A Balanced Hodgepodge

Middle of the week so it's time for the hodgepodge with the questions set by Joyce at the blog From This Side of the Pond. This is a great prompt based blog hop with differently themed questions every week.

1. Where do you go when you need some inspiration?

I love browsing through Pinterest, sometimes with an actual purpose in mind, but often just to see what's out there in the virtual world of ideas.

2. What's under your bed?

Sometimes there is a cat under the bed, but only when she doesn't want to leave the room when we want her to. There is bound to be dust under there, and my beloved has a box of things under there that don't fit in his bedside table.

3. Thursday, February 22nd is National Chili Day, National Margarita Day, and National Cook a Sweet Potato Day. Of the three which would you most like to celebrate? Is that likely?

Of the three options I would celebrate the Sweet Potato as I love them and they're such a versatile vegetable and so much tastier than their plain relatives.

4. What are you 'snowed under' with right now?

I'm not really snowed under with anything at the moment, though I am starting to feel the pressure build for doing the A to Z blogging challenge this year. I think I've finally decided on my theme, so now I just have to start writing my posts.

5. Tell us three to five things that make you feel balanced?

Am I allowed to say my beloved, my beloved, my beloved? No, okay I'll be good and say different things. My beloved is definitely the number one thing that helps me feel balanced, as he is the other half of my soul.

Cuddling one of our furbies is a great way to bring balance back and sometimes reading or watching tv can be a reminder that the world isn't as out of sync as it may seem.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

We are in the process of trying to integrate our new furby Lord Rocky Horror (cat) into our menagerie - it's a little bit stressful. Rocky has already put Bramble (Cocker Spaniel) in her place, which was quite funny as Bramble is so much bigger than our new little man. 

Bramble keeping a safe distance from Rocky

Princess Cookie Cat is another story altogether. She has got a constant growling hissing thing going on, to the point that she ends up coughing and growling at times. So far she has only lashed out a Rocky once, but we're making sure that we're always around when they're in the same room. They're living in different parts of the house when we're in bed or out of the house, as I worry what would happen without us here to adjudicate.

Rocky exploring his new home

What helps you to feel balanced? Before you go, make sure you pop over to Joyce's blog to see what my fellow bloggers have come up with.

Until next time we hope that all is good in your little part of the world.

Pamela & Ken
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A Romantic Hodgepodge

This weeks hodgepodge falls on (supposedly) the most romantic day of the year, Valentines day so our host, Joyce, has asked questions around this theme. Make sure you visit her blog to see what my fellow bloggers have come up with for their answers - From This Side of the Pond.

1. When's the last time you had a heart to heart talk with someone? A change of heart? Experienced figurative 'heart failure?'

The last time I had heart failure was when we were packing our flat in London up and we thought our little black cat Muffin (RIP) had gone outside, somewhere she'd never been before in her life. It was about 6am in the morning in December so pitch black and we were wandering around trying to find a black cat. Thankfully we discovered that she was actually hiding behind the fridge - I think I nearly squeezed the life out of her when I got a hold of her as I was so relieved.

2. Champagne, chocolates, flowers...what's your Valentine pleasure? Any special plans for the day?

Chocolate all the way for me. We don't have any special plans for the day as I have to work until 7pm. Some years we've gone out to dinner but we just as often stay in. We always get each other a card and a small token of our love for each other. The funniest present that my beloved has ever given me was quite early in our relationship when I still hadn't aclimatised to the British weather so he gave me thermal underwear - it still makes me smile.

Here's what I received this morning when I woke up - my beloved knows me so well.

3. Are you a hopeless romantic or do you fall more in the category of practical and pragmatic? What's a gesture you find romantic?

I'd say I fall in between the two. I am hopelessly romantic but this is tinged with my natural tendency to be overly sensible. When it comes to my beloved I can't help myself when it comes to romance, as he inspires me to feel like this. If you want to understand a bit more about how I feel about my man then read this post I wrote for our 14th anniversary - 14 Years of Wedded Bliss.

I find all sorts of things romantic, especially the little things like my beloved bringing me a hot water bottle when I haven't even asked for one,

4. Do you ask a lot of questions in life or are you pretty content with what you already know?

I'm a bit of a question asker and I'm very good at yelling questions at the TV (no, I haven't gone totally crazy yet), especially when historic shows give facts about the past that I feel they have no way of truly knowing about. For example, they may be talking about the behaviour of dinosaurs to which I will sit here repeating 'how do they know that?' The I'll ask my beloved how they know that, before again asking the TV.

