From my seat

Straight ahead of me are shelves in need of some organising. The baskets contain some presents and some items from the CS. Can you see the crocheted Christmas tree? I'll show a closer look sometime. My Christmas zig zag granny blanket (click on the label for more info) is out on the bed but no cats on it at the moment. They've found a warmer place.

On my computer bed table is my Filofax and some Classic FM cd's (bought from the Tip Shop!)

By my side is the biggest ball of wool in the house. I may use it to edge my Autumn blanket.

On the floor are two very unusual Christmas garlands and some fluffy baubles from the CS. Their colours are much more vivid than in the picture.

This bedside table definitely needs seeing to, doesn't it. A quick tidy is what's needed.

Nah! This is a working bedside table. CDs to listen to or perhaps the radio; yarn to crochet into this year's Christmas garland; crochet hooks at the ready; nail files if needed - can't catch on the yarn, can we? Music paper for my origami stars; a basket of colourful pens for writing in my diary; ear phones so I don't disturb anyone and a small clock to make sure I don't crochet for too long! There's also a large bedside lamp.

Shame about there being not enough room for the telephone. It's hanging on for grim death.

Perhaps a tidy is needed - of all the room.

xx

Christmas Tree Festival

This was on at the Winter Gardens and many trees were set up on display by various schools and organisations. More info here.

This one was rather unusual.

I loved the one made out of driftwood but my picture did not turn out well at all. It looked a lot like this one.

Now when shall I put up our Christmas tree? Sooner or later?

xx

Thank you

Thank you to all who came to the party yesterday. I had fun visiting the other party goers and I hope you did too. As promised here are the answers to the Cat game.

What do you know about Cats? Find as many cats as possible.

1. A cat that is a disruption.

cataclysm
2. A cat that is livestock.

cattle
3. A cat that is a firework.

catherine wheel
4. A cat that is a larva.

caterpillar
5. A cat that is a capture.

catch
6. A cat that is instruction by question and answer.

catechism
7. A cat that is a cold.

catarrh
8. a subterranean cemetery.

catacomb
9. A cat that is disastrous end.

catastrophe
10. A cat that is universal.

catholic
11. A cat that is the principal church of the diocese.

cathedral
12. A cat that is a class.

category
13. A cat that is a complete list.

catalogue
14. A cat that is made of a forked stick and elastic.

catapult
15. A cat that is the string of a violin.

catgut
16. A cat that provides food.

Cater

17. A cat that is a waterfall.

cataract
18. A cat that is infectious.

catching
19. A cat that is screaming.

caterwaul
20. A cat that is attractive.

catchy
21. A cat that is the flower of some trees.

catkin
22. A cat that is a plant.

catmint
23. A cat that is a girls' name.

catherine
24. A cat that is a Roman.

Cato
25. A cat that is in Kent.

Catford

xx

Mum's Virtual Party

Party Time

Well here we are. Do you like my costume? I could use it again for dancing, couldn't I?

*****

I've brought my friend with me. Let me introduce Angel. She's a bit of a snooty effort at the moment - the CB sale wasn't to her liking. Neither was the 50p price tag. I'm sure if I make an effort she'll come round a bit. This party is the start of her makeover.

*****

A party's not a party without food and we can share DD's birthday pizza. Pizza? You don't like pizza? Never mind - here - have some of DD's birthday cake.

It's a shallow sponge cake topped with red coloured butter icing for the tomato base, The cheese is grated marzipan and the herbs are green coloured coconut.

It should have looked like this.

I made her a pizza card from recycled bits of paper and card.

Don't want cake?

What about a bun then? :}

*****

I'll just put my music on. Click on the link if you want to listen to an impromptu concert. I love live music and this band I could listen to all day.

*****

Thrift Deluxe - here's your present. I know it's not your birthday (well I don't really) but I saw this and thought of you (well not you as such). I hope the bunnies will enjoy these.

*****

Right, is it my game now? We're going to play - My name's Joe. Don't forget to join in with the actions.

I thought I'd look into my party games books for some more fun!!!! One is called The Home Entertainer which was probably published in the '40s and the other is Party Games for Young and Old (that should do us), of similar vintage.



How's about Lemon Golf - no skill required here?

'Lemon Golf is played with walking sticks and lemons. Even high golfing skill will not be found of much avail; the novice is just as likely to do well.
Chalk rings on the floor to serve as 'holes' or use four-inch circular pieces of paper or cardboard. Distribute your holes as widely as possible, and see which player can get round all of them in the fewest strokes. Alternatively, each hole may be played for separately a all the players, before any one goes on to the next hole. The winner will then be the person who has won most holes.
Few things can roll more unexpectedly than a lemon!'



Or perhaps you are not the active type - no worries - here's a pencil and paper game for you. Great for cat lovers too.

What do you know about Cats? Find as many cats as possible.

1. A cat that is a disruption.
2. A cat that is livestock.
3. A cat that is a firework.
4. A cat that is a larva.
5. A cat that is a capture.
6. A cat that is instruction by question and answer.
7. A cat that is a cold.
8. a subterranean cemetery.
9. A cat that is disastrous end.
10. A cat that is universal.
11. A cat that is the principal church of the diocese.
12. A cat that is a class.
13. A cat that is a complete list.
14. A cat that is made of a forked stick and elastic.
15. A cat that is the string of a violin.
16. A cat that provides food.
17. A cat that is a waterfall.
18. A cat that is infectious.
19. A cat that is screaming.
20. A cat that is attractive.
21. A cat that is the flower of some trees.
22. A cat that is a plant.
23. A cat that is a girls' name.
24. A cat that is a Roman.
25. A cat that is in Kent.

