... or lack of. It happens. Sometimes it is high. Sometimes it is not. As long as it all happens, it is all good. Right?! For our three loyal followers, please do not be disheartened if you do not hear from us in a while. We are still here!
I have a magnet that I tried very hard to take a photo of for this blog. It didn't want to come out and play but it says "Life is what happens when you are busy making plans". As you know from my love of quotes, you have to take what is written on fridge magnets seriously. And we are busy enjoying and living our lives as well as making plans! We have a couple of posts in draft format so stay tuned for those and if you want to know what is happening in the rest of our lives check out Lela at It's All Good ... and Catherine at Mummies Are People Too!.
Until next time :)
Cath xx
Two Mummy Ducks went out one day, over the hill and far away.....
Monday, June 27, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Monday Musing .... on Tuesday ;)
I have pretty much worked out 'Monday Musing' is just an excuse for me (or Lela if she is inspired to as well) to write a post about whatever comes into my head. Consider this your warning! This post is waffley and really has no point :)
Today I don't have any inspirational quote. Nothing has sprung to mind and plus you might be sick of me philosophising by now! Today I am musing on my muse. I fell in love with history when I was about 6 or 7 and I took out a book from my school library on children in 'olden days'. It really was the olden days late nineteenth history I think from memory. Then a children's book followed on English history. The story I remember was of one of the boy kings and a whipping boy for when he got into trouble! (I can't remember which king it was now.) Followed by the story of the princes smothered in the tower.
A few years later, my mum gave me some Jean Plaidy books to read. I must have been about 10? Maybe even younger. I was hooked. After high school, I went on to study history at university (specialising in European and Australian history) and completed my Honours thesis on a topic about late nineteenth century England.
The point of this waffle isn't to point out how much I know. If anything it is me reflecting on how little I know. I am only too aware of how little I have really studied. I grew up reading not only a Enid Blyton, but a lot of other children's books from around that era. Many years of reading, fiction and non-fiction, has given me a mental image of what it is like. So, for those of you who bothered about reading my musing to the end, the question is, will I ever be ready for the shock of the reality? And is it really weird I have spent so much time studying places I have never been?
Cath xx
Today I don't have any inspirational quote. Nothing has sprung to mind and plus you might be sick of me philosophising by now! Today I am musing on my muse. I fell in love with history when I was about 6 or 7 and I took out a book from my school library on children in 'olden days'. It really was the olden days late nineteenth history I think from memory. Then a children's book followed on English history. The story I remember was of one of the boy kings and a whipping boy for when he got into trouble! (I can't remember which king it was now.) Followed by the story of the princes smothered in the tower.
A few years later, my mum gave me some Jean Plaidy books to read. I must have been about 10? Maybe even younger. I was hooked. After high school, I went on to study history at university (specialising in European and Australian history) and completed my Honours thesis on a topic about late nineteenth century England.
The point of this waffle isn't to point out how much I know. If anything it is me reflecting on how little I know. I am only too aware of how little I have really studied. I grew up reading not only a Enid Blyton, but a lot of other children's books from around that era. Many years of reading, fiction and non-fiction, has given me a mental image of what it is like. So, for those of you who bothered about reading my musing to the end, the question is, will I ever be ready for the shock of the reality? And is it really weird I have spent so much time studying places I have never been?
Cath xx
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Inspiration comes from all sorts of places
First just the reminder: Lela is italics, and responds to Catherine in bold italics. Catherine is non-italics and responds to Lela in bold non-italics.
And the inspiration hasn't just been from the movies but also from blogland.
Portobello Lane is on my wish list now. Courtesy of 'Bedknobs and Broomsticks' and blogger 'Did you say six?'(who co-incidentally became our third follower and first commenter!). You can check out the post that inspired me here.
Ooooo love this movie so much.
Buckingham Palace. Need I say more! Can't go to London unless we schedule in a visit with the queen (or her home at least).
Boadicea Statue. My 4th born, if he had been a girl would have been named Boadicea. I think it is a beautiful name, and although the story of Boadicea has brutal parts, she was one hell of a woman. I totally agree it is a fascinating story. She is someone I always have every intention of reading more about, but it never seems to quite get around to happening. This statue can be found in Westminister, London
And while we are looking at statues of what my would have been daughter would have been named after, we might as well go look at something my 4th born was named after (sort of). My son was named after Cadel Evans, the cyclist, because Tour De France was on around the time of his birth a wonderful early King in Welsh history and also another Cadell, Saint Cadell. Of course.