5. Your favorite power ballad?

So many to choose from and it totally depends on my mood for which one I'd want to listen to, but for today's post I've gone with Jeff Buckley singing Hallelujah.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

As we're about to become the proud parents of a new little black cat, I thought I would share two photos of our Muffin Monster who left us 15 months ago. She was a funny little thing that one minute could be extremely loving, including kisses on the face, and the next she could be very grumpy and scratchy. The first picture shows how we used to put the chairs on the sofa so that our old dog couldn't get on there when we were out, so the cats took advantage and made them into their special beds.

Do you like valentine's day or do you think it's an overhyped and meaningless day in the year.

Until next time we hope that all is good for you wherever you are in the world.

Pamela & Ken

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A Competitive Hodgepodge

This week's hodgepodge has a slightly competitive feel to it. Make sure you visit Joyce's blog, From This Side of the Pond, to see what my fellow bloggers have come up with for their answers.

1. February can be a little bit tricky given the weather and the winter and the whatnot. I read a list (here) of things you can do to make your February brighter which included-start planning your next trip, take more baths, make your own chocolate covered strawberries, and exercise in preparation for swimsuit season. Anything on the list you might try? Which suggestion on the list appeals to you most? Tell us something not on the list that helps make your February brighter. 

February is one of my least favourite months because it always feels like winter is hanging around too long and that it's never going to be warm again. From the list I've already booked a four night break in Amsterdam for March which we're really looking forward to as I've never been there before and Ken was in the forces when he visited so it wasn't really a sightseeing trip. So the other thing I'm doing in February to get through the month is doing lots of research on Amsterdam so that we can make the most of the days that we are there.

2. Tell us about something you've seen or done recently that you'd say was 'super'?

I'm going to say my gorgeous man is the best thing I ever see (I know that's incredibly mushy but I can't help myself).

3. Best thing you ate in a 'bowl' last week?

Sweet potato and chilli soup.

4. Something you're 'cheering' for right now?

The women's Aussie Rules Football season has just started so I'm cheering from a distance for my team of Carlton. I've supported Carlton's men's team since I was little and the women's competition started last year so of course I support Carlton's girls.

5. The Winter Olympics begin Friday, February 9th in Pyeong Chang, South Korea. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being all in and 1 being no interest whatsoever) how interested are you in the games? Which event do you most want to see (you'll find a list here).

I love any sporting event (except for boxing) where Australia are competing and I get very excited about how we're doing. I'm most looking forward to the snowboarding and the figure skating. Unfortunately because I live in the UK it's difficult to see my fellow countrymen and women competing as the coverage for here tends to be of the British athletes.

Australia isn't the most successful winter olympic nation, but we still love getting behind our athletes, and the whole nation went wild when we won our first ever gold medal in 2002 at the Salt Lake City games. Steven Bradbury was coming last in the 1000m speed skating when all the other competitors fell on the last corner and he crossed the line in first place - it was fantastic.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

At the weekend when we were out for a drive we came across these very happy pigs who were thoroughly enjoying their muddy field. They really made me laugh as when I stood by the fence talking to them, the ones that were further away ran to join the group and started oinking in reply to my ramblings.

Hope you've enjoyed this post, and have a really wonderful week.

Pamela & Ken
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A Reminiscent Hodgepodge

It's hodgepodge time and this week we're reminiscing and smiling. Make sure you visit our host Joyce's blog, From This Side of the Pond, to see what my fellow bloggers have come up with.

1. Speaking of endings....at your wit's end, at loose ends, a dead end, burn the candle at both ends, all's well that end's well, or no end in sight...which 'end' phrase might best be applied to your life lately? Explain.  

None of them really apply to me at the moment, so maybe I'll choose no end in sight thankfully of this wonderful life with my beloved.

2. What was a must have accessory when you were growing up? Did you own one? If so tell us what you remember about it.

In the 80's the must have things were often very brightly coloured and fluorescent. I had several belts in different fluro colours - orange, pink, and green. Leg warmers were all the rage so I had a pair of those in my Aussie Rules football team's colours. 

3. Something that made you smile yesterday?

My beloved hates being cold in bed and has a habit of burrowing under the covers until you can't really see him, which always makes me smile. I was reading whilst muffled snores could be heard faintly through the covers.

4. January 30th is National Croissant Day. Do you like croissants? Sweet or savory? We're having chicken salad for lunch...would you rather have yours served on a croissant, a wrap, a bagel, bread, or a roll of some sort?

I absolutely love croissants, preferably sweet, though just plain is nice as well. At the weekend I had a fabulous chocolate croissant that was incredibly scrumptious.

As I'm a pescatarian I wouldn't have a chicken salad, but if I was having a prawn salad I'd like it in a wrap please.

