Musical Memories: Moonlight Sonata

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Ha! I lied, that's not the music that this post is about.

The song that I am choosing as my first musical memory does involve night-time illumination though.

Hubby and I met in 2000 and one of the biggest songs that year was "Dancing in the Moonlight" by Toploader. We had a couple of songs that meant something to us, but this was an anthem of the year; one we both adored and would turn up to belt it out at the slightest opportunity. I'm pretty damn sure we weren't the only ones.

It took on new meaning for me though when one night in July 2001, after the cinema, my then-boyfriend and I decided on a moonlit stroll along the beach. Yes it was Barry Island, but you lot have really got to get over your impression of it. It's a stunning sandy beach!

So there we were, strolling along under the midnight blue velveteen sky, a waxing moon high in the sky casting diamonds and sapphires over the sea which gently crashed onto the shore. And yes, he proposed to me. And yes I accepted. We married four months later (I don't like waiting for things).

When our friends got married in August 2004, this was one of the songs played at the disco and it was coincidentally the first time that hubby and I had ever danced together (we don't do dancing). It's also the only time that we have ever publically danced since, we've got four left feet between us and can't possibly stand for that lvel of humiliation ever again!

It's still one of my favourites; I consider it our song because it reminds me of the early days and the night we got engaged.

 

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Now pop over and see the other entries on Deep In Mummy Matters where the theme this week is "New Beginnings"

Musical Memories

FlashBack Friday: Picture Window

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Time passes so quickly; what seemed like only a year or so again suddenly turns out to be six years ago!

It's been quite cold today and when it's like this it makes me want to get away from it all. Three years ago, we'd have booked a European city weekend break and popped off to somewhere warmer and slightly less monotone in colour. Nowadays, that's not so easy with a nearly two year old to consider. On top of the financial aspect, there's the point that I've always maintained that I won't take a young child on a plane; it's a personal thing. So we have made a decision to spend our holidays for the forseeable future in Britain, holidays will happen via a car.

Six years ago, we decided to break from our traditional haunts of Prague and Barcelona and try out Budapest.

We landed at the airport and caught the bus into town, something that we'd done every time in Prague with no problem. Slightly different kettle of fish in Budapest. We had to then catch a train in from the bus station to the centre of the city, struggled up the stairs and almost died straight away from carbon monoxide poisoning from the pollution. On the map, out hotel was a short walk. In reality it took us an hour. With a suitcase. And the temperature decided to rise steeply.

We'd decided on a romantic hotel on Margarite Island in the middle of the Danube. We couldn't catch a taxi to the hotel because no taxis are allowed on the island, so even once we'd got to the right bridge, we then had to walk more than a mile up to our hotel and by then we wanted to go home already. We checked into the hotel, eventually, and went and collapsed in out very expensive hotel room. Which had red ants crawling up the walls.

That night we went in search of a meal in the city centre. This was no mean feat as I am vegetarian and this is goulash country. Finally we found a hotel which had a nice restaurance attached. We ordered some soup to start which turned out to be quite frankly the most disgusting thing I have ever tasted bar none. It was a gazpacho soup and the best way I can describe it is an alcoholic cold condensed milk. Neither of us ate it, instead we gorged ourselves on bread rolls.

The next day we managed to stock up at breakfast time and find a McDonald's for lunch. I had fries because they didn't do veggie burgers. In the afternoon we hired a golf cart, I was a little concerned handing over my passport as a deposit but hey-ho, and drove around Margarite Island. We ended up driving down a path alongside the Danube, and suddenly noticed that the path was tapering in and we were running out of available driving area. This is where hubby executed a 23-point turn alongside a rushing River Danube trying to avoid the joggers and not fall in to a river which is certainly not blue!

All in all, we had a rubbish time in Budapest and I went home starving. This photograph looks wistful and picturesque but belies the fact that there's also bugger-all to do there. Not a place I'd personally recommend.

