Sunday, 11 March 2012

Sunday Night Chit Chat

Sunday Night Chit Chat


Linking up to Carla at  http://halfdozendaily.typepad.com/my-half-dozen-daily/ 


for Sunday Night chit chat .... here goes....
My quote has to be from the film below:


"In India we have a saying: all will be well in the end. If all is not well, it isn't yet the end."


What am I ...




Reading?
Psychiatrist Howard Cutler interviewed the Dalai Lama many times and this book is a combination of narrative by the author and extended quotes of the Dalai Lama's answers. The book showcases the Dalai Lama's profound grasp of human nature. His answers sound simple is because they are rooted in practicality. He isn't trying to explain how things are, he's trying to describe what you can DO to become happier. 




I have a had a dark cave week and this book is one that I dip into when I need it.











Watching?



Watched this last night with Mr Thrifty - we laughed and laughed - a truly, wonderful film. There's a clip on my previous post. Do go and see it if you get the chance.  There's a small, very casual restaurant in an older part of Norwich where you can order a platter to share - hummus, olives, dips and warm bread - just perfect. Mr T and I hadn't been out together for ages and it was a great chance to have a chat and spend some time together. We had a bite to eat and then saw the film - it was a lovely evening.

Listening to?

Beethoven's Piano Sonatas.

Cooking/Baking?

An easy day today because we had lots to do. Tagliatelli with warm bread and salad followed by pannetone bread and butter pudding with soya cream.... yum!




Happy you accomplished this week?


Handed my resignation letter in.


Wrote 125 out of 140 reports.



Looking forward to next week?


My birthday.






Thankful for today?


The many blessings in my life.











Birthday Give-Aways

Good Evening Lovely Readers

I do apologise for my sparse blog this week - I have been in a dark cave and didn't want to come out. The sun started to shine again when I tendered my resignation on Thursday. I have been deeply unhappy in the school I work in since I started and I thought 'life's too short'. I have already started looking and applying elsewhere, but who knows what the universe has in mind. I am sure, however, as Mother Julian says, that all shall be well. Mr Thrifty and I went to the cinema last night (a rare treat) to see The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - if you get the chance go; we split our sides laughing. Anyway, the young Indian owner of the hotel had a similar saying : "In India we say that all will be well in the end, and if all is not well, then it isn't the end yet!" Here's a clip:




Another couple of lines that made me laugh:
"If I wanted your opinion I'd have given it to you."
"Young man, at my age I don't even buy green bananas."

Well, I promised you gifts and here they are:

 I am a huge fan of British cinema and here is a Ken Loach film to make you laugh - Mr Thrifty and I certainly did! This is one of the reviews from Amazon:

Another gritty, northern, working class drama from Ken Loach.

Eric is having a mid-life crisis, and well he might have because up until now his life has been pretty much a disaster. Still hung up over the break-up (his fault) of his first marriage, and living with two stepsons from his second, one of whom is having a crisis of his own, there seems little pleasure to be gained from life as it is and it doesn't look like it's going to get any better. It's quite obvious he's down in the dumps, and his mates, at the Post Office where he works, decide to do something about it. Luckily, one of their group is a bit of a guru and is addicted to self-help novels. With the aid of one of these books and a bit of homespun philosphy, he comes up with a plan to help Eric; namely to find him a guide, someone through whose eyes he will be able to see things more clearly. And that's where Cantona comes in. Eric chooses his idol, King Eric. So it is, with a bit of sage advice from the sultry, confident Cantona, that Eric starts to get his life back on track. Until......

This is a very funny film about ordinary people: love, loneliness, family; mates, football and gangstas! And it contains one of the best lines in a movie ever. The finale just before the finale, when King Eric leads his troops to Victory, the guru says............

As if I'd spoil it for you. Suffice to say I laughed out loud and applauded spontaneously, even though I was watching it on a 14" screen in my own front room.




 Here's my second gift to you. This was a birthday gift from the Victoria and Albert museum gift shop. It is a very pretty necklace, but just not me, and it's been lurking in my jewellery box for far too long. This necklace needs to be worn so I am offering it to someone who will let it see the light of day.


Finally, I am sucker for mug covers and here's a pretty one with cables - will fit a smallish mug.









Now the rules ..... I know, I know, why do there have to be rules but c'est la vie!

