A letter from the heart ..So Sorry :0

Hi...

I just wanted to apologise to anyone that I may have offended by my last post..It wasn't intended....I have had some e-mails directly to me....asking why I am not posting anymore....The reason is that I felt my posts were boring...When you see the talent that everyone else has I just felt that I paled into insignificance....I still want to stay in touch with all the fantastic friends that I have met and I hope that everyone continues to e-mail me directly or join me on facebook...I thought that it was clear by my post that I wanted to stay in touch ...But maybe not :(

The Saturday afternoon (just after posting this) I opened up an e-mail from the Director of Acquisitions of a publishing company wanting to see my work...It is the first time that this has happened...I have had an awful lot of rejection letters and I have never got this far before.....I should find out later next week if they are signing me up for my childrens book(s)....They (my books) are immensley important to me because I feel that they will spread love and empower children with problems...Something that is VERY dear to my heart with the character building childhood that I have had....

If I have made it seem that I am just shutting off from friendships new and old...that wasn't my intention at all...After meditating I feel that I need to spend time and energy on getting my books published....(Not scratching my head for hours on end...wandering what to write about.....I am not gifted like most of you in writing funny and interesting posts...with fantastic photo's and recipes)....Let's face it..I lead quite a boring life and I am over the top with pride at my girlies and grandbabies...Boring to everyone else BUT me *GRIN*.

I am sorry if I made light of the fact that I was stopping and that it may have shocked some BUT I knew that if I dithered I wouldn't do it!...Yes I miss posting.....But deep down I know its the right decision at the moment.... So please accept my apologies...Please still e-mail me and stay in touch...One day.... hopefully.... I'll have a new webpage whereby you can find out about my childrens books.....Then... you'll hopefully understand why I am so passionate about them!

So I'll say farewell NOT goodbye....I'll pop into your web pages when I can and PLEASE stay in touch!

Take care,

Sue :)

Pastures New :)

Today I have made the decision to say goodbye....I have really enjoyed writing my posts..They didn't quite morph into the blog that I had in mind...They became more like a diary which wasn't what I had intended....For a really private person it has been an interesting life lesson.

I have learnt alot....The biggest lessons that I take are that their are some incredibly lovely and warm people out there...Which...in the grey world that surrounds us daily is a HUGE breath of warm sunshine...I have learnt that I can open up and post whatever was on my mind without chewing over it endlessly....My first posts I looked for faults and worried endlessly that someone would take offense where none was intended.....I have had hugs when I needed them and immense laughter and joy....

I am able to tick "have written a blog" off my long list of "must do" which has included crazy things...Some small and simple like spending New Years Eve opening a bottle of fizz sitting on a beach with the man I love (we did this in Greece), inventing a board game (did this with my friend Jan..although we couldn't get it sold we have such fun with it) to travelling around Europe in our caravan...I really should have set up my blog then...we met some amazing people and stayed in some interesting places!

I feel that I want to concentrate on my childrens books and getting them into print....Its also on my long list of "must do"...Not because of status or money but because I feel that they spread love...Something that I feel this world needs :)....

I also have a book that I want to get into print as well as writing the follow up to it which I have started....I am really enjoying writing and now that the Winter is upon us and I'm not busy down my allottie...I can immerse myself in it and enjoy the journey ....Wherever it may take me.

My other passion is charity work and I have neglected this for too long...I have a seed of an idea in this crazy brain of mine....Watch out hubby!!!!..You know that I always manage to rope you into help me *GRIN*.

I will keep in touch and visit all the wonderful friends that I have met...So still look out for me on your webpages!...AND don't forget to take out your list of "must do" with its hopes and dreams....Dust it down and re-read it....Promise yourself to make one wish happen (even if it is a little one)....*SMILE*

Take care and speak to you soon :)

Sunshine Relish :)

Okay ....I know it's really called Sweetcorn Relish but I think that it looks like sunshine in a jar :)

Ingredients ;-

1 Green Bell Pepper (seeded and finely chopped)

1 Red Bell Pepper (seeded and finely chopped)

8 corn on the cob (you could use a couple of tins of corn)*

1 Tablespoon, yellow mustard seed crushed

1 teaspoon celery salt*

1 Large Spanish Onion finely chopped

2 1/2 cups white malt vinegar*

2 Tablespoons mustard powder

1 1/4 cups white sugar*

1 teaspoon turmeric powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons cornflour mixed with 2 Tablespoons water

*Note - I got the Sweetcorn Relish recipe from www.cdkitchen.com BUT I have made some changes to the original recipe. Marked with a *

First remove the corn from the cob, add 1 cup water and microwave for 3-4 minutes...I didn't cook my corn as my hubbie prefers his corn relish with a slight crunch...(We used freshly picked corn)...Drain from the water.

Place all the ingredients (except the cornflour mix) in a large pan.


Stir over a low heat for 5 minutes....Simmer for 50 minutes...stirring often...Add the cornflour and water mix....stir quickly..It will thicken....Cook for a few minutes to cook out the cornflour..Stirring all the time....Spoon into sterilized jars...Label and leave for a month before eating... Once open place in the fridge.

Sunshine In A Jar :)

Happy munching...