But at least now we can laugh about the tip-top soup!

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Please visit the other entries over at CafeBebe



ShowOff Showcase

Questions and Answers

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I've been tagged twice today in the Q&A meme by The Moiderer and Christine over at Thinly Spread; a meme that originated with Mrs. Lister when she confessed that the "one feature I always look forward to is the ‘Q&A’ interview with a random celebrity/politician/author/whatever."

Which living person do you most admire, and why?

My mother. She is the strongest person that I've ever met. Life has dealt her some really tough cards, a lesser woman would have broken many a time, but she has kept her chin up and kept going regardless. If I have a fraction of her strength, love and compassion then I am a lucky person.

When were you happiest

From the moment that I went on maternity leave looking forward to the birth of my first child, throughout my entire time off with him and ever since.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

It was clearly so embarrassing that I have wiped all memory of it. However, I do tend to put my size eights in it rather a lot so these moments are frequent.

Aside from property, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought?

My car. Still paying it off monthly, it's not a Lamborghini or anything, just a Renault Scenic.

What is your most treasured possession?

My family. If I'm forced for a material possession: my photographs which are my key to unlocking all my memories.

Where would you like to live?

Right where I am, it's why I gave up the chance of a Deputy Headship at the age of 27.

What’s your favourite smell?

The Boy's hair and skin, freshly mown grass, filter coffee and the crash of a wave.

Who would play you in the film of your life?

God only knows. A friend once commented (ten+ years ago) that I was like a fat Cameron Diaz (not as bad as it sounds; remember that thing Chris Evans used to do on TFI Friday? 'He's a fat George Clooney, she's a fat Jennifer Aniston' where he'd bring on a general public lookielike of a celebrity?). However, being that she is a simpering female, I'd probably sack her and employ someone else instead.

What is your favourite book?

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and I Love Capri by Belinda Jones.

What is your most unappealing habit?

I'm not going to be vulgar here so I'll say the fact that I swear like a trooper, I detest it.

What would be your fancy dress costume of choice?

1920s.

What is your earliest memory?

Sitting on the floor of my Nan and Bampi's bedroom playing with the doll's house, when my Bampi called me over for a cuddle. He died when I was two and a half so sometime before then.

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Too many to list really, but I'll go for gorging myself on a feast of my favourite food.

What do you owe your parents?

Everything, in particular my mum. She had the determination to get me started in my adult life as best as she could and without the opportunities that she had. As for my dad, probably about £1275 for all the odd-jobs he does around my house because "that's what dads do!"

To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why?

Gosh this is a difficult one. Probably my great-aunt who I didn't get to see for the six months before she died (even though we knew it was coming) because I suffered with horrendous morning sickness for five months, and then couldn't handle the three hour drive down to see her. She was buried three hours after The Boy was born. I will always regret not being able to say goodbye to her.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

My husband.

What does love feel like?

Unconditional acceptance and devotion.

What was the best kiss of your life?

You know that bloke that I've already mentioned in the last but one question?

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Jesus Christ! In fact the other day, I said 'Jesus' and The Boy said 'Christ'. That's when I knew it was time to stop. That's aside from the all swear-words!

What is the worst job you’ve done?

I've never done a job that I didn't want to do, although I once worked in a cheapy clothes shop in Cardiff. I stood there for an entire day, not allowed to use the till, not allowed to assist the customers, just allowed to tidy. The next day I walked in and told him that I would not be staying that day or any other.

If you could edit your past, what would you change?

Nothing really, because everything has made me the person that I am. However I would like to go back ten years and forbid myself from ever taking out a loan or credit card.

What is the closest you’ve come to death?

General Anaesthetic I suppose!

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

My child.

When did you last cry, and why?

Last night because I don't want to leave The Boy to have to go to work, it happens every night before work.

How do you relax?

Hello? Have you seen my blog? Other than wasting my evenings on the Internet, I like gardening and being by the sea.

