Sally's World

I cannot believe that I have actually written 500 posts. Okay, okay, some some weren't mine, some were e-mails or quotes or videos that I couldn't resist sharing. But 500 times I have clicked on that publish button and something that says something about me is out there on the world wide web.

Looking back, what makes me smile is how different my blog is to what I expected.

Originally, I was going to do a weekly update, talking about life as a parent with special needs children, about how to live with the loss of a child...I thought I was going to be giving support and advice to other parents like me.

And to a certain degree I think I have, sharing information is the best way to deal with many aspects of special needs and disability. But I have received just as much information back.

But what I didn't expect was to get into it and write about everything and anything that's on my mind, and what is even more amazing is the love and support I have received from my fellow bloggers. I didn't expect to love reading about the lives of people from all over the world, I didn't expect to be able to relate quite so much.

I feel less alone, I have an outlet, I can share the little things that make me laugh (or cry), things that otherwise go unsaid. I can have a bad day, rant, scream, cry, swear, and all I get back is support.

My biggest thanks has to be to Trojan of Trojan's Corner, he is the one that believed in me and what I had to say enough to encourage me to blog in the first place.

Here's to the next 500 if you can stand me for that long!!!!

I can't believe its a year to the day that I started blogging. My good Friend Trojan,(Trojan's Corner) not only suggested it, helped me set it up (as in...he did most of the work lol) and he has given me nothing but encouragement all along.

I can hardly remember life before blogging now. I have been able to reach out to so many people, and have been helped and supported by more people, from more places than I could ever have imagined.

I had to laugh when Iwent back to our intentions a year ago, http://sallyannestephenson.blogspot.com/2008/10/hi-im-sally-i-live-in-london-with-my.html I was going to put out a blog once a week...crikey, I've done at least one a day...

I was going to only talk about issues that surround being a parent of children with special needs...

Well, that all went out the window, i chat about anything and everything, this is my online diary, thought process and has been great for meeting new people...

So thankyou for reading and supporting...

And special love to you Trojan xxxxx

I hope you are all impressed with the new background. I'd like to be able to take the credit, but I won't, mainly because it would be a big fib.

My good good friend Trojan of Trojan's Corner did it for me.

Trojan's a star, and I hardly had to hint at all, I made one comment about liking something on his blog, and it was done, on mine the same day. Then he updated the background for me with one of my favourite flowers....

Most men (especially my darling husband) needs to be hinted to death, nothing less subtle than a sledge hammer over the head will do it. Birthdays and Anniversaries have to be mentioned on the hour every hour weeks in advance, and its still hit and miss if he remembers...

But mention something to Trojan and he takes it on board...a man that pays attention (not a myth after all ladies).

This is why Trojan introduced me to blogging, video blogs, and promoting the charity together. And also how we ended up salsa partners.

So Trojan thank you for your ideas, support, friendship and enthusiasm.

I bet he's blushing now lol!!!!

As you know by now Trojan (Trojans Corner) and I have been taking salsa classes for a while, we love it, and we go to a really small, friendly club to learn. It’s a great place to begin as everyone is learning and no-one makes you feel bad if you mess up…

As we have progressed, we tried a different club this week. I loved the class, the instructor broke down the steps, it was harder, more of a challenge and I think we’ll learn a lot…but unlike our usual class…there was an underlying bitchy element.

But Trojan said he didn’t notice, he thought everyone was friendly…how little does he know? Of course, the women were friendly TO HIM!!!! Trojan’s about six foot three and bloody gorgeous, not that he thinks of himself that way, and there is soooo much more to him, he’s the sweetest, most supportive guy… but he is a good looking guy, its okay, he knows, he must do, he has a mirror right?

So yes, of course the women were friendly (and for friendly read flirting outrageously) with him. Me…not so much, I got looked up and down, I got thrown looks, snubbed a bit and disliked a bit…but only by a few of the women, everyone else was fine.

Why are women like this with each other???

1. What’s your current obsession? Salsa

2. What’s your weirdest obsession? Uh oh! towels being folded properly, socks have to match, bottles have to be lined up in order of size...have a certain order for books...I'm scaring you now aren't I???

3. What are you wearing today? White linen trousers, a purple t-shirt and fluffy slippers…what, I’m indoors, I’m comfy!

4. Why is today special? I am grateful for all my babies, the son is shining, I am over my bug…mostly, I love my friends!

5. What would you like to learn to do? Definitely salsa better…I’d love to parachute jump (doing one this year) and fly, hand glide..something thrilling!

6. What’s the last thing you bought? A loaf of bread….does that count, if not, it was some summer clothes for Robyn!

7. What are you listening to right now? UB40 and the traffic a couple of roads away.

8. What’s your favorite weather? Sunny, hot and sunny, sunshine, with a little extra sun, and hot!

9. What’s your most challenging goal right now? Oh god…too many, getting Deion all he needs for secondary school, getting Deion’s hospital results, making Jordan realize that he has to change his socks every day…making everyone else in the house realize the housework, cooking, cleaning and ironing does NOT do itself!!!

10. What do you think about the person who tagged you? She is sweet and funny and I love her blog, I’m honored she thinks I’m worth getting to know!


