Tally's bubble

Tally's bubble http://tallyknight.multiply.com/ I love Mat, and I love Alex and that's quite enough for me :) ABOUT ME: Starsign - Scorpio Favourite Colours - Blue/purple/black My Interests - My son Alex, Languages, My boyfriend Mat, Word games, Coffee, Learning more about the world, Nature Documentaries, Books, Taking Photos, Hanging around Flickr, Cooking, Comedy, Humour, <s>smoking</s> Most treasured possession - My camera Favourite Music - Queens of the Stone Age, Audioslave, Beck, Foo Fighters, 311, Billy Talent,Marilyn Manson, A Perfect Circle, Tool, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, Stone Temple Pilots, Rage Against the machine, Pearl Jam, Dead Kennedys, White Stripes, Jamiroquai, Lots of rock and punk. Couldn't live without - My 2 boys, coffee, books, music, a camera, hair straighteners. Assets - Awesome hair, cooking skills, daft humour, brain. Pet hates - Spiders, tea, most modern art, condescending people, chavs. Likes - Dali, Escher, Orwell, Shakespeare, Dickens, Quentin Tarantino, horror films, Stephen King, autumn, lolcats, scrabble, cooking. Tue, 5 Aug 2008 20:23:14 -0000 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:29:08 -0000 Tally's bubble http://images.tallyknight.multiply.com/logo http://tallyknight.multiply.com 100 100 Golden Acre Park July '08 Golden Acre Park, http://tallyknight.multiply.com/photos/album/28/Golden_Acre_Park_July_08 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:29:08 -0000 Hello...is it me you're looking for? ...Well, it probably isn't. But that's okay. I've been absent a while, noticeably or not I'm not quite sure. It's been one of those weeks. No, it's been one of those months. Work, work, more work. And <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35345751@N00/sets/72157606120009700/">Alex's birthday</a> this weekend just gone. I took him and 3 of his bratlet friends to the cinema to see Prince Caspian (great film), then celebrated his birthday proper on Sunday. 8 years old! I don't know where the time has gone, at all. It's scary. Life is just a whirl of work, Alex, Mat, eating, coffee, nicotine, more coffee, more work...if I'm lucky I get in 4-5 hours sleep on a night, and if I'm extra lucky I get an hours nap in the evening. I'm worn out but not in a bad way...I feel like I'm being productive and at least being busy keeps my mind off missing Mat. Which I do, a lot. We're at about 8 weeks till his next visit now, and I really cannot wait. I know I've said it before, but he's just an absolute treasure. I couldn't get through all this craziness without him. He is the sweet... http://tallyknight.multiply.com/journal/item/64/Hello...is_it_me_youre_looking_for Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:17:44 -0000 Playing with colour. Learning, http://tallyknight.multiply.com/photos/album/27/Playing_with_colour. Tue, 1 Jul 2008 17:51:08 -0000 My ducks Not actually mine, but a group of ducks I've been keeping an eye on for a year or so at the fishpond over the http://tallyknight.multiply.com/photos/album/26/My_ducks Tue, 1 Jul 2008 17:50:55 -0000 Bugs New-found love of insect macros - it's a learning process but I'm enjoying it http://tallyknight.multiply.com/photos/album/25/Bugs Tue, 1 Jul 2008 17:50:21 -0000 Snowed under I have had so much going on lately, I don't even know where to begin. I'd really take a few extra hours in the day just now. Last week I had so much work that I was often still at it at 10pm, having got up at 6.30 to start...that seems to be continuing this week, on top of that I have my first ever paid photo thingy tonight, the local church is celebrating its Silver Jubilee this week (50 years since it was built, I think). There's going to be a big service with bishops and whatnot, and the choir from Leeds Cathedral. It's a big thing and they've entrusted the pic-taking to me. I'm scared rigid, what if I mess up? Afterwards there's some sort of social gathering at a nearby golf club and I have to go and take pics there too...I'm dreading that mostly, social gatherings full of strangers, gahh. Mat advised me to spend lots of time fiddling with my camera and looking busy...I think I'll be taking that advice. I have to take pics of another part of the celebration on Friday evening, though... http://tallyknight.multiply.com/journal/item/63/Snowed_under Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:59:35 -0000 Flower Festival June 08 - a set on Flickr Alex sang with his school choir at a Flower Festival at a nearby church this weekend. It was really sweet, the kids all put a lot of effort in, and the church itself was lovely. All my pics from that here. Having fun with the new http://tallyknight.multiply.com/links/item/11/Flower_Festival_June_08_-_a_set_on_Flickr Sun, 15 Jun 2008 21:36:16 -0000 Picture Perfect - Extravagance It came down to a choice of 3 for