The Long and Winding Road, with pink and red emotional highlights...

Well, the official invitation to the Palace Garden Party arrived this morning.   This means my ol' mucker and me have passed the official checks and scrutiny!

We shall await the Invitation Proper from the Palace "in 6 - 4 weeks time", according to the letter...

Honestly, the Civil Service Departments have gone down the pan since I left!   Sheesh!

What else has happened.   Ummm...   I seem to be procrastinating about how much work I have to do on my course over the next three weeks...   I've conducted or officiated at a number of weddings, and observed a wonderfully sweet Civil Partnership...   My kitchen and utility room are more or less finished, but not the flooring, blinds or decor just yet...   We've had GJ's successful and intimate 50th Birthday celebration.  

...And, Grizzler has turned 20 - Yikes!   Where did that time go?!

I haven't heard back from Alnwick Garden yet, which may indicate that my enjoyable assessment day there has not been a fruitful one, work-wise...   Tant pis.

In other news, I met up with a wonderful dear friend, Elle, for morning coffee last Sunday.   I was trying to persuade her to turn some of the fabulous stories she has told us for years into a blog.   She is the funniest woman I think I know, and beautiful to boot.   I love her to bits, ever since we first met when I moved back to this northern region from the Highlands of Scotland in the year Grizz was born.   That means we've known each other 20 years.   Amazing.   She hasn't changed a bit.

Through and outside of therapy, I've been reflecting on how our lives take the paths that they do.   For without being pushed from my nested job within government by that cuckoo, David Cameron, and his poodle Master Clegg, I would not have my lovely little job in counselling, albeit as yet unpaid.

Without the trauma therein, I would not be witnessing and celebrating weddings which are such joyous occasions for me, albeit stressful;   Without having to move with my husband's job back from the Highlands, I would never have met Elle, or possibly even Sara of THIS blog and this wonderful PHOTO...  

My life would not be as rich without them and other valuable friends in it, such as Karina, who makes me laugh on FaceSlapBook and whose bags are to die for...   Recently, she's been channelling her inner patriot to make some beautiful things in celebration of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Year, using vintage scarves and ephemera.   Stunning.

And, not to forget, other bloggy friends here and abroad, that goes without saying...

Elle took her own decision to depart from government a year before I did.   She then fell into a number of little jobs to keep her going, but has been sorely let down by a less-than-honest employer.   She now finds herself in the place I was in several months ago.   Trying to find what it is she wants to do at this stage in her life...   I feel for her;   It's an odd, and somewhat scary position for anyone to find themselves in...

Finding who you are.

Do we ever stop, do you think?   Looking out for that little girl, who wants to hold on to those balloons, but doesn't want to take her feet off the ground?

p.s. I don't deliberately intend to miss things out of my blog which have international reverberations, like developments in world news or the tragic death of WH, with whom I share my birth year.   I was personally saddened by her loss, although I did not know her, nor was I a particular fan of her music but I know she did touch hearts with her voice.  

Perhaps that's all that any of us need, to love and be loved and to touch hearts?

And hold on to those balloons!

This week in words and pictures...

The dream kitchen approacheth.  

I rub its surfaces gently with oil and paper...   I place well-used utensils in its corners and crevices.   I open its soft-closing drawers and marvel at its newness, its loveliness...

Last week, I cuddled its dishwasher.   My proper first dishwasher!   We are nursing the new American style fridge freezer into its first days of life...   It is now settled and stable;   It will soon be ready to serve.

Smitten, moi??!

And, in a telephone call from Her Majesty's Secret Service (namely the Department of Communities and Local Government - which we used to call Declog!), I was invited to a Garden Party.  

At Buckingham Palace.

Me!

I was politely asked if I would like to attend a garden party in one of the months running up to summer.    Are you joking, I beamed with glee.   Of course I would!   What??!

I was given 24 hours to come up with my 'Plus One'.   I knew GJ would decline.   He might kick a corgi!

I asked Grizz, of course.   Who best to accompany his Mum, and what an opportunity...

In the end, it turned out that my second-best partner my GBF, Donty, snapped my hand off - He was so amazed to be asked.   I think he'll be the perfect partner to meet and greet with 'Her Maj'', as he calls her!

He's cock-a-hoop.   I'm just startled and surprised.

I'm delighted that someone thought well enough of l'il ol' me to put my name forward for an invite...

This week my wide smile might even begin to wear off.

Don't think so though!

I'll keep you informed, mes bloggy buds...   I will.   I've already bought me dress in the sales!

Next stop, a hat or fascinator...

What would you wear?

I am all corgi-ears!   Ah, imagine the blog-fodder!