Skiing In Europe

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">We found a good deal for a weekend in Switzerland,</div><div style="text-align: center;">so we hopped at the chance to go<br /><br />One reason we went<br />was to feel some sunshine at last!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNj-JWaokGwGXLkPV1-bRuOyq_XJhHULYQPCgT2Rs0k5iDzSmndNoO3-VhEdJNgeKnVVJRxH12OqliCJHUktnxrW8i0iTwKndalSan6NE5J57wJzTp5I_hiVZnDnrXTKqihhjc8zo8mJ8/s1600/photo+2+(19)-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNj-JWaokGwGXLkPV1-bRuOyq_XJhHULYQPCgT2Rs0k5iDzSmndNoO3-VhEdJNgeKnVVJRxH12OqliCJHUktnxrW8i0iTwKndalSan6NE5J57wJzTp5I_hiVZnDnrXTKqihhjc8zo8mJ8/s640/photo+2+(19)-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Still new to the whole 'skiing in Europe' thang,</div><div style="text-align: center;">here's a a few observations</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">1. You can ski in most European countries,</div><div style="text-align: center;">including Portugal, Poland, and Bulgaria</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgna0mqc4b0ZJosISKlAR505kyuirk-9AnsE-EH5Py3Il44yWX4i2bDxd1ZtRgOCDair_XmlHxgtcLA-Oe32r8puho7934xZtEg1rpufingJAnowmSCV3H9luofY116y7VQXGwpYSL9kNSx/s1600/photo+3+%252830%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgna0mqc4b0ZJosISKlAR505kyuirk-9AnsE-EH5Py3Il44yWX4i2bDxd1ZtRgOCDair_XmlHxgtcLA-Oe32r8puho7934xZtEg1rpufingJAnowmSCV3H9luofY116y7VQXGwpYSL9kNSx/s640/photo+3+%252830%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">2. You can ski over country borders at some resorts (how cool is that?!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEt3wPvKT6vUeKt6Cc_2zL3bgpGxKBByovhxok9aVER1k5dO64G7O7EFGtWVt1l48fj9mgeDJkyEbBP1sg-OHIzy7iX41b6WpBtMGaBJ5Dxl2DQ1y3aJZ9GCKEnggqXySzFF0uOVJPNTo/s1600/photo+3+(13)-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEt3wPvKT6vUeKt6Cc_2zL3bgpGxKBByovhxok9aVER1k5dO64G7O7EFGtWVt1l48fj9mgeDJkyEbBP1sg-OHIzy7iX41b6WpBtMGaBJ5Dxl2DQ1y3aJZ9GCKEnggqXySzFF0uOVJPNTo/s640/photo+3+(13)-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">3. Notice the key on the trail map,</div><div style="text-align: center;">as beginner runs may be marked blue in Switzerland and Austria</div><div style="text-align: center;">or green in Spain and Sweden</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bg0k9E-zKILIzDsD2vPxh0zDTrrwZR5p7P-OEfHOE3KCxd4K8QphIepU95-TMZ4kabgKEhWyF0ZhCQA8Rwx21iKnXRygP_ly0yEyr9zEvestq_tK9fpBbQYH2KHEG22BzQwtZuq4hCG3/s1600/photo+2+(31)-012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bg0k9E-zKILIzDsD2vPxh0zDTrrwZR5p7P-OEfHOE3KCxd4K8QphIepU95-TMZ4kabgKEhWyF0ZhCQA8Rwx21iKnXRygP_ly0yEyr9zEvestq_tK9fpBbQYH2KHEG22BzQwtZuq4hCG3/s640/photo+2+(31)-012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">4. Don't assume you can ski to the bottom of the mountain</div><div style="text-align: