Friday 15 May 2015

Five on Friday - Blog Anniversary





It has been a year this week since I started my Blog.  It has been a year of joy and despair, but that's life.  I thought for this weeks Five on Friday I would look back over the year and pick out five of my  photos that sum up the last 12 months.  It has been really really difficult to decide on just five, but these are the ones I have settled on.


Family




The bearded one turned 60.  I don't want a fuss, says he, no party.  Well o.k. just a quiet little party at home.    So I booked the biggest bouncy castle that would fit into our garden, filled our home with family, from babies to great grandparents and had a wonderful day of cake, champagne and lots and lots of bouncing.  This year has also seen our family grow with a gorgeous new grandson.  I feel very lucky.

Nature





  I booked  a little cottage on a nearby 'eco' farm whilst recovering from an operation.  I had heard there were wild deer that often visited.  Every evening I went out into the fields to try to find them.  I crept along in the dark listening for any noises that would give their whereabouts away.   I had resigned myself to the fact that they had probably moved on to graze elsewhere.  I felt the disappointment I felt when we went on a whale watching trip and didn't spot one single whale.  At dusk on our last night they appeared grazing a few fields away, using the zoom at its maximum I managed to get some photos with shaky, excited hands.  You can see the stag bellowing, showing off his magnificent headgear, his maleness and doing what stags do, while his little family grazed.   It was brief, thrilling,  they then jumped over the hedges and disappeared.  I hope they are still out there somewhere, that hunters haven't taken their wild lives for so called sport.



Grow



Last summer we created my very first vegetable patch.  It has brought me so much pleasure, wandering out to pick the freshest produce for our meals. I never ever saw myself as someone who would have a vegetable plot.  It makes me feel connected to my ancestors, growing food for their families before the days of supermarkets and food flown from around the world.   I still wonder at planting the tiniest of seeds, seeing them peep through the earth a few weeks later, becoming something that will nourish my body and my soul.



Pride



The year of my life changing operation saw me too ill to go to Pride.  My son sent me photos and I cheered them on from my sick bed.  Last summer I was determined not to miss another, even though I was struggling again health wise.   For me it is showing my pride in my son, his partner and their friends.  It is showing support for all the LGBT people who live in countries where they could be imprisoned or  killed for who they are. It is showing young people who are suffering bullying or rejection by their families that they have nothing to be ashamed of.  It is thanking those who fought for acceptance and made Pride possible in this country.  I carried the rainbow flag with my son beside me.

Music





This photo sums up my joy of live music, to be among thousands of people singing along and holding our hands up in a salute to the band.  Being a 'shorty' my view isn't always the best near the front as you can see, but being among the most passionate fans is worth it. We are best buddies and family for a few hours.   I often get stepped on, beer spilled on me and sore feet from standing on tiptoe all evening.  I also experience lovely acts of kindness from lanky young lads who probably see me as a little old lady and let me stand in front of them and keep checking that I can see o.k.   Although obviously not on the same scale, playing with the samba band and seeing people dancing along, bringing fun into their day is paying it forward.   This photo was taken at the Eden Sessions last year, I ticked off one of my 60 by 60 wishes when I saw Pixies and we also saw Elbow with the charming Guy Garvy.  Happy days,




During the last two summers I have undergone surgery, I'm hoping this next 12 months will not involve a surgeons scalpel.  I look forward to sharing my year with all my blog friends, to working on my 60 things to do before I'm 60 list, and to reading about your year.  I have found wonderful blog friends whose lives have enriched mine.  Thank you everyone.

Chickpea xx

For this post I am linking with lovely Amy on Love made my home












28 comments:

  1. What a beautiful post, a lovely reflection on the past year. Happy blog anniversary.

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  2. That bouncy castle looks like so much fun. I too love live music....nothing better. Keep fighting lass. Cheers

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  3. Lovely post full of very happy memories that shine through. I hope you avoid any further surgery this summer too. That pic of the festival is fab! Have a lovely weekend x

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  4. Happy Blogiversary! I enjoyed seeing the highlights of your last year in your Five on Friday post. I have a question about the garden picture. Are the pieces of cloth dangling down to keep the birds away, and if so, do they work?

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  5. Happy Blogiversary, no doubt the time has just flown. All the best for the next year.

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  6. Happy anniversary, lovely post, wish you a healthy coming year. I some times think once the surgeons have you they like to keep trying, in 2012 I turned down an operation, I felt I did not need it.

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  7. Many congratulations on your blogiversary. I enjoy visiting you!

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  8. Hey Chickpea, Happy Blogiversary. Those are some great memories. Good luck with your 60 before 60!. And dont forget we will all await the pictures! Hooray!

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  9. Congratulation on your first year! Five on Friday was a great way to document it!

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  10. Well, you picked 5 wonderful memories from the past year and described them beautifully. I love what you wrote about gardening. Happy blogiversary. Wishing you health and happiness, Tammy

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  11. Congrats on your blogiverssry. I hope you reach all your goals before you reach the big 60. I'm on my way to reaching 62 :( Sending you my best wishes, Pat

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  12. What a lovely post full of inspiring memories. I have loved reading your blog since I joined the blog world back in November so I look forward to another year of Chickpea posts x

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  13. Happy anniversary!! A wonderful year and I feel really privileged to have shared in it through your blog. Thank you for sharing with us xx

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  14. Five great look backs!! Definitely well worth remembering. Happy Blogaversary too!!! Here's to many more and here's to no more surgeries too!! Sorry to be brief today, but thank you so much for joining in despite me being missing. I hope that you have a great weekend! xx

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  15. These are beautiful memories Chickpea! I wish you all the best for the next blogging year. I am also keeping my fingers crossed for a surgery free year. x

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  16. Congratulations on your blog anniversary! These are some lovely memories, than you for sharing. I went to the Eden Sessions Pixies gig last year too, loved every minute of it. Have a great weekend.

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  17. Happy blog anniversary! These are wonderful memories and I wish you the very best of Heath for the next year and forever Chickpea xx

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  18. happy anniversary, wishing you a happy and healthy year to come x

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  19. What an absolutely lovely post. Thank you for sharing I your year and I look forward to the next one!

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  20. Congratulations on your blog anniversary and thank you for sharing your photos. I love the rainbow flag at the Pride march.

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  21. You chose 5 great photos to share A very happy blogaversary to you. Hoping along with you no more scalpels. Sending love

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  22. We all have so much to be grateful for, don't we? Thanks for sharing your gratitude :) Congrats on reaching a year of blogging - here's to the next one (she says reaching for a glass of weekend lunchtime white wine lol).

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  23. Have a wonderful blog anniversary! Here's to a happy and healthy year ahead xx

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  24. gorgeous post! happy blog-aversary to you! i wish you as much joy and delight as you can manage....xo

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  25. Hey Chickpea,
    A lovely retrospective post. I smiled at both veggie patch and the Pride picture. I feel the same way about all the people and blogs that I've connected with during my nearly three years of blogging. Here's to another fab year!
    Leanne xx

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  26. Happy anniversary - I'm so glad I've found your blog with your lovely photos and anecdotes. I particularly like your music photo with the hands and the lights!! Wishing you health and happiness xx

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  27. I'm glad I found your blog too - I've really enjoyed catching up with your life in Cornwall. Fingers crossed that your health will be better this year X Judy.

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  28. Happy bloggy anniversary. And what a great set of photos ... I especially love the rainbow flag shot. Here's hoping your next blogging year is fruitful and healthful.

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I love reading your comments and will try to reply to all you lovely people xx Spam will be deleted so don't even bother!