Thank you Riet

I have had an award bestowed upon me from Riet. Riet is a wonderful lady that has been my blogging friend for about 2 months!! and what a talented lady she is - please visit her site by clicking on her name.

My award is....

isn't wonderful? Thank you Riet very much.

Awards are only special when given away so would the following people please accept this award:-

Smiling Sally, Ali, Cheryl, Janet, Valerie, Lana, Buskitten, Deanna, 2L3BS, Elaine, Charlie & Me and Sandi

Cheered me up!!

A friend sent me these photographs this morning of Nigel riding a Bull!! They were taken during Unity week when different events were put on to bring people together. Nigel is the Chairman of the Barking & Dagenham Faith Forum - a group which consists of and invites ALL faiths to work together to create Unity within our Borough.

Well they made me smile..

Folk are very kind

some of the flowers that I have received.

******

Last Sunday I was making my way to be the guest preacher at a church, which I had only been to once before, and as I was travelling along Cranbrook Road a car came around the bend too fast lost control and came skidding over to me and hit me on the drivers side of the car. Once the car had settled I noticed that there was grey smoke in the air and, thinking that my car was on fire, managed to make my escape via the passenger door, not realizing at the time that I was having a nose bleed and that all the buttons had burst of my blouse - so I must have looked a pretty sight!!! I learnt later that the smoke was from my air bags going off.

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A lovely lady passer by came rushing over - I asked her to call the police and an ambulance because I realized that whoever was driving the other car hadn't got out. Two drivers pulled up and the first driver put me in the 2nd drivers car whilst he went to see to the driver who had crashed into me. The other driver was a young lady who eventually had to be cut out of her car due to back and leg pains. I have been informed that she is OK.

*******

Since Sunday I certainly now have a wonderful array of bruises and my foot has been strapped up, which I have been told to rest due to the swelling. BUT folk have just been so kind with their prayers, cards, flowers, visits, telephone calls, emails and texts. I know that some of those people read my blog and so I would want to say a big 'Thank You' to you all for your care and concern.

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I am very fortunate that I was able to walk away from the scene, fortunate to have a fabulous family and friends who have and are looking after me. I have cancelled my external engagements for this week and am working/resting from home.

Libera

I think these youngsters are fabulous

My photo of the day - 8

My photo of the day (well it's two really but of the same subject!!)

Who remembers the Janet & John books that we use to read at school? Well they're back - Nigel received a copy for Christmas.


What early reading books do you remember from your schools days?

Pink Saturday - Pink cheeks!!

My word it's Saturday again!!! they come around so quickly..

If you would like to visit Beverly and other Pink Saturday participants than click on the picture.

My husband, just before Christmas, conducted a wedding at The Salvation Army for two of his parishioners and I had my photo taken with the bride's aunt at the reception in the evening. I had completely forgotten about the photo until it arrived in the post this week - but what a lovely surprise and reminder. As I looked at the photo I realized how 'pink' my cheeks there was a pink balloon , which looks as though it's coming out of my head.

Happy Pink Saturday to you..

My photo of the day - 7

Posting my letters this afternoon in the postbox around the corner to me.

What a lot we lost when we stopped writing letters. You can't reread a phone call. ~Liz Carpenter

Letters are among the most significant memorial a person can leave behind them. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

In an age like ours, which is not given to letter-writing, we forget what an important part it used to play in people's lives. ~Anatole Broyard

Show and Tell Friday

Click on the picture to visit other show and tell participants.

Welcome to “Show and Tell Friday!” Do you have something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, or a treasured collection. Look around your home for something to share; dig through those boxes in your closet if you have to! Share photos and the story that goes with your special item.

Nigel's Auntie Elsie died two years ago at the age of 95 - she was one of those delightful people who always had a story to tell, would chat to anyone who passed her, would send articles and stories that she had written to magazines, newspapers, church magazines and she actually won quite a few pounds.

When Auntie Elsie could no longer look after herself physically she moved into a residential home where she would entertain the other residents by playing all the old songs on the piano. However, to move into residential care she had to 'downsize' and she would invite us all over on various days and give us things that she wanted us to have and treasure.

Auntie Elsie gave me these two delightful ornaments - aren't they cute - she had had them for years for years and always sat in her china cabinet. Auntie Elsie bought them in Italy on a holiday one year and they are made from carrara marble. I've had them now for about 10 years and they sit in my display cabinet. They stand about 4" tall. I love the little girls delicate bodice and the tiny flowers that decorate her dress and the little boy is holding a lamb.

My photo of the day - 6

The HOPE of spring - photo taken in the school garden this morning.

My photo of the day - 5

A lovely cuppa made for me by my son, Karl.