center;">You may need to take a train, tram, or gondola down</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEmFp8aYQNAAABXLdK8_afVgR2kdCkodJXVJaI87CQX-w8F_MFX5lKL4ie4MDXzB247fYzJwvzxZBrXa60Hw7bZkV7BnCSQaT8oOyecDlisnI9wQI7LbjY-mUwhdKrcUH7BtbAuAL6D5w/s1600/photo+1+(9)-0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEmFp8aYQNAAABXLdK8_afVgR2kdCkodJXVJaI87CQX-w8F_MFX5lKL4ie4MDXzB247fYzJwvzxZBrXa60Hw7bZkV7BnCSQaT8oOyecDlisnI9wQI7LbjY-mUwhdKrcUH7BtbAuAL6D5w/s640/photo+1+(9)-0011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">5. Europeans make more use of the mountain than Americans</div><div style="text-align: center;">such as chill out zones with hammocks, lounge chairs, and a tiki bar</div><div style="text-align: center;">and an extensive network of sledding runs</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">6. At our resort, a computer checked our tickets, which opened the gates</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqRkiynjPM8Zqz-0ujftw2xmrqZjnvlqb4EfEfCk-JS0tSMzJ1X-uJ20rFbNbOQnWzDnpwB_0RyqzPGUWLR9twPGcZoMH0eviIFrFyJ9ilQbNlEHaZmaHpNe3ny9L0yiv_yRRd3IARBHL/s1600/photo+%252811%2529-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqRkiynjPM8Zqz-0ujftw2xmrqZjnvlqb4EfEfCk-JS0tSMzJ1X-uJ20rFbNbOQnWzDnpwB_0RyqzPGUWLR9twPGcZoMH0eviIFrFyJ9ilQbNlEHaZmaHpNe3ny9L0yiv_yRRd3IARBHL/s640/photo+%252811%2529-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">7. Although I've never tried it,<br />did you know there is snow skiing in <a href="http://ski.visitscotland.com/">Scotland</a><br />and even in <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2013/jan/19/skiing-snowbaording-england-pennines-lake-district">England's</a> Pennines and Lake District?<br /><br />8. And if you seek snow fun without the travel,<br />we found some indoors at an '<a href="http://www.xscape.co.uk/milton-keynes/concessions/sno-zone">adventure plaza</a>' in Milton Keynes<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsj0wGSRHiF4BCZGEfVoCtRzadTo9e3jH9NRAra0wORRQZQ2JKAde6yM9ncyBwsTeGr6is_EXuFqOdszGUfdjU-IWkjsu9Xsa2d1n41oblYSTlF7vDPQ_m0vusYA4mjH0W_ovs1cXi01oA/s1600/photo+2+(53).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsj0wGSRHiF4BCZGEfVoCtRzadTo9e3jH9NRAra0wORRQZQ2JKAde6yM9ncyBwsTeGr6is_EXuFqOdszGUfdjU-IWkjsu9Xsa2d1n41oblYSTlF7vDPQ_m0vusYA4mjH0W_ovs1cXi01oA/s640/photo+2+(53).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Trying to make the most of winter,<br />but I must admit I am ready for the sun to bust a move<br />and get those blooms going!<br /><br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">P.S. Dots are appearing on my images once downloaded here, but not on the originals. Has anyone else had that problem?</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(an unsponsored post) </span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Skiing In Europe

