Sunday 18 December 2011

Deja vu post

apologies for the lateness of my deja view post a family emergency meant I was away and did not have access to my computer, but better late than never right :) original post Sunday 4th of July 2011, as part of a blog prompt challenge


Flower power
When I started thinking about today’s prompt of flowers, I had a few idea’s of where I could go with it, I’ve always been fascinated by the fact that flowers have meanings, but never really looked into it much. So I thought ok well for today’s prompt that is just what I will do.
So I started to research the topic, and discovered a few extra interesting things along the way.
Don’t worry I didn’t do all this research in the space of a few hours, I knew what my prompt for today would be yesterday, so started reading up on the subject then.
First of all, I discovered that there were flowers, that represented the month in which we were born, a bit like there are gemstones that do the same, so first of all I am going to share with you the months and what flowers represent them.


Month
Flower
January
February

Iris, Violet

March

April

Daisy, Peonies
May

June


July


August

Dahlia, Gladiolus

September

Aster, Forget-me-not

October

Calendula (aka Marigold)

November


December

Poinsettia, Holly, Narcissus, Paperwhite

I was over the moon when I discovered that lily’s, and lily’s of the valley fell in my month as I love lily’s, daisy would have been my first choice, but I am very happy with Lily’s.

Victorian flowers
The Victorian’s were the flower fanatics of our history, and they came up with a form of communication based around flowers.
Using flowers they could say things that the society at that time wouldn’t have allowed, it became a silent language that allowed friends, and lovers to communicate and a single flower could hold as much meaning as a bouquet.
Imagine how romantic it would be to have a single flower presented to you that held so much meaning. I can just picture woman, diving for their book of flower meanings, to discover what their love was trying to tell them.
They were not always used, however, to say good things, a flower that was presented to a person pointing down, was often a less pleasant surprise. Likewise it was not always a real, living flower that was given, sometimes a postcard, with a flower depicted on it was used to portray a hidden message, or even a handkerchief spayed with a particular flower scent could communicate a feeling or longing.
When you consider how much flowers meant in Victorian time’s it is no surprise to discover that their homes were always decorated with lots of flowers, flowery wall paper, flowery needlepoint, flowery lampshades, fabrics, flowers were truly the in thing in the Victorian era.
Even queen Victoria believed in the flower language, so much so that she had Myrtle in her bridal bouquet, which symbolized love and marriage, and after her wedding she had the Myrtle planted. To this day, whenever there is a royal wedding a part of Victoria’s Myrtle, is hidden within the wedding bouquets of the royals in England or within one of the floral arrangement at the wedding breakfast.
So to give you an idea of the sort of messages that could be sent using flowers, I am going to write the meanings of some of the better known flowers below:
Daisy: cheerfulness
Lily: Majesty
Lily of the valley: return of happiness
Lettuce: (yes lettuce has a meaning but it was not really a message you would want to receive.) lettuce: cold heartedness
Calla Lily: modesty.
Chrysanthemum: truth
Clove: I have loved you and you have not known it. (oh wouldn’t that be an exciting one to receive)
Carnation pink: I will never forget you.
Carnation red: my heart breaks
Carnation striped: I cannot be with you
Carnation white: sweet and lovely
Carnation yellow: distain
Daffodil: new beginnings
Foxglove: insincerity
Fuchsia: humble love
Grass: submission
Iris: message
Ivy: fidelity
Hawthorn: hope
Hazel: reconciliation
Honey suckle: devotion
Hyacinth, purple: please forgive me
Lavender: mistrust
Mistletoe: I surmount all obstacles
Moss: maternal love
Lotus: purity
Nettle: cruelty
Marigold: grief
Orange blossom: your purity equals your l
oveliness
Orchid: refined beauty
Pansy: think of me
Poppy: fantastic extravagance
Peach: your charms are unequalled
Primrose: childhood
Petunia: your presence sooths me
Plum: keep your promises
Pineapple: you are perfect
Rhododendron: beware
Water lily: purity of heart
Violet: Modest worth
Tulip: declaration of love

Yes there is some fruit and Veg in there, but I guess it wasn’t always said with flowers alone J

Now here is a question for you J which flower would you love to receive the most based on their meanings, and which would you want to receive the least? I think Orange blossom: your purity equals your loveliness would be quite nice to receive lol, and Carnation striped: I cannot be with you, would be devastating if it was sent by a man you loved.
Well I hope you enjoyed my post today love and hugs Joss

Ps: here’s a pineapple, why... because I think you’re all perfect J just the way you are.

Monday 12 December 2011

A Christmas gift that could well become a family treasure for generations to come



Today while finishing up my Christmas shopping I came across a lovely gift that you can buy for your mum, dad, sisters, brothers, grandparents ect, called the me to you Journal.

