Friday 2 April 2021

The Distancing Diaries - 1st & 2nd April, 2021


The weather had reverted back to the usual dismal, cold and gloomy Spring we're more used to when I got up on Thursday morning. Thanks so much for the Never-had-a wedding anniversary wishes, the amazing virtual card (Catmac!) and many congratulations to Mary (30 years), Martha & Carole R (31 years on 2nd May), too!

After my Wii Fit workout, I swept the rugs in the lounge and wrapped my eBay sales. After breakfast, Jon did the post office run a day early and called into the supermarket before popping round to Tony's for a coffee in the garden. I tidied the spare room, putting my bikini tops back in the summer suitcase and kicking it back beneath the bed, then and caught up with blogland.

A first outing for the unworn £8 1960s embroidered kaftan I'd won on eBay last week and had spent Friday morning altering. It's made from that deliciously thick Indian homespun cotton (Gandhi's cloth!) and combined with my bodysuit, Cheryl's vintage leather jerkin, 80 denier tights and lace-up boots it was lovely and cosy - what a difference to the bikini top and factor 30 I'd worn the previous day. 

We had a potato, cheese and onion roll for lunch and while Jon played around with Gilbert in the cold, I stayed indoors and embroidered another couple of craftivism banners.

Once I'd finished my sewing we donned our big coats and went out for an hour's sign-bombing and litter picking. A girl in her late teens even stopped and asked if I'd like any help, which I found really sweet. I'd have been happy picking for longer but Jon had come out without his hat and his ears were starting to fall off. It was so chilly that we could even see our breath!




We managed to gather half a sack each, the contents mostly being discarded bags of dog sh@t, energy drinks, masks and sweet wrappers although I also retrieved a stained school sweatshirt someone had tossed into a bush. We do celebrate our anniversaries in style, don't we? This time last year I cleaned the kitchen!

I'd found someone selling crowns of Victoria rhubarb on Facebook and messaged her asking if I could buy a couple from her. It turned out that she lived near Liz & Al (and was also a member of the litter volunteers) so we arranged to call round tomorrow before visiting Liz & Al.  On the subject of gardening, my Dahlias have sprouted, I can't wait to watch Gardener's World on Friday and see how Monty's are doing.

Tea was a vintage cheddar cheese quiche with salad. Later I cracked on with some crochet. Gill, who I regularly chat to on Facebook, had mentioned a new series of Italian thriller series Thou Shalt Not Kill but when we investigated further I realised that we'd only watched a couple of episodes before abandoning it as we weren't keen so stuck with what we liked and watched Waking The Dead instead.

On Friday morning after I'd seen to the lads, I booked a National Trust visit - the first since the instruction to stay local was introduced back in December. The garden we're visiting is only 45 minutes down the road but it already feels like an epic adventure. I did my final Wii Fit workout of the week, misted the plants and had breakfast with Jon.


Being atheists we don't do Easter and the only time you'll ever hear me exclaim He has risen! is when Jon gets out of bed before 8.30am. I do love the dapper rabbit on the delightfully daft Aldi advert who dances around to the 1967 Latin boogaloo tune, I Like It Like That by Pete Rodriguez so we decided we needed to recreate it in our own inimitable way.


My dapper rabbit is dressed head to toe in his charity shop finery (a vintage Mr Harry dinner suit and a Hawes & Curtis paisley shirt).




Rabbits aren't solo creatures. Here's his girlfriend. She's in vintage Anokhi.





I've no idea why our neighbours think we're a bit strange.


Keeping with the Easter theme we had hot cross buns for lunch, the first in over a decade. They were slathered in butter and utterly delicious.


We took Gilbert for a run, picked up the rhubarb which the lovely seller had left in her porch for us along with a handwritten note with planting tips. It had been ages since we'd been out in Gilbert and I'd forgotten how visible we are in him, I love that everyone waves at us and gives way.



Liz and Al were delayed and came round to ours instead. Al was the recipient of last night's crocheting - I hadn't forgotten the pom-pom, he's just not keen on them. The sunshine had finally made an appearance although it lacked the heat from earlier in the week. Our magnolia has finally burst forth - I'm just waiting on the tulips now!


Tea was wine (we abstained yesterday) with pizza and blinged-up jacket wedges. Tonight we'll be tuning into Gardener's World, drinking rum and trying to stay awake later than 10pm. 


Stay safe and see you soon!

67 comments:

  1. Happy Anniversary to you both. A couple of cool bunnies!
    You have some very badly behaved pet owners near you and the litter must be dispiriting in general when you are out making huge efforts, how lovely though that someone offered to help.
    Our magnolia is in blossom too, infact the garden is a sea of white blossom at the moment, just wish the sky was blue still. Its decidedly perky here too. On the plus side it's a great night for a warming curry and the fire's on.
    Have a good weekend. xxx

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    1. Parky, definitely parky, although quite perky too :)

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    2. I love it when the blossom comes out although our magnolia has a habit of flowering just before we get snow or high wind and it's gone far too soon! xxx

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  2. Sorry I missed your non-wedding anniversary, well done you two! We are 18 years together and 16 years married. I love hot cross buns - so yummy. Love your bunny pics, bit like a victorian costume party lol

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    1. Thanks, Tammy! I do look a bit Victorian in my rabbit gear! xxx

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  3. That man of yours looks amazing in a suit.. I'm a sucker for a smart suit and nice shirt. I reckon that outfit of yours is the nicest that you have ever shown us. You both look fabulous.