We found a good deal for a weekend in Switzerland, so we hopped at the chance to go One reason we went was to feel some sunshine at last! St...

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A Tricky Question: Where Are You From?

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">I learned early on that asking an expat</div><div style="text-align: center;">'Where are you from?'</div><div style="text-align: center;">can be a loaded question<br /><br />Does it mean<br />Where were you born?<br />Where did you last live?<br />Which country do you identify with most?<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRbGDIBAEIv_FznigjyrwXXseEyNBt6rLNaLecxKijyYfTQcMXl7FpdRISz73a1lNHfIu-LDWTjfghj-_KfocKMTyYowAz8ugPNp3mZdRfOwpxN0efsCu6-uQ_FwC9W10nFbNRTc0XPpbO/s1600/il_fullxfull.418190467_19ls-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRbGDIBAEIv_FznigjyrwXXseEyNBt6rLNaLecxKijyYfTQcMXl7FpdRISz73a1lNHfIu-LDWTjfghj-_KfocKMTyYowAz8ugPNp3mZdRfOwpxN0efsCu6-uQ_FwC9W10nFbNRTc0XPpbO/s640/il_fullxfull.418190467_19ls-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vintage luggage via <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/FayeTravisVintage?ref=seller_info_count">Faye Travis Vintage</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are different kinds of expats I meet here<br />such as</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">- foreigners who live here and will return home</div><div style="text-align: center;">- expats who will stay here indefinitely (and possibly become citizens)</div><div style="text-align: center;">- those who have lived in many countries and will continue to live in many more<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Where is 'home' if</div><div style="text-align: center;">...you bounce from country to country?</div><div style="text-align: center;">...each person in the family holds a different passport?</div><div style="text-align: center;">...you sold your home and have no idea where you will live next?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There is a term called 'Third Culture Kids'</div><div style="text-align: center;">that describes kids who live between cultures</div><div style="text-align: center;">- feeling like they don't totally belong to their host or home country -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We have lived out of the US for almost 3 years,</div><div style="text-align: center;">which means I have fallen out of touch with current events, </div><div style="text-align: center;">hometown news, trends, and pop culture in America</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yet here there are a lot of cultural references I don't understand in England</div><div style="text-align: center;">because I've only lived here 3 years</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a look at what it is like to live between cultures</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/41264088" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/41264088">So Where's Home? A Film About Third Culture Kid Identity</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/adrianbautista">Adrian Bautista</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</span><br /><br /><center></center><center>We love all the opportunities and life lessons we glean from living abroad,</center><center>yet there are interesting challenges as well</center><center></center><center></center><center>Wishing you a wonderful day!</center><center></center><center style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(an unsponsored post)</span></center><center style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></center><center style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Related posts:</span></center><center style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/reflecting-on-expat-upbringing.html">Reflecting On An Expat Upbringing</a></span></center><center style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/raising-second-generation-expats.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Raising Second Generation Expats</span></a></center><center style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></center><center></center><center><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div></center></center>

A Tricky Question: Where Are You From?

I learned early on that asking an expat 'Where are you from?' can be a loaded question Does it mean Where were you born? Where did y...

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Chin Chin Labs Nitro Ice Cream

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Looking for a little culinary adventure?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVYvZsbE57qWm1mYDOQ-qDZP99CvA4ShdJFzmDq9WbvypP6G53YMz6_jnAO_75_5Ap0HX1BmHx5yrxh3xEUPB99AKIizf1RokuoNDKwO1Kzis6tRvsZr0ydY9z3mWuuq5piEo_CKXp2cM/s1600/Chin+Chin+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVYvZsbE57qWm1mYDOQ-qDZP99CvA4ShdJFzmDq9WbvypP6G53YMz6_jnAO_75_5Ap0HX1BmHx5yrxh3xEUPB99AKIizf1RokuoNDKwO1Kzis6tRvsZr0ydY9z3mWuuq5piEo_CKXp2cM/s640/Chin+Chin+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How about smoking ice cream :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chinchinlabs.com/">Chin Chin Labs</a> in Camden</div><div style="text-align: center;">blends its ice cream ingredients with liquid nitrogen upon order,</div><div style="text-align: center;">creating a real 'wow' effect as smoke pours out of blenders</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So 'cool'!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(An unsponsored post)</i></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Chin Chin Labs Nitro Ice Cream

Looking for a little culinary adventure? How about smoking ice cream :) Chin Chin Labs in Camden blends its ice cream ingredients with liqu...

