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Raisie Bay

What I’m Watching (or have watched) on Television Lately

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Today’s prompt for Blogtober is 10 feel good movies, I’d like to do a twist on this and tell you what I’m watching right now, movies and television.

(I just found this post from Blogtober16 about my favourite tv and movies)

Movies

Last Sunday morning I woke up early and although I’m not one for watching the t.v. first thing I really didn’t feel like doing much else. So I flicked throught he movie channels and found that ‘Roman Holiday’ was just starting. This is a 1953 film staring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn and it’s in black and white. I loved every moment. The funny bits made me laugh out loud, and the romance was so tender and understated. Then ending is so touching. It was old fashioned and perfect for a lazy Sunday morning. Definitely a ‘feel good’ movie.

Audry helpburn and Gregory Peck on a vespa in Rome
By Trailer screenshotLicencing information :

When I was little I loved musicals, especially ones with Deanna Durbin. It’s hard to believe that as a child I was watching movies already more than 20 years old!

Do you like old movies? I think they have a kind of magic that new films lack, particularly the relationships between the characters.

Television – Netflix

A little late to the party I’m thouroughly enjoying ‘Stranger Things’ and I’m currently half way through season 3. I love the 80s feel of the show and it’s just scary enough for me to take, as I am a bit of a wimp.

Stranger things poster from netflix
Image courtesy of Netflix

I was also late watching ‘The Umbrella Academy’ but I can’t wait for the next series.

My daughter likes ‘Black Mirror’ and I’ve watched a lot of that with her. I do find some of the content very disturbing though, it plays on my mind which is what I guess they hoped it would do. Some of them are pretty rubbish too.

Television

I’m loving ‘The Capture‘ and looking forward to the ending. I know you can watch it on iPlayer, but sometimes I just like to wait, I enjoy the suspense. Do you watch all the episodes as soon as they are available, or do you wait like me?

I am so looking forward to the new ‘His Dark Materials’ which starts on November 3rd. I remember buying my son Northern Lights, by Philip Pullman, many years ago. He enjoyed the book but I didn’t read it until after I’d seen the film based on it, ‘The Golden Compass.’ After that I was hooked and I read all three books in the first trilogy. 16 years later I bought the new book, The Book of Dust, and the other day I was treated to the ‘The Secret Commonwealth‘ which I’d completely forogtten that I’d pre-ordered. I’m not sure whether to read it though until after the television series.

Are you a Philip Pullman fan? Will you be watching ‘His Dark Materials?’

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Blogtober 2019 Posts

Goodbye Tangles – Avon Give Away

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As you may, or may not, know I am now the proud owner of an Avon Store. I am trying to build my business online as it’s not so easy going around the neighbourhood when my health is not so good. So, as I need a little boost to my business I’ve decided to run a give away.

Here’s the Prize

I’m thinking that if my business does take off then I’ll be showering you all with lots more give aways, but for starters here’s a fab prize for parents.

photograph of a colourful detangling comb and a bottle of detangling spray.
Avon Detangling Spray and comb

My Avon give away of a Mangificent Mango detangling Spry 200ml and a colourful Detangling comb.

Now any parent with young children knows how tangled kid’s hair becomes, and how they complain when you try to detangle it. I know, I have two girls with long hair, and one boy who runs at the sight of a comb or brush.

How to Win

Of course I’m looking for more people to join me on my Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter. But I would also like some more people to sign up to my Avon online Store. You don’t have to buy anything but you will be sent promotional e-mails from time to time. You can unsubscribe at any time.

The great thing about Avon is that you can order online from anywhere in the UK. If you order using my shop link then I will earn some commission and my work is done.

did you know you can order from my Avon Shop anywhere in the UK?

Facebook Party

Once I’ve built up my following I’m hoping to be holding a Facebook party where I’ll be giving away lots of goodies as well as presenting you with lots of super bargains and we’ll be playing games too! So Please make sure you like my Facebook page for my Avon Store

Avon Give Away Rules:

  • Uk Entries only
  • There is one prize of a detangler spray and comb for kids
  • Winner will be chosen by the rafflecoptor widget
  • Competition will run on two blogs but the widget will be the same on both
  • Winner will be contacted by e-mail collected by the widget
  • No information collected by the widget will be saved after the end of the competition.
  • I will be responsible for sending out the prize to the winner, Avon is not affiliated with this competition.
  • Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are not affiliated with this competition
  • Compeition starts on 8th October 2019 and finishes on 28th October 2019
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Previous Avon Post

The School Run

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Today’s prompt for October is ‘making walking to school more fun’ for International Walk to School Month. Yes, the dreaded school run!

I missed yesterday’s post because I had a hospital appointment, and although I have competition to post I can’t do that yet as the website I’m linking to is down for maintainence. But I hope to bringing that to you soon.