(Answers in next post) Don't worry if you don't get them all.

*****

The Bloggysphere is very festive today. I'll just hang up my decoration. I have quite a few, mostly for Christmas but this one is for now. I shall be  making quite a few more of these stars for my music group for our last Christmas session. We always swap cards then and I decorate the tea table.

These origamis stars magically transform into festive wreaths just right for the season.

Click here if you would like to make one yourself.

*****

I need everyone joining in again for my party piece. Take your time to memorise and practise. Ready - off we go!

Betty Botter bought some butter,

"But," she said, "this butter's bitter.

If I put it in my batter it will make my batter bitter."

So she bought some better butter,

Better than the bitter butter.

And 'twas better Betty Botter

Bought a bit of better butter.

Did you manage to recite it without any mistakes? Give yourselves a big hand there! Now try reciting - a proper copper coffee pot or a big bad badly bleeding blister - a few times.

I'm quite nervous about doing this party piece which you could try yourself. All you need is a spoon and a little bit of breath.

Here are some tips if you want to join in!

*****

I'm so eager to visit the other partygoers who will be posting Party Posts today.  Let's call in and see if their post is up, shall we? If it's not we'll have to call back later.

Johnny Jumps up

Carol

Joy

I really should have made picture puzzles of your names, shouldn't I? Next time, maybe!

Hope you enjoyed the Virtual Party. Thank you for coming.

M + B
xx

Question

Why does the bathroom only look clean and tidy when visitors are coming?

xx

PS Only 2 days 'til the party.

A tip for a trip

Find the road to Fleetwood tip and follow it through to the end. And what do you find? Why Fleetwood Marsh Nature Park of course. I'd never heard of it before but my friend had and had already partaken of its pleasures.

Off the circular carpark are various pathways with the main one heading in the direction of the River Wyre.

We passed ponds with an abundance of wildlife.

The gulls were all lined up on the bridge before we passed over it.

A lovely sculptural archway invited us to explore further.

We explored the archway first and ...

found all sorts of wildlife there.

We viewed places we'd been before from a completely different aspect.

There were also wrecks (but nobody drown-ded) and plenty to look at.

The sun was shining for our walk and it was quite warm.

We walked back along the suggested pathway past the ponds again and back to the carpark.

Set into the carpark walls are small works of stone art.

Here's a pretty one.

Another tip:- don't venture up the muddy slopes. You might slip!

xx

Virtual Party reminder

My computer has been playing up some more so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be here on Saturday for the Party. I've scheduled my post but knowing me I've probably done it wrong!

I hope that the following people will be joining in with party posts (please will you confirm) but the  more the merrier. I will link to your blogs from my post.

Johnny Jumpsup

The Maple Syrup Mob

Carol

Joy

Soooooooh!

Mum invites you to a blog party on
Saturday 22nd November 2014

Time - anytime during the day.

Please post on the day and do one or more of the following as you wish -

1. dress up in whatever takes your fancy
2. bring a guest or guests - real, stuffed, alive, dead or imaginary!
3. bring a party food plate
4. suggest some music
5. suggest a virtual present for another guest or reader
6. offer a suggestion for a party game
7. supply a party decoration
8. perform a party piece
9. provide scintillating conversation!
10. visit all the other party goers and leave a comment or have a chat
11.  read, laugh, sing-a-long, enjoy

Will you join us?

xx

Fairy cakes ...

… are not my forte! It's a good job the photo is blurred.

The lurid coloured butter icing was left over from another (failed) project. Oh woe is me.

Never mind - they're at least they're edible.

xx

Is it Christmas yet?

I wonder if these Christmas cactus flowers will last until then.

xx

Poorly sick, can't eat pudding.

No, not the computer this time (it's fixed) but me. I leaned over and the vertigo kicked in. Welcome to the world of keep your head still until the unsteady feeling goes away. I've had a recuperating day in bed with 2 pusscats looking after sitting on top of me and now I'm upright (with a cat still on top of me) and intending to do a spot of blog reading and some crochet.

Anyway! To cheer me up and hopefully you, The Virtual Party can now go ahead on the same day. Read about it here. Thank you to those who said they will post on the day and if you are reading this I invite you to join us. Just write a 'party' post, long or short or even just post a party picture. We'd love to have you join us. Let's have a warm up to the festive season with our Virtual Party.

Peace

If there is righteousness in the heart,

there will be beauty in the character.

If there is beauty in the character,

there will be harmony in the home.

If there is harmony in the home,

there will be order in the nation.

If there is order in the nation,

there will be peace in the world.

So let it be!

(Sathya Sai Baba)

The old cinema

The old Regent cinema is an imposing, but run down, building situated close to Blackpool centre. In the late 60s it became a Bingo Hall then later on a Snooker Hall.

Now it is a Vintage Emporium. We ventured up the stairs to the circle to view more stalls and saw the 'remains' of the cinema.

What a sorry state.

Paint peeling, rotting seats, ceilings down, steps strewn with debris.

Upstairs were more stalls bringing a splash of welcoming colour.

We debated buying this teapot set but on closer inspection the handle of the teapot had been glued back on and there was a serious crack in the bottom of the hot water pot so we didn't bother.

I hope someone will be bothered in the future to restore this building to its former glory. It's so sad when buildings get into disrepair and there is not enough money to renovate properly.

There is more information about the building here and below. Click on the 'show more' under the video for a more detailed story.

This is the only picture I could find of the cinema as it was originally.

xx