5. Sum up your January in fifteen words or less.

It snowed a lot, was very cold, and I turned another year older.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

On Sunday evening we went and saw Julie Fowlis in concert. She sings the majority of her songs in gaelic which is the traditional language of Scotland, so I couldn't understand the words, but I could the sentiment. A lot of the songs are based on mythology which Julie would explain before the song. The photo is of the stage set up before Julie and her band came on as you're not allowed to take photos during the performance.

What's made you smile this week? Until next time, be good, stay safe, and we hope January was good to you.

Pamela & Ken
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A Positive Hodgepodge

Time for the hodgepodge which is set by Joyce at the blog From This Side of the Pond - if you get a chance hop over to see what my fellow bloggers have come up with for their answers.

1. January 24th is National Compliment Day. Is it easy or not so easy for you to accept a compliment? Share a recent compliment you've given or received.

I find it really hard to accept a compliment but am trying to do better. One of my friends at work has taken to hitting me in the head if I don't accept a compliment or say something derogatory about myself - maybe that's why I'm doing better, she's given me brain damage.

2. Ten little things you are loving right now.

My beloved's hugs, Cookie Cat purrs, Bramble Jelly's cuteness, milder weather, slightly longer days, walks in the cold, coffee time, pink hair, walking, and bedtime.

3. Would people describe you as a positive person? Do you see yourself that way? I read here  a list/description of eight things positive people do differently-

Positive people find something to look forward to every day, they celebrate the small stuff, they're kind, they stay busy, accept responsibility for their actions, forgive themselves, know when to move on, and resist comparisons

Which action on the list would you say you do regularly? Which action could you add to your life to give you a more positive outlook? If you're a positive person, what's something you do regularly that's not on the list?

I'm not sure I would describe myself as a positive person, though recently I have been told that I'm a very grounded person, so maybe the two link together.

I definitely try and celebrate the small stuff as often as possible, and need to add resisting comparisons to my daily habits.

4. Homemade chicken soup, beef stew, or a bowl of chili...what's your pleasure on a cold winter's day?

None of the above. Instead it's probably vegemite on toast or even better would be a fish finger sandwich.

5. The best part of my day is....

Sitting on the sofa with my beloved in the evening, Bramble Jelly on Ken's knee and Princess Cookie Cat asleep beside me.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Love this song and just wanted to share - it's Wendy Matthews (Australian) singing The Day You Went Away.

Do you accept compliments easily, or like me is it something you find really difficult. 

Until next time, be good, stay safe, and take the time to compliment someone this week.

Pamela & Ken
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Hodgepodge Writings

Time for the weekly Hodgepodge which is set by Joyce at the blog From This Side of the Pond.

1. What keeps you blogging?

A love of writing and sharing keeps me blogging. Also connecting with other bloggers around the world and reading so many great blogs. Some days it can be difficult as my mind just goes blank, but usually I can get it working in time to post for that particular day.

2. Some people like to travel in the winter months. Do you enjoy the beach in winter? According to Southern Living the best U.S. beach towns to visit this winter are-

St Simons Island (Georgia), Hilton Head (South Carolina), Bald Head Island (North Carolina), Seaside (Florida), Bay St. Louis (Mississippi), Cape San Blas (Florida), South Padre Island (Texas), Folly Beach (South Carolina), Chincoteague (Virginia), Duck Key (Florida), Nags Head (North Carolina), and Fairhope (Alabama)

Have you been to any of the towns listed (in any season)? Which on the list appeals to you most this winter? 

I've not been to any of the towns listed above and as I'm on the opposite side of the world Iwon't be this winter. We have lots of beautiful beaches where we live in the highlands of Scotland and they're perfect for a long walk on a crisp winters day.

3. What's a song you're embarrassed to know all the lyrics to? Are you really embarrassed or do just think you should be?

I'm not really embarrassed by this but I think a lot of my friends would be embarrassed for me, and that is because I know the lyrics off by heart of every song in the film Grease 2 (1982) which starred Michelle Pfeiffer and Maxwell Caulfield. This film is one of my guilty pleasures and it's great to sing along to.

4. When you were a kid what's something you thought would be fantastic as an adult, but now that you're an adult you realize it's not all that fantastic?

Being able to stay up as late as you want no matter what day of the week it is. The problem with that is that as an adult I do have to get up to go to work so this isn't as wonderful as it sounds.

5. Share a quote you hope will inspire you in 2018.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

The view this week out of the building I work in. The garden was designed by Charles Jencks and is based on the concept of healthy cell division.

