Brrrrr - seems to have gone very chilly suddenly today! I'm sitting on the sofa with a rug round me trying not to shiver. The photo is of my two blue glass bottles from spain and rain on the window, reflected in my granite work surface.

It's been such a busy few days. On Sunday we all went over to Wilmslow to have Sunday dinner with friends G & G ....mmm, lovely food! I took along my sticky toffee pudding by special request.

On Monday Phil and I went to FOCUS at the NEC in Birmingham. It was an interesting day although busy and crowded there. We met up with a few friends there including Caroline, adding a touch of glamour to the place as usual! Sadly all we bought was insurance....no nice new cameras or lenses!!

Yesterday I was back at work (still no news on the forthcoming closures) and today I went for a long walk with Jane, visited my photography boss Andy and then went to RDA. Phil & were supposed to be going to an inter-club competition (photography) tonight but he's stuck in work and can't get back to pick me up. I'm actually not sorry; I'm really tired.

Phil missed pancake night yesterday because he was stuck in a meeting and had to get a later train :(

I'm still really anxious, worrying about everything, fighting these massive waves of panic that keep sweeping over me. I wish I knew how to cope with this. I just don't know what to do...

A day out in Liverpool...

As it was the last day of half-term we decided to go over to Liverpool for the day with the girls. Phil had found out that St George's Hall was open with it's famous floor uncovered; this is quite a rare happening. Despite being life long residents of the area we'd never been inside this wonderful building nor seen the floor. It was only £1 to get in with under 16's free - a real bargain as there was loads to see. Best of all there were no restrictions on photography! I took loads! Above is the main hall with some of the mosaic floor visible. I love how the columns gleam in the light.

This is St George himself, I think! Very stern he looks too.

Two of the wonderful stained-glass windows; the colours are spectacular.

There is lots of interesting detail everywhere; these acorns are in the great hall too and
very lovely.

We also fitted in a bit of shopping and lunch and then wandered down to the Pier Head which has changed a lot with the Leeds/Liverpool canal now running through it. It's not finished yet but should be amazing when it is. The Museum of Liverpool building, due to be finished next year, also looks really promising.

We finished our day with a wander through India Buildings and down the old pedestrian entrance to James Street Station - this long sloping passageway is unchanged from when I used it 30 years ago when I worked in Liverpool - it felt as if I was stepping back in time!

Track day at Oulton Park

On Wednesday I went along to a track day at Oulton Park in Cheshire with my photography boss Andy and his family. His two sons race Porsches (the eldest won a championship last season!) I've always wondered what it would be like to drive around a race track really fast and this was my chance!

The race car doesn't have a passenger seat so Andy drove me round the course in his own Porsche. I had to wear a helmet: I felt like one of the Homepride flour sifter guys with that on my head. I was totally TERRIFIED before we set off; I was scared I'd be sick or scream or otherwise disgrace myself. Anyway, I totally LOVED it, it was really exciting.

I'm photographing the wedding of one of the other drivers on Easter Saturday (Adam) - his fab car is the one at the bottom of this post.

Andy's two sons with the race car.

Gorgeous black car!

Car on the track...

Cool blue Porsche


Adam's car

What a fantastic day I had - huge thanks to Andy, Marie and their sons. And to Sian who came too and took MUCH better photos of moving cars than I did!

I have spent a lot of time lately knitting tea cosies. I'm not a very skilled knitter - in fact, proper knits usually laugh at the way I knit!- but I find knitting relaxing and therapeutic. I learned to knit tea cosies from my grandma when I was young and recently got the urge to knit them again. I searched the net for a similar pattern to hers using blocks of colour and drawing the wool across the back to make a quilted effect. Isn't the internet wonderful? I found one :)

We now have far too many cosies but I can't seem to stop knitting them. Once the weather picks up I'll stop though as I only knit in cold weather.

I'm off most of this week as it's half-term; I'm looking forward to it. Work has been both busy and stressful lately. Now we know the closures are going ahead but none of the practicalities of how it's going to go ahead. Very unsettling!

