It's Calendar time!!

Miaow

Guess what, Mara had me pick this year's winners of her calendar! A bit of a consolation prize I think, but I did the job and now here I am to tell you all about. 

First of all, Mara wrote out all the names of the commenters on little pieces of paper. Then she scrunched them up and came looking for me. 

She threw all the little balls of paper in the air and I immediately caught the first winner. A very deserving one as well. 

Then she did it again and I sniffed another winner out! Again very deserving. Both of them have won before, so I hope they like this year's version. WITHOUT ME!!!!

Oh, and congratulations to Yamini and Janice Adcock. The calendars will be sent this week Mara says.

Give-away and charity

It's the last stretch! Only a few more days to have a chance of winning one of the two desk-top calendars. Make your way over to THIS POST and leave a comment. That's all you need to do, if you haven't done so already of course!

In other news: several charities have been mentioned to me for next year's Mice for Mama charity, either through this blog or through Facebook. If you know of any other ones that fulfill the criteria for next year, please leave a comment with the link. 

The ones so far: Guide dogs for the Blind (Norway), suggested by yours truly. People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (UK), help sponsor a sick animal when the owner him/herself can't afford it, suggested by Yamini. Dueker Ranch Therapeutic Horse Center (USA), suggested by Christine S and Paws to People (USA), finding cures for illnesses that hit both humans and people, suggested by Sue S. More are welcome. 

The criteria for next year's charity are: 

• Interaction between animal and human. 
• It can be any type of animal (dogs, horses, cats, guinea pigs, elephants, spiders to name but a few)
• It does need to be a trusted charity, location is of secondary importance. 

The final charity will be picked out by my Mama (and yes, Papa as well) at the end of the year. 

PS: if you have any trouble opening any of the links to the charities, please let me know.

More updates

First let's start with the give-away currently going on. You may not have seen it yet, but you still have a chance of winning one of OUR calendars. Yes, our, since none of us had enough photos to use for either his or my calendar. We had to steal a photo from Yamini as it is! Oh, you want to know how to get hold of one? Well, easy: go to this post and leave a comment. And by doing that you have a chance of winning one of two calendars that I We give away. 

Secondly: have you picked between A, B and C yet? You don't know what that is? Well, you had better skedaddle over to this post then! At the moment, C is out in front (4 votes to one each for A and B), but perhaps you haven't put in your vote yet? Better do it soon!

Thirdly: I have been beaten. He then tried to break my neck and he eventually decided on electrocuting me. Now before you send me 'get well' cards and try to console me on my misfortune, don't worry: I was at the physio's. I have to keep track of when and how bad I get headaches from now on (yes, again), but it should be getting better: longer periods of nothing and less painful headaches. Next week will be my next appointment, where he will probably beat me again. And try to break my neck and electrocute me again. 

Guess!

Miss O tries to escape the camera

Having Brom back home means a few things: Mouse is not sad anymore, I am not worried anymore and Miss Oswin sleeps. Mind you, she does that a lot, so I don't think she is that impressed, but anyway. With Brom being home again, we went through all of our photos for this year, because it is time again for a give-away. 

Yes, it's calendar time!! 

Because we did not take that many photos this year, it was hard to make calendars for both me and Brom, so in the end we were clever: we shared. Some of his favourites, some of mine, some of Mouse. The only one missing is Miss O, but she sleeps. Next year she can be in it as well!

I have been giving away calendars since 2010 (only missing out in 2012 due to a small move) and this year I have NOT changed any of the rules. The only thing you have to do is leave a comment on this post by December 5th, midday (Norwegian time) and from those I will pick two names at random. The winners should receive the calendars before Christmas (fingers and paws crossed).

She is mentioned in the calendar: April 27th, her birthday!

So, you want a chance to win? Just post a comment and you might be lucky this year...

Day 6: Celebrations!

First of all I have to say: HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROM! Unfortunately I can't tell him in person, because he still hasn't arrived home! But don't worry, we will celebrate later. With a nice cake for example. Yum!

Since Brom isn't home yet to help us decide who wins a calendar, I asked Miss Oswin and she was happy to step in. You may remember there were two of each up for grabs and the winners are....

Yamini and Ginnie Marie each win one of Brom's calendars. Princess Leah and Murphy & Stanley win one of mine. Congratulations. As soon as they get here (Brom collected them in Northern Ireland), they will be sent on their ways. 

Also Janice, could you send me your snail mail address, so I can send you one as well. My email is: busdriver1971ATgmailDOTcom

Day 5: Your last chance!

Did you know it's Brom's birthday tomorrow? Together with St Nicholas, so he is in good company. Well, to celebrate his birthday he will be giving away two calendars and so will I. 

We posted about it just over a month ago and quite a few of you left a comment. But you are still in with a chance. Because today is the last day you can leave a comment and be in with a chance. Not on this post of course, you have to click this link and you will be sent to the original post. Tell us whether you would like to win one of Brom's or one of mine, or if you don't mind either way. Your comment won't appear immediately, but don't worry about that, Brom's on the case and will make sure none of the comments will be left out!

