Facebook Challenge

I was invited to take part in another Facebook Challenge recently.  Normally I just ignore but this was a photo challenge.  Over the course of seven days I was asked to post my favourite landscape/natural world photos.  My seven photos were;

Day 1

I dropped GO off at his new work for a trial day.  It was ridiculously early for a Saturday, as I turned back to go into town I saw the most stunning sunrise over the Calder valley.  It was the moment I chose to take part in the challenge.

Day 2

Although this was my second day photo I actually took it on the Saturday.  It was a photo taken on the Bacup Road and it made me chuckle and recently I have been taking public transport and have had to queue many a time.  

Day 3 

Was a throwback photo of Penn's Caves we went to visit my brother in Pennsylvania.  It was taken with a long range lense and I was so excited that I had captured this shot on my own, there are no touch ups at all.

Day 4 

Was a photo taken recently on a trip to Blackpool, it a great photo enhanced later with adjustments made to the saturation and filter used, to amp up the moodiness.  I love it and use it As My desktop wallpaper.

Day 5

A walk around the reservoir took an unexpected twist when we got caught in a low flying cloud.  Again it took on a moody and very eerie feel.

Day 6

Another throwback this time to our Scandinavin Summer road trip.  We pulled into a service station/art gallery/abandoned motel, this shining had nothing on this place.  And while looking around we heard the river, it was hard to miss to be fair. We followed it snapped this piccie it is again a favourite and sums up holiday, wild, rocky and off the beaten track.

Day 7 

On the way home from my new school I get stuck in so many roadworks it can take me two hours to do a thirty minute journey.  I have now found another way, it

Should in theory take me longer but as it

Is relatively quiet I am on the move and get back in forty minutes.  It takes me

past some stunning scenery and over the tops. This is a viaduct I hoe to visit one day.

By day 8 I had enjoyed looking through all my old and new photos that not only could I not stop but I also couldn't choose.  So as my swan song I posted a summer's day in Oxfordshire, a wintry day in Bünde wonderland and a painting I did of the Rocky Mountains in Canada.

And one that didn't make it, sunrise over the Grand Canyon.

We're moving out!!!

We had planned to move into a little cottage in a village called Littleborough.  It was a small cottage with two bedrooms and it was just across the road from the train station. We were very excited, but for weeks nothing seemed to come of it.  Finlaw had done some work for the landlord.  

He came back one evening and said that he has something to show us.  He said he'd pay our bond and the first months rent.  We (I'm) so hard to live with he'd rather spent £900 to get rid of us.  GO was a bit concerned as he was still a Jobbing chef.  We decided to go for it.  It would save us money in the long run as we wouldn't have to go out all the time.  

Then just as my patience was wearing v-e-r-y thin, (I don't cook but I broke the oven) Finlaw got work painting another house, that was up for rent.  A four bedroom and over £100 more rent a month. We did the maths, once GO start his proper job I'd be getting the train. 

Travelling to school from the little cottage would cost an extra £50 a week because it crosses the county border. So by taking the bigger house we save money.  We decided to for it, again Finlaw would pay the bond and first months rent. 

We filled out forms, paid admin fees, bought some bits and pieces and waited and waited and waited.  The estate agent work at a slow pace.   

Then on Easter Sunday Finlaw dropped a bombshell, they wanted us out by the next Sunday.  They were going on holiday and wanted us out so they could pack.  This in theory was fine but as no paper work have been played officially, I couldn't understand how that could make such a decision.  The landlady had said we could drop things off as soon as the carpets were laid, that doesn't mean we could move in and squat!  

Tuesday morning after Easter arrived and GO, Finlaw and I trundle off to the estate agents to check how things are going, and to pay the bond.   We're still waiting for the references to come back said the little lamb behind the desk.  She is very meek and mild I don't know how she copes in a busy estate agents.  Finlaw is now at a loss, what can he do with us?  And the waiting continues...

Mega Bus and a Half

 For When the uni girls began organising a get together at the back of my mind two voices could be heard "you can't drive all that way" and "the train gets more expensive the closet the day gets". But as usual I procrastinated until the cost of a standard return ticket on the train was over £120.  It was the day before I was due to go down when inspiration struck, years ago I had gone to a school reunion in Manchester (don't ask - flop, I knew no one there) and I had, again, left sorting out my transport to the last minute.  In those days I was still hanging on to student life by the skin of my teeth and so budget was everything.  If I could get a bargain I didn't care how much I'd have to suffer.  Alright, I haven't changed that much.  Anyhoo to get to my reunion I took a bus called the Megabus, it boast no frills coaches to destinations all over the country. It was clean and it got me there what more could you ask?

I checked to see whether Megabus still existed, I hadn't needed it for years so who knew.  Not only was it still in action I could get a return ticket to London for £26.  The coach would take about four and a half hours, which I didn't mind, I'd set off at nine and arrive at half one, with still plenty of time to play.  The only error I made was not finding out where the  coach stop was.  I waited five minutes for a tram to take me to the Shudehill interchange, it turned out to be the next stop and was only a two minute walk away.

Solo Date Night

I am aware that funds are low, debts are high(ish) and we are about to add to our load but I deserve a treat.  I have worked hard to get things sorted (on the surface everything was organised, just scratch the top and it was a mess) and I haven't been able to relax and be myself in weeks.  I wanted to treat GO to a night at the cinema and a meal at our favourite reataurant, but he's working so I made the decision to take myself out.  I bought a few new books, and took myself to the restaurant and it was fantastic.

Hello Spring

February has gone by in the blink of an eye

I can't believe it's nearly March.  We have had an eventful February. We spent every moment sending off application forms, visiting agencies or even attending an employment fair. Now after weeks of uncertainty GO has a job, he works as a relief chef, pubs, foutball clubs and even nurseries, he has a four week placement. While he has been job hunting he has taken on the role of house husband.  While I've been at work bring in the little bucks, he's been cleaning, washing, doing the laundry and cooking.  I do love him and wouldn't change him for the world, even if he is a little too laid back at times ;-)).

I have started settling into school and getting into a routine has been a god send. I leave the house at 6.30 am and get back at between five and six pm.  It keeps me out of mischief and I love being back in year one. I've been doing lots of things to get ready for school like going to the Manchester Chinese New Year to find resources.  I was asked recently whether I would consider applying for the permanent position, although I like the school the commute is such a pain.  The villages I drive through were all badly affected by the Boxing Day floods and are still trying to recover, traffic through them goes at a snails pace.  I can't make a decision until we know where GO needs to be based.  

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GO likes the look of Chesire as it has National Trust properties in the vicinity. I like the countryside around this part of the world it is so dramatic, but I do like the idea of being close to Manchester and all it has to offer.

Half term was a whirlwind, we tried to keep busy, I had hoped to go into school to organise things.  As GO wasn't at work we spent the time together, job hunting, house hunting (I need to move out) and just generally getting to know the area.

Panopticon

Go is getting fed up of me, I keep seeing little brown signs everywhere and make him go exploring.

Above Burnley in the hills of the Penines is a sculpture called the Panopticon.  It is part of a series all over the Penines to celebrate the area.  

There is another sculpture called the Halo that I want to visit too.  The Panopticon is a series of pipes of different length positioned on top of each other at varying angles that are supposed to catch the wind and make tuneful sounds.

All we heard were lots of children shouting to each other.  Not exactly tuneful.

It was very bitter at the hilltop but the views were worth it, it was a clear day and you could see for miles.

We'll definitely visit again, Mamilein has already said she wants to go.