Tuesday 20 December 2011
Sunday 18 December 2011
Photo-a-Day Day 108
Map.... map of part of one of Tia's walking routes (we set off from home and make it a 9 miler) around Fauld Crater (info about the crater is here Fauld Explosion 1944)
Some photos from one of our walks there:
Photo-a-Day Day 107
Sport - my old muay thai boxing gloves... all the way from Thailand... alas I stopped doing Muay Thai years ago when I moved house as there were no classes nearby at new place :( (These also signify my love of martial arts movies!)
Thursday 15 December 2011
Photo-a-Day Day 106
Something you can't live without... this isn't just Tia, I can't live without a dog.. when my old boy Buster died at 14 1/2, I was so heartbroken I actually thought I couldn't go through the upset again... 2 days later I realised I didn't have any reason to get up in the mornings (no walkies to do, no food to prepare, no cuddles etc)... so I was straight onto a Rottweiler rescue and a few days later Tia was brought to my house for a home visit... she stayed :)
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| Tia looking as chuffed as ever at having a camera shoved in her face |
Wednesday 14 December 2011
Photo-a-Day Day 105
Technology..... Noise Reduction headphones - with these little babies I can turn them on and drown out any noise around me... even if I haven't got any music playing...... its heaven!
Tuesday 13 December 2011
Sunday 11 December 2011
Saturday 10 December 2011
Friday 9 December 2011
Photo-a-Day Day 100
Wooohooo I made it to 100 days of photos... I guess its 101 really as never counted my halloween special..
Today's rule is something you bought in the last week... I've bought so much this week, since I did all my Xmas shopping, but not everything has arrived yet..... but this did... fairly certain that the person this is for won't read my blog...but as I type I was thinking maybe I should have took a pic of something else instead.... hmmm :/ least the photo isn't too self-explanatory!
Today's rule is something you bought in the last week... I've bought so much this week, since I did all my Xmas shopping, but not everything has arrived yet..... but this did... fairly certain that the person this is for won't read my blog...but as I type I was thinking maybe I should have took a pic of something else instead.... hmmm :/ least the photo isn't too self-explanatory!
Friday at last
Woohoo the weekend.. well as good as....
Reasons to be cheerful.....
I've finished my Christmas shopping...
Its the weekend...
Only one week left at work before I break up....
Overslept today (wasn't a reason to be cheerful when I woke up just as it was getting light, thinking hmm thats not right..... but meant I had a great sleep... and Tia got a daylight walk in the week, which makes a change, normally we're stumbling around in the dark fields coz I can't be arsed to take my torch!)...
It hasn't snowed yet, in fact its milder again...
I think I've about finished writing my Christmas cards... done in a haphazard fashion, of one or two a day when I think of the person.. as opposed to making a list and being organised! But hey I will go though my phone and make sure I haven't forgotten anyone...
Christmas Eve menu planned for my little party with family....
And the bestest thing... Game of Thrones book box set that I purchased last weekend for myself when I should have been buying xmas pressies..... Already read the first one last month, nearly half way through the second.. damn its good... and every book has lots and lots of pages... its like book heaven
Pop HERE to see what rocks everyone elses world this week
Thursday 8 December 2011
Wednesday 7 December 2011
Tuesday 6 December 2011
Monday 5 December 2011
Photo-a-Day Day 96
Free choice but must be in the lounge....
Tia in wha she has decided is her own personal armchair!! It was actually so I had extra seating when I have guests (since I only have a two seater sofa, and Tia always tries to sit on guests' knees!) So after she claimed this for her own I threw an old quilt cover on it to keep it hair, drool and pawprint free!!!
Tia in wha she has decided is her own personal armchair!! It was actually so I had extra seating when I have guests (since I only have a two seater sofa, and Tia always tries to sit on guests' knees!) So after she claimed this for her own I threw an old quilt cover on it to keep it hair, drool and pawprint free!!!
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| V sleepy Tia |
November Books
Since I always... and I mean always ... have my nose stuck in a book, I saw this idea on http://nicsnotebook.com/2011/11/10/october-books/#idc-container and thought I'd review the books I read each month....
