Just when you take out a contingency plan it gets scuppered! Please post your comments in the usual way. YIPPEE! Well done Kris Klink and thank you Ed for the trouble you went to today.

I hate the sort of parties where you have to wear a costume with a theme. I am not an unimaginative person, in fact some people might even call me creative but mention this sort of event and I go into a total, gibbering wreck, devoid of any original idea.
I have to confess that when Edward was tiny and this sort of invitation (or 3- line whip, if it was school) came winging its way, my mind went blank! I was in awe of the mothers who could conjure up a tree costume in an hour or create an emu costume with a pair of tights and an old Brownie jumper. As for me I could do ....Long John Silver, well not actually Long John but one of his Buccaneers (yes, we've all heard the joke!) So Ed, I'm sorry that all you ever were, at these events, was a pirate!
Now normally I'm THAT teacher that thinks it's brilliant to have an International Day, a Victorian Day, a Greek Day.....shall I go on? All events requiring the dreaded word 'dressing up'! However, a colleague has suggested film or book characters for tomorrow and I am stumped. So all of you out there, who love this sort of thing, spare a minute and put your suggestion on the message board on the left, I've got two hours to come up with an idea.

Today the whole school went to TADCO (Tabuk Agricultural Development Corporation). We all had a fabulous time but I've come back exhausted. The temperature must have been in the high 30's/ low 40's (100 degrees +), thank goodness for the aircon in the bus!
*Off we go!



*We began by helping to pick the pears but ate quite a few of them; production will be down today!



*Ten varieties of grapes are grown; all are put in fruit bowls (what a waste)!! They have to drill down to the water table for irrigation; the children had great fun running underneath it getting very wet and dirty. (Any parents reading this, it really wasn't my idea!)



*We all helped the onion pickers, phew it didn't half make the coach smell as the children were allowed to take one home! Inside the packing shed the noise was deafening, we all decided it must be dreadful to work there.

We've just been to see the new villa that we have to move to. I'm suffering from disappointment. I know that it's the luck of the draw but when do we get lucky? Ground Force and The Big Strong Boys are needed.
I took my camera to take pictures of the garden but you wouldn't want to see them!
Oh, BLEEP! (........AND Phil's watching CRICKET!)



This is what I hoped to see in the garden of the new villa. (Humph!)
Sorry about the lack of Shout Out, I'm missing your comments too!

The invitation left on the answer phone, said to arrive for 4.30 as the plunge pool would be filled, should we wish to cool off, and that shortly after Chinese food would be served. We all gathered on the deck and admired the plunge pool (a large blue child's paddling variety!) It didn't take long before the proceedings became riotous as the 'big boys' decided to sing, "Swing low, sweet chariot.." with all of the actions (aren't they rude????) The best part was when one of the wives put the karaoke on and our big strong husbands sang, "It's a Barbie world and I'm a Barbie girl..!"
The highlight of the evening for me however, was when the hostess came out of the loo and pronounced quite calmly I felt, that there was a camel spider by the kitchen door. Indeed there was and it was a vicious huge beasty (about the size of a small plate). There was nothing to fear though because as it shot into the kitchen, 'the men' followed, more than ready to deal with the unwelcome intruder. What they weren't prepared for was me closing the kitchen door on them thus closing off all exits. A few manly shrieks later and the crashing of furniture, they emerged slapping each other on the back ready to resume the second verse of, "I'm Too Sexy!" What would we do without them, girls?
A BRILLIANT night!

Did you miss me yesterday, I hope so?
Arabic lesson first of all: goodbye = ma'asalamah.
Well yesterday's ma'asalamah began at 2.30 and finished for us some seven hours later. I know what you're thinking, "Where's your stamina?" I tell you I'm normally in bed after Blue Peter so this was quite a marathon for me.
One of the things that you have to get used to here is the frequent departure of your friends. Expats don't seem to hang around for too long in one place. There's another one this afternoon starting at 4.30 so I think I'd best lie down for an hour to further recharge the batteries.
Speak to you later..........

