Derek Aston will be greatly missed …

… I write this with tears rolling down my face as I share with you all the very sad news that Derek Aston - a long time and much loved friend has passed away. The obit says: On Saturday, October 17, 2009, peacefully at his home in Thornton, Derek aged 77 years. The beloved husband of Doreen and loving father of Paul. He will be sadly missed by all his family and friends.

Derek was in my life nearly everyday when I was a child / teenager - since I was 2 years old and there whilst I was growing up. He was always gentle, kind and considerate.  He used to pick me and Paul up from school with a big smile on his face and out of the blue take us on wonderful ‘trips’ to the Lakes, Fleetwood, the beach, Stanley Park and the Tower. 

One of my favourite memories of us going conkering in Singleton woods and coming home with pockets bulging.  Even if the trip was just to come home from school he made it an adventure somehow - although there was that time we ran over a chicken on Poolfoot Lane …. but I’ll save that tale for another time.

 It was only a couple of days before he passed that we were chatting on the internet - as was our habit.  Derek filled our lives with fun, love and laughter. His jokes, loving messages, news updates and photos rolled in nearly everyday.  Gosh - what a gap his passing has left in this household.  We all thank God for him.

I would like to share with you the last photos he sent to me after his trip to Bath (the Cranford TV Set) and one taken in the summer of him and Doreen.  I’m sure no one will mind.  You will also find him in a previous posting on this link.

Thanks Derek - we all loved you to bits

xxxxx

PS Please feel free to send in your lovely memories of Derek and I will publish them as soon as I can. Thanks xx

Monthly update …

… well it looks like I’m a once a month blogger doesn’t it?

Hello everyone - thanks for tuning in.

Like I said it seems as if it is my habit to write a little something once a month judging by my previous posts.  It isn’t like anything never happens in my life … just I always seem to be doing ’something else’ whenever it crosses my mind to have a blog.

So … what’s happened this last month.  Well - as you can probably guess from the photo I entered the Race for Life in aid of cancer research AND I completed the course in good time.  I fully expected it to take me well over an hour - if not an hour and a half but I managed to get round in just over 50 minutes.  WHOWEEEE - that’s quite a surprise for me because I’m not the fittest of people AND I’ve never ever done anything like it before in my life…  IT WAS GREAT!!!

One of my bestest mates Gill came with me as support and to also have a go - see other photo - we enjoyed it so much we’re going to have a go next year again all being well.

I’ve also had a birthday!!  A lovely time - Brent cooked me a slap up birthday breakfast, there were presents, phone calls, visits and meals out - BBQ Ribs & Chicken at the Queensway in Lytham - Loverrlllly - just what I like.

So .. that’s it for significant events that I would like to chat about - well - those that I can think of at the moment anyway.  Anything else that comes to mind I’ll let you know.

Signing off with love n stuff

Julie xx

Living a colour full life ….

Just looking at my kitchen makes me smile - the tiles are somewhat shocking to those who arrive and have not seen the kitchen since we ‘had it done’.

It’s the colours I would like to focus on today - they make me happy, they make my husband happy and all my friends leave with a smile about them - So they ‘do the trick’. How colour can affect us is something I am just getting interested in - even subtle colour changes, such as the hue cast by a lamp can alter a mood. I’ve always been one for wearing ‘unusual’ colours - not to be different or anything like that - I am just naturally drawn to them and wear them ‘cos I feel like it -and I note they make me feel differently.

My internet browsing has brought me to a lovely site - whose colours themselves lift the mood. It is run by a woman called Bonnie based in California … Arrrrhhhhhh sigh sigh - I spent a lot of time in California growing up and more recently with my husband - many happy memories …. but I digress - let’s get back to Bonnie - her site is called livingyourcolors.com (spelt the American way) and she talks about how colours can help our lives.  Fascinating, absolutely fascintating. So Bonnie - I think I will be visiting your site often (and possibly yourself some time in the future).

Thank you!

Much love n stuff

Julie xx

Happiness radiates like the fragrance from a flower …

A beautiful quote from the words of  His Holiness Maraishi Mahesi Yogi

Enjoy your life and be happy. Being happy is of the utmost importance. Success in anything is through happiness ….

Happiness radiates like a fragrance from a flower and draws all good things toward you. Allow your love to nourish yourself as well as others. Do not strain after your needs of life - It is sufficient to be quietly alert and aware of them.

In this way life proceeds more naturally, effortlessly.

Life is here to enjoy.

Julie xx (that’s me in the photo by the way)

Hurrah … I’ve found my Fairy Name again …

… so many people have contacted me to find out where I found my magic fairy name that I have made an extra effort and found the site again.

Thanks to Emma Davies.

My fairy is called Tangle Saturnshimmer
She is a trouble maker.
She lives at the bottom of tangled gardens and in hedgerows.
She is only seen when the first flowers begin to blossom.
She wears tangled dresses of multicoloured petals. She has delicate pale pink wings like a cicada.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee - I feel inspired to do something creative, a recent trip to toy & hobby refilled my ‘doing’ box with loads of paints and sparkles - so - I think that is my Sunday afternoon sorted. LOVERRRLLLLY

Love n laughter

Julie xx