Monday 15 April 2013

M - delay

M was going to be marathons and my feelings about all that running but I am going to rethink after the tragedy of the Boston Bombing at the 2013 Boston Marathon.

My thoughts and love are sent out to all those hurt, injured, the families, the friends and the amazing police, medical and other services working tirelessly tonight! Some amazing people out there! X

Friday 12 April 2013

Llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

L is for letters.

I love letters - for the purpose of this blog I mean letters like those we receive in the mail not just alphabet letters, though they're cool too! Anyway letters...people don't take the time to write them anymore and receiving post is so much fun. So with this in mind I would like to introduce you to an amazing website! It gets you to write letters/postcards and you can send them all over the world! It's amazing! I have just signed up and sent 3 cards off today! Try it!

http://www.postcrossing.com/ xxx

Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkaaaayyyy

K is for kaleidoscope baby!

I think my good buddy Grover of the Inane Ramblings blogspot did this K for last ears A-Z so 1) thanks for the inspiration and 2) sorry if its not as good!

The word kaleidoscope derives from the Greek word Kalos (Beautiful) and Eidos (Shape). It was invented by Sir David Brewster in 1816.

A kaleidoscope is a tube of mirrors containing loose beads, pebbles or other small colored objects. The viewer looks in one end and sun light can enter the other end, reflecting off the mirrors to create unique and spectacular images. The multi-coloured murals created within the kaleidoscope can be viewed from the end and patterns ever changing ever more beautiful and intricate can be viewed.

We had several as kids and I used to love holding them up to the light, even when it wasn't sunny something so colourful and bright and beautiful could always be seen in those Kaleidoscopes! Amazing! So did you ever have one? And has anyone been to the big one near San Diego? Bet that's amazing!






Wednesday 10 April 2013

Jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjaaayyyyyy

J is for JABBERWOCKY by Lewis Carroll: this is one of m favourite poems ever purely because every time I read it I get take something new from it. I think it paints a different picture in my mind every time and I love that so here's to the JABBERWOCKY :) Let me know what you think? What's yor favourite poem? Xxxx

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiyyyyeeeee

I is for illegal stuff. Specifically weird illegal stuff.....no, don't be rude I didn't say kinky stuff you rude lot just weird like bizarre stuff.

Now when I was travelling and I got to Singapore i was told it was illegal to chew gum. I still don't know if that's a myth or not but I do know that you're not allowed to buy it and that the streets are cleaner and nicer for it. So a simple but seemingly unusual law was made for a reason....so i wondered what other laws have been made that are a bit weird? Upon googling it I found a website....possibly all false and all myths but I am going to ignore that because they're fun and WEIRD and all apparently illegal!

So....

1) In France, it is against the law to sell an “E.T” doll. They have a law forbidding the sale of dolls that do not have human faces.
2) In Oklahoma, you can be arrested for making ugly faces at a dog.
3) In Pennsylvania, it’s against the law to tie a dollar bill on a string on the ground and pull it away when someone tries to pick it up.
4) In Florida, it is illegal to fart in a public place after 6 P.M. on Thursdays
5) In Samoa, it’s a crime to forget your own wife’s birthday.
6) In England, where I live, it is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament....apparently? I shall be asking my friend Bellars this though...
7) In England again, it is an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the Queen upside down. I think this one is true....and if not treason it's highly, highly frowned upon....so yes illegal don't be doing it!
8)!In Indiana, it’s against the law to dress ‘Barbie’ in ‘Ken’s’ clothes.
9) In Indonesia, the punishment for masturbation is death by decapitation.
10) In Australia, it’s illegal to name any animal you plan to eat.....so don't call that cow daisy if she is going to be your beef burger or your little lamb dolly or your kangaroo....er Roo....
11) In London, it is illegal to flag down a taxi if you have the plague. (I hope this is true, we do like to keep our cab drivers safe!)
12) In Portugal, it’s against the law to pee in the ocean.
13) In Italy, anyone considered “obese” is forbidden from wearing polyester.
14) In Michigan, it is illegal to chain an alligator to a fire hydrant....because they aren't trained to use fire hydrants.
15) In North Carolina, it is illegal to swear in front of dead people. RIP dead people RIP.
16) In Florida having sexual intercourse with a porcupine is illegal. (ouch… I mean why, why would anyone want to!)
17) In Iowa, it is illegal for horses to eat fire hydrants.....
18) In Israel, you could be prosecuted for picking your nose on Saturday....something to do with pulling hair out I believe, something in ancient scriptures or something....
19) In Ohio, it is against state law to get a fish drunk.
20) It is illegal to say Hannah (me) is not cool and not awesome because that's just not true!