Anyway, I’m going to do a twist on the prompt for today’s post.

Twenty Seven Years Ago

Twenty Seven years ago I made my first ever school run. Let that sink in a little, I can barely believe it myself. Especially as we still have a school run now!

Anyway, my first born, or No1 Son as he’s called, didn’t go to school until he was nearly five years old. I loved having my babies at home and wasn’t keen to lose them. Of course when he started school his sister was complaining that she wanted to go and I enrolled her into the nursery and suddenly I was free. I got a job and started an Open University degree.

The school was, literally, at the bottom of our garden. Walking to school was no problem, we could be there in a few minutes (or I could throw them over the wall if late..only joking, I never did that!)

When they progressed to Secondary school they would generally walk to school as I was still working and by this time a single Mum. School didn’t work out for them though. No1 Son dropped out first and had a home tutor before being moved to a different school. Eldest Daughter stopped going to school shortly afterwards and suffered agoraphobia and PTSD. She had two teachers who taught her at home. Which meant I had to be there, so I had to give up my job.

Back To the Future

When my eldest two were settled in college, yep, school didn’t work but college was fine, I had met a new man and was expecting another baby. Crazy, I know.

So, in 2008 we began all over again with my little Star starting nursery. I already had her baby sister, Boo, at home so my hands were full, as they say. We were still living in the same house and the school was still at the bottom of the garden. The teachers had changed though.

When I first took Star to nursery I remember the teacher, quite embarressingly, asking me if I was her mother or her grandmother. I didn’t mind so much. After all, both her siblings were actually old enough to be a parent to her.

I felt a little conspicuos in the school playground, feeling much older than the other Mums. But I did get friendly with a couple of people. When Boo started school I made a friend who had children in both my girl’s classes and also a younger one, which at that point I had the Little Man too. This young man (who was actually young enough to be my son) would call on us in the morning to walk to school together and we became good friends as did our children. Many years later, and with both of us moving house and schools, we are all still friends.

Moving House

When we moved house we had to move schools too. The Little Man was just starting nursery and his school uniform was a purple tracksuit. He looked so cute, they all did, like little plums.

The backs of two young children in purple uniforms walking to school
Boo and the Little Man (plum) walking to school

Star barely had time to settle into year 4 of her new school when she started having her surgery and was put in the halo vest. This meant she had to lose 11 months from school and once again I was having a teacher in the home for her. Her home tutor was really lovely and we became friends.

We always walked to school, even when we moved. The new school was one and half miles away. When the Little Man was only on half days I worked out that I was walking nine miles a day in school runs. I felt pretty fit!

After Star’s surgery we got a car, mostly because she had difficulty walking, and then we got into the habit of driving to school. I’m not proud of this, but Star really had trouble with the distance and we all had to go together.

The Last Three Years School Run

When I got sick (which is nearly four years ago) I could no longer drive. In fact, at first I couldn’t even get up and help the kids get ready for school. So, Graham had to take over, and as he couldn’t drive they were walking to school again for a few months. After the summer holidays I got a car with hand controls and once again we were driving to school. Although, Graham had to come as I couldn’t take them into the school being unable to actually get out of the car without help.

Then Graham learnt to drive and since then he’s taken them to school himself. The girls have moved on up to Secondary School. It is in walking distance, but I don’t like them walking as the area is not so good and I do worry about them. Also there is a really dangerous road to cross with no crossings. I’ve seen accidents happen there quite a lot. They could go under the road following the canal, but it means coming up lots of steps which Star finds difficult. (also, you can get some shady characters hanging out under the bridge.)

a canal leading off into the distance
The canal walk home, it’s fun when you’ve little ones to feed the ducks.

Another New School

We had to move the Little Man to another school which is a fair distance away, if he wasn’t taken by car they would have to go on the bus. Graham can drop the girls off and pick them up on the way. So waking to school is no longer an option, but I think we did well with all the years we did walk.

Oh, and the Little Man’s school ran an incentive for walking to school, so when the weather is ok, Graham parks about 1/2 mile away and they walk the rest of the way to school. Is that cheating?

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blogtober19

Blogtober 2019 Posts

My Sunday Photo – Baking

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My Boo has always loved baking. She loves cookery programs and is always willing to help in the kitchen. But most of all she loves making cakes and cooking. Today’s photo is blast from the past.

Photo of Boo baking, with a large bowl of cake mix and shes licking the spoon
Who doesn’t love licking the spoon?

I think this photo captures Boo perfectly.

Baking with Bee Berrie

We were talking the other day about the last time we went to London with the kids. I’ve been since I’ve been in a wheelchair (And hated it) but the kid’s have not been for years now. The last time I went on my own with Boo for cookery class with Bee Berrie when I was a Happy Eggs Ambassador in 2015.