This one is not in the back of a Toyota pick-up! Photographed 62Kms north of Duba. (Red Sea)

What a day!
Busy, busy at work, things hotting up here in the Middle East (which I can't talk about) and change, change, change (and I still can't talk about this for security reasons). However, since coming home I have had a terrific time. Maybe I need to explain and for this a little history is required.
Approximately a year ago, at a very merry gathering of 'chums', the karaoke was put on. Now when you are topped up with Coca Cola (I live in Saudi!) I decided that the only person who could do justice to New York, New York was ME, Mariah, Nellie, Shania Scates! The amazing thing is that before I fell off the chair, after my rendition, the 'chums' were telling me that it was terrific and what a good voice I'd got. Well I'm sorry but it wasn't just the Coke that went to the head that night, but the thought that I could sing! Well it went on from there. At a posh squadron dinner, glitter frock, slashed up the thigh and yes....New York, New York and an encore of my favourite medley of songs: Don't it make your Brown Eyes, By the Rivers of Babylon and Under the Boardwalk.I was 'the dogs .......' until Nick the pilot sang. Now those of you who don't know Nick will require a little background. We are talking pilot, shot down behind enemy lines, wrote the book and swears that somebody 'Nicked' his story for a film of similar title(I have to agree) who can stand up, NOT needing the words and with the actions, do New York, New York better than me. Totally deflated I have not warbled since, even though my public have requested, neigh even begged, for one more throaty blast of ......you know what.
UNTIL TONIGHT! Yes, Phil has bought me a karaoke for my birthday (for all you techies, connected via a Pioneer AV amp and Bose Surround Sound Speakers, displayed on a Toshiba 43 inch flat screen, rear projection TV) and I sound better than 'the Dogs ......." Look out Nick! I can see a career change...gigging round Cyprus Lap Top Dance Clubs singing "It's Raining Men" or similar saucy numbers. Must go I have a private function with Tom Jones and 'Sex Bomb'

From what I've read and seen about Australia, the country has every kind of kill-ya-dead critter on the face of the planet. They've got snakes that give you two steps before you die, great white sharks, poisonous sea-eels, poisonous spiders, poisonous duck-billed attack killers and evil creepy crawlies everywhere! However, one of the nicest things to come out of Australia is a miniature version of Paul Hogan that I teach in my class. I can guarantee that he will say or do something each day that makes me laugh. He breezes in first thing and then spends the rest of the day seeing everything as a challenge, including me! He initially had difficulties with my Englishness and also the fact that I'm a 'Sheila', all of his other teachers have been male, dress in combats, can wield a machete and used to let him watch war films during wet playtime!(mmmmm how much of this do I believe?)
We now understand each other and he's allowed to tease the 'pommy' teacher just a little bit. He is even beginning to tolerate glitter and gluing which at first he declared was for 'girlies' and which I declared he would be doing for the rest of his breaks if he ever said that again. Today I caught him telling 'Little Lauren', who loves Barbies, where to buy a gun in Hong Kong.
When I asked him what he had for snack this morning he told me that his Mum had put his favourites in his lunch box, Witchetty grubs!
"Witchetty grubs?" I said.
"Best bush tucker ya can get miss. Mind you I prefer them on the baaaaaarrrrbeee 'cause then they taste like prawns and they don't wriggle about so much!"

He then proceeded to tell me that the best thing in the world is Witchitty grub soup which his Mum buys in tins in the supermarket.

Do you think I'm being HAD?

Is this really me?

Today has been quite 'mixed' as we have received two items of news which have stopped us in our tracks and given rise to thoughts of "oh, how nice but..."
The first was a lovely invitation to a wedding. This is to be no ordinary wedding but a Saudi occasion, which I would love to go to. It is being held at the Kaat Tabuk Al Qubra and is a typical Arabic ceremony. This means that the men and women come together briefly for the joining of the couple and then the men, including the groom (Yasser), go off to party for a few days, in an Arabic tent. The women head for the bride's home to celebrate. Once the ladies take off their black abya's the evening dresses are fabulous. Well you can see where I'm coming from; new dress and the experience of something from a different culture. The 'but' is that we won't be in Saudi on this date but in our home in Cyprus. Oh, well we feel very honoured any way.
The second was the notice that we have been allocated a villa on the compound. This should be good news but it means yet another move! Remember we moved only last month to this place because of the security risk on the other compound. The other down-side is that the new villa is over the road from my classroom. The joke from colleagues all day has been, "They're bound to get rid of Abdul Azizz (The caretaker) now that you're living on the premises! Ho, ho,ho..." Very bleepity funny, not!



This is the wedding invitation, it is so very pretty and I will treasure it.



The other is my attempt to capture a photograph of that yellow butterfly, yep it flew off again just as I clicked.