this topic, one of my choices would have been the Palais Royal in Madrid, which was spectacularly opulent. Even that didn't blow my mind quite as much as the interior of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duomo_di_Pisa#The_Duomo">Duomo in Pisa</a>. Right next to the Leaning Tower, it's just incredible. Really high, ornately frescoed ceilings, arches, intricate stonework, marble, it's just amazing. Extravagant and expensive! <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35345751@N00/2571467602/" title="pisa by Tally K, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/2571467602_f1c89d5d80_o.jpg" alt="pisa" height="800" width="600"></a> Breathtaking still. I couldn't let this theme go past without a nod to my new camera, my baby. My old, beloved camera met an untimely death, thanks to an incident involving my 7yr old son "helpfully" taking said camera upstairs. And dropping it. The "clunk" sound was heartbreaking, I knew it was a goner. I hadn't budgeted for a new one, but got an amazing deal on my new love. Still feels very much an extravagance in these economically hard times. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35345751@N00/2545527491/" title="DSC00048 by Tally K, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3004/2545527491_64da4b5d9f.jpg" alt="DSC00048" height="500" width="375"></a> <a href="http://fotofriday.multiply.com/journal/item/90/Picture_Perfect_Extravagance">http://fotofriday.multiply.com/journal/item/90/Picture_Perfect_Extravagance</a> http://tallyknight.multiply.com/journal/item/62/Picture_Perfect_-_Extravagance Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:52:31 -0000 Picture Perfect - Curves. Curves had me musing for a while.  I took a look through the pictures I took in <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35345751@N00/sets/72157605338660256/http://">MADRID</a> last week, lots of beautiful arches and curves in the architecture. The one that stood out most to me though was this one. Ancient sculpture does it for me, the inordinate care and skill that went into creating the curve of the chest, the curls of the beard and hair blows my mind, plenty of curves here! <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35345751@N00/2536998744/" title="DSC00002 by Tally K, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2405/2536998744_47092b5c6c.jpg" alt="DSC00002" height="500" width="375"></a> Best viewed <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35345751@N00/2536998744/sizes/l/in/set-72157605338660256/">LARGE.</a> http://tallyknight.multiply.com/journal/item/61/Picture_Perfect_-_Curves. Wed, 4 Jun 2008 19:42:22 -0000 Unexpected delightfulness You know some days everything just goes your way? Today was that day. I've been all woeful and misery-laden since I got home cause my camera got broken the last day I was in Spain. Alex dropped it down some stairs and the pictures were all fuzzy and there appeared to be a hair or crack on all of them. I was SO devasted, there seemed no way I could afford a new one. I'd been saving for a while for a new summer wardrobe for Alex, who has outgrown all last years things, so I went to the bank today to get my money and found a lot more than I was expecting in my account. Delayed pay from some work I did a while ago. Which was lovely surprise #1. Then I got to the clothes shop and found a big, big sale. So I got all the stuff I needed for Alex at about half the cost I'd saved. Awesome surprise #2. So I went to the camera shop and found this luscious camera. It was grossly reduced (marvellous surprise #3) because it was a return, nothing the matter with it and still under guarantee. It's sil... http://tallyknight.multiply.com/reviews/item/4 Mon, 2 Jun 2008 14:30:35 -0000 Home! I went on something of an impromptu trip this week, to Madrid. I say impromptu, I'd known about it for a while, but had been putting off making a decision on going cause I didn't really want to be parted from Mat for that amount of time. I can see how people wouldn't get that, given that we spend most of our lives apart, but it's different. We have our little routines, I see him in the morning before he goes to work, and we spend time together every night when he gets home, and there are games and phone calls and much smooshiness and I do love that. So, I wasn't going to go but then my friends and Mat started telling me how I'd regret it if I didn't go etc. Would I have regretted it? Meh, I don't think so. It was a gorgeous city, but my mind was elsewhere and I had the usual stress that I always get in new places. I have some stupid social disorder that makes me feel like people are staring at me. It's worse some times than others; for instance, in my home town, I hardly feel it at al... http://tallyknight.multiply.com/journal/item/60/Home Sat, 31 May 2008 08:02:58 -0000 The Ting