New York State of Mind...

Is where I take myself most days!... Today's theme is Travel dreams, I have several, mostly featuring cities around the world, however there is one I come back to more than anywhere else....NEW YORK! There are not enough adjectives to describe why this place holds my heart. I've shared some happy memories, and heartbreakingly sad memories in this city and still I come back for more. It's now in double figures over the past 15 years and I'm still not bored with it.

I have over 80 posts on my blog NY related ( available Here ) featuring Christmas Day in Central Park, Fleetweek in May ( island filled with uniformed sailors!!! Oh my!) best tourist tips and so much more, including the best Chick Flicks and movie moments in New York... NY Movie moments. Sit 

back and enjoy T's travels to the Big Apple!... 

Here was my New York State of mind moment this afternoon at my desk!

Social media & me...

Now usually Social & me do not go in the same sentence... However add "dia" to the end and I'm a different person entirely. About 10 years ago I had a complete confidence crisis which resulted in me going from a "life and soul of a party" girl to a wallflower, there wasn't one defining thing that bought on this change but an amalgamation of a number.
Social media in several forms has helped me over the past 5 years to become less of a hermit and given me some of my confidence back. There are still occasions and situations that I socially avoid but the joy of the Internet has helped meet new friends and get me out and about.
So what do I love and why do I love it!...

My ultimate favourite is Twitter... I can be found Here . Why do I love it... It's instantaneous, it allows you snapshots of people's lives that you never thought you could ever meet. It suits every audience, gossip, show biz, politics, current affairs, breaking news and daily life. I've met some amazing people through twitter, as well as a quick and easy way to communicate with friends. My daily twitter fix with my GBF is the highlight of my commute!...It has now become one of my active tools for work and I now teach social media training as part of my working life...
Instagram, .. I'm just starting to get my head round Instagram, along with a couple of other photo apps on my phone. A picture can tell a thousand words and brighten up your moment in an instant... Here is my Instagram link... Enjoy!
Where Instagram is a snapshot of daily life Pinterest creates a forum for inspiration. I love it, it's a virtual mood board for what ever takes you fancy.... I have multiple boards covering a broad spectrum of subjects... Take a look Here at my pin boards.... Heavily featuring New York, cupcakes, macarons and Home!
And finally last and probably least favourite..  Facebook.... I have a Facebook profile and dip in and out if it. My primary function of it is to keep in touch with family near and far. I don't post much, it is my least favourite social network and since the changes this year like it even less, especially all the advertising links... I am toying with deleting it altogether... Watch this space!
Look forward to meeting you on one of these sites... X

A member of the family...

Todays Blog every day in May post is first pet. Those that have pets or have had pets will know that they become a member of the family, especially dogs. My first pet was a dog called Sally. We were given her as a present on our first birthday. I'm not sure by who i think it was my Grandad and looking back question the madness of giving a single mum with 1 year old twins a 6 month old puppy .... But it worked.

Sally a Collie/Labrador mongrel became part of the family and she loved us with utmost loyalty, I can't remember any part of my childhood that she wasn't part of. We grew up with lots of other pets, rabbits, guinea pigs, and cats but Sally held a special place in my heart... She left us when she was 14,  and it was heartbreaking... My mum never replaced her, because to us she was irreplaceable.

Singin in the Rain

Last Wednesday I joined my friend and her family for an evening of fun Singin' in the Rain. I'm a sucker for a musical and love this old classic. From Good Mornin to Make 'Em Laugh and the classic Singin in the Rain this musical ticks all the boxes. The musical mirrors the film, including the rain (I will come back to the rain!) This musical has the magic and glamour of the movie, with the 3 leads epitomising Gene Kelly, Donold O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds amazingly.

The classic Singin in the Rain sequence comes just before the interval, and having witnessed first hand what this involves I'm not surprised. What my friend failed to mention when she booked the tickets was that she had booked front row.... These come with a splash warning, now this doesn't mean you may get a little wet, this means you get soaked. My beautiful Mulberry bag is still recovering from the deluge!... 14,000 litres are used for each performance, 7,000 in the first half and 7,000 for the finale... All the water is recycled, except that which the audience takes home with them!
I loved the show, and I am looking forward to returning with the my godmother & friend this month... They are desperate to see it before it ends its run in London and embarks on a tour of the UK. If this comes to a theatre near you it's a must... Don't forget to take an umbrella!
Here is a brief montage of what to expect....Singin in the Rain...

Rest & relaxation

Is how I've passed my weekend.... I made no plans for this weekend as I wanted some down time.
Saturday was spent doing chores, shopping and catching up with friends for an early evening supper. My most taxing decision of the day was what colour Birkenstocks were coming home from TKMaxx with me as they were the bargain price of £20. Popped a bottle of wine and flowers into the neighbours on the way home as on my return home from work Friday evening they had weeded and tidied my drive for me... Random act of kindness!

Sunday I went for a very long walk as part of my new healthy living... However don't think the blueberry bagels and coffee were that healthy when I got home. Pottered around indoors for a bit and then packed a picnic and headed over to the park to sit under a tree and read a book from my "kindle to read" pile.
Monday morning was spent in the laundry, followed by a pile of ironing watching the snooker ... As I type this tonight I am watching the final session of the world championship, routing for Ronnie...dipping in and out of Pinterest, twitter & Instagram!