In the leadup to the anniversary of Nan’s death, I started buying books again. Lots of books. At the moment I am waiting for 10 or so books to arrive and they’ll trickle in over the next few weeks.
Watching my bookshelves fill up has been easier than watching everything else fall apart, just a little.
So, the 12 month anniversary was yesterday. And I could have written a post detailing all the ways in which I miss my grandmother, but I didn’t, because that litany runs through my head often enough to make it useless for the blog.
Bleh.
I should have just stayed home actually – I went out with Mum and Davey, and I was grumpy and out of sorts. A day on the couch with a book probably would have suited me to a tee. That said, it was good to see my great-great grandmother and who can pass up scones with jam and cream?
Today, I am tired and a little fragile, but I’ll be okay. I will be okay.
Anyway! The crux of this entirely crappy post.
I have a giveaway, sponsored by Microsoft, for you.
On offer is one copy of Office Home and Business 2010, valued at $379.
It’s got many different features and stuff as detailed here, but basically, it’s the new and shiny Office program, that most of us can’t afford. So I’m giving away a copy.
To Enter:
Leave me a comment, telling me what you do to make youself happy.
For an extra entry you can
-subscribe to my blog – make sure you leave a comment letting me know you’ve subscribed.
-tweet this giveaway – again, let me know on twitter (@SleeplessNights) that you’ve tweeted it.
– link to this giveaway in your own blog. You don’t have to write a whole post, just a link.
Those extra three things will give you an extra entry.
Creativity is welcomed, but only because it will make me smile and love you forever. Winners will be drawn using random.org. This giveaway is open to Australian and Overseas residents alike.
One comment per person, unless you’re coming back to let me know about extra entries.
The competition will close at 10pm EST (Australian Time)on July 2nd, which gives you a week.
So, comment away!
When I feel out of sorts, like shit or want to die I curl up in bed and read books too, like the time travellers wife and everything is illuminated and the book thief. Or I re read books like twilight and tomorrow when the war began and little women. Or I watch Dvds! Funny ones or scary ones but not ones where everything works out in the end and not star wars. I also eat lots of soup and mac&cheese.
I’m sure I’m subscribed but if not I never miss a post! I don’t even particularly need new software, but I don’t comment enough so any excuse will do. Either way, much love from me. Xx
Well, it depends on why I’m not happy. If I feel like things are falling apart, I either clean something or bury myself in a lose-yourself-book. But another no-fail is a drink (spirited or not) with a friend. And if it’s really bad? I sleep. And waking up in a comfy bed is happiness. Oh! Or, I call my brother. 🙂
But I also want to say that I was thinking of you yesterday. Anniversaries suck. The loss just goes on and on and on. Hugs, friend.
xoxoxo
I look outside and see the the wrens, the grass, the trees and that huge Australian sky and, even when the sun isn’t shining, that makes me happy. Of course, a bit of sunshine is an improvement 😉
PS It certainly is today which following last night’s -3C temperature is doubly welcome, still only about 5C even now. And I thought we were supposed to have a warmer than average Winter this year!
I buy underwear :-p Seriously nothing makes me happier than buying underwear 🙂
And when there is no money for that then just being with my little family makes me incredible happy – provided they aren’t fighting or demanding anything 🙂
I am missing my dad lots lately. Your grandma was a very lovely and warm woman. When I get sad or stressed, I go smell my horses… riding is good, too. but I don’t always have the time for that…. the smell of them..ahhhh
sorry I have been such a lurker lately…. I read every one of your posts and love the pics! especially of the kids 🙂
I posted link at my blog..
retweeted and subscribed 🙂
smile smile, V… I know that your Nan, as my dad, would want us to smile …. they would be sad to see us sad…. kisses and hugs to you.
I go and smell a horse. I’m not even remotely kidding. There is nothing like the smell of a good horse. It instantly brings back the good parts of my childhood when things like worry, fear and financial stress did not exist. Thankfully I have a close friend who keeps horses on her 5 acres, and I’m always welcome to call her up and tell her I’m coming for my ‘fix’ 🙂 Tweeting the giveaway now too (and I’m already a google reader subscriber).