Well I found out about the King after he was born, and I just found out about the saint while I was searching for a pic for this blog post........ Anyway 'ol King Cadell goes way back, and a visit to a castle from around his time (from what I understand it wasn't HIS castle, but it is in the same area) would be kind of cool.
Oh the idea of Saint Cadel(l) makes me laugh soooo much! (In a very loving type way of course!). Ooh .. maybe this is how he has survived so many Stuntman adventures?
While we are on the topic of castles ... we have to stay in one! Just one night. At some point we need to discuss critera for said-castle stay, but I think that will be a whole post in itself!
Oooo definitely. A big stone one.
Image of parade celebrating Shakespeare birthday!
And of course the other place we need to visit is Stratford-upon-Avon for the love of all things Shakespeare (and yes for those of you who have been following we do have a post coming about our recent TMD adventures).Definately. We can even visit the schoolhouse where his teacher sat!
And maybe his grave. I just found out there is a cursed attached!
I like graves, I didn't even realise his grave was around!
And maybe even the reconstructed Globe Theatre in London?
So a few more places on our wish list ...
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Our first TMD Adventure (Where TMD = Two Mummy Ducks but for lazy people)
So ... in case you missed my earlier post it is ;) here, but we are pleased to announce (drum roll) we have officially been on our first official TMD excursion!
(Just for clarity, Lela is italics, and responds to Catherine in bold italics. Catherine is non-italics and responds to Lela in bold non-italics)
Firstly I need to say that we made an effort to dress the part. I attempted to wear a head band fascinantor type thing. I love hats and hair things and scarves and stuff but never quite feel I have the knack of wearing them. For some reason I feel TMD adventures will give me the confidence I need. Oooo and I wore make up!
Second drama was that of parking. Let me first say that as a general rule we are very law abiding citizens. Really. Plus it was dark and cold and rainy and we were on a very tight time schedule. Not because we were running late! But because we have children. Trust me. But parking in the motorcycle bay, I think was justified. It was raining and wet, no one was going to ride in that weather.
Performed by three actors, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) was a hoot! It was really funny, had local references (a reference to the training centre in my home town, negative implications, but funny none the less) and was fast paced.
The actors looked like they were genuinely having fun, not that the actors wouldn't be haven't fun, but that fun camaraderie was contagious and inclusive for the audience.
So basically a good time was had by all and we are already looking forward to our next TMD adventure! If you have any ideas of things you think we could or should do ... please let us know!
Monday, June 13, 2011
It is the little things
Lela posted a few weeks ago about using 5c coins and change jars for saving. Suddenly 5c and 10c and 20c have a whole new meaning! I am now picking up random coins, putting them in the jar before the girls see them (mean mummy I know!) and not using change when I buy things to round to the nearest whole dollar. You know what I mean (eg when something costs $6.20 and you give them $10.20 so you don't end up with a whole heap of 'little' coins). Now I want those coins for my jar, I don't mind getting more of them!
$112 (and something cents see the Tally up Tuesday post below) may not seem like a lot in the overall scheme of things. But it is! Well, it is a lot out of my weekly budget at least to put it practically, and for us Two Mummy Ducks it really means we have begun! In case anyone is doing the sums towards our initial goal of $20,000 and our target of 2020 we do realise that we will need to re-assess our contributions at some point but at the moment it is a great start!
Can I share a thought with you today? I know it isn't Monday! But it made me think and apparently at the moment for me to think is to blog, and this felt like the blog to post it on!
At the train station there is this lady who collects money for the Salvation Army on a regular basis. Not every day, but at least once a week. She is fairly elderly (obviously I don't know exactly how old) and has been collecting there in all weather for as long as I can remember. At least 15 years I would say if not more. I work on the theory that if she can stand there (and today was freezing) the least I can do is give her something. I didn't have a gold coin today, so she got my silver change. It only came to about 90c I think (remember I have been putting it all in my change jar at home) so it wasn't a lot. I felt bad it was so little. But when I thought about it I realised that for me that silver change is now part of a dream and I have a new appreciation for how much it is worth. Today that dream isn't mine. Today I am hoping that those few coins will make a difference in someone's life. My dream with my change jar is for a luxury and this is ok! But I know my little thing today will be part of a big thing for someone else's dream of survival. The little thing was given with love and prayers and hope.
