My Sunday Photo - 27th Sept

#throwbackthursday Week 3

The Terrace - By Maria Duffy

The terrace by Maria Duffy.

I found this book in a locker at my local swimming pool. We were the last ones to leave. By the time I had the boys dressed the only people left were the staff.

I used to love reading when I was young. Spending most of my childhood with my nose in a book. I'd read anything. The Famous Five, Sherlock Holmes, Biographies,  The Hobbit, Stephen King and John Grisham, Autobiographies.  I even tried my hand at War and Peace.

It's been a while since I read a whole book. With the advent of smart phones. I now find myself sitting in bed reading  blogs, tweeting or reading news.

I do though often wish I had a book on holidays. Either sitting by the pool or out on the decking with a glass of vino or beer in the evening.

So I'm taking this book with me. I'm going to leave it behind though with the url for the blog inside.

Then someone else can take it and read it, then hopefully visit this post and leave a comment or review.

Would be interesting to see where the book goes.

If you can't wait to "find" this copy of the book. You can click the link at the top of the post and buy it from Amazon. I will get a small payment if you do this.

#mysundayphoto

#throwbackThursday - Week 2

This is a Throwback to 1993.

Youngsies Halloween Ideas

Youngsies are doing there Halloween page, and are looking for inspiration from bloggers.

The idea is simple. Take one of their animal onsies. Add some accessories and make a costume.

For example. Bear onsie + blue duffle coat + red hat = Paddington Bear.

I've come up with two options for #babypink.

First we have Puss in Boots from Shrek.

Using the Tiger Romper Suit, add a Black Fedora, a black belt and a black waistcoat and the look is complete.

The second is my favourite and I think I might use it for #Babypink and I to go Trick or Treating. I think we'll be a hit.

Take the Monkey romper suit.

Then add a yellow suit and hat like the one I found at Fancy Dress World.

I think we'd make a pretty good Curious George and the Man in The Yellow Suit.

What do you think?

And here is #Babypink complete with banana modelling the monkey onsie.

#Stoptober

I've been a smoker now for nearly 25 years.

I still remember my first cigarette, I know it's a cop out, but I genuinely started because of peer pressure.

I was 15 and on a school skiing trip to Italy. I used to hang around with the 6th Years, most of whom smoked.

We were behind the hotel and they were smoking. So I couldn't "grass them up" I was told to smoke as well. 

After that I just carried on. Being shy I found it was a way to meet people at work. All the smokers were banished to the smoking room, and then outdoors. There was a sense of togetherness. You would chat to other people, ask for a light, give a cigarette to someone who had none and borrow one if you were out.

I've tried many times to give up. Once even going 8 months. Stupidly after some stressful events I started again.

Having kids who are now saying when I grow up I'm going to smoke. I realise it is hypocritical to tell them not to, when I still do.

I've used gum, patches and medication in the past. None successfully. The only thing that worked was herself and me quitting together.

This time I'm going to try vaping as I really want to quit, but have found it harder since going back on them.

The date is not ideal. I'll be on holiday, but knowing I have a set date I'm going to stick with it.

The plan is to vape for Stoptober and then reduce the strength of the oils over the next month or so, till I quit altogether.

I'll have a weekly update on my progress. 

As Stoptober is not officially being run by the HSE here in Ireland I'm piggybacking on the NHS so will be visiting their website for advice.

If you're a smoker I seriously advise you to consider joining in with Stoptober. Together we can quit and lead healthier, smoke free lives.

You can sign up here.

#Throwback Thursday Week 1

This was me aged 10.

A happy little soul wasn't I. My mother decided she was able to cut hair. 

My Sunday Photo

Last week was the anniversary of my girlfriends fathers passing.

We took flowers to the grave. Whilst there I went to my biological mothers grave.

Afterwards the kids did the usual kid thing of exploring and looking at headstones. Whilst they did that I had a wander and took this picture of the church.

#savesyriaschildren