Rosie Scribble

Living the dream

It has been said before – somewhere, possibly – that drive, determination and a lot of imagination can really take you places.

It has also been said that looks are not everything.

Yet today, having spent a blissful afternoon sitting as a journalist *ahem* on the judging panel of Britain’s Next Top (Male) Model, attempting to select a shortlist for next year’s televised series, it felt that for once – possibly a bit longer – that looks were indeed everything.

There was appreciation all round and more than a little frustration, on my part at least, that an embargo on publishing any material in relation to the event is being strictly enforced.

Shame.

As I was driven back home this evening it also occurred to me that producing any coverage of the event on this blog would prove difficult.

Difficult because in the 'real' world, outside of my imagination, I have been snowed in all day with only myself for company and a slightly bored seven-year-old child. Under the circumstances it is easy to let the mind wander.

In fact, sometimes it is essential.

Hope you are coping with the Big Freeze!

Photo credit

My name is Rosie, I don't write a blog

This post has been inspired by Baby Genie's post My name is Catherine and I write a blog, which quite rightly points out that many of us get nervous, and feel defensive, when people ask us what our blogs are all about.

It has reminded me that recently my parents, and then my extended family, found out about this blog. Despite blogging for nearly three years in total, I had never mentioned anything about it, to anyone.

I made a conscious decision to keep it secret. Nothing written here can't be read by the wider public at large; there is nothing here that I would not stand and broadcast to the world if that was required.

Everything else simply isn't written here.

I am actually quite a private person, more introvert than extrovert, and writing about aspects of my life has always, and will always, leave me feeling a little bit exposed.

I tread here with caution a lot of the time.

But it seemed only right and fair that I explained to my family why I went to Cameroon, but only after I had returned from Africa, and only when they asked to see where I had written about the trip.

Everything else: the self-disclosure, the putting-my-life-out-there, the posts that I'm suddenly-conscious-are-now-being-read by family and friends, have absolutely nothing to do with me at all.

Everything else has been written by Jackie, aged 58, from Canterbury.

This blog has nothing to do with Rosie at all.

(So you can log off now Mum and Dad, there's nothing to see here!)

Photo credit: svilen001

This post is completely made-up

Sometimes parenting can be hard. Very hard. So hard in fact that even the most calm, patient person can be driven to the point of I-am-about-to-go-completely-mad or I-am-going-to-emigrate-to-a-far-away-country-on-my-own.

Thankfully today the usual stress of trying to work from home during the summer holidays, with no sunshine, was avoided when we received a surprise invitation from wealthy friends in nearby Newstead to join them on their luxury yacht for a quick sail.

It didn't matter that we live in the heart of England, miles away from the nearest coastline or stretch of water, because they have a helicopter and that too can be scheduled at very short notice. The rain made no difference to our day either because their larger-than-half-a-football-field yacht has, rather conveniently, an indoor heated swimming pool and an extra large jacuzzi.

We were able to relax and play while their personal chef prepared a meal fit for kings, and the children played happily together. Not once did a cross word pass their lips.

It is lucky I can tell you all this. Our adventures at sea today mean that I don't need to mention that the two of us are not speaking, that IJ went to the fair and threw a mini-tantrum when it was time to leave, or that the words I'm Bored have been uttered so many times that I have threatened to throw the televsion out of the window and the DVD player with it.

We have had a lovely, calm, relaxing day and right now, even though I don't know IJ's new teacher in September, I absolutely adore her already.

On creation

As IJ goes to a Catholic school, it could be assumed that she has an understanding of the story of creation, in a Biblical sense at least. It turns out she does not. 

She has come home and relayed an entirely different chain of events which she believes lead to the creation of the world, and it all sounds a little too commercial for my liking. She is convinced the following facts are 100% correct.  

On the first day a farm was built.

On the second day people went to the farm.

On the third day the cows on the farm were turned into burgers.

On the fourth day McDonalds was created.

On the fifth day even more McDonalds were created.

On the sixth day the world went to McDonalds.

On the seventh day everyone had a rest because they had eaten rather a lot.

Simply wrong on so many levels! Whatever next?

Photo credit: Flaivoloka

Escaping it all

Some unexpected good fortune has come our way, and after a hectic half-term week the timing could not be better.

Our very dear friend and confidant Mr F. Antasy has offered us both  a luxury pass allowing us to spend several days at the fabulous White Lies Health Spa in nearby Derbyshire.

Never one to turn an excellent opportunity down, we have accepted his invitation with huge excitement and will be heading off ... well as soon as I have finished this final blog post.

Already I am excited at the prospect of a well-earned break and a chance to escape it all.

So if I am not blogging or tweeting for some time, in fact I know I won't be, it's because I'm escaping it all in the luxurious surroundings of my slightly over-active imagination and enjoying some much needed time-out with my daughter.

But I will be thinking of you all and wishing you well.

Thanks for reading.

See ya ...  I'm off! xx