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London Eye

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Sure, we'd ridden the <a href="http://www.londoneye.com/">London Eye</a> before</div><div style="text-align: center;">but never at night</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This slow moving Ferris wheel has amazing views</div><div style="text-align: center;">even in the rain </div><div style="text-align: center;">(as we found out)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe</div><div style="text-align: center;">and opened December 31, 1999</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OpKAo_ZbM3-FbSc_tGQVbe06FL7xJB3yV2otMPccYm-P2pYPK7GYHW4ulAtkfV0bTzGK1EmNfqAGJ8dVXIps0mpbJUzBRsYBK1WAhdkxHCMDEItr2Fk-y0T7lR68cVLkI0EHfXo8sjT0/s1600/photo+(6)-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OpKAo_ZbM3-FbSc_tGQVbe06FL7xJB3yV2otMPccYm-P2pYPK7GYHW4ulAtkfV0bTzGK1EmNfqAGJ8dVXIps0mpbJUzBRsYBK1WAhdkxHCMDEItr2Fk-y0T7lR68cVLkI0EHfXo8sjT0/s640/photo+(6)-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If I recall correctly, it was supposed to be a temporary installment,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but its popularity made it a permanent addition to the London skyline</div><div style="text-align: center;">(and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the UK)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now equipped with touch screens inside capsules</div><div style="text-align: center;">to give information about visible landmarks,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this attraction is even better than it was a few years ago</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUPldLc77loh5yj2lEDRkzAgkExXb3NKccFrPJLoX0MKTSJ06X6ZBhEpKpPXhuTjpRm46Ohex9bf6LbOnCQk5MAD24ttodui9P8bVv8ElljSYSQod8aa0vyqkMMriGEE3I2fPZXaVyHFR/s1600/photo+(9)-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUPldLc77loh5yj2lEDRkzAgkExXb3NKccFrPJLoX0MKTSJ06X6ZBhEpKpPXhuTjpRm46Ohex9bf6LbOnCQk5MAD24ttodui9P8bVv8ElljSYSQod8aa0vyqkMMriGEE3I2fPZXaVyHFR/s640/photo+(9)-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For a few minutes,</div><div style="text-align: center;">we got the Peter Pan view of Big Ben's Clock Tower</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the River Thames</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Stunning :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>- all images by moi -</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Source: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Eye">Wikipedia</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(an unsponsored post)</span></i></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

London Eye

Sure, we'd ridden the London Eye before but never at night This slow moving Ferris wheel has amazing views even in the rain  (as we fou...

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England's Literature Festivals

