Thursday, March 04, 2010

A Pox on Updates


They always mean trouble for me so it has been doubly difficult to post the two awards which hopefully will be on the page when you read this.

My two friends Cloud Cutter


http://www.cloudcutter.blogspot.com/ and Naomi http://sitteninthehills64.blogspot.com/

have each given me an award and in return I have to write seven / ten things about myself so I hope they don’t mind sharing.


1 I have a substantial birth mark on my coccyx which few people have seen.


2 I lost half my left eyebrow when Marjorie Doran bashed me with a hockey stick. She cried more than I did


3 I’m an optimist but always try to be prepared for the worst and never take good fortune for granted.


4 I gained four and a half stone in my first pregnancy but lost it all whilst nursing the baby.


5 I passed my driving test first time after six lessons and no practice. Now I don’t like driving at all.


6 I couldn’t swim until I accidentally fell from a sailing dinghy in Greece. On surfacing I saw the dinghy 100 yards or so away – desperation made me swim.


7 In 1979 I left my marriage, home, business and friends to live with a man I hadn’t seen for thirty years. We’ve been married now for thirty one years.


8 I’ve always believed in a ‘Higher Being’ and some years ago in a tiny church in Gozo, Malta I literally ‘saw the light.’ The cleaners were about to close the church as they left for lunch but allowed me to enter. The only way I can describe it was that I was suffused with a warm golden glow which filled me with happiness. MTL could see something had happened and urged me to sit and stay for a while. I did sit momentarily but felt I couldn’t keep the cleaners waiting so we left. It wasn’t the beauty of the church – it was tiny and ridiculously over ornate. The experience consolidated my belief.


9 Years of rationing in WW2 made me addicted to all things sugary and my idea of bliss was a cream coloured crunchy meringue filled with clotted cream. When pregnant I was reunited with an old nursing colleague who remembering my addiction had a plateful which she expected me to eat. I hated to disappoint her and managed to stuff one of them down. Now I can take them or leave them.


10 In eleven days time DV I shall be 80.


37 comments:

mapstew said...

Wow! That book is going to be good!

Congrats on your awards, and an early 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY'! :¬)

xxx

Pat said...

Mapstew: thank you;)

Gia Fernandes said...

Amazing to know you just a little bit more :-). Yes, I can't wait for the book too!

Anonymous said...

Given that my Mom turned 80 a few months back, I will be able to relate to you as I've been practicing on her.

Cheers.

Pat said...

Cloudcutter: patience will e required:)

Randall: I'm happy to be regarded as motherly or even grandmotherly, by the young, but am not ready to be written off as a silly old bat.xox

Eryl said...

So, 'sink or swim' is much more than a metaphor for you!

I put on four stone when pregnant and also lost it nursing, snap!

Happy, happy birthday season. I feel a desperate urge to make you a card, XXX

Granny Annie said...

I married the wrong man first. Single parent for 26 years, I did not find the "right" man until I was 52. We've been together 11 years and all I can say is "better late than never". I do envy your 31 years with the right fellow.

Kim Ayres said...

Are you having a big party?

angryparsnip said...

What a life... if this is what your book is based on I can't wait to read it.
How wonderful to have re-met the person you loved.
Jealous about the pregnancy weight loss.
We all have a eyebrow story somewhere.

Happy Early Birthday...
Cheers... parsnip

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Great List, my dear....And it was a lovely Bonus to get 10 interesting things...lol! AND, An early HAPPY 80th Birthday, my dear Pat...I hope you are doing something special.

Loved your description of how you came to swim.
I think your story with your dear MTL is the most romantic one I've ever heard. Truly unspirational.
Such an interestung life Pat, and it will all be in that book! Hooray!

Pat said...

Kim: no. A couple of small select parties

Parsnip: yes I have bee so lucky. thank you for the birthday wishes.

Eryl: I like the metaphor. Fancy you doing the 4 stone bit. They didn't weigh me until days before the birth and then it was panic stations. It was funny - over 9 months I morphed from a frantic neurotic to a big happy cow.

Pat said...

Grannie Annie: that must have been so hard being a single parent. You can still make 31 years. 80 is the new 60:)

Naomi: I don't know if we are doing anything on the actual day but the 21st is with the boys and Margaret is coming over for a girls celebration and I got a lovely present from MTL today but I won't tell you until the day:)

Charlie said...

A hockey stick in the middle of England? You must have made Marjorie very angry.

An early happy birthday, but I'll be back on the REAL day.

Pat said...

Charlie: it was 'sticks' which means her hockey stick was too high. It was in goal - very muddy - and her stick and my eye came into contact. I don't think she meant it. You'd better be back:)

kenju said...

Very interesting! I cannot believe you will be 80 soon. You give me hope that I'll maintain my sanity and abilities during the next decade!!

Eryl said...

I can't imagine you being frantic or neurotic. I was so huge I could barely move in the last days, I looked like a space hopper.

Pat said...

Judy: You will. I'm not sure I have:)

Eryl: and did your waters break ahead of time? The midwife said 'Oh don't worry Mrs M you won't be flooding Epsom market,' but they broke at home and I had to tell my husband to drive to the hospital very carefully as the cushion of water to protect the baby had flooded the bed room.

DILLIGAF said...

Being the cheeky B that I am....

1 I have a substantial birth mark on my coccyx which few people have seen.

I should think so too!!! I have a tattoo which few have seen. Nuff said.