11. What's your favorite guilty pleasure? Chocolate cake, with chocolate chips, chocolate icing, chocolate cream, on a chocolate plate, with a chocolate fork…

12. Favorite vacation spot? Bimini Bahamas..

13. What would you like to have in your hands right now? Oops, can’t tell you what sprang to mind then…back to the chocolate cake……

14. What would you like to get rid of? Guilt, feeling inadequate at times, most of the government, most of the people than make decisions regarding the health system, the education system and roughly half the legal system!!!

15. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? Ooh, a hour floating in a warm sea!

16.Which language do you want to learn? Italian fluently…I only know enough to get by!

17.What super power would you like to possess? Invisibility!

18. What’s your favorite thing about the city you live in? it has an eclectic mix of people, some beautiful buildings, and you can get all your minerals in one breath!!!

19.What’s your favorite piece of clothing in your own closet? I have an oriental style dress which I love, it’s classy, pretty and hardly worn unfortunately!

20. What’s your dream job? Running my own dolphin program.

21. If you had $150 now what would you spend it on? Bills probably.

22. Do you admire anyone’s style? Oh, yes, Audrey Hepburn, her clothes, her attitude, her beauty…her minute size!

23.Describe your personal style. Oh dear, I don’t have one, jeans and sweats mostly, if I go out I like to dress up, but it usually ends up as black trousers with a fancy top, I love oriental style ones.

24. Who’s fashion show would you want tickets to? I have no idea, not one springs to mind…sorry!

25. If you had to slap one person with no repercussions, who would it be and why? Oh, there are so many lol! Definitely Russell Brand, he has to be one of the most annoying people on the planet!

26. What are you most proud of? My kids.

27. If you could choose one person who has passed to have lunch with who would it be and why? Aaron, Aaron, Aaron I’d give anything for some time with him!

Now the rules of this tag:

1. Respond and rework: answer the questions on your blog, replace one question you dislike with a question of your own invention

2. Tag 7 other people you would love to learn more about. Here’s mine:


Trojan's Corner Trojans a really lovely guy, you should all get to know him better.
Despair, Devastation & Dysfunction always something here to make me think or reflect...whether I want to or not LOL!!!
Is It Just Me? Missy makes me smile every day.
Mysterious Creature a strong determined woman who I admire.
Smelling The Roses And Dodgeing The Thorns always a great blog, always great advice.
darling dialogues a lovely blog, look forward to it every day!
The World According To J... started following JJ recently, and so glad I did, love her attitude to life.

I went over Trojans yesterday, and we decided to do a video blog…we’ve been following some stuff going on in the media, and of course the Rihanna and Chris Brown debacle…and it got us talking about people in the public eye, shouldn’t they be entitled to have a relationship without it being ripped apart by the media…

Trojan and I had somewhat different views… and to make matters worse, we decided it had to be short, so for some inexplicable reason set ourselves a sixty second time limit…I have absolutely no clue why we thought we could answer the question in 60 seconds, it just seemed like a good idea at the time.

Have a listen…its okay, we don’t come to blows…. well, not during filming!!!

Okay, so we see it differently, but as I said, with any job comes responsibility, if someone were to become a police officer or a teacher, it is accepted that they are going to be influencing children, therefore need to be responsible and set the right example…so in becoming rich an famous in an industry where you know young people will look upon you as a role model…you have a certain responsibility…

What you can’t see in the end shot there is me pulling on my boxing gloves…well, we had to have the debate…which roughly translates to ‘I need to go on and on until Trojan sees it my way!!!’ because, naturally, I couldn't possibly be wrong!!!

Now, as you all know, one of my children is merely posing as a normal schoolboy to protect his superhero identity...Yellow lightning...

Deion had such a good day at school dressing up for red nose day, he loved the photos....so our very own computer expert, Trojan (Trojans Corner) worked his magic, and did this for Deion.

This has made Deions year, it is brilliant, he was so excited when he saw it, it bought tears to my eyes.

Thanks Trojan, you've made one superhero a very happy boy xxxxxxx

Thank you so much Becca for giving me this award, I am touched.


The rules...I have to list 7 things I love and then give the award to seven bloggers I love....so, seven thing I love....husband and kids of course, goes without saying....

I also love...

1) Driving on an open road
2) Rich chocolate cake
3) Swimming in a clear warm sea
4) Lillies
5) Long country walks in the spring
6) Walking on the sand
7) Dancing

Blogs I love and nominate are...

1) Trojans Corner http://trojansgallery.blogspot.com/
2) Just-a-mom at Jams own reality http://jamblogging.blogspot.com/
3) Missy at Is it just me http://is-it-just-me-missy.blogspot.com/
4) Isaiah’s mom at Inside Isaiah http://insideisaiah.blogspot.com/
5) Melinda at blogging it from the burgs http://thebrookshirefam.blogspot.com/
6) Crazy Texas mommy at http://crazytxmommy.blogspot.com/
7) Pam at Smelling the roses and dodging the thorns http://stradtt.blogspot.com/

I could easily nominate another 7...but I'm sticking to the rules (for a change)...

I just want to say a very quick thank you to Trojan for helping me revamp my blog last night, he is brilliant at this stuff, and I have to say he has the patience of a saint (well, sometimes!!!)

THANK YOU!

I love the make over...now if only he could do people too!!!!

Let me know what you think!

You can see Trojan's own blog and his brilliant pics at http://trojansgallery.blogspot.com/