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In such a small country,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">it seems a famous author (dead or alive)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">is never very far away :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwDb8niANpjw_gVg3h3UePj8PCxz181eytw27Yp9ftUX-EYbGDZY0IvHmtWSli-9kXOgM2vEHirnGdK2ubYd4sokChB05tbWFAgnQMufzlm1cuoqpaZQmQebWoPhB8TasjfOuVASwSt_W/s1600/il_570xN.421436234_ao82-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwDb8niANpjw_gVg3h3UePj8PCxz181eytw27Yp9ftUX-EYbGDZY0IvHmtWSli-9kXOgM2vEHirnGdK2ubYd4sokChB05tbWFAgnQMufzlm1cuoqpaZQmQebWoPhB8TasjfOuVASwSt_W/s320/il_570xN.421436234_ao82-001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Purses handcrafted from books by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/86160369/alice-in-wonderland-book-purse-with?">Novel Creations</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And periodically,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">a lot of them congregate at literature festivals :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Check these out</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://issuu.com/bathfestivals/docs/bf12_literature_brochure_online"><b>Bath Literature Festival</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">March 1 - 10, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Tickets on sale now<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Bath will host over 150 events for 10 days in March</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Featured authors include </span>J.K. Rowling<span style="background: white;">, </span>Hilary Mantel<span style="background: white;">, </span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">P.D. James<span style="background: white;">, </span>Kate Mosse<span style="background: white;">, </span>Pat Barker<span style="background: white;">, </span>Harriet Walter<span style="background: white;">, </span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Darcey Bussell<span style="background: white;">, </span>Sandi Toksvig<span style="background: white;">, </span>Robert Fisk<span style="background: white;">, </span>Gavin Esler<span style="background: white;">, </span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A.N. Wilson<span style="background: white;">, </span>Allan Little<span style="background: white;">, </span>Ben Goldacre<span style="background: white;"> and many more</span></span></div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis44Zdnjl7otJin3J8flYXIlImYhaCFCnVpqsETr1MSjaqps_YAEK5JVURQOB85edFy95URDtaiL96i19H8Ucvd_-8HoqJuMtDlMBdJHtD1Ax7JurL-ATfgIMPfy6grjC9A974N8AQQOjP/s1600/il_fullxfull.270244812-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis44Zdnjl7otJin3J8flYXIlImYhaCFCnVpqsETr1MSjaqps_YAEK5JVURQOB85edFy95URDtaiL96i19H8Ucvd_-8HoqJuMtDlMBdJHtD1Ax7JurL-ATfgIMPfy6grjC9A974N8AQQOjP/s400/il_fullxfull.270244812-001.jpg" width="322" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Graphic art available via <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/hairbrainedschemes?ref=seller_info">Hair Brained Schemes</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/"><b>Oxford Literary Festival</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">March 16 - 24, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Tickets on sale now<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Over 160 events are now listed, with more to come<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some big names include Booker winners Julian Barnes and Hilary Mantel,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">former Cabinet minister Jack Straw, novelist Alexander McCall Smith,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">broadcaster Nick Robinson, Nobel prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">children's novelists Cornelia Funke, Anthony Horowitz, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and Sue Townsend of 'Adrian Mole' fame</span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.hayfestival.com/"><b>Hay Festival of Literature</b></a> (Wales)</span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">May 23 - June 2, 2013</span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tickets now on sale to see John le Carr</span><span style="line-height: 21px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">é</span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">, Carl Bernstein, </span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Elif Shafak, </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Christy Moore and Dana O'Briain</span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">More event details to be released in April</span></div><div style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="http://www.bathkidslitfest.org.uk/"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Bath Festival of Children's Literature</b></span></a></div><div align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">September 27 - October 6, 2013 </span></div><div align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No current information available<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; clear: both;"></div><div style="line-height: 1.3em; max-width: 683px; padding: 7px 0px 3px; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature"><b>Cheltenham Literature Festival</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">October 4 - 13, 2013</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">No current information available</span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><br /><br /></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4R-i8Ej_TKi3jAaD-BngA8av7VyTfnBeQEj4whtKl9tUmrd7O6OfWDXMhvcoV6yw5OIBTySPP4wXK8Q9wn1TdT0z3PEMAW8NsTjII5vkh2J1KGOXvaXx01Pfcnh9LvMBEfteA0okuG67h/s1600/DSC04522-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4R-i8Ej_TKi3jAaD-BngA8av7VyTfnBeQEj4whtKl9tUmrd7O6OfWDXMhvcoV6yw5OIBTySPP4wXK8Q9wn1TdT0z3PEMAW8NsTjII5vkh2J1KGOXvaXx01Pfcnh9LvMBEfteA0okuG67h/s400/DSC04522-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bookmark I made the other day with the kids</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">An English mom recently told me </span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">classic literature <span style="line-height: 150%;">is not being taught </span><span style="line-height: 150%;">in their school anymore</span></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and being replaced by modern books to grab students' interest in reading</span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have mixed feelings about that</span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While I see their point of nurturing the love of reading (so important),</span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> how can students not be introduced to <span style="line-height: 150%;">classic literature, </span></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">especially in England, the birthplace of so many famous written words?</span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; max-width: 683px;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What do you think?</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3em; max-width: 683px; padding: 7px 0px 3px;"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">(An unsponsored post)</span></i></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

England's Literature Festivals

In such a small country, it seems a famous author (dead or alive) is never very far away :) Purses handcrafted from books by Novel Creations...