What song do you love singing along to when no one else is listening? Before you go, make sure you hop over to Joyce's Blog to see what my fellow bloggers have come up with for their answers.

Until next time, be good, stay safe, and listen to your favourite music this week.

Pamela & Ken
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A Hodgepodge of Happiness

It's Wednesday, it's hodgepodge time, with the questions set by Joyce at the blog From This Side of the Pond.

1. January is National Mentoring Month. Have you ever had a mentor? Been a mentor? How would you rate the experience?

This one is an odd one as I don't always think that we know when we're a mentor for someone and that we choose who we see as a mentor, they can't be assigned us as some people try to do. When I worked in education I hope that I gave good advice and support to student nurses and junior staff nurses, as I remember how difficult that time in your life can be. I've worked with several people over the years that I definitely saw as a mentor, and that was because I could talk to them about anything without being judged, they listened and gave constructive support and they also seemed to understand my slightly odd sense of humour.

2. What current trend makes no sense to you?

It's a trend that's been around for a while and I don't think I'll ever understand it, and that is the trend of pouting in photos. Rather that smiling, the person opts for looking slightly petulant which just seems bizarre to me.

3. I saw a cartoon on facebook highlighting a few 'weird' things that make you happy as an adult. The list included-writing with a nice pen, having plans cancelled, freshly cleaned sheets, eating the corner brownie, cleaning the dryer lint screen, and sipping coffee in that brief time before anyone else wakes up. (Credit for the cartoon goes here) Of the 'weird' things listed which one makes you happiest? What is one more 'weird' thing you'd add to the list?

I can totally relate to all the things on the list except for the dryer screen one as we don't have a dryer. I think my favourite of the ones listed is writing with a nice pen, and if it's a pink one it's even better. What would I add?  Okay, this is going to sound really weird, but I would add the rasp of a cat's tongue when they lick something off your finger.

4. What's the last good thing you ate?

Just before I started this blog post I had a coffee and a lovely ANZAC Biscuit that I bought at the Mountain Cafe in Aviemore. The owner and head chef, Kj, is a fellow antipodean though she is from New Zealand. An ANZAC is an oaty biscuit which Kj adds seeds and fruit to and it's delicious.

5. Describe life in your 20's in one sentence.

Finished my nurse training in Tasmania, visited the south pacific islands and the USA before working in Saudi Arabia and then deciding to move to the UK where I fell in love with the man of my dreams. 
(The shorter version would be: Qualified, worked, travelled, and fell in love.)

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I love street art and when we were wandering around Inverness at the weekend we came across this delight in a side alley. Love the colours and creativity.

What were your twenties like for you? Before you go, make sure you hop over to Joyce's Blog and see what my fellow bloggers have come up with for their responses.

Until next time, be good, stay safe, and make sure you eat something delicious this week.

Pamela & Ken
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Hodgepodge Resolutions

The first hodgepodge of the year and of course the theme is what 2018 brings for us all and what we want to leave behind in 2017. The hodgepodge is hosted and questions set by Joyce at the blog From This Side of the Pond - do visit to see what my fellow bloggers have come up with for their answers.

New Years Day - Happy 2018 from both of us.

1. It's that time of year again...time for Lake Superior University to present a list of words (or phrases) they'd like to see banished (for over-use, mis-use, or genera uselessness) in 2018. You can read more about the decision making process and word meaning here, but this year's top vote getters are-

unpack, dish (as in dish out the latest rumor), pre-owned, onboarding/offboarding, nothingburger, let that sink in, let me ask you this, impactful, Cofefe, drill down, fake news, hot water heater (hot water doesn't need to be heated), and gig economy

Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Is there a word not on the list you'd like to add?

I'd never heard of a nothing burger, and now that I've looked it up, that's the one I want to get rid of. The Urban Dictionary describes it as: something lame, dead-end, a dud, insignificant; especially something with high expectations that turns out to be average, pathetic, or overhyped.

One that I would love to get rid of is 'feel it in my water' - such an awful saying and I think it's a very British one as I'd never heard it before I moved here. My beloved would love to get rid of 'at this moment in time', 'cooking with gas', and all management speak like 'blue sky thinking'.


2. What's something you need to get rid of in the new year?

 I really need to go through my clothes and take the ones I don't wear to charity. There's not too many, but there are things in my wardrobe that I've either fallen out of love with, or they don't fit properly anymore, so I must motivate myself to do the dreaded cull.

3. Where do you feel stuck?

Sometimes I feel really stuck in my creativity - I think it's because I'm my own worst critic and tend to not be very happy with what I do.

4. January is National Soup Month. When did you last have a bowl of soup? Was it made from scratch or from a can? Your favorite canned soup? Your favorite soup to make from scratch on a cold winter's day?