November's reads are as follows:
The Abduction by Mark Gimenez
Brilliant thriller, the geeky dad was a little annoying in that his thought processes didn't seem too realistic, same for his kidnapped daughter too actually.. or maybe its just because I'm not American! But the childish way they thought/spoke didn't affect the story. Excellent thriller, lots of twists, kept me gripped, its a huge thick book and I read it in about 4 days
3.5 out of 5
The Haunted by Niki Valentine
Set in the Scottish Highlands, a couple on a second honeymoon leave their fantastic hotel for a weekend in a remote bothy, where the husband had spent some time as a child, signalling the end of his parents marriage (so, why it seemed a good idea to relive it on a second honeymoon is beyond me in first place!!). Anyway, there is a presence that can't be explained and they are haunted.... they go from wanting to leave but not being able to, to being able to leave but not wanting to... its all a bit tedious really, was very disappointed, it is very easy reading but all a little pointless really.
1.5 out of 5
Netherwood by Jane Sanderson
This book is brilliant, I love my history and think part of me wishes I'd grown up either rich or poor in the late 19th century. Stories of above stairs and below stairs always fascinate me, this book is brilliant, couldn't put it down. It tells the tale of Eve the wife of a miner and also the story of Lord Netherwood and his family, who own the mine where Eve's husband works.
5 out of 5
The Game of Thrones by George R R Martin
OMG this book is so brilliant, I loved the TV Dramatisation too and was very surprised when I read the book how closely the TV series had followed the book. Have had to go out and buy the full box set of books now..... will get book 5 soon too, its in hardback at present - over 1000 pages of book heaven! Just started book 2, I can't put them down.
An easy 5 out of 5
Defending Jacob by William Landay
I got this book free from Waterstones, on their read and review program... its not actually out in the shops yet, I had the uncorrected bound proof. Its a good book, I couldn't put it down, but I think I would have liked it to reveal a little more information rather than relying on the "court transcripts" to tell a lot of the story.. however it was a still a riveting read with a twist at the end.
3.5 out of 5
November's reads are as follows:
The Abduction by Mark Gimenez
Brilliant thriller, the geeky dad was a little annoying in that his thought processes didn't seem too realistic, same for his kidnapped daughter too actually.. or maybe its just because I'm not American! But the childish way they thought/spoke didn't affect the story. Excellent thriller, lots of twists, kept me gripped, its a huge thick book and I read it in about 4 days
3.5 out of 5
The Haunted by Niki Valentine
Set in the Scottish Highlands, a couple on a second honeymoon leave their fantastic hotel for a weekend in a remote bothy, where the husband had spent some time as a child, signalling the end of his parents marriage (so, why it seemed a good idea to relive it on a second honeymoon is beyond me in first place!!). Anyway, there is a presence that can't be explained and they are haunted.... they go from wanting to leave but not being able to, to being able to leave but not wanting to... its all a bit tedious really, was very disappointed, it is very easy reading but all a little pointless really.
1.5 out of 5
Netherwood by Jane Sanderson
This book is brilliant, I love my history and think part of me wishes I'd grown up either rich or poor in the late 19th century. Stories of above stairs and below stairs always fascinate me, this book is brilliant, couldn't put it down. It tells the tale of Eve the wife of a miner and also the story of Lord Netherwood and his family, who own the mine where Eve's husband works.
5 out of 5
The Game of Thrones by George R R Martin
OMG this book is so brilliant, I loved the TV Dramatisation too and was very surprised when I read the book how closely the TV series had followed the book. Have had to go out and buy the full box set of books now..... will get book 5 soon too, its in hardback at present - over 1000 pages of book heaven! Just started book 2, I can't put them down.
An easy 5 out of 5
Defending Jacob by William Landay
I got this book free from Waterstones, on their read and review program... its not actually out in the shops yet, I had the uncorrected bound proof. Its a good book, I couldn't put it down, but I think I would have liked it to reveal a little more information rather than relying on the "court transcripts" to tell a lot of the story.. however it was a still a riveting read with a twist at the end.
3.5 out of 5
Book of the month - Game of Thrones
Sunday 4 December 2011
Photo-a-Day Day 95
Free Choice but must be in bedroom...
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| He's all the way from S Africa and climbs my bedroom wall |
Friday 2 December 2011
Photo-a-Day Day 93
Free choice but must be in kitchen .... this is the best garlic crusher ever!!!!! When you've crushed it, you rinse the crusher under the tap and sort of wash your hands with it to remove any smell of garlic... and it looks gorgeous too (I think I have a weird kitchen gadget fixation!)