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Driving On The Left

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Reflecting on passing my driving test 2 years ago,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I now find myself to be an 'ambidextrous driver'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Which means, when I look at a road with no markings</div><div style="text-align: center;">I could pull into either lane, as they both feel right (!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHYA3DPIcCmET4Rw2YeNB3T3lDN1zL4TDoWWgRvfuxW95csjssRJ3Uxq-frqabxU0YHpife5pTtTfgR_5YHU9hXbDAU6IHh97E06X11V18PXAPWR0vtyqsiJJ_p8338M08voWzsLHkaSo/s1600/photo443-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHYA3DPIcCmET4Rw2YeNB3T3lDN1zL4TDoWWgRvfuxW95csjssRJ3Uxq-frqabxU0YHpife5pTtTfgR_5YHU9hXbDAU6IHh97E06X11V18PXAPWR0vtyqsiJJ_p8338M08voWzsLHkaSo/s640/photo443-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It means to get in the driver's seat,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I might open the right door or the left door</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I may look over my right shoulder or left shoulder for the seat belt</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In other words,</div><div style="text-align: center;">it just gives me more opportunity to look like a total heel :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now, a curious thing is staircases</div><div style="text-align: center;">Walk on the left or right side?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I find pedestrians aren't consistent with this one</div><div style="text-align: center;">(or on sidewalks)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcOJE_3p0ilwxkQ9fNSL51shUB5-Q3JiMeo-EkDMWxFv7fb3q5UpidPYc3ATFQCCPKx0vVmecARUhLI0qwDxOUPZyQtxOio-x5yuaHfBCHOCwFo56p2Xba_ECA9geFVvWkuW8p_iH3QNS/s1600/photo+144-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcOJE_3p0ilwxkQ9fNSL51shUB5-Q3JiMeo-EkDMWxFv7fb3q5UpidPYc3ATFQCCPKx0vVmecARUhLI0qwDxOUPZyQtxOio-x5yuaHfBCHOCwFo56p2Xba_ECA9geFVvWkuW8p_iH3QNS/s400/photo+144-001.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a few other curiosities</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Recently I noticed there are no fire hydrants in England</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Instead, they have unassuming water taps in the road for emergencies</div></div><div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvo8SCl60nmy6ABsO7sKNAmFsNU58dy6tRtFZqSJXT48t7iyuXt35YH6Da_rxSAOe669WvFuAZmT41keEaJ0bYEUpygEt1YuPgau8Owbcxocrm5qSFKW6coggQBhuuRogOka2xVtnY8ff/s1600/photo+(79)-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvo8SCl60nmy6ABsO7sKNAmFsNU58dy6tRtFZqSJXT48t7iyuXt35YH6Da_rxSAOe669WvFuAZmT41keEaJ0bYEUpygEt1YuPgau8Owbcxocrm5qSFKW6coggQBhuuRogOka2xVtnY8ff/s400/photo+(79)-002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div>These street drains are actually miracle workers</div><div>making water disappear almost instantly on roads when raining<br /><br />They are smaller than the American versions<br />and more efficient<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkXzeZ7woTYU7IJcHero1fHjeSyvA1h_PUuxM53n9vDyMuV_cK_hwVbJyHRZVywLXCgyuU_goebOeN5FJiWbDYDXnvezCc37R7dQcMlZTonfGz4aj1vhUsYfGj3PKhYkFAdThxRQstQAd/s1600/photo+(78)-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkXzeZ7woTYU7IJcHero1fHjeSyvA1h_PUuxM53n9vDyMuV_cK_hwVbJyHRZVywLXCgyuU_goebOeN5FJiWbDYDXnvezCc37R7dQcMlZTonfGz4aj1vhUsYfGj3PKhYkFAdThxRQstQAd/s400/photo+(78)-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">England