If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are too heated, it will cool you. If you are depressed, it will cheer you. If you are excited, it will calm you. ~Gladstone, 1865

*****

Never trust a man who, when left alone in a room with a tea cozy, doesn't try it on. ~Billy Connolly

*****

You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me. ~C.S. Lewis

The Salvation Army - Amazing Grace

Thank you

I wanted to say a big 'Thank you' to eveyone who comments on my page - I really do enjoy logging and reading all that you have to say - so please accept this picture taken from Christian Glitter as my 'thank you'.



Christian Glitter by www.christianglitter.com

Thank you for all your comments, love Judith

My photo of the day - 4

double click picture to enlarge

Nigel with some of his more mature members of the church having a cuppa

My photo of the Day - 3

Karl and Karmen

I've been tagged!!

I'd been tagged by 2L3BS in China

Here are the rules:Link to the person who tagged you. Post the rules in your blog. Write 7 random things about yourself. Tag 7 people at the end of your post and link to them. Let each person know they've been tagged.

7 Random Things About Myself
1. I went to Board School in Coonor, India for a year at the age of seven
2. I have lived and worked for The Salvation Army in Bangladesh and Ghana
3. I love going for a walk along the Embankment in London especially in the evening
4. I was ordained as a Salvation Army Officer (minister, pastor) on the platform of The Royal Albert Hall, London (1985)
5. I love watching Detective programmes
6. I adore my kitten, Karmen
7. My favourite place is Watersmeet in Devon

I am going to break the rules and allow you decided whether or not you wish to complete seven things about yourself - but it would be lovely if you would let me know..

Blue Monday - Holland

Visit Sally for other Blue Monday participants.

In 1994 we were able too visit Holland and the Dutch Bulb fields. It is an experience I would love to repeat again, especially now that I have a digital camera!! lol

I bought this pot holder during that visit and it now houses my Aloe Vera plant, which was given to me as a very small cutting four years ago. This year I was able to transplant 10 new off-shoots from my Aloe Vera all of whom now have found other good homes.

Click here for an interesting site on how to look after an Aloe Vera plant

After I posted this post I read an article on the internet stating that today is known as Blue Monday click here to see why!! :)

Update on the Amaryllis

I posted photos of my Amaryllis for Pink Saturday - well this is just an update to show you the blooms as of today.

Photo of the day - 2

After Nigel & I had finished leading our various Church services this morning, we decided that as it was a lovely sunny afternoon we would go for a walk then out for a meal. We drove into Barking and went for a walk along the River Roding,which eventually makes its way out to the River Thames via the Barking Barrier.

We both had our cameras and clicked away as we walked and enjoyed the sunshine after the heavy rain last night. I will be sharing some of my photos on Judith's Neck Of The Woods but for now this is my favourite photo of today.

click on photo to enlarge

Getting rather carried away!!

I enjoy blogging and I am very much a 'zonal' person - keeps my head clear but I think I am getting rather carried away!! I now have four blogs, which I will introduce you too:

Judith's Quiet Moments which is this site, my first Blog and is a general blog. I entitled it Quiet Moments mainly because when I'm blogging I do enter my 'own little world' and generally when I'm blogging the house is quiet.

Karmen's Tales is a blog for my kitten, Karmen. I didn't realize how many cat lovers there are out there in blog land and it has been a joy to link up with catsblogsphere.

Judith on Sunday is mainly for my Spiritual Sunday and Mission Monday blogs

Judith's Neck Of The Woods - I was encourage by Canterbury Daily Photo and thought I would do the same by posting photos of where I live.

Please do visit me on any of the blogs - look forward to meeting you there and receiving your comments.

Pink Saturday

For other Pink Saturday contributions hosted by Beverly - please click the logo

It is traditional in our family that the ladies all receive Amaryllis bulbs for Christmas and then we have a competion as to whose is growing the best, has the most trumpets and what colour the flowers are.

The Amaryllis is otherwise known as the Belladonna Lily or the Naked Lady! and it is a native plant of South Africa.

To my delight, this year, my Amaryllis is flowering PINK flowers.

My photo of the day -1

I've been tagged!!

I have been tagged by Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage & Inspirations

Name five things in your purse.

my bag is a minefield it has everything but the kitchen sink in it!!

1. pair of tights - as I'm in my Salvation Army uniform most of the time during the day I always carry a spare of tights in case I ladder the ones I've got on :)
2. My pink Bible
3. five pens
4. church keys
5. stickers from Christmas with Jesus is the Reason for the Season

Name five things in your work room. (I presume this means the office? as I share it with my husband I have shown my side of the office)

1. computer
2. Karmen the kitten
3. Filing cabinet
4. Palm Sunday cross on the wall
5. big tub of vaseline (dry lips!!)