And in case you are wondering how you make a difference, we are so very, very excited about our two followers! (Hello!) And hello to anyone else out there who is reading but not "following" (yet?!). The little thing of you sharing our journey with us means a lot!
Have a fabulous day!!!
Cath xxx
$112 (and something cents see the Tally up Tuesday post below) may not seem like a lot in the overall scheme of things. But it is! Well, it is a lot out of my weekly budget at least to put it practically, and for us Two Mummy Ducks it really means we have begun! In case anyone is doing the sums towards our initial goal of $20,000 and our target of 2020 we do realise that we will need to re-assess our contributions at some point but at the moment it is a great start!
Can I share a thought with you today? I know it isn't Monday! But it made me think and apparently at the moment for me to think is to blog, and this felt like the blog to post it on!
At the train station there is this lady who collects money for the Salvation Army on a regular basis. Not every day, but at least once a week. She is fairly elderly (obviously I don't know exactly how old) and has been collecting there in all weather for as long as I can remember. At least 15 years I would say if not more. I work on the theory that if she can stand there (and today was freezing) the least I can do is give her something. I didn't have a gold coin today, so she got my silver change. It only came to about 90c I think (remember I have been putting it all in my change jar at home) so it wasn't a lot. I felt bad it was so little. But when I thought about it I realised that for me that silver change is now part of a dream and I have a new appreciation for how much it is worth. Today that dream isn't mine. Today I am hoping that those few coins will make a difference in someone's life. My dream with my change jar is for a luxury and this is ok! But I know my little thing today will be part of a big thing for someone else's dream of survival. The little thing was given with love and prayers and hope.
And in case you are wondering how you make a difference, we are so very, very excited about our two followers! (Hello!) And hello to anyone else out there who is reading but not "following" (yet?!). The little thing of you sharing our journey with us means a lot!
Have a fabulous day!!!
Cath xxx
Tuesday Tally Up
Previous Balance: $59.23
ADD
Lela Shrap jar: $6.65
Catherine Shrap jar: $7.00
Ebay Sellings: $9.80
Direct Deposits:$30
New Balance!!!: $112.68
We have reached the hundreds!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Pause for a moment
Today's musing was stolen from the fabulous Lela's facebook album. I have no idea where she got it from, but I love it!
Life is wonderful! Even when it seems to suck. Our plan for our travels is a long term goal, but we don't want to lose sight of the things that make everyday amazing. As we said on Friday, we are having fun imagining and planning, but we are also savouring every moment.
Everyone is on a journey to somewhere. Even if you don't know where somewhere is yet! Don't forget to stop and think about today :)
Now I have said that .... I am sooooo excited about our excursion tomorrow night! I also discovered what I think is the perfect place for our second Mummy Duck outing over the weekend. Lela doesn't know what it is yet though. So I should really tell her before I tell all of you! Happy journeying everyone. Please feel free to share some of your journey with us!
Cath xx
Thursday, June 9, 2011
A sneak peak into a conversation
As you can imagine, we are spending a fair bit of time dreaming along with our goal-setting. We are thinking for the time being Fridays might be our day for dreaming about where we might go! This week to kick off our 'Friday Fantasy' posts with we thought we would let you have a sneak peak into our collective thoughts and have a bit of a general brainstorm ... but let you read along.
(Just for clarity, Lela is italics, and responds to Catherine in bold italics. Catherine is non-italics and responds to Lela in bold non-italics)
Waterstones
Waterstones is the biggest bookshop in Europe. Be still my beating heart. You have no idea how much this excites me! Its flagship store even has a bar! Not that I am much of a drinker, tea is more my thing, but, oh how fun would it be to grab a stack of books and good glass of red! Imagine that!
Books? Did somone say books? I am soooo with Lela on this one! Well except for the not being much of a drinker bit ;)
This shop claims to be the leading supplier of fabric to theartre, film, fashion and interior design and claims to stock a range of 14000 fabrics. 4 Yards of each please!!
When I walk into this store the first thing I'm going to do (before I fondle all those bolts of fabric) is to breathe in the sweet scent of 14000 different fabrics. MMMMMM.
I don't really sew. But I love materials. I like pretending I could do cool stuff with them! You can hold all the bolts I buy!! And push the trolley! I will work on building up some muscles.
They even offer a made to order service.
I love designers. I love fabric. I love finding out what inspires designers and I love the history side of fashion. Fashion itself, in terms of me being fashionable, I'm not really that fussed. Odd hey.