An English man's home is his castle and no matter where they live in the world, they put their own mark on their abode. I walk past this little fellow every day and couldn't resist you seeing him too. He's lived here longer than most as he gets passed on when each custodian leaves; he's been here 16 years at the last count. A bit sad really.



It's true, there's no place like gnome!

The weekend in Tabuk has finished and it was the first weekend for the last 2 months, that there wasn't an invitation or a function to attend.
I was really looking forward to a nice quiet time, reading, snuggling up and watching a few videos. Well that's exactly what we did but by 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon I was bored to tears. I was like a manic child, shuffling round the confines of the apartment we call home at the moment. You know what I mean, the heavy exaggerated sighs to get someones attention, the peering into the fridge a few times, the offer of more tea or coffee, watering the stick in the pot yet again (died from over-watering the last time I was bored), flicking through the IKEA catologue 2000 yet again, plumping up the cushions to smooth out those imaginary wrinkles (an obsession I have to confess even when I'm not bored), falling into a chair, arms folded and a few more grunts of 'I'm BORED!' Why wasn't I getting any attention? My significant other, was totally impervious to my 'teddy out of the cot' moment because he was watching CRICKET and was as happy as Larry!
Yes, I'm bored but what is worse is that I'm boring as well. Checked my stats this morning and had only 13 visitors yesterday. Oh, the shame! Most of the sites I visit get as many as 13 comments for each entry so goodness knows how many people drop by to see what they have to say.
You know the thing that I find amazing is that I have had more referrals from Desktop Projects and most of those come from Scandinavia. So a special mention to them; if any of you have a more recent IKEA catologue I would be really grateful if you'd send it to me! I'm a very deserving case.

Before you rush to comment, I know it’s proxy but believe me the way I feel about it at the moment it is definitely “poxy”. Both links are down for the whole of the day, again!
So short and sweet I’m afraid.
I may live in a desert area but the compound is incredible for plant life. I looked up whilst lounging around the pool and couldn’t believe my eyes. In amongst the honeysuckle I saw several bunches of grapes. The vine was tucked inside the other plant, a secret garden!
The significance of the other photograph is that it’s a Busy Lizzie and is dedicated to my very best friend Liz who must be rushing around at the moment because she has a job interview at one of the schools I taught in years ago.

I surely can't be the only one. There must be at least one person out there who just like me, WORRIES! It has to be something in the genes, maybe, not sure, oh dear!
I display classic symptoms, wake at 3 in the morning and spend the rest of the night worrying about the fact that I'm awake, worry that the alarm isn't set and so have to check a few times, turn the handle on the door to make sure it's locked, worry that someone hasn't smiled at me that day and so it must be my fault. The list could go on and on. Well, I am now on the count down to summer in our home in Cyprus and so let the WORRY commence:
Last week I worried that the bin wouldn't have been emptied and I would arrive to a festering, maggoty mess. Off went an email to our neighbour, Richard who is the answer to every WORRIER'S prayer. He duly checked and reported nothing to sniff or turn your nose up at. Oh, the relief, one gone a few more to confront. Will the garden be alright, will the plumbing still be in tact, will the water in the loo have evaporated leaving a direct smell line to the sewer, will the interior be ok, no leaks, no dead iguana in the bath?
Now shall I confess my biggest worry? If you have read my chronicles from the last time I was in Cyprus you will know that after a few hitches the new bathroom was installed. Well I discovered a tiny hole in the woodwork of the unit and straight away I'm in the oh, no WOODWORM panic! I squirted killer into the hole, enough I may add to fumigate the whole of MFI, but I am now worrying that when I arrive it will be riddled with holes, plus the rest of the furniture in the villa.
It's really a lovely unit but perhaps it was the wrong choice, maybe we should have gone for total ceramics, did we give it enough thought, should we have.......................................

I am privileged to be the Mother of a very special person and I just want to say that I am very proud of him. He's not had the best of times recently and today has been a particularly tough day for m'boy. When it gets difficult for him I tend to suffer because I can't give him a hug, dollops of TLC and try to make it better; there are three and a half thousand miles between us. I don't think that there can be a Mother on the planet who doesn't understand what I'm trying to say.
Love you "tons" Ed, I'm just a phone call away.