I make a nice big pot of Earl Grey tea, cut a huge slice of home made chocolate banana bread (made with Lindt 50% cocoa dark chocolate, get into my PJs and jump into bed under a big squashy doona with a good book. At the moment I’m reading “Backpack” by Emily Barr, great escapisim. I can highly recommend all of her books. 🙂
PS: I’m already a suscriber on google reader.
I do different things to make myself happ, depending on my mood at the time. If I’m unhappy because I’m overtired, I’ll sleep it off. For other reasons? Watch dvd’s that make me laugh, or westerns. There’s nothing like a good old fashioned cowboy movie. If I’m angry/unhappy, I’ll empty cupboards and throw out stuff then rearrange the remaining contents.
hugs and more hugs.xoxo
Chocolate. And…
…no. Just chocolate.
Agree with Lise, chocolate,all the way.
I’m very much a retreat and read until things get better type of person.
I’m not entering, but my family makes me happy, and writing. Actually writing probably doesn’t make me happy, but it satisfies me, which is important too. I just wanted to say hugs, the anniversaries are hard.
I don’t want an entry, V
but I want you to know that, I’ve thought long and hard about what makes me happy when I am feeling bad.
I thought about chocolate and lying in bed but in the end I know that I feel much better when I go to the markets, or out into a big open space, like the beach. I don’t want ot go ever but once I’m there I’m always lighter.
Hope the blahs have gone now! Brilliant prize, did they just email you and say here get rid of this for us can you?!
I like to have a big, warm bubble bath:)
When I feel like that I just want to hide in my bed, or in blogland for the day.
*hugs*
Also… awesome giveaway! )
to make me feel happy in summer, i go outside and sit in the sun. Just sitting and soaking up some vitamin d while i listen to the noises around me and smell the grass and trees.
In winter i wait til em is in bed, run a hot bath and take a book and some chocolate with me. I do a face mask, exfoliate and shave. When i get out i blowdry my hair, put on some fluffy slippers and warm pjs and i sit down to a good book or tv show.
It occurred to me I should enter yours since it’s not restricted to just Oz! I have 2010 at work but not on my home computer and would love it.
Happy for me is time alone, a cup of hot coffee or tea and time to write and/or read. That is my heaven!
Weill tweet!
There are a few things I do to make me happy. Sometimes I send all the boys away and I get to watch my very own program on TV in peace. Sometimes I nap. Sometimes I read a brand new book or magazine with a huge cup of coffee and yummy chocolate. And sometimes it is just having a shower in peace without someone banging on the door yelling, ‘Mum!’ or ‘Wife!’ .
Hugs Veronica. Feel blessed and happy with all these wonderful people thinking of you and caring about you. You are lucky. 🙂
One that you may share; lying on the floor on my back, with my legs above my head until my whole spine, pft, pft, pft’s back into place makes me all kinds of happy! BG Xx
Hmmm…things I do to make me happy…I indulge, whether that be in chocolate, a little retail therapy (very little), or a long bath (sometimes I take the kids to the gym simply so that I can sit in the whirlpool with a book – or my headphones on and an audiobook on my ipod – and then take a very, very, very long, hot shower without the risk of being interrupted.)
Oh, and I’m already subbed in Google Reader. 🙂
What makes me feel happy? Snuggling in bed with a good book when it’s cold, raining, or snowing outside; hugging my children; the smell of good coffee; the smell of wattle; dancing; singing out loud; spending time with lifelong friends; seeing new places; seeing the sun after weeks and weeks of grey skies; flowers …
P.S. I linked to this post in the bottom of my giveaway yesterday. So does that give me an extra entry?? 😛
I also find great solace in books. Take care, friend.
Perhaps you and I could do an international book exchange?
Pimping, er, linking again on my blog post today. How many times can I get credit for doing this?? 😛
Hey I should enter before I forget.
I am subscribed to your blog (but in Google reader and not feedburner).
<3
I watch old movies,I sit outside and I go for a drive.Also,I like to be around nice people that like me,that always cheers me up.Have a terrific week.
I subscribe to you!
You asked me what Emily Barr novels I reccomend? And I was slack and didn’t get back to you… Well, Plan B is probably my favourite of hers. It’s about a women who moves to the south of France with her little girl…and well I won’t tell you too much. It’s very well written. Other than that Backpack is great, and was a great read for me as I’m going to be backpacking next year in Africa!
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