I just like museums :)This place looks awesome and they offer courses to! I'm sure I could easily work a course in on our travels.
My turn! Top of my wish list is Pax Lodge. One of our homes and the home of 10 million other girls and women world wide. I am really hoping we will be able to stay here. They even have an Australian room!
I totally forgot Pax Lodge, one of the inspirations for this entire adventure! This is why you keep me around!
I would also love to do a Jack the Ripper tour. I love history so no it is not all about Johnny Depp. Or some fascination with murder.
And ... drum roll .... I really want to see a show at the West End. I have a feeling picking what we see will be the hardest choice! A show or ten? How does that sound? I think we need to pick one each, then one for each of our kids, you know, for belated congratulation gifts. That would bring us up to 9 shows. I really think this would work for the best.
I would also love to do a Jack the Ripper tour. I love history so no it is not all about Johnny Depp. Or some fascination with murder.
Mmmm Johnny Depp, could we just tour him instead. Lol that sounds ruder than it is meant to be. A Jack the Ripper tour would be fascinating. And I totally think we should do this at night. And get dressed in costumes circa 1880's!!!! Dressing up sounds great! But night? You remember I am a wuss right? If I have nightmares you will be forced to wake up and talk to me. You can talk while I read the books we buy at Waterstones, lol.
And ... drum roll .... I really want to see a show at the West End. I have a feeling picking what we see will be the hardest choice!
"A" show? I think it will have to be more than one!
Ooooo that was fun, we'll see you next friday!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Tuesday Tally Up
It's Tuesday!
Balance so far: $48.35
ADD
Direct Deposits: $10
Shrap Jar: 85c
Interest: 3c!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have earnt free money!!! Thanks Ubank!
Grand Total: $59.23
Woop! We have some stuff up in eBay, so hopefully that should bump up our tally next week (or the week after if they are slow payers).
Monday Musing - Enid
I love to read and like so many people Enid Blyton gave me my first adventures into the wonderful world of books. So much so I remember being forced to consider that there were other authors out there that might be worth my attention! As a parent, I now love it when my children get excited about the same books I loved when I was their age. Many of these, of course, are Enid Blyton books. As these stories are one of the things that make England one of my dream destinations, I thought this was appropriate place to blog about her!
One of my friends suggested I watch the movie "Enid" starring Helen Bonham Carter.Helen Bonham Carter never would have been the person I would have imagined as Enid Blyton. She was brilliant as always. Although I wasn't expecting quite so much of the 'Red Queen' feel to come through.
Be warned! The movie is very much based on Enid Blyton's life and not on her books and is not a cozy ginger-beer drinking, midnight-feasting, adventure story complete with pixies and eccentric French mistress and a mystery to solve. The movie shows a different side to the still popular author and if you think it will alter your view of books don't watch it. However if you are enjoy biographies you will like this movie. It is important to note it is a movie based on true events and of course the writers have exercised poetic license.
While the insight into the private life of Enid Blyton might not have been one I was expecting, I love biographies and enjoyed the movie. And my love of her books has certainly not changed.
One of my friends suggested I watch the movie "Enid" starring Helen Bonham Carter.Helen Bonham Carter never would have been the person I would have imagined as Enid Blyton. She was brilliant as always. Although I wasn't expecting quite so much of the 'Red Queen' feel to come through.
Be warned! The movie is very much based on Enid Blyton's life and not on her books and is not a cozy ginger-beer drinking, midnight-feasting, adventure story complete with pixies and eccentric French mistress and a mystery to solve. The movie shows a different side to the still popular author and if you think it will alter your view of books don't watch it. However if you are enjoy biographies you will like this movie. It is important to note it is a movie based on true events and of course the writers have exercised poetic license.
While the insight into the private life of Enid Blyton might not have been one I was expecting, I love biographies and enjoyed the movie. And my love of her books has certainly not changed.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Ebay!
Okey doke, I've got the ebay side of things happening!
User name is two_mummy_ducks
But to make it easier for our blog readers (hi two followers!!! You have no idea how thrilled we are to have you!!!!) and people who might stumble upon this blog, I have installed a widget on the side bar linking directly to our listings.
Can I interest you in a electronic head lice comb?? Some vintage Enid Gilchrist mags perhaps.
How fun!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Tally up Tuesday
A bit late, but time for a Tally up Tuesday
Balance: $24.50
Shrap Jar: $3.85
Direct Deposits: $20.00
Total: $48.35
:)
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