Tings - That's Not My Name You know sometimes a song gets stuck in your head, and you can't fight it, no matter how much it irks you? Yeah. That's this song. Guaranteed I'm dancing by the end of it. Now I'm going to go listen to some hard rock and try to remember when I was cool. http://tallyknight.multiply.com/video/item/53/The_Ting_Tings_-_Thats_Not_My_Name Sun, 25 May 2008 09:33:40 -0000 Picture Perfect - Broken Another week, another Picture Perfect...I was all confused, it seems to be getting earlier each week, but new rules suggest Wednesday is going to be the new regular. So. "Broken". I spent a good hour sifting through my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35345751@N00/">Flickr archives</a>, mostly concentrating on some pictures of ancient, decrepit temples in Greece. I couldn't find one to my liking and got irritated. Pictures of Stonehenge, again none caught my eye. Then I remembered this that I took a couple of days ago. I spotted it, lying by the roadside as I walked along the street. Very much dead but so perfect. Personally, I find it a poignant image, although I suppose there are going to be be people that find a picture of a dead animal offensive. It's not intended to be, I think there is a real beauty in it. The wings remind me of an angel. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35345751@N00/2505206149/" title="Demise by Tally K, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2101/2505206149_228e855140.jpg" alt="Demise" height="406" width="500"></img></a> Interesting idea, the competition edge that PP has been given. I'm sure there'll be some beautiful shots. <a href="http://fotofriday.multiply.com/journal/item/81/Picture_Perfect_Broken?replies_read=75"> PICTURE PERFECT    </a> http://tallyknight.multiply.com/journal/item/59/Picture_Perfect_-_Broken Wed, 21 May 2008 17:55:36 -0000 Mitchy's Fototastic Challenge 3 - Food Glorious Food Well, far be it from me to pass up an opportunity to share in food-related goodness. My entry here is from a dish I made a couple of weeks ago - chopped up some chicken breasts, marinated them for a while in some soy sauce, honey, sesame oil and a bit of finely chopped garlic, and left for a while. Stir-fry the chicken until browned, add some baby corn, mange tout, mushrooms (I used chestnut mushrooms) and some thinly sliced onion, and stir-fry until the chicken is cooked through, while the vegetables are still crisp. Meanwhile, in a dry frying pan, I toasted some sesame seeds...they need a close eye kept on them or they'll burn. In (yet) another pan, I cooked some egg noodles, and when ready tossed them with a little more sesame oil, honey. soy sauce and coriander (cilantro) and added the chicken and sesame seeds. Garnish with a little more coriander, and there's a tasty and very quick dinner :) <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35345751@N00/2454230081/" title="30 026 by Tally K, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/2454230081_d61c4e883a.jpg" alt="30 026" height="322" width="500"></a> Thanks to Mitch for this blog idea!  His can be found <a href="http://mitchylr.multiply.com/journal/item/101/Mitchys_Fototastic_Challenge_3">HERE.</a> http://tallyknight.multiply.com/journal/item/58/Mitchys_Fototastic_Challenge_3_-_Food_Glorious_Food Sun, 18 May 2008 21:06:36 -0000 My Flickr site All my pics, in one http://tallyknight.multiply.com/links/item/10/My_Flickr_site Sat, 17 May 2008 14:52:10 -0000 Picture Perfect - Summertime Fun I didn't really have a picture in mind for this one, so I went to my archives and trawled through my pics for July and August of last year, and came across this one: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35345751@N00/2493721621/" title="886676462_e3502a2517_o by Tally K, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2387/2493721621_52ba5786a6_o.jpg" alt="886676462_e3502a2517_o" height="640" width="480"></a> I remember it well. It was just a few days before my son's 7th birthday (he's on the right there), and I had taken him and his best friend to a place called "Tropical World". It's a butterfly house/aquarium, as well as having the second largest collection of tropical plants in the UK. It is also home to reptiles and some very cute meerkats. Anyway, it was a beautiful day and the sun was shining, and the boys were full of that childish exuberance you don't see often once you hit adulthood. Fun times :) <a href="http://fotofriday.multiply.com/journal/item/79/Picture_Perfect_Summertime_Fun_Its_me_Cherie_your_host_this_week">Picture Perfect link.