Mwah xxxx

Tuesday 9 April 2013

Hhhh....part 2

This was the lady who led my team of heroes for my mum and for us that day :)

Hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

H is for Heroes.

Of course when I say heroes most people will be thinking superheroes like Superman or Batman or even maybe The Incredible Hulk then as you analyse the term more deeply you might think about our Soldiers out there fighting for our country, or doctors who save lives every minute of the day, policemen, firemen, maybe even teachers who inspire our next generation. Well with this blog I'd like you all to take a moment and think about what a hero is to you. Who is your hero?

Just over a year ago my mum was taken into hospital after losing a lot of blood. She has a rather serious heart condition and so doctors and hospitals had been putting her off having a hysterectomy because her heart could not take the anaesthetic and she would more that definitely die on the table if they tried. We couldn't even pay privately for help! Then, as I was saying, she got taken in on a Sunday evening and they pumped her with blood as was routine. I went to work the next day and got the call that no child ever, ever wants. Next of kin were being called in. I arrived at the hospital to find a very, very quiet Dad and a rather grey and beaten looking Mum, my brother was racing back from college and arrived just in time for the surgeon to explain what was to happen. Without emergency surgery my Mum would be dead within 10-12 hours. With it, if she survived the anaesthetic, she stood a 30-40% optimistic chance of survival. She had the surgery and then began the longest wait of my entire life. You put your trust in strangers. Not just the strangers there that you have at least seen the faces of: the nurses, the matron, her anaesthetists, her surgeons, the side kicks, the porters but you put your faith in the drugs companies, in the teachers of her surgeons and their team, you put it in fate. You pray for a hero.

It was touch and go for a long while afterwards and their were complications but my mum got through it, the nurses, the surgeon, the porters and everyone else I mentioned worked and got her and us through it. To me they are all heroes! I think we all to often dismiss how brilliant people are with excuses like 'Well it's there job,' and 'they do things like this all the time!' Does that make these things any less of achievements. If a fireman rescued 1 person every day does that make today's save any less brilliant that yesterday's? I think not.

The point of my blog....I am sorry I went off track slightly....the point is that the medical team and everyone who showed up for work that day are heroes to me. Today as much as any other day they are still heroes. My mum is a hero for raising my brother and I, for working as hard as she does, for being her. Take a minute today and say thank you to one of your hero's because I know that you meet heroes everyday, we just don't look for them but they are there hiding in plain sight. Maybe it's the person who brings you a morning coffee at Starbucks? Maybe it's a priest who guides you? Maybe it's a friend who never fails to make you laugh when you want to cry. They're all heroes!

So smile and be proud because if we use logic that would mean that you're someone's hero too and that makes you really rather great!

Monday 8 April 2013

Gggggggggggggggggggggggggeeeeeeeee


G is for Grovertron.

In the spirit of mixing thingsup today’s blog is in the form of a story. It is about my friend Grover andit’s a bit weird….enjoy!

THE GROVERTRON: Episode 1

Just after 10. They sattogether in the lounge. Everything seemed normal. Rosie was painting her nails,the wonderful Hannah (aka me) was being her normal wonderful self sittinghappily and sensibly watching television. The one they called Grover sat next toher appearing to read Greek. To be clear Grover was studying Greek, she wasn’ta Greek nor was she just being super cool and reading it randomly! Rosie andHannah weren’t too familiar with Greek so they weren’t to know that Grover wasactually plotting. Plotting a plan of disastrous consequences! Grover looked upwith her beady little eyes and grinned thinking of this master plan. Thewonderful Hannah did something wonderful and Grover smiled sweetly even thoughshe was not listening her beady little eyes scanned the room as her planstarted to come together. Suddenly Grover kicked their beloved inflatable SantaTed across the room - that’s right it was the middle of April and we still hadan inflatable Santa out….Ted you see is an all year round Santa….he’s basicallyfamily! Rosie and Hannah turned to Grover and exclaimed:

‘Grover what was that for…youjust kicked our beloved Ted across the room…why Grover, why?!?!’ Grover lookedup from her page of Greek writing and gave the widest grin:

‘Don’t call me Grover I am theGrovertron!’ she said defiantly as her eyes changed from a lovely Grover browntoo pure Grover mauve (as is the new colour of bad!)

‘HUH!’ went Rosie and Hannahsimultaneously as they were shocked by the revelation! The Grovertron jumped toher tiny feet and stood tall at 5ft as her mauve eyes surveyed the room and hertwo new captures. Rosie was like ‘what the fudgicles’ while Hannah politelysaid:

‘Oh no!’

