Tag Archive | women’s health

New Year – Same Old Me!

New Year - Same Old Me!

New Year – Same Old Me!

It’s  always a bit of a low point when you reach this grey, miserable, post Christmas time of year & the reality of just how many Celebrations you ate over Christmas starts to hit home.  Everywhere you turn there’s pressure on you to metamorphose on Jan 1st from your chrysalis into something bright & beautiful: ‘a new you’.  Perhaps I’d just rather accept my limitations.

Still there was a little brightness to the day when, driving through the village after dropping the boys off at school, I saw the delectable Simon on his usual morning stroll from the newsagent.  We gave each other a little wave.  I did wonder about stopping the car, winding the window down & offering him a lift but I didn’t want him to catch me without my barely nude foundation.  And besides, as we were only 50 yards from his home, I didn’t want to appear too keen.

The object of my desire

The object of my desire

'Cleaning the boy's bedroom dispelled my romantic notions'

‘Cleaning the boy’s bedroom dispelled my romantic notions’

What with the excitement of seeing Simon, especially with his bald head fully exposed to the elements, my hot flush had worked to boiling point by the time I arrived home on the drive.  A calming cup of tea & a couple of Jaffa Cakes were in order.  Then cleaning the boys’ bedrooms soon dispelled all romantic notions.  You should have seen what I found under James’ bed especially after his girlfriend came to stay over New Year (supposedly sleeping in another bedroom!)

The house seems so empty with the boys back to school; they’ve both got important exams this year; Julian has GCSEs & James has ‘A’ levels.   James has just got an offer from Cambridge. It all means extra pressure for me of course  – on top of everything else.  It’s a good job I’ve got Guy, my ever dependable & reliable husband.  What would I do without him?

Beautiful Bloggers

mumsnetI am absolutely thrilled this week that celiatime.com has been included on the mumsnet.com bloggers’ network list.  With mumsnet I never feel that I am just a housewife; not only is mumsnet the UK’s busiest social network for parents (7m visitors per month) but it is also a great supporter of women’s issues.

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And the winners of Celia's Beautiful Blogger Awards goes to...

And the winners of Celia’s Beautiful Blogger Awards goes to…

On returning from holiday (Postcard 4: Au Revoir) I was chuffed to find that I had been awarded a ‘Beautiful Blogger Award’  thanks to Susan at Women Making Strides blog.

It is part of the condition of acceptance that in turn I give the award to 7 other blogs which I think worthy of the award and whose blogs are definitely worth a follow.  Not surprisingly, with my romantic scribblings for magazines such as Afternoon Tea CompanionCelia – The Film, writers’ & filmmakers’ blogs have strongly influenced my choice.  But I am also paying tribute to other talented individuals whose ideas  have helped me along the way to claim the title of ‘Upper Welford’s Domestic Goddess’

After much deliberation, here goes in no particular order (rustle of golden envelope): 

Life Twice Tasted – wonderful words from a wonderful writer

Design Inspiration Planet Stencil Library – sooo creative & sooo talented

Avril Joy – novelist extraordinaire

Zebbakes – truly scrumptious

Elementary Watson – writers’ champion

Love Textiles – you’ll love Donna’s work

Jan Cawood – the rich tapestry of Jan’s amazing documentaries

Purple Prose Performance

Recording the winning entries of our romantic short story competition

Recording the winning entries of our romantic short story competition

‘Their eyes met as he gazed over the bloody entrails of the operating table

‘Having just completed my latest romantic short story to Twinset & Tweeds magazine, (a tale of  suppressed passion under surgical gowns), one might say that such excitement had precipitated a hot flush but I put it down to the central heating which was going full tilt thanks to the subzero temp outside.

I had just pressed the send button, whetting my appetite for a little more afternoon purple prose, when listenupnorth arrived to record the winning entries of my recent ‘wildly romantic’ short story competition; these had been announced in my last blog post From Petals to Poundstretcher.

Whilst listenupnorth got on with arranging the microphone, I had a little practice to get my voice warmed up.  All that recording wizardry is beyond me but Guy would have been most impressed with her range of equipment.

It was great fun reading the stories out – tales of a princess & a bit of rough (The Morning Read by David Graham Ward), a holiday romance where one member of the hotel staff is not all that he seems (Fulfillment by Irene Styles) & unrequited love between a boss & the office temp (The Dreamer by Agnes Frain)

We recorded all 3 stories as audio files which will soon be available to listen online or download at listenupnorth.com , but in the meantime here’s a little taster from Fulfillment: 

From Petals to Poundstretcher!

We all need a bit of retail therapy on occasions.  Preparing for episode 3, I needed a makeover to reflect my new found confidence (to find out why you’ll have to wait & watch ep3 when it’s released!).  Therefore I needed no further excuse to head for the shops.

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I am also very pleased to announce

The winners of the Celia Romantic Story Writing Competition:

First: The Morning Read by David Graham Ward

Second: Fulfillment by Irene Styles

Third:  The Dreamer by Agnes Frain

The winning entries will shortly be available to listen online or download from listenupnorth.com

And the Runners Up:

A Holy Passion by Amabel Craig

Making Things Happen and  A Woman’s Dilemma by Margaret Nesbitt

Well Done everyone!