</a> http://tallyknight.multiply.com/journal/item/57/Picture_Perfect_-_Summertime_Fun Thu, 15 May 2008 09:21:06 -0000 Picture Perfect - Gossamer This is such a specific theme, I suspect there will be a lot of wonderful spiderweb pictures out there today! My contribution, taken on a frosty morning in February. I loved the way it almost resembled a snowflake, I'm terrified of spiders but it was worth getting this close! :D <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35345751@N00/2276286785/" title="19-02 003 by Tally K, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2263/2276286785_7d365cdce5_o.jpg" alt="19-02 003" height="374" width="639"></a> <a href="http://fotofriday.multiply.com/journal/item/78/GOSSAMER_A_PICTURE_PERFECT_THEME">Picture Perfect - Gossamer</a> http://tallyknight.multiply.com/journal/item/55/Picture_Perfect_-_Gossamer Thu, 8 May 2008 09:18:47 -0000 All the good blog titles were taken... ...So make your own up. I've been so bad at blogging lately. I have good intentions, it just never seems the right time. But I have a bit of blog material saved up now I guess. Firstly, you might have noticed, I'm sick. I think it's flu, everything aches, from my head and neck right down to my shins. I have no energy, I'm all stuffy, my glands are up, my eyes are sore and puffy and I'm so chesty it's not even funny. I think it's a very large hint to stop, or at least cut down drastically on the smoking. Easier said than done, although I've barely smoked at all this week.  I'm so wheezy though, when I open my mouth to speak you could be forgiven for thinking my next words will be "Luke...I am your father". Alex has been really good for me, for the most part, and keeps giving me large soft toys to keep me company. Mat's kept him entertained for several hours here over the weekend with games of online pool and hangman, giving me a chance to nap. That really is the sweetest thing, it's ... http://tallyknight.multiply.com/journal/item/54/All_the_good_blog_titles_were_taken... Sun, 4 May 2008 19:51:09 -0000 Being ill It http://tallyknight.multiply.com/reviews/item/3 Fri, 2 May 2008 22:10:07 -0000 Lego Yourself! <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35345751@N00/2428814959/" title="lego me by Tally K, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2209/2428814959_8361a6362a_o.jpg" width="273" height="318" alt="lego me" /></a> Thanks, Mat, for the link http://tallyknight.multiply.com/links/item/9/Lego_Yourself Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:02:42 -0000 Deep Purple "Hush" Great track and this vid is worth watching for the outfits alone. Gold breeches should be compulsory for all men. Also, I swear Jeannie from I dream of Jeannie is dancing behind the singer at one http://tallyknight.multiply.com/video/item/52/Deep_Purple_Hush_ Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:25:07 -0000 Sex Pistols - Pretty Vacant Okay, they were the manufactured boyband of their time. But still, I never could resist the Sex Pistols. Pretty Vacant is about http://tallyknight.multiply.com/video/item/50/Sex_Pistols_-_Pretty_Vacant Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:11:18 -0000 The Specials - Too Much Too Young Another band I grew up listening to, along with Madness. Great http://tallyknight.multiply.com/video/item/49/The_Specials_-_Too_Much_Too_Young Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:56:21 -0000 Air - Sexy Boy Bizarre but wonderful. I'd dedicate it to my own sexy boy, but I'm not sure how much he'd enjoy being compared to a monkey http://tallyknight.multiply.com/video/item/48/Air_-_Sexy_Boy Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:34:22 -0000 Oleander - Why I'm here More 90's nostalgia, this is a great track. Unfortunately doesn't have an official video, and YouTube only had a few to offer so I went with this Harry Potter one cause <s>I love Harry Potter</s> it was the nicest http://tallyknight.multiply.com/video/item/47/Oleander_-_Why_Im_here Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:25:14 -0000 Random Thoughts Another busy week! Work, Alex off sick, spring cleaning, Mat off sick (get well soon, gorgeous! I'm sending virtual chicken soup but I know it isn't the same), another visit to see my friend and her baby, more work, more cleaning, blah blah, and worrying about the economic climate. Yeah, I'm actually starting to feel it quite hard now. Everything is going up in price, well, except my wages which steadfastly remain the same. We really seem to be in meltdown, I've seen friends lose their homes recently through being unable to keep up with mortgage repayments, everybody is struggling. Except those at the top, it seems...but then, they never do. I hate Gordon Brown. Truly. I'll admit, by the time Tony Blair left office, I was feeling pretty pissed off with him. A lot of promises and not a lot of following through...that's politicians through and through though, right? But still...he was likeable in a way, approachable, and I felt he had the ability to poke fun at himself a little, which i... http://tallyknight.multiply.com/journal/item/53/Random_Thoughts Sat, 19 Apr 2008 09:00:27 -0000