Thursday 1 December 2011
Photo-a-Day Day 92
Free Choice but must be inside.... well I did take this inside.. but its looking through my bedroom window at the house opposite.... too early and a bit too OTT me thinks...although I guess I've seen worse! Best of it is the bloke who lives there is a right grumpy git.... I mean the least likely person you would expect to spend an afternoon decorating the outside of his house!... He lives with his old mum, maybe its for her...
Wednesday 30 November 2011
Photo-a-Day Day 91
Free Choice but must be outside..... couldn't take one without the other.. my little frog/toad garden ornaments!
Tuesday 29 November 2011
Desperately seeking Tia...
Name: Tia
Hobby: Chasing Squirrels
Motivation: Food, Squirrels, Pheasants, Dead Things, Sheep Poo
One word to describe her: Exuberent
Today I have taught Tia to high five.... I watched the Pedigree training video, they were training a young border collie... well everyone knows Border Collies are very brainy and more importantly like to show off... Rottweilers on the other hand are quite brainy but don't give a toss!
That is a little unfair to Tia, in her puppy and bronze training classes she was a proper little brown-nose, but I think that was because she wanted to look down her superior nose at all the other puppies ..
she'd be like " look at me Mr Trainer, look what a little angel I am, look how I sit and stay, not like these silly little children who just want to play and don't do a thing they are told.. look I'm so good at lying down and staying I may go to sleep now... yawn..... "
I swear training classes taught her not only sit, down, stay, wait and come... but also how to roll her eyes!!
Anyway in my little trick teaching session today, I got Tia to high five me in probably the same amount of time as it took the border collie in the video.. and they had cut the outtakes... so I was reasonably impressed with my little bundle of fun..... of course she did do it with slightly less finesse and possibly a bit more force.. but she got there!
I then watched video number one which is on the recall... now Tia's recall in a training environment was really excellent, from the first go, you really would think I was the most interesting thing to her .. although I could see the look of insecurity on her face when sat outside in the middle of the class surrounded by lots of strangers and their dogs.... being abit of a wimpy Rotti I knew she was thinking mummy no, don't leave me!
Her recall in reality isn't quite so good, out on walks its reasonably good with no distractions, although she does have selective deafness.. but a distraction to Tia can be an interesting smell on a blade of grass, a dragonfly... even a gnat!
The video says to train with whatever is their motivation.. well for Tia that would be food... or a squirrel, but I've yet to find a willing squirrel! The key to training recall with distractions is to start with small distractions and get them to change their mind about going to investigate and come back to you instead... I'm fairly confident Tia is already at this point, in controlled environment she is always good..... the video doesn't cover what to do when they see a pheasant.. or even just smell one... when Tia is already thinking "mummy, who is mummy...mmm pheasant"
Hobby: Chasing Squirrels
Motivation: Food, Squirrels, Pheasants, Dead Things, Sheep Poo
One word to describe her: Exuberent
Today I have taught Tia to high five.... I watched the Pedigree training video, they were training a young border collie... well everyone knows Border Collies are very brainy and more importantly like to show off... Rottweilers on the other hand are quite brainy but don't give a toss!
That is a little unfair to Tia, in her puppy and bronze training classes she was a proper little brown-nose, but I think that was because she wanted to look down her superior nose at all the other puppies ..
she'd be like " look at me Mr Trainer, look what a little angel I am, look how I sit and stay, not like these silly little children who just want to play and don't do a thing they are told.. look I'm so good at lying down and staying I may go to sleep now... yawn..... "
I swear training classes taught her not only sit, down, stay, wait and come... but also how to roll her eyes!!
Anyway in my little trick teaching session today, I got Tia to high five me in probably the same amount of time as it took the border collie in the video.. and they had cut the outtakes... so I was reasonably impressed with my little bundle of fun..... of course she did do it with slightly less finesse and possibly a bit more force.. but she got there!
I then watched video number one which is on the recall... now Tia's recall in a training environment was really excellent, from the first go, you really would think I was the most interesting thing to her .. although I could see the look of insecurity on her face when sat outside in the middle of the class surrounded by lots of strangers and their dogs.... being abit of a wimpy Rotti I knew she was thinking mummy no, don't leave me!