Speak to you soon :)

What's YOUR Nickname? :)

I know that I said I would get my head down and type...But I am just on the end of typing book FOUR..."Jack, Faith,Donga Digga and the Spinna's"....So far to go ..SO I am cheering myself (and my typing cramped fingers ) up with another thought...

As a child my Mum nicknamed me ..."Blue" ....Funny how WW thought that I looked nice in blue !!!.....Only my Mum and my brother ever used it......I forgot all about the name until the conversation a few months ago with my brother...(Tony has always called me Sue)...

My girlies of course have nicknames....Kez is Peanut..When she was little she would eat them on everything including salad and in sandwiches....BUT she wouldn't eat peanut butter...Han is Zippy...I bought her clothes from the same shop as Kez but somehow her zip always undid!..Thank goodness they can't read this..They would kill me...*GRIN*..Oh the revenge of the BFHM..(I was nicknamed..Big Fat Hairy Mamma!!)..Now I'm Nansta.

Jack was Beanie baby BUT is now Nozdiz...Katelin...Curly Bird...and Leah..Baby Bug.

Is anyone else as mad as us?....What's your nickname?

Speak to you soon :)

If I Was A Princess Just For Today.....

I was going to write a post having a groan...BUT I need cheering up...I was looking through my storage keys (for the computer) and I have realised that all the upto date work that I did on my childrens books (all 18 of them) has been somehow deleted and all I have is the original shells of them that I did way back in 2007....Luckily I did print them out...So until they are finished I will be re typing them onto my key AND a Disk *GRIN*......

So..Before I start my Mammoth task (and hibernate away for the next two weeks) I wanted to leave you with happy thoughts.... Beside the important things that we would all wish for if we were a Princess (or Prince) for the day....Like World Love...Peace...an end to hunger etc...What FUN things would you put in place??.... Here are my THREE things...I would put in more BUT a busy task awaits *GRIN*...

Everything fattening would be good for you...OHHH would I have fun being "healthy"..MMMMMM..I know I'm food obsessed BUT I love eating *GROAN*...Water fountains would be chocolate...Apples would be toffee apples etc...

You could borrow other peoples heads for an hour.... You would just ask them and twist...Pop...Off it would come then attach it to your body....How funny would that look???I would borrow Eds head and see the genius it takes to make fantastic pics (especially of the Moon - I love those!!)...Or Willow Witch I would borrow her voice and sing to the world ..(I love singing but I am terrible..No really trust me..I could get my babies to sleep in 10 seconds due to my screetching that hurt their delicate little ears *GRIN*...Or The Milkmans Wife..I have always wanted to live on a farm AND would love to have her patience AND witty sense of humour....Think of the courage it would give you to try knew things...

I would make it compulsory to join in...Especially if you saw someone doing a snow angel...the CONGA.... or sitting down doing the rowing boat song (you know the one at weddings where you all sit on the floor in a long joined line and swing from side to side to the music of OOPS UPSIDE YOUR HEAD)...Imagine the friends that you would make through laughter and all doing something silly!!...Note to self.. wear trousers on that day *GRIN*...

Well as you can see my mind is definately in the mood for writing silly stories..So I'll leave you with the thought..

"What silly things would you implement if you were Princess (or Prince) for the day??..."

Speak to you when I get a chance :)

Sloe Gin MMMM :)

Look in the hedgerows and pick your sloes..Don't eat them they are really sour and leave a dry taste in your mouth YUK!! Wash them removing any bugs or leaves. Prick each sloe twice with a toothpick and half fill an empty bottle.







Add 150g of white sugar to your bottle (if you prefer it sweeter you can add from 150g to 200g )and top up with your chosen spirit - We used Gin (and later Vodka as we had picked so many sloes we didn't want to waste them!). Label it and shake the bottle daily for the first two weeks (or until the sugar has totally disolved). We made this on the 5th September 09).

Yesterday I poured a small glass so that you can see how the liquer is coming along...Tony HAD to taste it just to check it wasn't poisonous *GRIN*...You'll be happy to know that it isn't *SMILE*. At the end of October we will drain the berries and throw them away..Decanting the mixture back into the bottle...If you can't leave it then it will be drinkable at Christmas...BUT it would be more refined if you wait until next Christmas...It's great as an after dinner liquer BUT remember it is VERY potent *GRIN*.

Speak to you soon :)

Happy 4th Birthday Curly Bird :)

Your Toy chest made by Grandad Tony :)

It only seems like yesterday when you made your appearance into the world..So tiny compared to your bruiser of a big brother...You looked just like a tiny bird...



Happy 4th Birthday Curly bird... We love you :)


Y0ur "must have" pink eye makeup all over your face...Your crazy untamed and wild curly "bed head" makes us all smile.


Big brother Jack and his best friend...Not liking being at a party with girls YUK!



Cousin Leah went and had a great time!

I'm sorry that I wasn't at your party...Grandad Tony had to leave before he managed to take any shots of your wonderful Disney Princess cake...I promise I will be well for your next party (not in bed with flu *GRIN*)...Then I will have LOADS of pics to put on here *GRIN*....

Just so your big brother doesn't sulk...here's a pic of his spiderman toychest as well *GRIN*.

Speak to you soon :)