And then tomorrow we will announce the four winners! So, head on over and leave a comment if you haven't already!

Absolutely awful!

My blogging lately that is. I basically haven't been blogging at all and I am actually starting to miss it now. Only one thing for it: blog!!

And to start November off with a bang: a give-away. My annual desk-top-calendar give-away. Because Brom has been so good with our holiday blogging as well, he was allowed once more to make a calendar and he is also giving some away.

So, what to do? Well, not much really. Just leave a comment on this post and you're already in with a chance. Do you want mine or do you want Brom's? Or is it okay either way? Let me know! One person doesn't have to leave a comment and that is Janice Adcock. She was the clever clogs who guessed closest to my actual time in the triathlon and has already won a calendar. But all you other people out there: go for it! 

There will be two of each for gives (?) and the final winners will be announced on December 6th (Brom's birthday). Which means you have until midnight December 5th my time to make sure I put your name in the bag for a chance to win. Good luck!

What's the time please?

On to lap 2

So, this triathlon then. This fit of madness that made me climb mountains and cycle up hills and swim in open water. And then yesterday I had to do it all. One after the other. And I was nervous. I was jittery. I certainly didn't feel ready.

Here is a list of people (and animals) who have replied to my triathlon post and have given me their thoughts in hours and minutes and sometimes seconds. Some on Facebook, since I was a dunce and didn't open the anonymous bit for their comments until Sunday morning. And the plan had been that only people commenting on my blog would be entered to win. So, in the end, I decided to give away two calendars. Just because. 

Fresh as a daisy (sort of)

Fun60                      3.08.30
Marie Smith            3.05.00

Yamini MacLean    2.59.59
Boes (or my sister) 2.58.00

Unknown IlR          2.57.45

Anvilcloud              2.57.00
Je vader (my dad)   2.55.00

Murphy & Stanley  2.51.47

Charliedownunder  2.51.00

Ed                           2.51.00

MT (via FB)           2.48.00

Pepperfly                2.47.00

Ginnie Marie          2.42.00

Janice Adcock        2.41.28

Mara (yes, me)       2.38.53

JTTS (via FB)        2.36.45

YHN (via FB)        2.29.00

IGD (via FB)          2.28.56

Well, I can tell you that with a lot of cheers I was the last one over the line, only about five minutes before the first of the elite athletes (who started two hours behind me) came over that very same line.

Nearly there!

And I did it in (drumroll please): 2 hours, 33 minutes and 45 seconds. Which means that of the FB repliers, JTTS (my partner in crime) was closest, only being three minutes off. Of the people who haven't seen me train and/or know me in real life Janice Adcock was closest, being nearly 8 minutes out.

Both of you will receive a calendar as soon as it's made which will be November time. Congratulations!

Photos by Unni and Lene

Miss Oswin picks the winners

Miaow

Not a single photo of Gorgeous Me in either of the two calendars, yet I have to be gracious and pick winners? But then Brom said he was very sorry and Mara gave me some extra treats and I have to admit I couldn´t resist. Besides, Mara throwing paper in the air was fun to see as well. Brom just kept watch over me to see I didn´t cheat. Not necessary of course, because I know how to play fair.

Mara had written the names of all the people who entered Brom´s give-away on pieces of paper. She then folded them up, threw them in the air and the ones I sniffed or touched were the winners. And then she took those names out of the list for Mara´s give-away (Brom said that would be fair), wrote the remaining two names on pieces of paper, folded those and threw those four papers in the air. I sniffed one and touched another and we had four winners! Two for Brom´s calendar and two for Mara´s calendar. 

Do you want to know who won? Really? You don´t want it to be a surprise at all? Well, here goes then...

The two winners who will get a calendar made by Brom are (drumroll please)... Auntie Yam and Ginny Marie. 

And the two winners who will both get a calendar filled with Mara´s photos (did I ever say I was not in either of those two calendars?) are... Debby @ Just Breathe and Miss Madi and her Mom.  

I am sorry to those of you who didn´t win. Then again, I am not in either of the calendars, so you don´t miss much... Oh, Mara and Brom say I have to say congratulations. Congratulations to the winners!!! And the calendars will be coming your way soon.

Give-aways

Coocoo

Hi there people! Did you enter our give-aways yet? You didn´t have the time? Or you forgot all about it? Well, here I am to tell you that this is your last chance to enter, since both give-aways close tomorrow at noon (Central European Time). 

So get your fingers in gear and head on over to Mara´s give-away with photos from her travels in 2015. There is even a photo of herself in it, which is a first.

Now, in case you would rather look at me and my adventures, head on over to my give-away with photos from my travels in 2015. And remember, I was in the Netherlands, Scotland and a few days away in Norway where I was dressed up as a Viking!

So get going folks. You can´t win unless you enter!!