Phil and I have been married almost six years. They have not been easy years as we are both very strong characters. In fact one of the fun things we say to each other to lighten the atmosphere in times of confrontation is, "you can't say that because you're not the Boss of me!"
Before we were married Phil drew 4 tablets of stone and told me that I could write anything on them and he would honour each request. Well I only wrote on one and that was to make me coffee every morning. The very first morning that I reminded him of the tablet of stone he rolled over, told me it was all under control, that he hadn't renaged on his promise and then he went promptly back to sleep. I stomped into the kitchen in a right strop only to find the coffee machine gurgling away. My resourceful new husband had set the machine on a timer!!
This afternoon I came home to find a beautiful bunch of flowers. Oh, bless!

Eat out in Riyadh or Jeddah and you will be spoilt for choice. From International cuisine to excellent American fast food restaurants, the choice is limitless. Unfortunately, not so in Tabuk.
When we first arrived here three and a half years ago, the restaurant recommended to us was the Lebanese Grill. Off we tootled the first weekend to have a nice lunch. The food looked and smelt delicious but a finger was pointed at me and we were told, "she does not eat here!"
In restaurants, women are only allowed in the Family Sections. These are normally tucked away in the back, the only light coming from frosted glass windows. Even in these family areas there are booths and curtains to hide us away.
However, at the Lebanese Grill, we of the female species, are not even permitted to sit and eat anywhere. I find all of this a little hard to swallow as well as some of the food on offer in these places.
This little eating place is just up the road from here. Fancy a meal? You can sit outside in the sun and have.......well you can see what's available.

We have just been into town to get some bits and pieces. Now I haven't shown you any scenes from Tabuk since my feature on traffic islands; and very well received that was too! So for all of you people who love to shop be prepared to be amazed. This is the main shopping area in the town:



Tell me what you think of that then?

Have you seen Mark O'Shea and Jeff Cerwin on Discovery Channel and who do you prefer?
Now Mark is your fanatic herpetologist who grabs dangerous snakes by the tail, launches them into the air and then sounds surprised when, "what a beauty! Oh, watch out he's flattening his head and going into a strike position!" With such man-handling wouldn't we all like to lash out and bite him?
Now I have to say I prefer Jeff and his adventures. Last night he put his arm up an elephants bottom to relieve it's constipation and then pulled out huge dollops of poo for a good inspection of what it had eaten. He then cuddled a cute black star bear only to have the little critter break wind very loudly. "Hey this little fella's kinda gassy!"
Not only do you learn a lot you also have a good laugh at the same time.

(This is what I intended to write last night but I was a tired bunny!)

This entry will be met with derision from certain members of the Blogging fraternity. It's not that they are unkind but more that they have been privy to the ups and downs, highs and lows, peaks and troughs of my attempted acquisition of culinary skills. Yes, my Blog entry tonight is about cooking. I shall take a literary pause whilst Phil and Ed control their guffaws. (Silence please, Miss L)
I do not intend to dwell upon the past, to retell stories of the sinking Pavlova's. Although the Tasmanian Apple Cake story is very funny. It was so hard that when a dinner guest attempted to cut a piece, it cracked like a whip and then shot 4 metres, just falling short of decapitating anyone, and slammed into the wall.
Today, I have been inspired by Delia and the fact that Phil has come home with a huge box of tomatoes, to make soup! I am delighted to say that the whole process was easy and far less fiddly than I imagined it to be. Phil's verdict, "mmmmmm........it tastes......it tastes.......it tastes like.............tomato soup!"
It actually looks like tomato soup too. The recipe is my own and there wasn't a tin in sight.



Will it be the Green Peppers or the Red Tomatoes? I think the Red Tomatoes have it!!

It's 10 o'clock and I've just emerged from my bed suffering very much from the night before, so please don't shout this morning. Phil helped organise a Gala Buffet last night, which was a resounding success.
Everyone began the evening dressed up in their finest and so it was a gentile and elegant affair. That is until we all began to eat the buffet food and drink copious amounts of fig juice as though it was an Olympic event. This was swiftly followed by manic stomping around the dance floor, arms swaying in the air, generous bottoms and hips gyrating, Phil attempting to swing me round in a spin of sorts ( he always forgets that I'm useless at this sort of dancing and I end up colliding with anything within a 3 metre radius!) It wasn't long before we all looked like wilted flowers, particularly Phil who was not a happy boy when his Thomas Pinks shirt became drenched in drink, don't ask!
It was a brilliant evening and more money was raised for the children's hospice back in the UK.