‘HA HA HA’ the grovertronlaughed . Hannah and Rosie looked concerned not panicked but concerned. Groveshad gone crazy!

‘I am not crazy’ theGrovertron smiled - all purple eyed and you will pay for thinking so! Rosie andHannah eyeballed each other not understanding what was going on. This wasunusual for Hannah as she was usually so amazing and clever and yet this hadgone completely over her head. As she stood there dazed the grovertron lookeddown at her Greek book and shot a beam of purple light from her eyes. It hitthe Greek writing and the letters rose up from the page and formed a glowingpurple sword in the air. The grovertron grabbed the sword as Hannah and Rosiebacked away from the grovertron until they walked into the wall.

‘Uh-oh!’ Hannah helpfully saidagain.

‘What the fudgicles!’ piped upRosie.

‘You will yield to me and bowbefore me as lord and master of this England that you call your home and that Inow call my new domain! Ha ha ha!’ the grovertron laughed her evil laugh.Hannah and Rosie looked at each other confused as to what was so funny to thisdelusional creature. They did not bow down before her though. And she noticed:

‘Hey you bow down and youother one also bow down!’ Rosie was like hey Groves don’t talk to me like that.Angry at the way Rosie had addressed her the Grovertron pointed the sword ather throat.

‘Do not use that name I am theGrovertron!’ and her eyes shot beams of purple that just missed Rosies leftear.

‘Oh no!’ Hannah helpful againsaid. The grovertron was angry and Hannah asked her to let Rosie go. There wasnothing she could do though the grovertron was intent on chopping off Rosiesleft ear because as I did not mention earlier the Grovertron did not have realears and so people with ears made her jealous and angry.

‘I am all powerful and you arebut a lowly Surrey’rian and you Medway-ite step away from me,’ she turned thesword on Hannah who actually as brave as she was looked a little worried.Suddenly just as the grovertron was about to chop the ears off of her newslaves. Ted jumped up and knocked the sword out of her hands losing the connectionfrom the mauve eye thing the sword broke off into millions of Greek letterswhich Rosie then ate to stop her from reconnecting the sword. Ted dived at theGrovertron:

‘Do not hurt my masters!’

He wrestled the grovertron tothe ground where Hannah then jumped to his aid, Rosie was still eating Greekletters, Hannah pinned the grovertron down and shouted;

‘Grover come back to me! Comeback to me groves!!!!!’ Nothing was happening she tried again still nothing.Then she thought about it and turned back to Grover she made direct eye contactand sang her a Grover song. It was intense but thanks to what was surely herwonderous singing voice Grover returned to them and her ears grew back. Thankgod!!! But would the Grovertron ever return…who knows…stay tuned!!!

Sunday 7 April 2013

Fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff

F is for Flapjacks!

Firstly I apologise for the few extra hours it has taken to upload this......technically I missed Saturday but I'm a bit unique as you may know so figured maybe you would be a bit sad about having Sunday off and having nothing to read so TAAA-DAHHHH! My day late F blog to keep you amused! And it's. good one for a lovely Sunday chill....this is my favourite recipe for making flapjacks!

YOU WILL NEED....
1x chefs hat (if you don't have one you can fashion one out of a pillow case!)
300g unsalted butter
75g caster sugar
120g golden syrup (6 tablespoons)
250g jumbo rolled oats
200g quick-cook oats

1. Put on chefs hat.....for a measure of how good you look compare your image with the Swedish chef from the Muppets.
2. Preheat the oven to 190C /gas 5 and line a large baking tin with baking paper.
3. Melt the butter in a small pan with the sugar, syrup and a pinch of salt. Stir well to combine, then take off the heat and stir in the oats. STIR STIR STIR!
4. Press evenly into the tin and bake for 25 minutes for chewy, 30 minutes for crunchy! Make sure you leave in there until set and golden.
5. Allow to cool completely in the tin, but cut into squares a few minutes after they come out of the oven, before they harden and it becomes a mission to cut neatly!
6. Take out to share with others while wearing you chef hat so everyone knows the lovely scrummy flapjacks were made and created by you!
(7. Secret number 7....stash a few back for yourself to munch before they all go....and they will cos they are seriously yum!)

Note....you can add raisins or cranberries etc for more flavour and you can add yoghurt to the top to make a crazy healthy but crazy yummy snack! They is well delish and I hope you have fun making and eating! I do every time! Let me know how they turn out!

Ok mwah loves you all! #FeedYourFace #ISeeChubbinessInOurFutures :)

Ps. You might be interested to know that one time when I did a tandem skydive someone paid be £25 to shout the word flapjack randomly as I jumped from the plane. I did and the money went to charity! What would you have paid me to say? Or have you been paid e tea at a charity event to do anything weird or wacky?