#1 You have to be a member of my blog... if you aren't yet, you can join now.

#2 Click the advert for me .... please ... it is only about 1p per click but it will add up and pay the postage ..or help. I do click on the ads on the blogs I visit.

#3 Post a link on your blog back to this page so that others can find it too. Tell me that you've done this and I'll enter your name twice.

#4 Finally (sorry) - leave me a comment on this post telling me which gift you'd like to be entered for (no point in winning something you don't want). I think the dvd is only good for Europe.

It's my birthday on Thursday, but I am more likely to have time at the weekend, so the draw will be next Sunday. Bonne chance mes amies!

Love Mrs Thrifty xxx

Hearing Dogs

A huge, warm welcome to Kim and Hilde - Thank you so much for joining me. As Kim has experience of Hearing Dogs, I thought I would talk a bit about Zena and her role in my life.




 Here she is in the snow just being a dog and enjoying life. She loves snow. It's a shame we get so little of it here.



And here she is with best friend Gomex.. who says dogs and cats aren't friends?




This is Zena in working mode. Of course, she is always working, but she wears a coat if we are out in public where she will be listening for fire alarms.

This is what Hearing Dogs say about their work:


"We train hearing dogs to alert deaf people to select household sounds and danger signals in the home, work place and in public buildings - providing a life-changing level of independence, confidence and security."








To find out more about this life-changing charity, you can have a look at:
http://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/

Two of our most special friends, Simon and Foggy recently won the annual award for Life Changing Dog and their story is inspirational - Simon and fiancée Vicky are getting married this summer and their story makes me cry every time I watch it..... If you have a moment, do follow the link and watch this short video.







Call in later and I'll post the freebies I am offering xxx



Wednesday, 7 March 2012

Apologies...

My sincere apologies for my absence. My tooth abscess is finally succumbing to the antibiotics I am taking and so it is back to school tomorrow. I have felt like doing very little, including blogging, but I am back now.

My recent gifts are winding their way to their recipients and I will be posting some freebies in a day or two in time for my birthday so be sure to check in then.

My heartfelt welcome to my new followers - thank you so much for joining.

I want to talk to you about my new niece this evening. Last October, my brother and his wife gave birth to a beautiful baby girl with Downs Syndrome. She was born on my own daughter's 24th birthday. I have 5 siblings and there are 25 years between the oldest of my Mum's grandchildren and this newest blessing. My Mum is now Nana to 14 grandchildren.














I think she is absolutely gorgeous and I want to make her something very special. I have lots of ideas, but I would like to ask you for your ideas. If she were yours, what would you make? I'd love to hear your ideas my creative friends...




Love Mrs Thrifty xxx

Sunday, 4 March 2012

Welcome

A huge welcome to my new followers and my apologies for my lack of blogging - I am nursing an abscess and not up to much except taking pain killers - seeing dentist tomorrow and hopefully back in full swing soon.

Mrs Thrifty xxx


Saturday, 3 March 2012

Gifts for you

Well Saturday is here and it is time to tell you who won the little gifts I posted last week. Before I do though, it is my birthday on the 15th and I have decided to give similar items away to bless others, so I will post those tomorrow. If you are disappointed this time, please sign up again and you will have another chance to win. I used a random name picker which I use in the classroom too - great little tool - http://classtools.net/education-games-php/fruit_machine    I hope the universe has made the right choices.

The winner of the heart is:

Anne at

http://anne-marmaladeandcatmint.blogspot.com/
 the winner of the toast stamper is:

Angela at

http://angalmond.blogspot.com/





and the ribbons are going to:

Grace at  http://oldpolicehouse.blogspot.com/



Ladies would you please email me your addresses and I'll send your gifts off to you. My email is jessie153p@yahoo.co.uk

Will be back blogging later xxx

Thursday, 1 March 2012

Sowing seeds.....


Hello wonderful readers,

Running around like a mad thing this week and Mr Thrifty rushed down to Cornwall when his mother was taken into hospital - she is 90 on Saturday - a worrying time, but she seems better than she was. Hopefully, blogging will be back to normal at the weekend. In the meantime, I saw this and as a teacher I felt it was so true. I am sure that it will resonate with others too. Much of what we do in life may seem insignificant at the time and we  may never know the impact we have - good and bad. Food for thought anyway.

Wishing you are having a wonderful evening - wherever you are xxx