Just a beautiful song...

I hadn't heard this song in ages. It's a little bit lovely. It's happy and sad and hopeful and unifying and powerful, all at the same time. A bit like life, really. Do You Realize?, by The Flaming Lips. I just heard it on the radio, and wanted to share.

Lyrics...

Do you realize - that you have the most beautiful face
Do you realize - we're floating in space -
Do you realize - that happiness makes you cry
Do you realize - that everyone you know someday will die

And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round

Do you realize - Oh - Oh - Oh
Do you realize - that everyone you know
Someday will die -

And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round

Do you realize - that you have the most beautiful face
Do you realize....

Love,
Cxx

So much to talk about...

....so little time!

Just about to dash out the door (once I've packed. I SUCK at packing! Well, actually, I'm quite good at packing, it just takes me forever to get round to it....) for a weekend away. More soon, I promise - it has been one of those weeks where I've just been flat-out wall-to-wall. But now, it's half-term break, and with each passing hour I'm relaxing a little more :-)

Back Monday - much more posting next week!

Happy Valentine's Day (a little in advance), you gorgeous lovely folk!

Love,
Cxx

A weekend alone

Heavy snows meant that I wound up staying put this weekend. This was all sorts of disappointing, because I had been due for a red wine and gossip weekend with Hannah, but with people getting stranded here there and everywhere and heavy snow predicted for this afternoon, I decided to do the right thing. How mature of me. I also turned down a very kind invite to Brum, but we're really rural here and the roads are iffy at best - didn't want to have to call my Headmaster and tell him I was stuck elsewhere Monday morning.

So it's been lowkey - writing letters, baking cupcakes, Twitter (oh, I'm getting into it now!), planning, reading loads of blogs, ironing, laundry, tidying, watching Oprah, listening to the radio, organising and sleeping. Oh man, I love to sleep (am about to head off again in a mo!). I think I will look back on this chilled time fondly as this week kicks in...

How was your weekend?

Love,
Cxx

Interview with a Country Mouse (part 1)

How it works....

1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.”
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

My first batch of questions come from the multitalented Erik.

1. What is your favorite breakfast cereal(s)?
Mmmm, cereal.... My favourite is probably porridge, I must say. With sugar or golden syrup or apricots or yoghurt, it's just the perfect start to the day :-).

2. If you were independently wealthy would you still work?
Oooh, good question! I'd probably work, but in a different way. I'd try my hand properly at both writing and singing...two things I adore but I just can't afford to pursue. I'd see about starting my own business. Or if I remained in the current field, I'd consider staying in teaching, or I might opt to volunteer or work for a children's charity instead. I think I'd work *less*, if I could. I'd adore more time to write and study and see friends. But I don't think I could give up working in all its shapes and forms. I like being busy! I'd definitely consider hiring a cleaning lady though....ah, to say farewell to laundry and vaccuuming!

3. Are American or Canadian accents sexy?
Simple answer - yes. Because I have a fairly mid-Atlantic/middle England, non-specific accent myself, I tend to have a soft spot for an accent. Current faves are probably Irish, Canadian, Scots, American....and Geordie.

4. Has there ever been a picture taken of you where you're not smiling? Or at least not faking a frown or pouty face?
I tend to always smile in pictures, or pull some sort of goofy pose. Seriously, the goofy poses scare me - if and when I get married I'm genuinely worried I make break out the jazz hands pose in the wedding pictures! There are a few pensive pictures of me though, but that's because a lot of my friends love to photograph and catch me off guard!

5. What's the first song you think of when you're in a foul mood?
Genius question! Song for the Dumped is a good call, lots of rage there. As is Philosophy, actually. What can I say, Ben Folds gets my pain. Oooh, I also love a good power ballad or a decent show-tune when I'm stressed, because nothing cheers me up quicker than a good sing!

Thanks Erik, this was fun!

Do let me know if you'd like me to ask you five questions....or, indeed, if you have five questions for me!

Love,
Cxx

Snow Day

Only the boarding kids were in school today. I couldn't drive in (ghetto car doesn't like driving in 5 / 6 inches of snow), so I walked in and back. Only 11 kids out of 87 in as the school was closed for day pupils. We had snowball fights, built snowmen, did crafts, talked, and drank hot chocolate.

I think part of me will be disappointed to get back to regular classes tomorrow!

Love,
Cxx

PS Anyone else on Twitter? I signed up a while ago, but now I've definitely caught the bug! I'm CMClaire on there.

Location, location, location

Where do you like to be?

Where do you want to be?

What places make you smile?

What places do you like to return to?

Is it a place or a situation you recall?

Me, I have many places where I go, or that I remember going to. Places that feed my soul, make me smile, remind me of tender times or call me back again and again.

Silly evenings in with my siblings. These two great adults I get to call brother and sister. We don't get to hang out as much as I'd ever wish, but I treasure our times together, and the meals we share as a family, all five of us, parents and kids.

On platform 2 at Bicester North, waiting for the train to London. The train towards adventures and good times and cuddles.

A packed dancefloor in a nightclub, when the music is pumping and the crowd's in a good mood. Sweet Lord in heaven, but I *love* to dance. One of the main things I'm looking forward to at GGF, the next big Join Meet I'm going to, is the dancing we'll do on Friday night. Bring it on.

At a big gig, the kind where the audience acts and thinks as one...I don't care if it's the Foo Fighters or NKOTB, so long as the vibe is right!

On the steps of the Sacre Coeur, staring out over Monmartre and the wider city beyond. I have such a crush on Paris!

Sharing a meal with friends, here, there or anywhere. The food and location is secondary to the event - chat and wine and silliness and love hanging around like a mist. I love to spend time with my friends.

On stage, singing. Any kind of singing, really, but especially musical theatre, pop or soul. The audience, the music, the atmosphere. Thrilling.

Girly late night chats at sleepovers and nights out. A time for secret sharing and truth divulging.

Being in a classroom, teaching and talking and listening.

Sitting on the beach at Findhorn, looking out over the Firth towards Caithness. Wind whipping my hair, the beach dotted with families and dogwalkers.

Being lost in a good book. So lost it doesn't matter where you are.

Those occasional lazy Saturday afternoons with the boy, curled up together, drinking tea, as we listen to the football scores come in. I could have chosen many other more conventionally romantic moments, but I think some of the most beautiful are when we just get to "be" together, chatting, napping, relaxing...

And last for this post, but certainly not least, the last five minutes of the day, cosied up in bed, ready for sleep and dreams, the day unwinding in your head. Rest.

Where would you like to be?

Sweet dreams.

Love,
Cxx