is much more rural than outsiders realize<br />I spied this less than 20 miles from the center of London</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqaVyPlFLQJCK1_UCUPTf3Yf2uBtBEPGTgEFMqWdR94xUYN7NOG9HbQUK93asTf1Vsla7IJRlr_4I6mcl1z8gELjLRrl88baz7e5h-wd9P1HcKM9MevFqIptW_DvrzOVG3NtoGWUBQ60R/s1600/photo+(93)-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqaVyPlFLQJCK1_UCUPTf3Yf2uBtBEPGTgEFMqWdR94xUYN7NOG9HbQUK93asTf1Vsla7IJRlr_4I6mcl1z8gELjLRrl88baz7e5h-wd9P1HcKM9MevFqIptW_DvrzOVG3NtoGWUBQ60R/s400/photo+(93)-001.JPG" width="370" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What a hilarious slogan for a portable toilet business</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6b7GJXE25Biohn9-jpdRfWq0dBZILviWBeD26jtFMqEDbuviB8XntVZmB-yeFZGlEsfA83LB91xuV8gA8SSyb8iX2DsHbPF72S8t9P1vgnTmbNKpj8olkASsN4xtPxerBQzyAUw9O5xh/s1600/photo+(95)-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6b7GJXE25Biohn9-jpdRfWq0dBZILviWBeD26jtFMqEDbuviB8XntVZmB-yeFZGlEsfA83LB91xuV8gA8SSyb8iX2DsHbPF72S8t9P1vgnTmbNKpj8olkASsN4xtPxerBQzyAUw9O5xh/s400/photo+(95)-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Many old buildings had very short doors<br />(only the wealthy had tall ones)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This clever restaurant padded the top of their 5' door frames</div><div style="text-align: center;">Duck or else :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaI8VgePp_Xmc-5vV_rs6ccoZK_SuWF-XW8ujVCz23FUb5tb9zHgwGjdRa7l8iAOKe9QzaP_nGuI9DCInEDuU19HlFKisFxXFEkYsTLSklZCLAUkeGmE4doX9ThF9Juk5nLcwqWtfKAcoY/s1600/photo+(90).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaI8VgePp_Xmc-5vV_rs6ccoZK_SuWF-XW8ujVCz23FUb5tb9zHgwGjdRa7l8iAOKe9QzaP_nGuI9DCInEDuU19HlFKisFxXFEkYsTLSklZCLAUkeGmE4doX9ThF9Juk5nLcwqWtfKAcoY/s400/photo+(90).JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I still find little culinary adventures<br />This prune/bacon morsel is called Devils On Horseback</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnq518_Ei8VF4uLx05fHrp0PqRvhapqnFdGY6hqZX_wG54Cv43ZRbRkglrc4OhSTnwTlXQBremCjckgnj6UJ0g2TC2iF_eDzbcanLWJSK3hJ7NiQGzI1C_JTzX_mixqBI06MeaIECpxEqd/s1600/photo22-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnq518_Ei8VF4uLx05fHrp0PqRvhapqnFdGY6hqZX_wG54Cv43ZRbRkglrc4OhSTnwTlXQBremCjckgnj6UJ0g2TC2iF_eDzbcanLWJSK3hJ7NiQGzI1C_JTzX_mixqBI06MeaIECpxEqd/s400/photo22-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I continue to be amazed by how brief the winters are here</div><div style="text-align: center;">Snowdrops and daffodils are already blooming</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOs5ljDCS-TToeo5DW2CO-QfKP7cSCe0zNCRJHXeSSIgGUsWffAYBxDbTJO8FP0HVn7IKPmBbPkxm75VX4Dhm2QXPs0sQu_6t08-Ruth3Rhc4O7eJ_3L-a5JHTu6Tz3dsp39atqqzyeHX7/s1600/photo321-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOs5ljDCS-TToeo5DW2CO-QfKP7cSCe0zNCRJHXeSSIgGUsWffAYBxDbTJO8FP0HVn7IKPmBbPkxm75VX4Dhm2QXPs0sQu_6t08-Ruth3Rhc4O7eJ_3L-a5JHTu6Tz3dsp39atqqzyeHX7/s400/photo321-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">with crocuses on the way :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Love that!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Driving On The Left

Reflecting on passing my driving test 2 years ago, I now find myself to be an 'ambidextrous driver' Which means, when I look at a ro...