Valentine's Day was lovely despite me being at work all day. We had a Chinese takeaway with the girls; and Phil and I shared a bottle of rose.I'd bought him some DVDs; he got me a charm and a clip for my bracelet. The charm was a teapot :)

Happy Valentine's Day to Phil
with all my love xxxxx

Here's to us, one more toast and then we'll pay the bill
Deep inside both of us can feel the autumn chill
Birds of passage, you and me
We fly instinctively
When the summer's over and the dark clouds hide the sun
Neither you nor I'm to blame when all is said and done

In our lives we have walked some strange and lonely treks
Slightly worn but dignified and not too old for sex
We're still striving for the sky
No taste for humble pie
Thanks for all your generous love and thanks for all the fun
Neither you nor I'm to blame when all is said and done

It's so strange when you're down and lying on the floor
How you rise, shake your head, get up and ask for more
Clear-headed and open-eyed
With nothing left untried
Standing calmly at the crossroads,no desire to run
Theres no hurry any more when all is said and done

Standing calmly at the crossroads,no desire to run
There's no hurry any more when all is said and done

by ABBA

It took me four hours to drive to work today due to the motorway being closed because of ice. The journey normally takes 40 minutes. The majority of those four hours were spent in the stretch of motorway between Ellesmere Port and Overpool. After crawling along in first gear for over 3 hours and lots of clutch use, my bad ankle is swollen and aching.

Work is utterly depressing too with lots of questions from the public about when the 11 libraries are closing, what will happen to the book stock, what will happen to the staff/the furniture/the buildings/the computers etc etc. I have to keep saying I don't know because I don't! I have NO IDEA what will happen on 31st March!

On a lighter note, was in the card shop today looking at Valentines Day cards. So was another lady; we looked at cards, replaced them, read verses, considered pictures...in came two young lads - straight up to the display, grabbed a card each "Sorted"! exclaimed one guy with satisfaction. "You can't just grab the first card you see!" said the browsing lady with horror! "Oh yes we can!" he replied. Off they went, leaving me and t'other lady reflecting on the differences between middleaged women and young men!!

If I look at this photo long enough, maybe I'll be smiling too?

My anxiety levels are really high and I honestly need to pick myself up by the scruff of the neck and give myself a bloody good shaking. I'm sick and tired of being so negative, such a coward. I'm getting on my own nerves!

Decisions may be made tonight about the fate of the library service in Wirral. I think we are all tired of the uncertainty and just want to know the worst so we can face it head-on.

Akelamalu tagged me to post the 4th photo in my fourth folder and write about it!

This was taken in July 2005 at Chester Zoo. I can't really remember that particular visit as I go to the Zoo quite often but I think it was a get-together with someone I'd met via a photography forum. The photo was taken with his camera - I can tell from the exif data as it's a Canon and I have never used a Canon. He had a long lens on the camera that day and I remember how hard it was to hold it steady! It was nice to do this meme as I'd totally forgotten about these photos and this one is actually rather sweet! I really like the otters at Chester Zoo. They are very entertaining, especially at feeding time. I remember going to an otter sanctuary in Cornwall and being enthralled by the otters there and longing to pick one up and cuddle him. The keeper told us that one day he decided to stroke an especially "friendly" otter with whom he'd built quite a rapport - so he thought. He nearly lost a thumb in the process!!

I tend not to tag anyone, but if any readers would like to do this meme please let me know - it's fun to look back in your files at old photos; you don't know what you'll find!

Along with the duck/buddha image and a couple of others, this photo has been entered in the latest Photography Club competition.

I've had a lovely day - a bit of a lie in and the chance to finish my book, some baking and cooking, then I took my neighbour's dog for a walk. Afternoon was RDA. The sun shone the whole time we were out with the horses; it was glorious.

I've been offered two wedding bookings from A which is both exciting and terrifying in equal measure. I'm longing for the day that I don't get so bloody TERRIFIED doing weddings. I suppose the answer is to do more until I get immune to the fear?

It's SO COLD; I'm shivering as I type this! Time for a nice hot shower i think!

It's snowing! we had a little overnight but now there is more coming down. I'm probably off for a walk in it soon.

My buddha is still laughing but his friend looks pretty miserable!