Hey Little Magpie - September Blog post

Trust me to leave it until the last day of the month to upload photos of my layouts for the Hey Little Magpie blog post for September.

Products Used : Probably my all time favourite release - Crate Paper's Notes and Things - delicate , versatile and a gift to scrapbookers.

You almost wouldn't think they'd been made with papers from the same collection - that's how versatile they are. If you'd like more details then pop over to the Hey Little Magpie Blog - and please leave a comment - I'd really appreciate it .

The Blindingly Obvious

I've just listened to a broadcast on Radio 4 where Paddy O'Connell was interviewing Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green , the first  Children's Commissioner for England .

They talked about the emotional upheaval of bereavement in losing a parent at a young age. During the conversation, which was endearingly frank and honest, Paddy talked about how they can't hear the telephone ring in their house without fearing the worst . 

I felt as if I'd been struck by a thunderbolt of enlightenment. Blindingly obvious I realise , in fact so much so that it made me feel quite stupid. This must explain why in all these years I've been unable to hear  phone ring without expecting news of a death or disaster. 

Both of my parents died suddenly , prematurely and unexpectedly. On both occasions I was notified by phone . Is it any wonder that I can't hear that ringtone without freezing with fear and all the more astonishing that I've reached the age of 56 without realising this ?

This must account for why I never phone people, never answer the phone at home without letting it go to answer phone first and carry a mobile which is almost permanently out of charge, much to everyone's annoyance who has ever wanted to get hold of me. 

Electronic mail has been my godsend. So, to everyone who has been infuriated by my lack of response by telephone, you now know why. You can always send me an email.

Transport for London

I'm planning on taking youngest son up to the Design Museum on Sunday and thought I'd be a good London citizen and use public transport. You can tell where this going can't you ?

If the Thames is supposed to be the arterial waterway Boris would have us believe ... and as we live next to the Thames ... and the Design Museum is also next to the Thames ... it seemed to make sense to travel by water bus.

If we set off at lunchtime, it would be closed by the time we got there ... nearly 5 hours later. Think it may be quicker to walk.