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Ideas For Scrapbooking

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">You won't be surprised to know<br />scrapbooking is one of my passions<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">- capturing the moments big and small -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qH1jQcn1G0m3ye5jt0YlLeEb3fcDCYhQkr1_YjFCpZhet2vWFVIF4mi5PkV2Kwm7YB3uMIOdBYZIfDxioQ18iEe-dSXaQ65CyaNNVMnDZ14rf8f7gPxj9niSMZs9lW9q5gLJLQGztVO-/s1600/DSCN3825-0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qH1jQcn1G0m3ye5jt0YlLeEb3fcDCYhQkr1_YjFCpZhet2vWFVIF4mi5PkV2Kwm7YB3uMIOdBYZIfDxioQ18iEe-dSXaQ65CyaNNVMnDZ14rf8f7gPxj9niSMZs9lW9q5gLJLQGztVO-/s640/DSCN3825-0012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Every year I make a personalized scrapbook for each of my kiddos,</div><div style="text-align: center;">which is made easier with digital photo books</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I make the first book for my son</div><div style="text-align: center;">and then copy it for my daughter</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I then revise it by adding her birthday and friend photos</div><div style="text-align: center;">and 'girl it up' with papers, stickers and ribbons</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are countless methods, programs, and websites to use</div><div style="text-align: center;">but I like <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/">Shutterfly</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">They have simple photo books that allow you</div><div style="text-align: center;"> to drop your photos in the book and order,</div><div style="text-align: center;">or a customizable option if you are more crafty inclined </div><div style="text-align: center;">(more time consuming but I'm happy with the end product)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Regardless, I think photo books are so important</div><div style="text-align: center;">not only to help hold memories<br />but also a priceless memento to pass down<br /><br />This year I am incorporating more maps into my scrapbook<br />to indicate where we live, work and go to school<br /><br />Here's a sample page I made for you :)<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8sboxvvt1TzMoCLDal56PXOPTH3DAdaMDfnBc4UUFWAFrA_6K8cZ-eRIfhsYTehcNasuvsi8udBqWscXwHIaEMu89CyUB0DwBlSgkbNiDVLRwPO_iRy0woiSQQu94LJxlq52Nj62_oTU/s1600/london+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8sboxvvt1TzMoCLDal56PXOPTH3DAdaMDfnBc4UUFWAFrA_6K8cZ-eRIfhsYTehcNasuvsi8udBqWscXwHIaEMu89CyUB0DwBlSgkbNiDVLRwPO_iRy0woiSQQu94LJxlq52Nj62_oTU/s640/london+map.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Each year I trace my children's hands onto<br />a newspaper article, map, or brochure<br />and paste it into the book once it arrives in the mail<br /><br />Aside from recording their height and weight,<br />I have a long list of questions I ask each year, such as:<br /><br />Who are your best friends, and what is your favorite subject in school?<br /><br />What is your favorite movie, book, and food?<br /><br />What is your favorite sports team (for him) or stuffed animal (for her)?<br /><br />Where is your happy place?<br /><br />What do you want to do when you grow up?<br /><br />I write up brief bios of each family member (including pets)<br />and record important news stories from the year<br /><br />We take photos of the school, the building my husband works in,<br />rooms in the house, and our favorite pizza restaurant<br />to try to capture the 'everyday'<br /><br />I have the kids photograph things in their room<br />that are important to them<br /><br />Not only are the photos at their eye level,<br />but it is a chance to literally look through their eyes<br /><br />I'm off to get in a little more scrapping done today...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you have tips to share?<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This is an unsponsored post</i></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Ideas For Scrapbooking

You won't be surprised to know scrapbooking is one of my passions - capturing the moments big and small - Every year I make a personaliz...

Read more »