Thursday 4 April 2013

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

E is for eggs. Specifically the fear of eggs. I, Burkey Burke of this here blog, would like to stand up and be counted and tell you I am egg phobic. Actually I am ovaphobic as that is the politically correct term for the fear of eggs! It's a real thing I SWEAR!!!

It seems a strange fear I know but its a big one for me. I've had it ever since I can remember! I never liked them as a kid....my parents would try that whole egg and soldiers thing - you know with the dipping and the little cut up toast! Now while I never had a problem eating pieces of bread named after men who fought for our country and protected us - which is a bit weird - I could never stomach the egg! It isn't all eggs mind....if that makes me sound any less weird?!?! It's specifically cooked eggs....I cant stand the smell it makes me feel physically sick....cooked in cakes is fine but cooked sunnyside up or scrambled....yuk even the idea makes me gag! Sorry! You know the worst thing a new boyfriend or friend could ever ask me is 'How do you like your eggs?' I'd have to reply with 'As far away from me as possible!'

So thats my E. I think I need to go shower now because I've talked about THEM too much and now I feel icky! So wonderful challengers whats the worst question a new partner could ask you? Do you have any strange or wacky fears or phobias because I would LOVE to know....seriously dont leave me hanging here feeling like an absolute nut job weirdo....any phobia will do....and if not do you like eggs? Is there anyway I could try and ease into the egg thing....maybe, can you help me be less of a weirdo....ewwwww!

Or WAIT do any of you not like eggs! Lets start a club! X

Da da da da dddddddeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Hello lovelies....thanks so much to those of you who've come back again and welcome newbies....yesterday was a pretty wordy D so today I've eased off....today D is for digital photos. Here's some of mine from my travels. Hope you like :)














 
Shots are from Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia....not necessarily in that order though....xxxx

Tuesday 2 April 2013

Cccccccccccccccceeeeeee

C is for many things. In fact I have just today decided that C is my absolute favourite letter EVER! A lot of my favourite words begin with C and so instead of picking only one of them to blog about I decided to share all my favourite C words with you....aren't you the lucky ones! (Also if you read to the end there's a nice little C video link that I think you will LOVE....fingers crossed that none of you out there are too adverse to bribery!)

CAN - What a great word! Its a verb and means 'to be able to!' For example: You can do it! You can be amazing! You can do anything you set your mind too! You can be a carefree, cheeky chipmunk ;)

CHARM - Another amazing C word. Charm is 'the power or quality of giving delight or arousing admiration'. Charm is also the beginning of the word 'Charmed' which is a fabulous 8 series tv show about 3 witches who rock. I like people with a certain charm, I like to be charming and I love charmed! Yay!

COINCIDENCE - 'A remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances without apparent causal connection'. (Also great definition with all those C words!) I adore coincidences they make me wonder about the world....is it fate? Are these coincidences real? And if so what are the chances! But actually what are they? Someone work t out for me!

COPULATE - Simply a really, really fun way of saying 'have sexual intercourse'. (Hee hee hee....silly childish giggle!)

CATACLYSM - I like this word because of the shapes it helps you to make! The definition is 'A large-scale and violent event in the natural world. Or a sudden violent upheaval, esp. in a political or social world. It's not the nicest thing but the word is very satisfying to say.....I have just always liked it. It's a powerful word and actually I think suits it's definition.

COLLIDE - is 'hit with force when moving!' It's what particles do when they react which I think is cool as! For example have you ever been on the bummer cars at the fun fayre and you chase your friends round so you can collide or crash int them! It's hilarious! I love colliding and I love that something which brings me so much joy is happening at such a minuscule level in the particle theory!

CABOODLE - 'The whole number or quantity of people or things in question'. This is just another fun to say one....I don't use it often and to be honest up until 2 weeks ago I had never heard it but it was in the book I was reading and I thought I'd share it with you!

CHIVALROUS - Is what Hollywood RomCom movies strive for in their leading men! Its also what we (most women) look for in our future husbands! 'Courteous and gallant, esp. toward women'. So boys pay attention...be chivalrous and charming and we will love you all the more!

CHUCKLE - 'Laugh quietly or inwardly'. I love to chuckle, it often happens right before a hysterical or dirty laugh....I don't know why but if something tickles me I chuckle and then I find chuckling really rather hilarious so I laugh even more!

CALAMARI - 'Deep fried squid' baby! Usually served in battered rings! Absolutely scrummy! (Here's a bonus receipe for you because you all deserve it! http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/quick-calamari-with-garlic-mayonnaise-41 )

So that's my C blog - some other words which I also love are: Consequences, Collaborative, Combat, Consumption, Cabaret, Chauffeur, Chicane, Condyles and Chubsey (NB Chubsey may or may not be a real word but again I like it!)