The idea of the gift is that your loved ones can fill them in over a time and then give them back to you, perhaps as a gift for your birthday or even Christmas again, so that you can learn all about them and their lives, you can also buy one for yourself to fill out for your own children and it can then be passed on down through the family for generations to come.

With questions like:  

Tell me about the time and place you were born . . .

What were your favourite childhood toys or games?

What would you do for a night out when you were dating?

Tell me about a special piece of music that you and Dad had ‘just for you’ . . .

Before I was born, what other names had you thought of calling me?

What was the first word or words you remember me saying?

What are the happiest or greatest memories of your life?

What are a few of your favourite things?

If you were an animal . . . what type of animal would you be, and why?

Describe something you still want to achieve in your life . . .

Tell me about the things that have made you happy or laugh . . .

Given your experiences, what piece of advice would you like to offer me?

This book can give you treasured insight into your loved ones lives, loves and longings, and can also make for great conversation on Christmas day.

On top of that the book apparently won the gift of the year award, which is an added bonus, I grabbed a copy for my mum and one for my sister too, and can’t wait to hand them over this Christmas, so if you’re looking for a little extra this year, and want a really special gift, this could be the perfect one.

Love and hugs

Jossie Marie xx

Sunday 11 December 2011

To help or not to help, that is the question

Picture the scene, you’re out and about, getting your daily bits and pieces done and you turn a corner to be met by disaster, for this example will say there has been a car accident, perhaps a lady has skidded on some ice and smashed into a tree. There is smoke coming from the bonnet of the car and you’re afraid it will catch on fire, your first thought is to get anyone inside the car out, and chances are you are going to act on instinct, rushing to their aid without stopping to think of the consequences. As flames begin to show around the rim of the bonnet, you find an unconscious driver; do you leave them there and call for help or get them free as carefully, but quickly as you can?
We all know there are risks to moving a victim in a car accident, that there could be damage we can’t see or successfully diagnose, but if the car is on fire for most of us, it would be a case of weighing up the odds, is it better for this person to burn to death, or to take the risks involved with moving them from the vehicle.
Now, for me personally, I would be grateful that someone had dragged me from the car, even if it meant I was left paralysed, better that then dead, right? Wrong, because people are now suing others for attempting to do, just that.
We’ve all, I’m sure, heard the stories of accident victims suing the very people who saved their lives, but is this right? Were I in an accident such as this, I would hope someone would take the time to help me, if I was unable to help myself. When given a choice between maybe being paralysed, or burning alive, I’m certain I’d want to take the risk, because the reality is, there is a chance I’d be fine, but what worries me is these people, who are suing others for that very reason, might be putting my potential rescuer off, or perhaps, the Man or woman who could save my husband or child.
To sue someone, who rightly or wrongly was just trying to help, just seems ridiculous to me, after all they haven’t acted out of malice, but out of concern, not only that but in some cases they have put themselves at risk in the process.
The only reason I can see for another person deciding to take such actions is one based on monetary gain and really, is money all that important? So here’s a question to ponder, should you find yourself the victim or the rescuer what would you do, or want your rescuer to do for you? And how do you feel about those who are suing other’s, who are simply doing their best to help?
Love and Hugs
Jossie Marie xx

Nipple Vasospasm, through pregnancy and beyond

While pregnant with my son I suffered terribly with Nipple vasospasm, which at times, was so painful, I was left in tears. I quickly worked out that the warm heat rising from our small fire brought fast relief and so throughout my pregnancy, I could be found kneeling in front of the fire, my top stretched out to catch the warm air.
I assumed that once my son was born and no longer breast feeding, the problem would go away, but I was very wrong.
My son is now five years old and I still suffer from nipple Vasospasm, in fact have had it both today and yesterday, pretty badly, my treatment now is in the form on a microwave teddy, which I warm up and then cuddle to my chest, for quick relief, but although I have searched hard for information as to why this has continued so long, all I can find is information related to nipple vasospasm when breastfeeding or pregnant.
Nipple vasospasm is where the tip of the nipple changes colour, in my case to white, and in some cases, such as mine, causes extreme pain, in and around the nipple, it occurs in cold weather mostly, and is caused by blood vessel’s constricting or tightening. It can also occur in fingers, although I’ve never experienced it in my fingers personally.
What I would like to know is if there is anything you can do to prevent nipple vasospasm in the future, besides wearing extra layers? Which, quite frankly, has never worked for me.
Love and hugs
Jossie Marie

Tormented to death. Isn't it time parent's stood up and took responsibility for their children?