2 I lost half my left eyebrow when Marjorie Doran bashed me with a hockey stick. She cried more than I did

I will arrange for Marjorie to be sorted out at a later date. As it's you it's free of charge..;-)

3 I’m an optimist but always try to be prepared for the worst and never take good fortune for granted.

I'll teach you Blackjack. I win all the time. Actually I'm barred from The Victoria Casino 'cause I win too much...;-)

4 I gained four and a half stone in my first pregnancy but lost it all whilst nursing the baby.

Just for a second I thought you'd misplaced the baby!!! Otherwise I have no idea.

5 I passed my driving test first time after six lessons and no practice. Now I don’t like driving at all.

As a trainee driving instructor I don't blame you. The roads are full of insane people!

6 I couldn’t swim until I accidentally fell from a sailing dinghy in Greece. On surfacing I saw the dinghy 100 yards or so away – desperation made me swim.

That was probably a good thing..;-)

7 In 1979 I left my marriage, home, business and friends to live with a man I hadn’t seen for thirty years. We’ve been married now for thirty one years.

It's called 'LOVE' babe. Conquers all doesn't it?

8 I’ve always believed in a ‘Higher Being’ and some years ago in a tiny church in Gozo, Malta I literally ‘saw the light.’ The cleaners were about to close the church as they left for lunch but allowed me to enter. The only way I can describe it was that I was suffused with a warm golden glow which filled me with happiness. MTL could see something had happened and urged me to sit and stay for a while. I did sit momentarily but felt I couldn’t keep the cleaners waiting so we left. It wasn’t the beauty of the church – it was tiny and ridiculously over ornate. The experience consolidated my belief.

For what it's worth I'd love to have faith. Well, I have really. In Carol and Jacqui. That'll do for me.

9 Years of rationing in WW2 made me addicted to all things sugary and my idea of bliss was a cream coloured crunchy meringue filled with clotted cream. When pregnant I was reunited with an old nursing colleague who remembering my addiction had a plateful which she expected me to eat. I hated to disappoint her and managed to stuff one of them down. Now I can take them or leave them.

When Carol was pregnant with Jacqui I once woke up at 3am with an insatiable urge to eat chicken vindaloo smothered in vanilla ice cream. Apparently it is called sympathetic symptoms..;-)

10 In eleven days time DV I shall be 80.

Congrats DV!!!!! I was amazed I made 30. Staggered I made 40 and I've more or less given up bothering at 50...er...2 now.

Exceedingly pissed and very much in love with a marvellous lady (and don't worry. Carol knows I love your blog persona and quite understands why)

She reads you with me don't you dear?

hic

nite babe xx

lom said...

happy coming birthday, I can't believe you are 80, you look a lot younger in your photos

rashbre said...

There's some great Maximum Moments in that list. "Just Drive", "Just Swim", "Just eat all the meringues" and more.

Keep on rockin!

Pat said...

FourD; I think that's probably my longest comment ever and it's great to think someone actually reads my scribble. Love to Carol:)

LOM: nice of you to say so - down to good maintenance but mainly genes. Thanks Mum.

Rashbre: I don't know why but that made me laugh:)

Ms Scarlet said...

80! Congratulations!
My birthday next week too!
I passed my driving test with plenty of kudos - I made one minor fault during the test, but I hate driving - I'm hyper aware of hazards.
Have a fab birthday!
Sx

Pat said...

Scarlet: I'm not surprised you are the same sign and a very Happy Birthday to you too.xox

Anonymous said...

love the word verification on this - gyrls!!!

left a message but it has disappeared!

Happy birthday and I wonder where the church was on Gozo? I had a wonderful holiday there many years ago

L

belleek

Pat said...

Belleek: as you come into Gozo on the ferry from Malta you can see a Madonna on a hill and the church is behind. You can walk up from the harbour. I have a picture of it and may post it.

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

You're Pisces, just like my cousin Lis. And my little niece.

What a life, and you're so young and vibrant. How my mother loves to hear about you but I might not tell her about the sugary bit, she just might use WW2 as an excuse to indulge now, haha.

I enjoyed your list, Pat.

Pat said...

GG: I know people have mixed feelings about awards but you are definitely a candidate for either of these awards and please accept one or both and let's see your list.xox

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Well, I am surprised! I will be 73 soon, and I always thought you were much younger than me!

I like to referred to as a "Senior Citizen", not an "OAP"; thats almost as bad as "Grumpy Old Git" and "Victor Mildew" that my disrespectful young relations call me.

Mary Witzl said...

Your number 7 is amazing; it must have taken real guts to do what you did. A friend of mine had an experience like the one you describe in 8, in a church, and it also involved light.

Kanani said...

I love that you and MTL have been together for 31 years!
Also, the church --what a wonderful thing that he was perceptive enough to understand that something was happening.
Lucky you!

Pat said...

Keith : I've never made any secret of my age - it's all in the archives. I knew you were younger but have you stopped counting?

Pat said...

Mary:
# 7 was probably the bravest thing I've ever done - and did it face to face.

Kanani: yea I'm glad he was with me - I was quite overcome. I have been blessed in lots of ways. No grumbles at all.

Barlinnie said...

I feel very proud just knowing you my dear. Such good looks, and a wonderfully attractive mind.

Long may your blogging continue.

Pat said...

Jimmy: with the support of friends like you how can I resist?

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

I will Pat, I will get around to accepting and making that list...I think procrastination is a bad, bad thing, very bad!

Pat said...

GG: good ! I'll look forward to reading it;)