Had lentil soup from a can at the weekend. My all time favourite canned soup is Heinz Cream of Tomato - it's a real comfort thing to have it with buttered toast. My favourite soup to make from scratch is sweet potato and coconut.

5. Tell us one thing you're looking forward to in 2018.

Spending more time with my beloved exploring this beautiful land and discovering new things.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

On new years day we went for a long walk along the beach at Findhorn Bay and there was a surprising number of people and dogs out enjoying the freezing cold weather. When we'd walked past the crowds and was much further along the beach we saw a man get down on one knee and propose to his girlfriend - so romantic and sweet proposing on the first day of a new year. 

Have you made any resolutions for this year, and are there any things that you definitely want to leave in the old year? Whatever comes your way we hope that your year has moments of joy, peace, and love.

Pamela & Ken
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First sunset of the new year.

Farewell 2017, and Welcome 2018

It's only a few hours until we wave goodbye to the old year and welcome in the new, so time to be a little reflective on how the year has been. In January I wrote this post, My wishes for 2017, and I think all of these still apply for the coming year.

We've had lots of great Days of Fun and found some really unique things to see and do. There is so much incredible history to explore where we live and in January we visited a remote church which sheltered Highlanders during the clearances in 1847 and has words scratched into the glass by these long ago people - A Scottish Tragedy Preserved in Glass.

We attended a world championship in which the Swedish reigned supreme, ironic really as it was the World Porridge Championship and it's one of the dishes that Scotland is known for.

April saw me taking on the A to Z Blogging Challenge for the second year, this time I had a theme and it was all about the Scottish Highlands which made it much easier than 2016. Read my thoughts on the experience and some of the great blogs I found in Reflections on the A to Z.

I ticked two things off my bucket list this year. The first was Glamping in Glenshee - basically camping in a glamorous style. It was a beautiful tent with a low bed, a small wood burner for heat, and a fantastic view of the countryside. It was so lovely that we're going back in April to stay in an old train goods carriage.

The other bucket list item was eating a Deep Fried Mars Bar. I know this sounds like a really strange thing to have on my list, but it's one of those weird food items that I'd heard about for years and had really wanted to try. The verdict - yummy but I wouldn't want to have them very often.

We had a wonderful holiday home in Australia, three weeks of catching up with family and friends whilst still managing to find interesting things to visit and explore. In Tasmania we had a great day out visiting the Murals and Mailboxes of Northern Tasmania and during our brief stay in Melbourne we explored the laneways and Street Art of this fabulous city.

I continued to take part in Top Ten blogging which is hosted by Tamara at Part-time Working Hockey Mom and this year we've done a very diverse range of topics from movie quotes, favourite summer foods, rudeness, random photos, and this one, Favourite Place on Earth. It's a small town in Tasmania called Stanley which I absolutely adore. I love lists so this prompt based challenge is perfect for me.

During the year I found two more prompt based challenges which have been great fun to do. On Wednesdays there is the Hodgepodge which is hosted by Joyce From This Side of the Pond and one of my posts included Problematic Confetti.

The other prompt based challenge is hosted by Annie at McGuffy's Reader and is called Friday's Friendly Fill-Ins - here's one of my posts from October, Friday's Friendly Contemplations. Annie also hosts Sparks on a Monday which is a place for us all to share positive thoughts to spread out into the world - it's a really lovely idea and my first contribution in October was Sparks of Hope.

Throughout all this blogging my beloved is there being his wonderful supportive self, exploring our part of the world with me and making me coffee when I'm sitting at my laptop. I'm truly blessed to share my life with this gorgeous, thoughtful, adorably funny man.

As for our furbies, Princess Cookie Cat is nearly 14 and has started to show her age in small ways - the biggest being that I can catch her quite easily now which makes going to the vet much less stressful. She's sitting beside me as I type this, but of course she's got her back to me so I'll share a photo I took earlier.

Bramble Jelly Sassy Pants (our Cocker Spaniel) is as energetic as ever and still hasn't learnt that if she annoys Cookie too much she will get a whack on the nose. I love this picture as Bramble looks so innocent and Cookie has her paw in the air ready to strike.

With one hour to go until midnight, I wish 2017 a very fond farewell - we had ups and downs like anyone does, but along the way we shared lots of love and laughter.

In 2018 I'm sure I'll find lots of other challenges to take on and hopefully we'll tick a few more things off our bucket list. Starting tomorrow, on the first day of the year I'm going to start the 100 Happy Days Challenge which I was inspired to do by Tamara who did it earlier in the year. This involves taking a photo everyday for 100 days of something that makes you happy and sharing via your preferred social media - mine is going to be on my instagram account.