What single thing would improve the quality of your life?

Having enough money to not need to work.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Ok, so that was actually Ferris Bueller, but he's right isn't he?

I tag in turn:

Alli at Mum2Four

Kerry at MultipleMummy

Sabina at DeepinMummyMatters

Jennie at Esther and William in the World

'My Refrigerator' or 'The Most Bizarre Post I've Ever Done'

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This is quite possibly the most surreal meme that I have ever taken part in. I'm not going to pretend to understand it, in fact I'm not entirely sure that there is a reason to it other than "why the hell not?"

I have been tagged by the chirpy chappy that is Garry from The Blog Up North to photograph and list the contents of my fridge and then tag some other people. I am only happy to do this because I had a delivery from Tesco's yesterday!

 

 

Organic milk, cheese and butter for The Boy, 0.75% milk for us, water filter, vegetables, fruit, salad, jam, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickle, cheese (paneer, Somerset Brie, Le Roule, mozzarella, cheddar, grated cheddar, grand padona, Philadelphia), Clover, Dairylea Dunkers, Petit Filous, yoghurts, ham, opened tuna, stir-fry veg, noodles, stir-fry sauce, Onken Cherry yoghurts, Elmlea.

Think that's it!

Who do I pick on now…

Ha, good luck!

Tomorrow's Promise

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That Sticky Fingered Tara has really set me in a flap this week. I somehow missed my e-mail notification on Friday and have therefore spent the entire day completely flummoxed as to what on Earth I could do for The Gallery this week!

And so this week you are indeed going to have to do some head-scratching, for the theme is: Tomorrow.
Nope. I've no idea what photo to use either, but I'm going to have great fun thinking of one.

What?!

I don't have a camera that takes photos of the future. I could try and morph The Boy to create an image of what he might look like but I don't want to find out. I want to be surprised.

However, having already declared on twitter that I wasn't taking part this week (yeah right!), I had a think back through my day. We've had great fun together today and as I was kissing him good night listening to him jabbering away, I was amazed to see how much he has altered lately. My little baby is developing and changing and soon he won't be a baby at all anymore. This is especially poignant as he is 22 months old today.

My angel at 6 hrs old and 22 months old.

So I think about tomorrow and the day after and I wonder what will happen. My baby is growing up, he is becoming more independent in what he wants to do but still needs me to do so much for him. While he does, I will continue to savour every moment; every baddy finger that needs kissing, every 'up-py' cuddle that he wants, every zip that needs tugging up, every hand hold, every second of every moment with him.

What do I want for my son?

I want him to be happy. I want him to be independent yet not shun the help and assistance of others. I want him to help and assist. I want him to explore the world he lives in safely and with care and consideration to his own well-being and those of others. I want him to be kind and thoughtful. To be polite and respectful. To realise that every living thing on this planet has a purpose, and to never knowingly patronise or belittle other human beings. I want him to love his family and friends, to understand who he is and where he comes from. I want him to fulfill his potential in whatever field that is. If he doesn't want to go to University then he doesn't have to; I will support his carefully considered decisions with the love and affection that I will always give him.

I want him to grow into a strong, loving and happy boy; an independent yet dependable man.

That is his tomorrow, and my promise.

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This post has been hanging around in my head for months since I read this one.

Sunny Day

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Is there anything better in life than this?

Sitting on the back doorstep, watching my beautiful and clever 22 month old (today!) son playing with his new garden toy. "pa(s)ta gone, wheel round-a-round, wa(t)er splash down, pwane sky, sun-ny… day, pour pour pour!" The birds chirruping in the trees, gentle Spring breeze blowing through the bamboo and zebra grass, windchimes gently swaying, planes zipping through the sky, children shrieking with delight. The sun's gentle caress is trying to convince my milky-white legs to convert to a more sociable shade of cream, while coaxing the moisture out of The Boy's mini-clothes on the whirly-gig.

I love Spring!

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