Whilst other sites such as eharmony and match.com, suggest that the possibility of meeting your "soulmate" is within reach should you join their community for a monthly fee. These are all harmless enough as long as expectations are kept to a minimum and an open mind is ever present. <br />
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More worryingly, however, are recently emerging sites aimed at "married" people! Yes, you read correctly. They claim to be an alternative source of passion for those Mr & Mrs's in unfulfilling relatonships. Husbands and wives whose marriages are at some stage more churlish than cherish can surf the net for an affair. What is even more unnerving is clearly there is a market for this "service" as more and more of these sites are springing up. "Illicit Encounters" - a discreet and confidential extra marial affair service; "AffairsClub" - for the married and lonely, to name just a few, yet all have one common clear message - Find Passion, Have an Affair! <br />
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What has our society become when we allow the sanctity of marriage to be so openly vilified by viewing affairs in a positive light? Tempting and encouraging people to partake. Surely by making having an affair so easily accessable indicates that it is perfectly acceptable, I mean everyone else is doing it so why not??<br />
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10 years ago surfing the net for love was frowned upon and deemed as a little desparate but look at it now. It is as socially acceptable as sending a birthday card online. I fear the same will happen with online affairs to the point where the illicitness and danger of it will become the norm. Not to mention the implicatons should one adulterer fall in "love" with their "partner in crime". Surely, these sites are just setting up already unhappy people for even more sorrow??<br />
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And I wonder too if the people who operate or work in them are married??GEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-52706017356532915372011-05-07T01:58:00.005+01:002011-05-25T21:52:53.599+01:00Blinded by the "Voice"?I recently came across a live recording of the Gipsy Kings singing "My Way" in Spanish. ...<b>A Mi Manera</b>. I was enthralled not only by the incadescent sensual tones of the Spanish word, but found myself mesmerised by the barely 5'5 tall singer who looked like he had a penchant for many tapas and had never seen a comb to tame his black corse pubic style hair. Sounds attractive? Not in the least! However, I was mesmerised.<br />
I found myself lost in his eyes but equally lost in his haunting beautiful voice. Surely he was singing to me?? I am normally attractive to generically good looking men yet I found myself lusting over Spains answer to Danny De Vito!<br />
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What is it about a man who can sing and sing well that turns level headed, good honest women into fanatical screaming banshees? Take Tom Jones for example. Yes he was attractrive in his day but put him serving burgers in Mcdonalds and would you have whipped your knickers off, flung them skyward, for them to fall in the deep fat fryer? I think not. Tom Jones, staturesque and testerone pumped, belting out "My Delilha" whilst thrusting his pelvis would send even Mother Teresa into a spin. Demis Roussos and Barry White...not my idea of eye candy but their dulcet tones had women throwing themselves at them. Even later in life, Elvis' bloated body and drugged dazed state could still pull the babes with his stunning voice and hip action. <br />
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Lyle Lovett is a clear example as to how a non conventional looking man can attract a "pretty woman". But if you don't look and just listen, his country boy voice is really sexy. Maybe Julia Robets liked blindfolds??<br />
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Rockers, heavy metallers, head banging long haired unshaven leather clad whisky swilling dirty smelly men. Give them a guitar, a husky voice and half open eye lid look and women just melt at their feet.<br />
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Equally a man in a uniform turns what is normally average Joe into Prince Charming. And here's one that the very clever and astute people in Marketing deploy...... a man holding a new born baby...heart warming and.priceless! Only those unromantic cynics amongst us would not be fooled by the perfect image of devotion. <br />
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So any guys out there who are having a hard time in attracting the girl of your dreams....get yourself some singing lessons and serenade her. I promise it's not cheesy....honest!! Failing that, borrow a Military uniform or steal a baby!GEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349131790648238543.post-33804617279176934332011-04-17T20:26:00.002+01:002011-05-09T12:42:33.491+01:00I have inspired.............!Imagine my surprise yet delight at receiving my first blog award.........<br />
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I am so chuffed and honoured and of course accept this award given to me by an inspiration himself, <b><a href="http://klahanie.blogspot.com/">Klahanie</a></b> whose "out of the box" thinking and wonderful stories, often witty, sometimes heartfelt, inspired me to follow his blog in the first place. One of my favourites so far is<b> <a href="http://klahanie.blogspot.com/2011/04/a-to-zed-alphabet-challenge-something.html">The A To Zed Alphabet Challenge. Something beginning with 'K'</a></b><br />
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In the spirit of the award I am requested to do the following:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded this to you.</b></span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2. Link posts by you and fellow bloggers that you find inspirational.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>3. Forward the award to those fellow bloggers.</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b> </b>That leaves # 2 and 3, so here goes.....</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The first blog that comes to mind is that of the<b> <a href="http://www.theonlinestylist.co.uk/">theonlinestylist</a>. </b>This blog was featured in a magazine (sorry can't remember which one) which I happened to come across. Reading about her success story gave me the courage and <b>inspiration </b>to start and write my own blog. I may not be or get to be as successful but it put me on the blogging map and has opened a whole new fabulous world to me. Secondly because this blog is not just about fashion and celebs but is full of very useful advice and tips on how the average woman (me) can create her very own style. You don't have to be a fashionata to appreciate this blog. To be inspired read <b><a href="http://www.theonlinestylist.co.uk/2011/03/steal-her-style-cameron-diaz.html">Steal her Style!</a></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Now to a completely different style of blog where </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I am inspired to see the beauty in life.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">...<b><a href="http://mattieelliottjustforfunpoetry.blogspot.com/">a moment with Mattie</a>. </b>This is truly an enchanting blog, full of poetry, dreams, love, spiritual quotes and treasured memories. Stepping into Matties' world will make you smile. This post surely will.....<b><a href="http://mattieelliottjustforfunpoetry.blogspot.com/2011/03/inherent-pleasure.html">Inherent Pleasures </a></b><b><a href="http://mattieelliottjustforfunpoetry.blogspot.com/2011/03/inherent-pleasure.html"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Tiffany Avant recounts very amusing tales of her life giving us a glimpse of her "off the wall" imagination over at <b><a href="http://thecheshirecatsoutofthebag.blogspot.com/">thecheshirecatsoutofthebag. </a></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I am inspired to see the funny side of life and not to take it too seriously. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Cleverly written with funny animations, her witty stories will make you laugh out loud. Unpredictable, from beginning </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">to end. Mad! Enjoy <b><a href="http://thecheshirecatsoutofthebag.blogspot.com/2011/02/to-stubbs-from-karma.html">to Stubbs from Karma</a></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A short list I know but I am in the blogging community still a baby blogger and have yet to establish a lengthy blogroll however I am working on it!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So there it is, my first "acceptance" speech and numerous "thank you's" and I didn't cry once!</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"></div>GEMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02607409562313346300noreply@blogger.com12