Firstly - Hello to all my friends and apologies that I've not been visiting so often.  Things have been pretty busy for me lately.  It's almost like the year makes a bottle neck by October and everything that was left for tomorrow suddenly needs to be done today or at least before the December Holidays. 

My martial arts also kept me very busy and I competed at the Kuoshu National Taolu Championships on 10 October.  As usual the nerves and stress nearly killed me beforehand and at the competition things just got busier when I was asked to judge.  I feel so ill equipped to judge other people especially when they've been training for more years than me but one of the judges booked for the day had a car accident and someone had to fill their place.  I like helping out and have great difficulty just saying no so I ended up judging forms and some of the fights which left me very little time to get my mind right to compete myself.

All's well that ends well -  I won all the forms divisions I entered and got the highest score overall on the day.  I couldn't believe it when they called my name! It's so cool that all the training is showing some reward. 

I've attached some pictures although my hubby is not a techno boffin and the pictures aren't very good quality at least I have something to share with you.

Considering I'm 1.7m tall - I suppose I kick very high.

Last step of my open-hand form - The Plumflower

The opening movement of the double hand broad sword form.  Check that horse stance!

A kick in the double hand broad sword form - looks a little funny, like I'm going to kick my sword - hehehe.

A strike in the sword form.

The crane stance in the sword from - but I almost fell over.

The Crane stance in the Shaolin Staff Form.  Pretty Awesome!

The final block in the  Shaolin Staff form.

My Gold Medals - I know I should be humble and not tell everyone about them but I'm so happy I just had to share it with you - my friends.  Please understand - Sheepish Smile

Hi Everyone

Today I invite you to have a laugh at my expense.  You’ve all heard the expression – The wheel is running but the hamster is long dead ? I got into MY hamster brain today to vacuum the dust from my PC and see if I could figure out which of the 3 fans makes so much noise when I start-up in the morning (worst case I would need a new power-supply – Eish).

Lo and behold I found some mouse biltong on my motherboard! Yep.  Attached are the photos.  This is serious people – my brain could have been fried – the wheel has stopped running – my mouse-power is dead! Now I have to switch to eskom power instead.

Have a great day

LOUISE

PS: My PC brand is a Mieccer, No – Mouser, Oops Mecer

Maybe the poor little guy was just looking for some other Meccer’s company!

One dead mouse

Yep - That's my hand - proof that it actually happened to me and I didn't take these pics off the net.

The following song was one of the dissapointments I mentioned earlier.  When I read these lyrics I thought - Gosh - what do they mean. 

Till, sadly, on Saturday 15th August my old brown eyes left this world.  Hamish was my Miniature Schnauzer and eventhough he was 13 years of age he had the most wonderful sparkling brown eyes. We knew his time would come soon because he'd been diagnosed with cancer a year ago.  He died in his favourite place - on his electric blanket at home. Now when I listen to this song it has new meaning.  Yes my old man - I will lie with you and chase cars around our heads.

Chasing Cars

Snow Patrol

We'll do it all  Everything
On our own

We don't need  Anything
Or anyone

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lay with me  And just forget the world?

I don't quite know  How to say  How I feel

Those three words  Are said too much  They're not enough

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lay with me  And just forget the world?

Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden  That's bursting into life

Let's waste time  Chasing cars  Around our heads

I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lay with me  And just forget the world?

Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden  That's bursting into life

All that I am  All that I ever was
Is here In your perfect eyes 

They're all I can see

I don't know where
Confused about how as well
Just know that these things
Will never change for us at all

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lay with me  And just forget the world?

As promosed I am posting some song words that moved me.  This is not a very wel known song but it is done brilliantly.  It is a duet featuring Ville Valo and Natalia Avelon. This is why I love summer and it's bounty.  In suffocating heat magic can happen.

Summer Wine

Ville Valo Ft. Natalia Avelon

Strawberries cherries and an angel's kiss in spring
My summer wine is really made from all these things

I walked in town on silver spurs that jingled too
A song that I had only sang to just a few
She saw my silver spurs and said let pass some time
And I will give to you summer wine

Oohh-oh summer wine

Strawberries cherries and an angel's kiss in spring
My summer wine is really made from all these things
Take off your silver spurs and help me pass the time
And I will give to you summer wine

Oohh-oh summer wine

My eyes grew heavy and my lips they could not speak
I tried to get up but I couldn't find my feet
She reassured me with an unfamilliar line
And then she gave to me more summer wine

Oohh-oh summer wine

Strawberries cherries and an angel's kiss in spring
My summer wine is really made from all these things
Take off your silver spurs and help me pass the time
And I will give to you summer wine

Oohh-oh summer wine

When I woke up the sun was shining in my eyes
My silver spurs were gone my head felt twice its size
She took my silver spurs a dollar and a dime
And left me cravin' for more summer wine

Oohh-oh summer wine

Strawberries cherries and an angel's kiss in spring
My summer wine is really made from all these things
Take off those silver spurs and help me pass the time
And I will give to you my summer wine

Oohh-oh summer wïne