I read in The Sun newspaper the other day that a poor man with learning disabilities had been tormented to death by youths, who had been attacking him and his home for 30 years, spanning three generations. Despite both the man and his family going to the police and the council over and over, nothing was done to stop their torment.
It is horrifying to think, that no one stepped in, and tried to deal with the issue, but I can’t help wondering what the parents of these youths were thinking.
If three generations of their family have been doing this, they surely knew about their children’s actions, why did they not step up and stop the abuse and teach their children a lesson or two about respect?
There used to be a time when parents taught their children, respect, compassion, and kindness. Now it seems as if parents are just shoving their children out onto the street without checking where they are going or what they are doing.
Bullying, in particular, is an area people just do not take seriously enough, they state that it is part of life, natural, to be expected. Clearly they never suffered at the hands of a bully. Bullying is not natural, nor should it be expected, and it should absolutely not be a part of life.
Too many people have taken their own lives due to bully’s, to be tormented so bad that you feel the best option is death is not right, no matter how badly the authorities and others try to sugar coat it.
If I ever discovered my son was bullying others I would be mortified, and I would be making sure that it never happened again.
How hard is it to teach your child that they should not do to others what they would not want done to themselves and why aren’t more parents teaching this valuable lesson?
Life is hard enough without people allowing their children to run around creating havoc and causing stress for others, it is hard enough without bullies abusing people, who are just trying to get on with their lives in peace.
There are parent’s today who mock others for teaching their children kindness, patience, and compassion, among other things, but isn’t this exactly what we should be teaching our children. People feelings are as fragile as an egg, and although they attempt to portray themselves with a hard shell, even the toughest will crack under constant pressure. There is enough anger and hurt in the world without us or our children adding to it.
The riots in London, and this poor man’s death at the hands of our youth, should show us how badly the next generation is turning out, and the reality is, the government can’t fix this, nor can the police, it’s the parents, those on the frontline, so to speak, who need to bring about change.
Because if we don’t, how bad are things going to get from here?

love and hugs
Jossie Marie

ps: you can read the full story here

Eat, pray, love, I just kept praying it would end soon


Having heard many great things about the book eat, pray, love by Elizabeth Gilbert, I decided to give it a go, and all I can say, is what were people thinking, when they helped it onto the best seller list. Although it has a few witty comment's and interesting idea's the author is clearly only interested in one thing, herself. Page after page she rambles on and on about her every woe, which frequently left me begging for an end and horrified to discover that I still hadn't even reached the half way mark. This book is about a woman who lives by the idea that the grass is always greener on the other side, chasing after happiness as if her life depended on it. Nothing is good enough, not a good husband, not a nice house, not her career as a writer, she moans on about how awful her life is when quite frankly, millions of people would love to be in her shoes. When she put's on a few pounds over her ideal weight she act's like she's a hippo, please!
Slitting my wrists, would have, been more pleasurable than this book, and I quite like my wrists. If your aim in life is to be bored too tears 99% of the time and amused for the remaining 1%, you must buy this book, don't sit there staring at the computer, run, go get it, right this second, those of you who quite like your wrist remain seated, and avoid this book like the plague.

love and hug's
Jossie Marie

Sunday 4 December 2011

Ludo and me training continues

As some of you will know already I am currently embarking on a new endeavour in my life, with the help of Ludo, my blue merle Border Collie pup. Ludo is now nine weeks old, and is already in training to be my service dog. I have trained lots of dogs in my life, from my own pet dogs, to others pet dogs, when I was a volunteer at a local dog training class, and dogs for films, in my time at a film farm in Kent. However, in all my time training dogs, I never realised there would come a day when I would need a dog to help me with task I struggle with on my own.
Yet here I am, in need of just that after an epidural left me disabled. Now, being just nine weeks old we are working on simple things with Ludo at present, coming when he is called, socialisation, sit, lay, wait, and so on and so forth, the basic things that most puppies will be taught early on in life. Our main aim at present is to teach him to do things in a calm way, so coming out of his crate, he must be calm, waiting for us to give the command that he can exit, he cannot be jumping up at the door, barking ect.
Being a Border Collie Ludo is very smart and picks things up quickly, however, I made the classic new puppy mistake of molly cuddling him for the first week or two, which really wasn’t fair on him because when I started to be a bit tougher, it was a bit of a shock to him, no one’s perfect right.
However, we are well on the way to setting clear boundary’s now, and Ludo is taking to the new rules well.
 The next step will be lead training, which although I have done this many times, will be a learning experience for me as much as Ludo, as I will have to teach him from the seat of a mobility scooter something I have never done before. So I will no doubt rope my husband and friends into help with this, so we can first help him get used to walking on the lead beside it with someone else in control, and then move on to walking beside it with me in control, I just think it would be unfair to have him getting used to the lead and the scooter all at once. We’ve already introduced him to riding on the scooter with me so he’s not fearful of it or the noise it makes. I think this will be the hardest part of my training with Ludo, the part’s where others have to do the work, as I’m so used to doing all the main work with my dog’s, but i realises as there are things I can no longer do for myself there are also things I can no longer do for my dog’s, and so some training really will require the help of my friends.
Well I shall leave it here for now and keep you posted on mine and Ludo’s progress
Love and hugs
Joss