We wish all of you a year filled with peace, health, love, and lots of laughter.

Happy 2018

Pamela & Ken
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A Holiday Hodgepodge

It's Wednesday Hodgepodge time and as we near the end of the year we're starting to get into reflective mode. Thank you to Joyce from the blog From This Side of the Pond for setting the questions - make sure you visit her blog and see what my fellow bloggers have come up with for their answers.

1. Where have you found unexpected magic or delight this holiday season?

My unexpected magical delight happened on Monday when my advent calendar bag (we have little bags that we can put things in) had a unicorn pen in it. I got very excited and giddy over it - my beloved knows me so well. It has unicorns all over it, has several different coloured inks including pink and purple, and has pink fluff on the end of it. It truly is a pen of loveliness.

2. What's your favorite type of holiday gathering? Will you/have you gathered in your favorite way this month?

My favourite type of gathering is one that isn't very big and I know everyone that is there. Ideally everyone can fit around one table and it's sharing conversation and a lovely meal together. My work night out was like this and I know that Christmas day with family will be like that too.

3. Time has named 'The Silence Breakers' (women who came forward with stories of harassment)  'person of the year' for 2017. Would you agree? If not, who do you think deserves the title?

My favourite thing about the Time cover is the person that is off camera and you can just see her arm - this was a deliberate way to represent all the women who aren't famous but who have stood up and shared their stories about harassment.

My people of the year would be all those ordinary people who stand up for those who don't have a voice. The homeless, people who are victimised for being gay, the elderly who are isolated from society, refugees, and the list could go on. There are amazing people out there every day standing up for other people.

4. How did you spend your time this year? Are you happy about that? Elaborate.

We've had lots of days of fun this year doing lots of different things. If you read our blog then you'll probably notice that there are three things that feature slightly more than others and those things can be demonstrated in this very helpful pie chart (maybe I should call it a cake chart).

5. Bid farewell to 2017 in ten words or less.

I'm grateful for all our blessings and the lessons learnt.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Princess Cookie Cat is going to the V.E.T on Thursday to have at least one tooth removed - I'm trying to type quietly so she doesn't hear me. I've had a look at her mouth and I wouldn't be surprised if they have to remove another one at the back. We'll have to start calling her Princess Gummy Cat - in all seriousness, I'm hoping everything goes okay and she doesn't hold too big of a grudge against us when she comes home.

What words would you use to say goodbye to 2017, and are you a party goer or do you prefer small, intimate gatherings?

Until next time, be good, stay safe, and have a really lovely Christmas.

Pamela & Ken
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A Hodgepodge of Life

Wednesday Hodgepodge time with the questions provided by Joyce at the blog, From This Side of the Pond.

1. What title would you give this current chapter of your life?

Tasmanian and her beloved explore Scotland one cake at a time. 

2. December 6 is National Microwave Oven Day. Who knew? Besides popcorn and coffee reheats, what's the most common thing you microwave? Could you get along without a microwave?

We are constantly using our microwave for so many things. I prefer a milky coffee, so a cup of milk gets blitzed to make my coffee and Ken uses it to make his porridge every morning. We do poached eggs in it, cook veggies, melt chocolate when I'm baking, do baked potatoes, and I could go on. We could live without our microwave but we would just have to allow a lot longer for meal preparation.

3. If you could insert yourself into any Christmas carol and experience the lyrics in real life, which Christmas carol lyric would you choose and why?

My favourite carol, and it really doesn't feel like Christmas until I've heard it, is O Holy Night. The words speak of hope, of loving each other, of oppression ending, and of peace - who wouldn't want to live those words.

4. Describe the most beautiful drive you've ever taken.

The most beautiful drive I've ever taken only took about ten minutes and was in the back of a white car sat beside my father. It was the drive from my parents house to the Baptist Church to marry my best friend and the day we truly started our lives together. This coming Monday will be 18 years since that drive, and every day with my beloved is a blessing.

5. What's something on your Christmas list this year? (an actual list or figuratively speaking, either one)

One thing that is always on my Christmas list is Ferrero Raffaello which my beloved always gets me. The other thing that's not on my list, but we always have them at Christmas and that's After Eight mints - can you tell I've got a bit of a sweet tooth.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Princess Cookie Cat had a trip to the vet yesterday and due to a large weight loss, fur loss, and a dodgy tooth, I foresee lots of vet visits in the future. We're (anxiously) awaiting blood test results before we find out what the next step is - hoping nothing too major is found. She'll definitely need at least one tooth out but the vets are going to do a mouth x-ray and see if there are any other teeth that are degenerating at the root.