Brom's give-away

Coocoo

Perhaps you know about Mara's calendars? The one she makes at the end of each year and shows the best photos of that year? Well, this year she said that I was allowed to make a desk top calendar as well! I was so excited. I had to pick and choose from all my favourites and then decide in which order they were going to be. 

When I was finished doing all that, Mara said I could give away 2 calendars. Isn't that absolutely beartastic? So, if you want to win one of those calendars with me and a dog and a monster and bears and birds and flowers, just leave a comment! That is all you have to do!!

So, leave a comment before December 5th, 12 noon, Central European Time and you are in with a chance of winning one of two calendars. 

Good luck to all...

Mara's give-away

Well, it's time for my annual desk top calendar. And this year it actually features a photo of yours truly on the cover. Never thought that would happen, but there you go. 

I am giving away 2 of them this year. If you want to have a shot at winning one of them, just leave me a comment on this post. No need for anything else! You will have until December 5th, 12 noon, Central European Time. 

Good luck everybody!!

And the winners are...

As you know I would normally put up my Photo on Sunday post today. Since it is Sunday today. But today (yes yes, too much use of today) it is also the day for the winners of my annual calendar give-away.

So, taking into account weather conditions in the Serengeti desert, annual rain fall in Helsinki and the amount of traffic on the road by my house, I decided to write each entry on a piece of paper, fold it up, mix all the bits of folded up paper up and then pick two! Blindfolded!!

Congratulations to the winners. As soon as the calendars arrive, you will be sent one.

Give-away

I may not have been blogging much this year, but I haven't been sitting still. I have taken plenty of photos during this past year and as usual I have made a desk top calendar. And as usual, you will have a chance of winning one! 

This year's feature photo is of the Kelpies, with huge thanks to Yamini who showed them to me. Other photos include photos of Norway, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Oh, and the Netherlands as well. 

Anyway, your chance of winning? Just comment on this post and you will be in with a chance of winning one desk top calendar for 2015. Closing date will be November 15th Norwegian time! Two calendars will be up for grabs, so give it a go! Good luck.

Winners

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

4 2 

Timestamp: 2013-12-02 11:44:23 UTC

Well, the deadline has passed and five people replied to my post. So, the random generator randomly generated 2 numbers from 1 to 5 to give me two winners. And above you can see which two numbers won. Of course I then had to cross those with who they actually were and guess what...

Debby and Ginnie Marie, you won! As soon as the calendar arrives, I will be sending one each to you!

Congratulations.

Calendar

Well, it's time again: the year is running on its last legs and soon it will be 2014. And a new year means a new calendar! Which as always I will be making!!

This year it will be a joined English/Norwegian affair, so you will see exactly when Mother's Day is in Norway, albeit not in any other country. And as a first, I've decided to put in one very special day. Well, it's special to me anyway. 

So, do you want to get hold of this lovely desk-top calendar? Simple: the only thing you have to do is leave a comment and telling me all about your favourite colour. I will then randomly pick out two comments (I will toss all names in a hat and pick two) and those two lucky people will receive a calendar each. 

Now, the deadline for this give-away is November 30th, midnight (Norwegian time). Good luck everyone!!

The winners

Venice in the '90's. Not in the calendar!

Ah, that give-away from last week. Filled with photos from my travels. It would look fantastic on anybody's desk, but it is only won by two. So, drumroll please...

Debby (@Just Breathe) asked for an extra day next year and guess what: she got it! Especially for her, I put an extra day in. I stuck it in at the end of February, which now has 29 instead of 28 days. An extra day to just breathe and live life to the fullest!

Cry (@Thru My Minds Eye) gave a little ditty that didn't rhyme, so we can safely say she has the modern poetry down pat! I've given her the extra day as well, so she can do some more modern poetry!

Congratulations to both of you, the calendars will be heading your way asap!

Over Mara's shoulder

Yes, it's that time of the year to give something away again. And like last year, I will be giving a desk top calendar away. Which is full of photos I took on my travels in Europe and Canada this year.

If you want to have a shot of winning one of two calendars, just leave a comment on this post! Easy peasy. You've got a whole week of thinking of a great comment, closing time is Friday, November 11th at midnight (GMT).

And the winner is...

Isn't it always fun to try for a prize, whatever prize that may be? Perhaps you submitted a joke and hope it will be the best joke in the world, perhaps you bought a lottery ticket and hope for the jackpot or perhaps you commented on my blog and were hoping to get something along the lines of Netherlands footwear! And since there were only 8 comments, the chances of winning were certainly better than winning the jackpot!

So, today I put the numbers 1 to 8 in a random number generator and number 5 came up randomly! And when I looked at the comments I could see number 5 was Gattina! So, congratulations and I will send you an email with the details today!

Of course you all want to know what the prize is don't you? If you hadn't already guessed it of course. Well, it's a pair of Dutch clogs. What else?

And the winner is...

According to the random number generator and having it randomly generate between 1 and 9, number 6 came up. Which relates to Anvilcloud!

I will be sending The Weighty Kitchen to you asap. Congratulations!