Wedding Pictures

The family wedding was wonderful, everybody had a nice time :)




From left to right - my older sister, Mum, Me, my cousin (the Groom's sister) and her little girl :)

Apologies and Ramblings!

I am still around! Everyone is fine in "Jane's world", life has just been a little busy with little house-holdy problems! But a family wedding next weekend is something to really look forward to.
My cousin is getting married, and seeming it is out of town, we're having a two day break! I don't often attend weddings and family get-togethers, for the simple reason that it usually means a disco later, and I don't like noise. If there is a family get-together in a house, that is different :-) My sister and her husband are attending it, and Mum and me are going with them. I am really looking forward to it.
Potter ramblings
DUDLEY DURSLEY born on June 23, 1980.
Dudley Dursley is Harry Potter’s Muggle cousin, and the only son of Vernon and Petunia Dursley of number four Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey. Dudley, in extreme contrast to Harry, was grossly overindulged by both his mother and father. Petunia petted and coddled him and turned a blind eye to his bullying. Vernon, on the other hand, encouraged his son’s manipulations, greed and violent behavior. Dudley attends a private school named Smeltings and spends his school holidays terrorizing Harry and the younger children of the neighborhood with his gang. As Harry grew in power and confidence, however, he became less of an easy mark. Then the summer they were both fifteen, Harry saved Dudley from attacking Dementors, and Dudley got a first-hand taste of uncontrolled evil and of Harry’s bravery. When they part two years later (perhaps forever), Dudley astounded Harry by showing concern for his safety and thanking him for saving his life. Dudley is the only of the Dursleys who has changed for the better!

Potter ramblings - Piers Polkiss

We hardly know anything about Piers. He was one of Dudley Dursley's "little friends", part of his gang. I think we only heard him and seen him in book one (visiting the zoo with Dudley and Harry, as well as Vernon and Petunia) and briefly in book five. Although he was very much a background character I was intrigued by him pre-Hallows, for the simple reason: HOW did he know Harry had spoken to the Boa Constrictor? Also his initials P.P. were interesting, seeming they were the same as Peter Pettigrew's. In fact I hoped that Piers was going to be the one who did magic late in life - but Jo changed her mind and didn't have anyone. Still intriguing at the time though!

Potter rambles

A little ramble about some of my favourite Harry Potter characters, and also to keep my Blogger going :)

"After all, death is but the next great adventure"

Of course, this post is dedicated to one of the greatest wizards around, Professor Albus Percival Wulfic Brian Dumbledore. I thought he was great as soon as he entered Privet Drive way back in the first chapter of Book one. He was definately a mentor to Harry and all the teachers seemed to respect him - excepting Dolores and a few others! I loved the way Dumbledore developed through the series.
Of course all fictional characters have flaws, and Dumbledore was no exception. I didn't like the way he hid things from Harry, about Horcruxes, Hallows and how he would be able to defeat Voldemort eventually, if he was strong enough. Of course, we see now why Dumbledore was so secretive, and if he wasn't, the series wouldn't be as good, for me.
It was painful to hear the Dumbledore family backstory, especailly Ariana's. It is obvious to me what Dumbledore was "seeing" as he drunk the potion in book 6, and he had to deal with the fear that he killed his sister for many years. The biggest revealation, of course, about Dumbledore - that he was gay - was revealed after the series was over. Lots of fans were in uproar, but although it had never occured to me, it didn't bother me in the least. There was no need to reveal it during the series, it would have taken the series point away from Harry's story. I didn't lose any respect for Dumbledore, for me, his flaws made him more human :)

Before and after pictures

Yesterday I mentioned how it was seven years since I more or less changed my lifestyle. And today - photos speak louder than words ...



2003 - I might look happy enough, but look closer. There's someone with constant aches and pains, someone who went to the doctor's more or less every week.



2010 - about 2 hours ago. And I'm roughly the same weight as twelve months ago - so Happy Dance time :)

August Ponderings!

I am still around! Everything goes well in "Jane's World", and Elliot is now walking around a lot more steadily. Quite amusing to see such a tiny tot to be walking about!
Tomorrow - 22nd August - is a pretty big milestone for me. Sevn years since I chose my healthy lifestyle. Rewind to 2003 - a almost 30 year old, 13 stone, weakness for chocolate and pastries, absolutely zero energy and using a manual wheelchair on most shopping trips, and a pretty low self-esteem. I had no quality of life really. I could never have just "one" biscuit - oh no, it had to be at least two or three. And then, after a blood test - which took some time for me to have, seeming my Boggart would definately be a injection - I was told I had borderline diabetes. If I didn't change my eating habits radically, I was going to be diabetic. injecting myself every single day. So I chose the "easier" option.
It is hard not to have chocolate and "goodies" every day - even now! But I treat myself on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (and bank holidays and week ends) in moderation. A treat three days a week isn't a bad as eating them 7 days a week! The best thing is to keep "goodies" either out of sight (and our outhouse/shed is very handy, especailly when there are Christmas goodies) or not to have them in the house at all. Dad was so so proud of me. I am a shade under nine stone now, which is four stone in seven years. It's not easy, but even if a few pounds slide on over Christmas etc, I am determained never to be as bad as I was. Each year, on my "anniversary", Mum takes a picture, just to show how much weight I have loast. So pictures will be forthcoming in the next few days

Rambles!

Been a few weeks since I Blogged, just been soooooo busy, with little Elliot's birthday and then spending the best five days EVER in Jersey.
It was my first time on a aeroplane, and we went through a lot of red-tape just to get my passport! Mum and me went by airplane, my sis and her husband were meeting us in Jersey (they went on a cruise first and arrived in Jersey two days before us), and they took or suitcases etc, so we only had hand luggage. The flight was totally amazing, although we were both extremely apprehensive. When we arrived, there was a massive surprise for us. Not only were we going to be holidaying with my sister and brother-in-law - but also my two nieces, one of my niece's friend, and (more importantly!) my two favourite little boys! We had the time of our lifes, visiting Jersey's attractions - the Shell Garden, the German War Hospital and the Durrell zoo - as well as me and Mum meeting a "virtual friend" from a trivia forum.
The boys had so much fun on holiday - they really did make my holiday! Elliot has been gradually finding his feet, and at almost thirteen months, he is walking much steadier! He also has .... curls!

I plan to post more soon, about various Potter characters, how they have developed etc, and particular quotes!