BY INVITATION ….. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE ? ……….

What a question ?!!!!

I do believe that I'm either lucky, boring or just plain lazy !!! I seem to skip through life without many challenges coming my way …… maybe I duck and dive my way around them ? I don't set myself challenges either ….. I simply don't feel the need !! 

For me, my life seems full enough .

I have never swum the channel …..

….. never flown solo around the world …..

….. or composed a symphony.

I have avoided marathons,

and climbing mountains !!

….. and, on a more serious note, I have never had to face the challenge of war

or the challenge of living with a disability. Millions face challenges so big everyday and accept and cope with it. They are brave, scared, sometimes in pain { mentally and physically } and just get on with it. 

Of course, you could say that bringing up children is a challenge but, millions do it everyday.

I think that the little challenges that affect us all everyday are just things that we all accept and get on with. 

Therefore, I really don't think that I can quantify anything that I do as a challenge.

But, here are a few challenges that might make you smile !!!

HANG ON !!!!  

 I've just thought of one major challenge in my life at the moment …..

Playing trains with our grandson for eight hours is a pretty big challenge !!!!!

There are only so many scrapes that Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends can get into !!!!

….. although, crashing is his favourite ….. we have a lot of crashes !!

To hear what challenges other members of the By Invitation group, please pop over to Marsha's  where she has all of the links.

OH ….. and thanks so much for all of your birthday wishes. It's means a lot, even more so when you get to my age !!!!!

XXXX

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BY INVITATION ….. CHANGE ….. MOVING FORWARD …..

We are now at the beginning of a New Year and, ' By Invitation ' is back again.

To kick off with this year, our subject is 'Change'  - 'Moving On '.

Moving forward may mean ' from now on ', ' in the future ', or even ' now '. It gives a sense of action, purpose and direction that appeals to some. To many of you it may mean a change in career, an ambition fulfilled or maybe a house move.

Every ones future is unpredictable and things aren't always going to go as planned. Much of life is ' groundhog day ' but, interspersed with this are massive moments, proud points in time and touching memories ….. family Christmas mornings, weddings, a hurdle overcome or a poignant gesture.

Because I am pretty happy with my lot and, being older than most of you, I really don't have a need to move on or change in any way so, hopefully for me, there will still be wine ….. 

….. laughter …..

….. cake and chocolate …..

….. there will be friends …..

….. shopping …..

….. there will still be blogging …..

and books.

There will be dining …..

….. and some dreaming.

There will also, inevitably, be thunder and lightening sometimes …..

….. and, rejection …..

….. possibly some sadness …..

but, there is always beauty and …..

….. acts of kindness to balance everything out { although, you may not feel that at the time !! }

There are often a few obstacles to overcome { for some, many } ….. little setbacks to deal with, some huge ones and there will be sparks of darkness in the diamonds …..

….. but, we must move on as there are beautiful memories to be made in 2014 and,

….. there will be change in our family as ….. we will be welcoming another grandchild to the world !

I wish for all of you a bright and beautiful future and that you will change and move on as you wish this year without too many obstacles along the way.

To see how others in our ' By Invitation ' group feel about change and moving on, please pop over to Marsha's blog where she has all of the links.

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BY INVITATION ….. THE COCKTAIL PARTY ……….

The subject for our By Invitation post this festive month of December is :

' Christmas Cocktails '

The family welcomes you …..

….. to our humble abode. 

Please make your way around to the rear of the house …..

where you will see that we have gone to great lengths to decorate with a delightful Christmas wreath !!

As you enter the hall …..

….. you will be greeted by the magnificent Christmas tree.

Please make your way up to …..

The Salon …..

where you will be able to partake in some delicious cocktails.

There will be dancing in the ballroom …..

….. and more cocktails and canapés.

Should you have one or two drinks too many, there are bedrooms available where you can sleep it off !!

….. and a luxurious bathroom where you can freshen up. As you can see, there is a bottle of wine provided for refreshment whilst you are powdering your noses etc.

All of your favourite, fun-loving friends will be here to make this Cocktail Party one to remember AND …..

there will be a special gift for each and everyone of you, expertly wrapped ….. no expense spared !!

Finally, here is a sneak preview of my outfit for the evening. Stunning isn't it ? I shall feel like a Christmas snowball. 

Your outfit will never reach the dizzy heights of fashion perfection that mine will but, try your hardest !!

For more exciting and entertaining Cocktail Party fun, please visit Marsha where she will have all of the links to the other Cocktail Parties { none of which will be anywhere near as sophisticated and classy as mine !!!! } hahahahaha !!!!

Joking apart, we should all take some time to remember that there are so many people who won't be enjoying the excesses in life and for whom cocktail parties are not part of their December. If you can, please put your hands in your pockets and give a little something for those less fortunate than ourselves.

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