The food was excellent and looked like a work of art.

John was 25 when he died and it was his birthday yesterday. He was such a vibrant, funny, intelligent person who worked in foreign banking in Threadneedle Street. Although at home in the streets of the city and used to dealing with millions of pounds, he never forgot his roots and family back in the Midlands. He was an avid Wolves supporter, loved cheese and onion cobs and always wore Ben Sherman shirts. John met the love of his short life when he was 20. She was still a student in her final year and made the journey down to London every other weekend to be with him. He came north the remaining weekends to be with her.
Within a year they were married and buying their first flat in Streatham. They went to the theatre and enjoyed mingling with the tourists at Hyde Park Corner. He was fascinated by the speeches given by Lord Soper and always wanted to stand and talk about something which intrigued him. This being the message left by the American astronauts on the Moon, 'We came in peace for all mankind!' His views were hilarious but she always told him that he couldn't and would hold on to his arm to stop him from gaining attention from the crowds.
It was January 1st, 28 years ago that he was put on a life support machine. She asked the consultant if she could buy the machine so that they wouldn't turn it off.
It was a futile gesture, January 4th it was turned off and John was buried shortly after this.
Happy Birthday John. The flowers are for you.



I'll never forget.

Those of you who are aware of life out here will know that our weekend starts today (yippee) and the week begins on Saturday. This was very stressful at the beginning because on Sunday I should be having a lie in, reading the papers and going to the pub for lunch and not working.
After school I just had to go to the barbers and get my fringe cut tonight. Surprise, surprise, the barber is from Manilla and reassured me that he was trained at the Manilla Academy for Hair and Beauty!! Feeling more confident I went for the full cut and blow dry. He was so sweet and kept saying that he would treat my hair like gold and cut one hair at a time. We talked about fashion, stilleto heeled shoes, the colour pink and my nail varnish. We moved on to the hilights in his hair and my glossy, shiny locks. I shall certainly go back again as he has done quite a good job, oh and I promised to give him the name of my conditioner.
Phil and I then biked to the restaurant for a meal to get the weekend off to a good start. So Ed look what we had for 30SR which is about 5 pounds, there was plenty of it and we even got garlic bread for nothing! Forgot to mention this was the price for both of our meals; excellent value.



If you fancy joining us next week here's the specials board.

I am married to someone who would put a dolphin to shame. When we were first married he would generally want to throw and fool around with me in water that would give a seal vertigo. Now I hate deep black water and am happiest when I can see and even touch the bottom. Edward has an amusing theory on this pursuit, if you can stand up in it why waste your energies swimming.
Since my ankle injury we have been unable to go to the gym so we have gone to the pool each afternoon to get some exercise and sun. I stand chin deep at the side then do as many widths as I can (shhhhhhhhh only 12 but this exhausts me). Hopefully, this will tone up my bits, get rid of the cellulite and brown the flabby bits. I am 5 feet 10 inches tall and for most of my life been a size 10/12. I would walk around in bikinis and not think twice. Now that I am a size ... I have to wear tankinis which I think is a most appropriate name (please no taunts of Sherman).
I know I'm no Lotty Hass (more Judith Chalmers) but you should see me in m'snorkel.

These figs are just outside the kitchen door and I am hoping to get to them when they are ripe, before the birds!

I have fond memories of my childhood television favourites, Muffin the Mule (sounds absolutely obscene these days), Andy Pandy (he lived in a basket with Luby Lue and Teddy), The Wooden Tops (they had the spottiest dog in the world), Bill and Ben the Flowerpot Men (I played Little Weed in a student concert during Rag Week....I sang, "was it Bill or was it Ben put me in the club again?") and my very best favourite.....Blue Peter! There was Valerie, John, Peter, Shep, Petra and Patch; oh, such fun. The best part of the programme was John Noakes doing the craft section....one I made earlier. He was hilarious and I'm sure that this is where I got all of my cutting, gluing and glittering talents.
It is no wonder then that I like all of the DIY programmes on Prime and UKTV. I have just watched someone called Richard Randall spray an old lamp base silver and decorate a perfectly good white shade with yellow paint and dreadful bits of glitter and shiny crap. It looked better before he'd messed with it and he is supposed to be the style expert! Give me Lawrence Llewelyn Bowen any time.
Does anyone else remember Muffin?
"...Here comes Muffin, Muffin the Mule. Poor old Muffin playing the fool!"
Who is this Bob the Builder character anyway?