After having no health problems for the last 13 years, it seems our Princess is going to make up for lost time. It's such a huge relief that we have pet insurance, which we often had to say when Cookie's sister Muffin was alive. Keep your fingers crossed that all is well with our gorgeous furby.

I think by the look on her face she knew she was headed to the vet.

What's on your Christmas list this year? Before you go, make sure you visit Joyce's Blog to see what my fellow bloggers have come up with for their answers.

Until next time, be good, stay safe, and have a nice piece of cake this week.

Pamela & Ken
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A Hodgepodge of Thoughts

It's time for Wednesday's Hodgepodge, a prompt based weekly blog challenge, with the prompts provided by Joyce at the blog From This Side of the Pond.

1.  What's something blogging has taught you about yourself?

Blogging has taught me that I can ramble on about the most inconsequential things and has reminded me how much I love writing. It's also taught me to take photos of all sorts of weird things that I may not have really stopped and noticed before, as you never know when it will be of good use in a blog post.

2.  Leftovers...are you in the 'reheat and eat' camp or the 'put them in the fridge until they spoil and then toss them' camp? What's your favorite thing to have leftover? What can you not abide as a leftover?

I'm quite a fan of leftovers but my beloved not so much - he always worries if it's okay to eat something still. It's easier now that we don't eat meat, as I tell him a vegetable dish that's a few days old isn't going to kill him.

This is really embarrassing to admit, but when I was in my twenties my favourite leftovers were pizza, eaten cold the next morning for breakfast, or Kentucky Fried Chicken, again eaten cold the next morning for breakfast - now the thought of it turns my stomach.

3. 'Me time'...your thoughts?

I don't think it's so much about having 'me time' as taking time to do things that restore your soul. For some people that may be having time by themselves, taking time to meditate, or even just soaking in a bubble bath. It could be about meeting friends for a coffee or going to the gym - whatever it is that helps you regroup and have the energy to keep doing whatever it is you do. For me it's about spending time with my beloved and taking time to enjoy the little moments in life. 

4. When people come to you for help, what do they usually want help with?

I like to think that my way of helping is listening. I don't think I have many skills that would be helpful to people, but I love being able to support people if things are tough.

5. If your childhood had a smell what would it be? Tell us why.

The smell of my childhood would be hay. I loved it when the hay harvest was on and you could smell it in the air, and then we would often play in the barn amongst the stacked hay bales.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I had a fabulous argument with a three year old at work this week. We were talking about what he might want for Christmas and I told him I wanted a unicorn, to which his reply was, they aren't alive (meaning they aren't real). I was horrified (not least because a three year old didn't believe in unicorns) and proceeded to tell him they are very real, and then followed a bit of back and forth with no compromise from either of us. I then asked him if he believed fairies are real? Yes, because the tooth fairy is real (at least he believes in something magical, even though I suspect it's because of the money aspect). I then informed him that the unicorns live with the fairies so if fairies are real, unicorns must be. I'm claiming that as a victory.

Until next time, be good, stay safe, and look out for any unicorns needing a home.

Pamela & Ken

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A Thankful Hodgepodge

It's time for Wednesday's Hodgepodge, a prompt based weekly blog challenge, with the prompts provided by Joyce at the blog From This Side of the Pond.

1. Tradition...how tightly do you cling to tradition when it comes to holiday gatherings and celebrations? For instance do you always do the cooking, never eat at home, always go to grandma's, never miss the parade, always watch football, never change the menu, always eat at 2 PM, etc.? Have you ever celebrated Christmas or Thanksgiving away from hearth, home, and family? How did that feel?

As I live on the opposite side of the world to the rest of my family I always feel torn at Christmas time as we can't all be together. One of my Christmas traditions now is that I ring mum on Christmas Eve here as it's Christmas morning in Australia, and mum rings me on Christmas morning, Christmas evening there.

Another tradition is that I always make mum's  Christmas pudding which is boiled in a cloth for four hours - the kitchen ends up feeling like a sauna. Ken does the main course and I'm in charge of puddings. Now that we're living in Scotland we spend Christmas with Ken's sister and family and Ken's brother - it's lovely.

Our Christmas tree is full of tradition and I wrote about it in a previous post, Christmas is coming very soon.

2. Help...is it easy for you to ask for help or are you a do-it-yourselfer? How is that a good/bad thing?

I hate admitting that I need help but as I've grown older I've gotten better at asking for help. I regularly tell people I'm supporting that they need to accept help when it's offered so I really should take my own advice.

