A PIF, a TAG & a "MERCI"

Well it's very quiet here this morning. M at work and the girls at school again. The first day back to school always reminds me of that Bjork song "It's Oh so quiet" (please imagine it playing in the background). I love the gentle introduction to the song but on days like today when I'm not quite ready to enjoy the silence and stillness of my home, I'm longing for a bit of the loudness and fun of the rest of the song - tomorrow will be a different story but today it feels like our home has lost a bit of its soul.



Looky here, isn't this lovely pink bear gorgeous? I won it on a PIF giveaway on Jennie's lovely blog. Jennie has made this so beautifully and I don't know how she managed to fit making this in with all the other ones she made. My bear sits proudly on the shelf surrounded by piles of buttons that were also kindly included in the parcel and a delicious bar of Turkish Delight which sadly didn't even last until I finished writing my thank you email to Jennie. I'm a woman of no willpower... In the true spirit of PIFs I know I am meant to offer this on to other readers. So if you would like to enter into a PIF please say so if you comment on this blog, There is no obligation to and unless you state that you want to I will not enter you into the hat. It will of course take me a while to make things to send off but it's a promise, three people will be sent something from me at some point in the future (and judging by woefully bad lack of self discipline, the parcel will not contain any chocolate!).




I have also been tagged by the lovely April. So here are the answers (it being a Monday morning and the lack of chocolate in the house, please make allowances for the answers!).

1) What was I doing ten years ago?

Ten years ago I was living in the twilight zone. The land of sleep deprivation where I had been living for four years and with another year to go until Big Sister decided that sleep was a good thing!




2) What are five (non-work) things on my to-do list for today:

Washing,washing and more of the same.
Running In and out of the garden to retrieve washing from showers.
Running in and out of the garden to re- hang washing when the sun dares to shine.
Making dreaded, and oh so boring, phone call to car insurance company about the lady who drove into my car last year.
Having cup of tea before collecting Little Sister and holding head in hands when I realise how little I've achieved today. Go in search of chocolate on the way to school.




3) Snacks I enjoy:

CHOCOLATE - any shape or form, apart from white chocolate and powdered
Pistachio nuts - I love 'em
Grapes, cold and juicy from the fridge
Greek yogurt (is that a snack?)


4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
a) A billionaire - that's a lot of money ...
Would have to give some away to families and friends. There would be no fun unless it could be shared.
b) Give to charities of course - it would be hard to know when to stop
c) A bit of indulgence here - buy a house in French or Italian countryside.
d) Sort out that lavender farm dream
e) This one is pure fantasy - but arrange a huge bloggers party, venue to be decided!

5) Places I have lived:

London and Sussex

6) Jobs I have had:

Saturday jobs whilst still at school - working in clothes shops in London. Great discounts, good opportunities to practise my languages and money left over to go out in the evening!

I have mainly worked for charities since leaving University ( after a brief spell in music PR and teacher training). Working for children's charities have definitely been my favourite jobs. These were in London.
When we moved down to Sussex i had various temping jobs to tide me over (the worst being stuck in a freezing cold portakabin on a building site) and spent some time commuting to London to work which I hated. I think my favourite permanent job here was working at the University. My dream job is yet to happen ...



I know there are rules to this tag and you know that I don't do the rules. So if you want to join in, feel free.and if you've got time please pop over and say hello to April so I don't feel so bad about not playing nicely!!!



Before I go and rescue the washing, once again, I need to thank Mrs Cowboys and Custard and her props department for the so very lovely and generous gifts that she recently sent me and which have featured in many of the totally gratuitous photos here today. THANK YOU!

PS _ I'm very sorry and assumed that everybody knew what a PIF is, here by way of an explanation is this:

I will send a handmade gift to 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.