And just to cheer me up.........here is one I took earlier:

Sometimes you can't pretend that you are a happy bunny when you're not. Yesterday was one of those days and I thought it best not to inflict myself on you.
Today I've given myself a good shake and so I'm back on form.

There are no hairdressers in Tabuk for women!
By this I mean in the town. We are very lucky to have a hairdresser on the compound but she works 3 days a week during the hours that I'm working! So it is now 7 weeks since my fringe has been cut (thank you Vanessa in Paphos for my Easter cut and blow dry) and I am having to put tie-backs on my fringe. The rest eventually goes in scrungy things which I have in every colour (thank you Phil's Mum). Since being in Saudi I have had 7 hairdressers and one friend who I trusted to tackle the front bit! Is it any wonder then that one Thursday party evening a friend begged her husband to cut her hair. Well they'd obviously had lots of mango juice because said friend ended up with a number 2! Some of my friends tackle their own hair with scissors or go to the barber on the compound.
This summer I may go for a totally new style as I am fed up with the way I look. If I go really short (which Phil will hate) then I can nip along to the barbers for a short back and sides and the problem will be over.
Before and after photographs will be on the page in August.

I always read the Coffee Break section in the Arab News written by Abdullah Bajubeer. Recently he wrote an article entitled 'Your Husband is Your Friend.' Now it isn't the title that I take exception to but the content of an article that begins with the opinion that it may be the woman that is responsible for losing her husband and the failure of the marriage. Throughout the article it keeps stating 'a woman must...' and ' If we've talked more of the woman's duties rather than the man's, it is because we are talking about marriage and is a woman's preoccupation more than a man's.' I draw this to your attention so that you may draw your own conclusions.
Next I move swiftly on to the Classified section and even more revelations. This appeared this week:

"Indian Muslim Keralite seeks alliance from respected family of beautiful Keralite Muslim girl. No dowry and ornaments required but girl should be an IT professional."

At least he doesn't want a friend as well.

By the time you get to my age you should have notched up a few milestones like passing exams, qualifying at your chosen profession, learning to drive (hard for me), finally learning to swim and getting to grips with modern technology. Today I have jumped another of lifes hurdles. I've spent the day getting to grips with the buttons and features on my camera and I think I have cracked close ups.



I decided to revisit subjects that I had taken before so that I could compare the images. I think I've got it!



By George I've got it.
I feel chuffed to bits.

It's all in the news today but where did you first come across Aqaba? Look no further than the archives of this site.
Aqaba is where we go for a weekend 'jolly' and it is fabulous. Unfortunately since the recent squirmish people aren't going there and the hotels are quite empty. If you're thinking of a holiday Jordan might be worth contemplating, it's safer than you think and the people are really friendly. This was taken when we were last there from the balcony of the hotel room. There are several pools and the private beach is fabulous.

I'm really trying hard with my photography just lately but I'm still far from satisfied with the results.

I feel very silly and you may have wondered what my cryptic comment was about yesterday. Now in my defence I am still getting to grips with all of this computer business. In my 20's a cartridge pen was the 'must have' and if you owned a propelling pencil you were certainly part of the transistor radio swinging set. Oh, yes I remember walking down Carnaby Street with a 12 inch mini skirt, blue suede thigh high boots and a hat that would put Four Weddings and a Funeral to shame!
To get back to yesterday. I wrote my post and even uploaded a photograph but do you think I could get it to publish. Five times I tried and my page was a nightmare of columns over columns, photographs partially showing. So I eventually put up 'the' comment and went to bed.
This morning there was an Email from Ed:
Hope you don't mind, saw your page was broken and so fixed it for you. I think you missed out the " in the title.
Well that explains everything, one simple little omission and it all goes crazy. Hopefully I will have remembered all of my slashes, div's and logtitles. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

I read with interest Pewari's Prattle this morning. She was writing about photography and it was definitely how I feel about my efforts. I really enjoy snapping away and have to confess I give little or no thought to composition, light, focus and all of the other things that would improve my photographs. What really made me think was her reference to a photographer who could even make an arrangement of items on his desk look interesting. Well guess what, I had my camera with me this morning so here is my desk:



Have I captured the very essence of what is going on here, does it say busy person?
Oh, gosh, that's where that BluTak went!
(I have tidied it all up now and the cuddly toys are put there by the children each morning, bless!)