There's C.....as promised your little video treat! Please find attached 'The Cheese Rap' as created by my creative and charming friend Grovermauve of the Inane Ramblings blog (also doing A-Z) so here we go....one rap about cheese!

http://youtu.be/hJ5d5LHOHT8

Thanks again for reading! Any more C words that I can love??????

Ps loving your C blogs! Xxxxx

Bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbeeeee

B is for Brain!

I studied Psychology at University and I loved every minute of it. A large part of my course was neuropsychology - the study of the brain and its neurochemistry. We looked at the localisation of brain functions....how different sections of the brain are responsible for different jobs for example the frontal lobe is thought to be key for shaping your personality. If you find this interesting you should google Phineas Gage - he was involved in a surreal incident where by his frontal lobe was destroyed in a freak accident and he returned to a state of basic primal urges, sex and aggression, people claimed his whole personality disappeared and he changed. There's also the parietal, occipital and temporal lobe - key for language, perception, memory, pain and well pretty much everything else!

I think it's just crazy amazing how much goes on in an organ no bigger than your 2 fists held together....it determines who you are day to day, how you work....everything from breathing or memorising to releasing hormones that help create new life! Right now there are millions of electrical and chemical messages being sent to your brain - you are receiving electrical messages from neurones in the back of your knee informing your brain of how it feels every nanosecond, you are recalling the ability to recognise letters and interpret a language you probably learnt as a child as you read and all the while you're breathing....hopefully....and storing information. IT'S AMAZING! Or is it just me?

Your brain holds you together, decides who you are and perhaps even who you're going to be and in that way it helps me believe in fate....while I don't know what's out there I can believe in a grand plan because of such a complex and outstanding piece of creation.

Well that's B....while I'm here and talking Brain I'd like to recommend a book called 'Proof of Heaven by Eden Alexander' a neuropsychologist who had a near death experience and tries to explain it in terms of neuropsychology. Fascinating, so yes that was B....further recommendations on Brain reading or Brain blogging would be very welcome and comments on what you think! I just love that it catches me every now and again....it catches me how much is happening right now up there in my big ole 'ead ;)



Monday 1 April 2013

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy!

A is for....Analogies:

The definition of an analogy is as follows....

Analogy = Logic. a form of reasoning in which one thing is inferred to be similar to another thing in a certain respect, on the basis of the known similarity between the things in other respects.

That sounds a bit of a confusing and dull start but BARE WITH! The reason my A blog is on Analogies is because one of the things you should know about me is that I use analogies for EVERYTHING! In fact I have used them so much in the past that friends have coined them Han-alogies now! That's my name Hannah and analogy smooshed together.....anyway I wanted to share one such Han-alogy with you and see if anyone else can relate.....so analogy story time, are you sitting comfortably?

The 'Boat' Analogy:
Usually in groups of people you find varied dynamics, what works for some doesn't for others but no matter groups function and characters assume certain roles. So the 'Boat' analogy - usually a group has a centred person, a leader - the boat....all others form around the 'boat'. For example dolphins....playful characters which move along with the boat but stay centred around it. Dolphins have a possibility to move away but usually come back to play with the boats. Alongside dolphins might be sea turtles....more serious but can be just as much fun, furthermore if you look closer to the 'boat' you might find limpets....clingy attachments to the boat which don't really do much harm but are still essentially....well limpets. Sharks, seaweed and fishes could be added to this descriptive analogy but in mine we discussed a jet ski....someone with the ability to join the boat but also go off independently....a floater of sorts....think about it. Finally the train....another method of transport but something, someone who is almost on a completely different plane to yourself....travelling the same direction but man oh man what a strange addition. So that's one group....could your work or friendship or family group fit my analogy? I'd be interested? Or have I missed something? Does it make sense? I'd be more than interested to know!


So hello A - Z challengers that was my A....thanks for reading! Say hello if you've dropped by :)

xxxxxxxxxxx

A - Z Challenge:

Hello challengers, readers, amazing writers, first timers and friends who have been bribed into reading this so I get more views! Welcome to my blog....it's a bit of a mishmash where I ramble about my life and things I like, I don't like, about things that amuse or annoy me and anything which springs into my mind at that moment.....I hope sometimes I'm thought provoking, or funny....anything deemed one up from boring and I will count it as a WIN!

So audience....A-Z challenge starts today if you haven't signed up there's still time....ish so go go go!

Burkey Burke signing out xxx