We woke up at 5am to get the train to London in time for the class that started at 9am. I had woken with a migraine hangover but I knew I had to do this for Boo. We drove to the station and caught a train to London, where we then caught tubes to the place we needed to go.

Boo spent the whole morning baking cookies and cakes and we had such fun. When it was over we had about four giant boxes to carry back to Birmingham.

After leaving the class, laden down with boxes, we managed to take a wrong turn and got horribly lost. I put all the boxes down outside a shop and tried to find a map to see where we had to go. The shop owner came out and asked if he could help. He gave me a big bag for my boxes which made things easier. (It’s not wonder I got lost the boxes were so big I couldn’t see where I was going!) Then he gave me instructions on how to get to the right tube station.

Baking Cookies

Yesterday Boo said she wanted to bake, she hasn’t done so for a while. So I went in the kitchen to watch while she got all the ingredients she needed, weighed them and baked chocolate chip cookies all by herself. I’m so glad that she’s not lost her love of baking. I may ask her to make a cake today 🙂

Here’s the cookies she baked yesterday.

a plate of chocolate chip cookies that Boo Baked by herself.
Chocolate chip cookies
My sunday snapshot blog button
The Ordinary Moments
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Grab Your Coat! It’s getting cold – An Autumn Fashion Post

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Autumn is on us and despite the odd peak of sun from behind the clouds, it’s no longer close enough for warmth. People everywhere and grabbing their coats before they leave the house. But what should be we wearing this Autumn and Winter. Ah yes, this is an Autumn fashion post!

My Man likes to look smart, and whenever he goes out it’s more likely he’ll wear something from Suits Men.

I have to admit, I do like to wear a nice dress myself. I guess we scrub up well.

But what do women wear in Autum and Winter? Here’s a few of my picks.

The Dress

I’m a big fan of Joe Browns but in the past I’ve been dissapointed in the length of their dresses. I’m pretty tall and generally have to wear their dresses like a tunic with trousers or leggings. But I found this lovely Joe Browns dress on the JD Williams site and its nice and long.

midi length green floral patterned dress from Joe Brown, perfect for Autumn fashion
Joe Browns midi dress £49

The Coat

I used to wear a coat for driving and a coat for walking. Now, I tend to wear something that will keep me warm and dry in my wheelchair. I adore this lovely oversized coat in fuschia. But I’m not sure I’m brave enough to wear something so bright. Usually, I’m more comfortable in neutral colours like black or navy. Although I do have a nice camel coloured coat.

A model wearing a really bright fuschia oversized coat
Helene Berman Coat in Fuschia £169

Wrapping Up!

The best way to deal with this weather is to wrap up with layers. Then you can keep warm but remove a layer if you get too hot. So how do you layer your clothes, here’s some quick tips for your Autumn fashion wardrobe

  • Nice warm tights
  • A blouse or shirt
  • A quality woolen jumper
  • A blazer or coat on top
  • add extra warmth with scarf and gloves
  • Make sure you have waterproof shoes

As I mentioned before, my husband likes suits, but they don’t have to be just for men. Women look good in suits and they are a great way of layering up and keeping warm.

Here’s a fabulous black jacket from Next that would go with any smart trousers (or even jeans if you can wear them to work!)

A smart, single buttoned black ladies jacket
Black Jacket £45

Skirts or Trousers?

People make a grab for trousers this weather simply because they are warmer. But get the right tights and a skirt is just as warm. I’m a huge fan of The Sock Shop and recently bought my daughter some bamboo tights for shcool which she loves. But they do them in ladies sizes too. Warm legs are no problem in these and you can stick to your Autumn fashion look.

Two pairs of tights modelled on upside down legs, both pairs of tights are black
Ladies bamboo tights, 2 pack £20.99

You can also add a pop of colour, these tights come in 6 different colours and are currently just £4.99.

one pair of red tights modelled on upside down legs
Ladies colour tights

So you are not restricted to trousers, so how about a skirt? This pleated skirt from Next costs just £19 and comes in a wide range of colours, or plain black if that’s your thing.

A pleated grean floral patterened skirt on a model shown from the waist down with silver shoes
Pleated Skirt £19, other colours and patterns available

I used to be a jean person, but now I find that denim makes my legs tingle even more, so my trousers have to be picked carefully. I like to put comfort first, but these tapered trousers look smart and feel comfortable, so they are a winner for me.

black tapered trousers modelled from the waist down wtih red shoes
Tapered Trousers £15

Wardrobe

We have just bought a new wardrobe (As in the actual wooden type, not the huge pile of clothes) and now is the perfect time to sort through and get rid of all the clothes I won’t be wearing for a long time (or never, in which case, they will go into the charity bag.) Then I can focus on updating my clothes with the new season Autumn fashion.

Have you bought any new clothes lately? Do you have to dress formally for work? And my biggest question..would you wear a bright fuschia coat?

Previous Fashion Posts

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