3. Abundance...what is there an abundance of in your kitchen?

Lots of our beach combing treasures which we keep adding too - they're all over the house but this is the feature in the kitchen.

4. Name...the smallest thing you're thankful for? the biggest?

The smallest........

 

Our beautiful Princess Cookie Cat who is 13 years old (14 on Feb 1st). We got Cookie and her sister Muffin Monster as eight week old kittens and since Muffin died Cookie has become even more precious to me. She's very vocal when she wants something, if she has a furball she can't just throw up once, she throws up three times, and she barely tolerates her canine sister Bramble.

The biggest......

My wonderful life with this man. In December we will celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary and I still have to pinch myself regularly because I feel so blessed and so lucky to have my beloved by my side every day.

5. Key...What do you think is the key to living a more grateful life?

The key to a more grateful life is to practice gratitude on a daily basis. Whether you write it down or just make sure you sit down and reflect on what you have to be grateful for, it really does make a difference to your life.

6. State your own random thought here.

 I wish everyone in North America a very happy and thankful Thanksgiving tomorrow, November 23rd. For the rest of the world, I hope you all have lots of things to be thankful for in the coming days.

Until next time, be good, stay safe, and practice lots of gratitude this week.

Pamela & Ken
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A Historic Hodgepodge Moment

Wednesday Hodgepodge time with the questions posed by Joyce from the blog From This Side of the Pond.

1. What takes you out of your comfort zone?

Talking in front of large groups!!! So what did I choose as a career choice in 2008? I became a lecturer in palliative care which meant I had to quite regularly speak in front of groups and sometimes they were quite large. The most stressful one, where I really thought I was either going to pass out or throw up before I made it to the front of the room was when I spoke at the Dying Matters conference in London about what I had organised at work around cultural awareness at end of life. I'm so glad I did it but I think it aged me quite a bit that day. 

What am I doing this Saturday? Speaking at a remembrance event at Inverness Cathedral - as you can see, I'm a bit of a masochist and probably wont sleep the night before.

Me at the Dying Matters Conference 2012

2. Your least favorite spice?

I'm not the biggest fan of aniseed tastes in savoury food, so my least favourite spice is a toss up between anise and fennel. 

3. What's a small change you'd like to make?

Over the last two years I've slowly been reducing my sugar in my coffee and I'm down to one teaspoon so hopefully I'll be able to get rid of that over the next six months or so. I've done the reducing from three sugars very slowly as I need my tastebuds not to rebel too much at the change.

4. Do you enjoy visiting historic homes? If so, of the homes you've visited which one was your favorite? What historic home near you is open to visitors? Have you been? Southern Living rounded up eleven of the best in the southern part of the US and they're as follows-

Monticello (Jefferson's home in Virginia), Nathaniel Russel House (Charleston SC), Swan House (Atlanta), Ernest Hemingway's home (Key West), The Biltmore (Vanderbilt home in Asheville NC), Mount Vernon (Washington's home in Virgina), San Francisco Plantation (Garyville, Louisiana), Windsor Ruins (Port Gibson Mississippi), Longue Vue House and Gardens (New Orleans), Whitehall (Palm Beach FL), and Pebble Hill Plantation (Thomasville GA)

Have you been to any on the list? Of the homes listed which would you most like to visit?
I love visiting historic homes and seeing how people lived in the past - so fascinating all the little aspects of everyday life. I have actually been to one of the homes listed above - when I visited the states in 1991 one of our stops was Mount Vernon (Washington's home in Virginia). Seeing George and Martha's tomb was a highlight for me and the slave memorial was incredibly moving. Interestingly the hospital I worked at in outer London for 16 years was Mount Vernon.

I think my favourite historic home that I've visited is Hampton Court Palace, the home of the notorious King Henry the eighth. It's an incredible building and it is supposedly haunted by several ghosts, notably Jane Seymour, Henry's third wife who died in childbirth, and Catherine Howard, Henry's fifth wife who was beheaded at the age of 19.

5. What's something you think will be obsolete in ten years? Does that make you sad or glad?

In ten years time I think, or hope, that nuclear weapons will be obsolete - I may be living in a dreamland but at least in my land there's no chance of a nuclear war. This would make me very glad.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Today my fellow Australians voted overwhelmingly in favour of marriage equality in the plebiscite - every state voted yes. Today I am even more proud to say that I am Australian.

Before you go, why don't you pop over to Joyce's blog, From This Side of the Pond, and see what my fellow bloggers have come up with for their answers.

Until next time, be good, stay safe, and I hope you don't get pushed out of your comfort zone too much this week.

Pamela & Ken
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