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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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME !!!! ……….

Another year, another birthday.

63 !!

I think that it's back views from now on ….. it's better that way !!!!!

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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MONDAY MAGIC ..... THE MAGIC OF CROATIA or WHAT I DID ON MY HOLIDAYS !! ..... PART ONE ..........

As the mists and chilly weather of Autumn start to roll in, here in the UK, I thought that I should post some of my photographs of our Summer holiday in Croatia before Winter arrives !!. As regulars to my blog well know, I'm always a little behind with things !!!!

Rovinji 

Croatia is a beautiful country and we only touched the surface but, what we saw, we loved. 

It has a beauty all of it's own and, seems to maintain it's original charm. Even though it becomes more and more popular as a holiday destination every year, the area we visited { Istria } didn't have a touristy feel at all. The people were lovely, the food great and, I didn't hear an English voice once ! Dubrovnik is probably the most popular town to go to but, we were 700 miles away from there ..... we shall have to go back to visit that area. 

and ..... as much as I don't want to compare, because it has it's own special personality, it does have a certain Italian influence, due to it's geographical position and history.

Shutters and washing ..... my favourite photographic subjects !!

Pula

Pula is the largest city in Istria County, best known for it's many surviving buildings, the most famous of which is it's 1st- Century amphitheatre which is amongst the six largest surviving Roman arenas in the world. Pula is surrounded by naturally beautiful countryside and the turquoise water of the Adriatic. More photos of Pula in Part 2.

 Rovinji

Rovinji is a beautiful, unspoilt and active fishing port and is said to be one of the most photogenic towns in the Mediterranean.

The town is enchanting with it's medieval streets, pretty marina and busy port. I'll show more of Rovinji in Part 2 { hopefully, I'll get around to Part 2 !! } but, I didn't take that many photos as I was too busy eating and drinking !!!!

Grandson Henry on holiday in Croatia.

Wishing everyone a magical week.

All images taken by me

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