Name five things you've always wanted to do.
Visit Switzerland
Visit South Africa (Nigel's side of the family)
Travel on the Orient Express
Fly over the Alps
Be in Times Square on New Years Eve

Name five things you're into
Drinking tea with friends
blogging
church
my cat & goldfish
travelling

I am going to cheat and not nominate five other bloggers but if you want to have ago - please do and let me know.. Thanks, Judith

An Award

My good blogging friend, Valerie, has been showering me with awards that's because she has received so many herself, which she so truly deserves, that she is sharing them. Thank you Valerie.I must pass this award on to bloggers whose blogs that I love to read. I have three new blogging friends with whom I would like to share this award with and they are as follows:

www.swerdnic.blogspot.com
www.canterburydailyphoto.blogspot.com
www.sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

I have also put the award on www.judithonsunday.blogspot.com because there are some wonderful bloggers I would like to share the award with there too.

Here are the rules:
1) Put the logo on your blog
2) Add the link of the blogger who shared the award with you
3) Pass this award to bloggers whose blogs you love
4) Add your link to the list of participants below
5) Leave a message on the blog of the blogger who passed this award

Thank you Valerie - I am honoured that you enjoy reading my blog and I enjoy our dialogue.

Mission 4 Monday

please visit my Mission 4 Monday on www.judithonsunday.blogspot.com and maybe you, too, would like to join and set a 'mission' for yourself this week. God bless you, Judith

Scenic Sunday

There's an old saying which says..

Red sky at night - shepherds delight

Red sky in the morning - shepherds warning!

Well this was the sky in my part of the world (London, UK) early this morning..let's now see what the rest of day brings..

for other beautiful views visit Scenic Sunday by clicking here

Pink Saturday - Ice Skaters at The Tower

This post is a continuation of the previous two posts but as Beverly commented 'yes' it is ideal for Pink Saturday. I didn't realize how pink the ice looked with the lights shinning on it until I uploaded the photos.

1st post - 'Off with her head' can be viewed here
2nd post - 'Ceremony of the Keys' can be viewed here

Whilst Nigel & I waited for our party to arrive - we went and watched the Ice-Skaters skating on the rink, which had been set up in the moat area of the castle.

please visit Pink Saturday for other pinky people!!!

Ceremony of the Keys

Well I'm home and frozen!! brrrr but nothing a cuppa wont fix. (see previous post for further details of this evenings jaunt)

We met our group (40 of us in total) at the main gates to the Tower of London and at 9.31pm we were escorted from the main gates to the location where the ceremony takes place within the Tower, which is by Traitors Gate.

Our group waiting to go in - these ladies I regularly have a chinese meal with whilst our husbands attend a Rotary Club council meeting.

A very lovely Beefeater explained exactly what would be taking place and that he, himself, has been a part of the ceremony every night for the last 25 years. The actually ceremony commences at 7 minutes to 10 and finishes exactly at 10pm with the playing of the Last Post.
http://www.trooping-the-colour.co.uk/keys/

Unfortunately we were not allowed to take photos; however, it was just awesome to be standing and watching a ceremony that has taken place for over 600 years and to be within the ground of The Tower of London in the evening - it was truly magical.

I took these photos outside before the event.

The last two photos I took through the window of The Tower of London shop..

Off with her head!!

Nigel and I, with other members of The Barking Rotary Club, will be at The Tower of London this evening for the Ceremony of the Keys. This ceremony has taken place for over 600 years and you can read about it on http://www.trooping-the-colour.co.uk/keys/. Hopefully, I shall not find myself in the dungeons or at Traitors Gate but will arrive home safely with my head intact!!lol

took these photos during the summer - I live about 8 miles from The Tower of London but with London traffic it can take me, by car, anything from 20 mins to hour to get there.

My 50th post - Roast Dinner

How appropriate this is my 50th blog and Nigel is 50 this year so I should post a blog in his honour..

Nigel's favourite meal is a roast dinner - Yorkshire puds, stuffing, plenty of rich gravy, roast potatoes, beef or lamb so he was delighted, when on holiday, to find a carvery serving roast meals for £3.50 :) in a place called 'Peacehaven'. Doesn't take much to put a smile on his face - lol

Home

Home from our holiday - although it was short and cold!! it was a good break and it's always good to get back to your own bed and toilet :)

1. cuddle Karmen - notice she has a poorly eye, clean it with warm water

2. start holiday washing

3. cuddle Karmen - make appointment with Vet

4. off to Vet - eye infection - drops for the eye

5. more washing

6. cooking

7. more cuddles with Karmen

8. clean out fish

9. sort out office

10. more cuddles with Karmen

11. make list of things to be done tomorrow- oops it is tomorrow

12. time for bed or another holiday