Once you start doing the following this won’t be a problem

Get your complete bedding set.  If you use extra pillowcases find them.  Get the sheets that go with the set.  You want a whole change of bedding.

Fold everything neatly.  Don’t know how to fold a fitted sheet?  Here’s the trick…. Make a fist.  Put it into the elasticated corner of the sheet. Take the opposite corner of the same end of the sheet over your fist.  The sheet is now roughly folded in half.  Tuck the corners of the opposite end of the sheet together and fold them over your fist.  It’ll look something like this as you do it…

If you place the sheet down on a flat surface with the corners tucked together like this you’ll be able to flatten the sheet out like this ready to fold neatly –>

Fold the duvet cover and all but 1 pillow case neatly BUT inside out.  Why? Because if you reach in and grab the pillow or duvet via the far corners of the cover while it’s inside out, all you need to do is pull the cover down over the duvet or pillow to turn it the right way.  The far corners are already in place! No duvet wrestling

Take your nicely folded stack of bed linen and place it inside the pillow case that is the right way out.  Put it away in your linen cupboard

Smile because the next time you’re looking for a bed linen set you’ll be able to choose the correct patterned pillow case, pull it out, and know that all of the covers you need are there in that one case ready to put on the bed

It’s, just, I don’t want to live

I have nothing left

Despair (Photo credit: fakelvis)

I wrote a couple of days ago about Eska Mtungwazi, a UK based singer/songwriter.  Here’s my challenge……. follow this link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brME-eTSdmo&feature=BFa&list=PL91EB9D99DCEA772D) to a performance of one of her songs, listen to it, then try not to sing the chorus for the next 4 days.

I am HOPELESS at this.  This song is now part of me!

Related articles

• Haiku for Eska (fundemental.wordpress.com)
• Nuwamba – Old Interview… (allaboutsoulmusic.wordpress.com)

I enjoy reading and writing poetry so I migrated to that section of the shop.  Flicking through a book I found, and loved, the poem below.

I understand that you probably can’t read it based on this picture, so here’s the necessary info:

It’s a poem by Togara Muzanenhamo.  Based purely on the name I thought he was Japanese.  He is however, in a strange moment of synchronicity, from Zimbabwe. (Haiku for Eska).

I found the words so evocative that I had to take this snap so that I could remember the writer’s name.  I’m looking forward to reading more of his work.

So that you can share it here’s a link to an online copy of this poem: http://www.poetrymagazines.org.uk/magazine/record.asp?id=23440

Enjoy!

Related articles

• Haiku for Eska (fundemental.wordpress.com)

Blackness.

It surrounds me.

A black fog that engulfs me,

Seeps into my lungs and chokes me.

Blackness.

It is all I see.

The joy of life drained away

until all that is left is shades of grey.

Blackness.

Fills my ears like tar.

Smothers the sounds

I hear my heartbeat like a drum, counting down to my release.

Blackness.

Takes away my voice.

Changes my vocabulary.

Twists my meaning.

Blackness.

It’s all I have

It’s all I know

and blindfolded by blackness I can’t find my way out.

Scream (Photo credit: paulbence)

Such sibilant sound

Sings in my ears and screeching

Affects my hearing.

Jazz singer Eska Mtungwazi (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On Monday I went to see the fabulous Eska Mtungwazi perform her latest work English Skies at the South Bank.  I went to school with her and even then she was a musical force, able to play any instrument she picked up without a single lesson. When I discovered a few years ago that she was writing and performing her own music ( we had written a  few  songs together at  school ) I was ecstatic to find that this amazing gift was being shared with the world.  On Monday I also felt a little inspired so here is my Haiku for the lovely Eska…

‘English Skies’ Songstress
your music and lyrics join
to lift my soul high

Related articles

• Eska Mtungwazi – Old Interview (allaboutsoulmusic.wordpress.com)

I have been nominated twice for The Sunshine Award, which is lovely!

The ‘rules’ go like this

1. Thank the person who gave you this award and write a post about it – Thank you to A Circle in the Path

2.  Answer the questions below.

3.  Pass on the award to 10 fabulous bloggers, link their blogs and let them know you awarded them.  (I’ve already nominated 3 via my blog http://thedementiadiary.wordpress.com/)

Favorite Color -  Purple (allegedly the colour of knowledge)

Favorite Animal - Dog (It’s no co-incidence that after many unhappy working years I have set up a dog walking and pet sitting business and finally have job satisfaction)

Favorite Number - hmmmm 7?  13?

Favorite Drink – It depends on my mood but champagne is ALWAYS good

Facebook or Twitter – Facebook for keeping in touch.  Twitter for venting.

Your Passion - I’ll let you know when I figure it out

Giving or Getting Presents – Giving.  Getting often ends in disaapointment (soap – how lovely!)

Favorite Day – Sunday.  No work.  Forest with hubby and dog then the afternoon as a family.

Favorite Flowers – Roses

And my list of nominee/winners:

A Year of Photographs

Raising my Rainbow

Lorna’s Tearoom Delights

h20 by Joanna

chittlechattle

manipal’s photo blog

uphilldowndale

Thank you all for bringing a little Sunshine into my life

I remember one day it fell behind my chest of drawers.  I pulled and tugged at the heavy piece of furniture until it moved just enough for me to slip my hand behind and retrieve it.  In doing I managed to get it caught and the cross on top of the crown that helped form the bale got bent.  It upset me but at least it wasn’t broken.  I was given that necklace 35 years ago.  Somewhere in those years it got lost but I’ve never forgotten it and think about it often.

I have a charm bracelet, silver of course, and when major events happen in my life, I add a charm to mark the occasion.  I am also given charms as gifts and these serve to remind me of the important people in my life who give them to me.  Each one is as important to me as that little crown I loved and lost years ago.

This year marks the 60th year since Queen Elizabeth came to the throne and I thought it would be nice to add a crown to my charm bracelet as a marker for this national event and as a little nod to the one my Grandparents gave me.  Ebay is my usual port of call for these types of things (most things actually) so I had a browse.

I found a charm that completely matched my memory of my little crown.  I was thrilled and bought it.  Today it arrived and imagine how I felt when, not only was it exactly like my old one but, the cross on top was bent!