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| oooh what's that over there |
Her recall in reality isn't quite so good, out on walks its reasonably good with no distractions, although she does have selective deafness.. but a distraction to Tia can be an interesting smell on a blade of grass, a dragonfly... even a gnat!
 |
| Yes mummy, you have my undivided..... |
The video says to train with whatever is their motivation.. well for Tia that would be food... or a squirrel, but I've yet to find a willing squirrel! The key to training recall with distractions is to start with small distractions and get them to change their mind about going to investigate and come back to you instead... I'm fairly confident Tia is already at this point, in controlled environment she is always good..... the video doesn't cover what to do when they see a pheasant.. or even just smell one... when Tia is already thinking "mummy, who is mummy...mmm pheasant"
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| You know that actually does look quite interesting, what were you saying again.....? |
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| "Tia, Come".. sorry non-comprende |
Monday 28 November 2011
Sunday 27 November 2011
Photo-a-Day Day 88
Jewellery .. I hardly wear jewellery, this is my Truth charm bracelet and my two Links of London Friendship Bracelets, I never take any of these off
The charms you can see are my little vampire, rock chick, a little dog, cupcake and a handbag with Born to Shop on it. They were all presents apart from the rock chick one. I have a few that are just beads and also a tattoo one, that was round the other side though! Need to get it filled up :)
The charms you can see are my little vampire, rock chick, a little dog, cupcake and a handbag with Born to Shop on it. They were all presents apart from the rock chick one. I have a few that are just beads and also a tattoo one, that was round the other side though! Need to get it filled up :)
Saturday 26 November 2011
Friday 25 November 2011
Photo-a-Day Day 86
Household appliance... I love my Dualit kettle, it was my treat to myself when I moved in this house... well it was one of many treats really.. I can always find an excuse!
Whats rockin this Friday
Okay so things to be thankful for... its a gorgeous day, woke up in the middle of the night with rain lashing at the window, sounded lovely when I was in bed but hoped it would have stopped by early morning walkies and it had :) Looks all set to be a nice sunny weekend... I am loving this mild winter, I hope it continues.. please no snow :)
I Can't Believe its Not Butter.. has a new taste.. and it actually does taste a bit like butter.. I only bought it as it was on offer.. and Clover now has a rival.. okay this wasn't exactly earth shattering stuff..
I've had quite a number of orders for Christmas Treat Doggy Bags, will be a busy little baker in December and Tia will be especially thankful
Still on the dog treat subject.. had lots of entries to my dog photo competition to win 4 x Wheat Free, Turkey, Veg & Cranberry muffins... the entries are all so cute, I'm so glad I delegated to my mate for judging, I wouldn't be able to choose! If anyone has a dog and is based in the UK and would like to enter click the facebook tab above!
Reading Game of Thrones Book 1 at the moment and damn its good.. I can't put it down! Hope book 2 is at the library for me to collect on Monday :)
Finally, I'm sure lots of people have seen the Benton/Fenton videos on You Tube, hell they've been on the news now! I am thankful for the fact that when Tia did her little break for freedom last Saturday, she a) wasn't near a road b) wasn't chasing Deer towards a road and c) my screeching across the field wasn't caught on camera and broadcast on you tube!!! Benton/Fenton has had over half a million views now, I'd have died from embarrassment!
If you'd like to join in with Rocking Friday's check out http://celtichouse.blogspot.com/
Thursday 24 November 2011
Photo-a-Day Day 85
Cold..... so yesterday was only the second frost of this winter.. and I'm not complaining that today was all mild again.. long may it continue.. however it did mean I had to take a photo of the ice in the freezer to represent cold...
Wednesday 23 November 2011
Photo-a-Day Day 84
Square.... so this took me ages.... I searched the house for something square... and then after I found this:
I then thought dammit the light switches are square.. they didn't make a v interesting photo though.... then I saw this the carved pattern in my wardrobe.... also spotted drinks coasters too after I'd put camera away!
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| the square links on my watch |
I then thought dammit the light switches are square.. they didn't make a v interesting photo though.... then I saw this the carved pattern in my wardrobe.... also spotted drinks coasters too after I'd put camera away!
Tuesday 22 November 2011
Monday 21 November 2011
Sunday 20 November 2011
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