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    1. He scrubs up alright, doesn't he? xxx

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  4. We had an equally exciting anniversary. You two look great as big bunnies! I had a neighbor once who lived alone and always wore bunny ears while mowing his lawn. Talk about weird lol! Your pizza looks delicious. Have a great weekend!

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    1. I'm glad you had an exciting time, too! We did have a get together with friends yesterday, the first time in over a year! xxx

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  5. Wow this is such a detailed and beautiful story.Wishing you all the best.I love all the signs on cleaning up after yourself and your pet.The place looks so beautiful and very nice meals too captured.Have a wonderful Easter weekend.

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  6. I need my eyes checked. These posts you've referenced Waking the Dead, I've been so surprised it was your kind of show. Today I just realized my eyes and brain have been seeing The Walking Dead!! Clearly not the same! I too prefer pompomless hats because of the added height. Finding pet poo is a major pet peeve.

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    1. You're right, zombies aren't my thing at all! I struggled to sit in Gilbert with my pompom hat! xxx

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  7. Thanks for continuing with your cheery posts.
    What is the white creamy dressing you have on your salad?
    J

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    1. My pleasure, J, thanks for commenting!
      The salad dressing is Shaws of Hudderfield "Mighty American Style Relish", a gherkin based dressing you add to mayonnaise, it's gorgeous! xxx

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  8. Haha, those bunny heads are so creepy! I love it!!! You just need a Maypole now (of course I'm thinking of The Wicker Man). Congratulations on your never-had-a-wedding anniversary (and hello to good ol' Catmac who sent you a card). Those dahlia seeds have sprouted super quickly haven't they!? Your new kaftan looks fab Vix. Have a great weekend, Lulu x

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    1. We have unicorn heads, too - they're even freakier! xxx

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  9. Happy Never-Had-A-Wedding Anniversary from me too, Vix! :-) And many more to come! Dan & I have a Had-A-Wedding-But-Don't-Remember-It-Much Anniversary coming up in a few weeks. It will be #45. We were only 19 when we wed... no wonder I can't remember it! :-D ~Andrea xoxo

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  10. Happy not-an-anniversary :-) Please give a gentle warning next time you publish evidence of the 'I Like It Like That' dance - nearly spluttered coffee over the keyboard 🤪

    The furthest I have travelled this year is to drop Bill off for a service, otherwise it has just been to the supermarket. Did it feel weird being out in Gilbert?

    I am late with my dahlia seeds (only went in on Wednesday) - yours look great so far, well done.

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    1. I love that rabbit on the Aldi advert, he's quite attractive in a demented way!
      It was strange being out in Gilbert, we're taking him National Trusting this week as a special treat. xxx

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  11. Loved this post - think those rabbits made an outing last at Glastonbury am I right?! what a great idea to have them in an Easter post. I am mesmerised by the combo of your skirt and blouse - they are both very beautiful but look so good together. I am always looking out for quilted skirts, they are silly prices on EBay - oh the endless list of shopping for when foreign travel takes off again! I think I will do a one off post like yours of what I did for two days (Couldn't keep it up like you do though lol!). Have a lovely weekend. Betty x

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    1. You're nearly right, it was unicorn heads at Camper Calling, Claire & I wore vintage white cocktail dresses and Martin Fry from ABC dedicated a song to us!
      Please do a diary post, I'd love to read what you've been up to. xxx

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  12. Hello you two. What a fun posting. I chuckled at you litter picking in Philip's Mum’s coat. Bet she’d have had a chuckle about that. xxx

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    1. Hello, Lynn! I do try and give that fabulous coat some variety in her life! xxx

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  13. Love the rabbit masks you can get stuff like that in cosplay shops we have all kinds of weird and wonderful stuff as I have to dress in cosplay at work sometimes it’s great fun. I miss Easter. Kids don’t understand it. I tried to explain to the little ones but the elder ones are atheists so I am glad in a way. I hated church.
    Happy non aniversary it was exciting as ours was then ! I love rhubarb it’s a delacy here and costs an arm and a leg but they make amazing preserves with it, well worth the cash.
    We are looking for new stuff to watch I have been watching moonlighting remember that! It’s so funny, but nothing is taking my fancy at the moment and everything is delayed.
    Have a wonderful Easter and have a hot cross bun on me love and hugs.

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    1. We've got unicorn heads too, they're awful to wear though, I can't see a thing!
      Easter used to mean the start of the car boot season here, we'd go on all four days of the klomg weekend and have a houseful of tat! How I miss it!
      Rhubarb is lovely, isn't it? Wetherspoon's did some rhubarb gin a couple of years ago, it was gorgeous.
      I loved Moonlighting back in the day, we all had a thing for Bruce Willis! xxx

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  14. I am loving reading your blog and seeing your garden evolve, it's properly cheered me up thank you. I actually managed to get out in the garden this week for a bit of gentle pottering it's made such a difference to me. Happy non wedding anniversary, we'll be 24 years of non wedded bliss this year, there's definitely something to be said for it!

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    1. I'm so glad my ramblings are keeping your spirits up. Hope the healing's going well.
      You're not far behind us at 24 years, the 1990s weren't too bad, were they? xxx

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  15. Ah thank you for mentioning me. I love your little banners. It is really only clearing up after yourself isn't it? I get really cross at people who hang poo bags on branches in our local woods, I don't understand other people.
    Your rabbit heads are so much fun .You both looked very dapper.

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    1. My pleasure, Carole! I don't understand what goes through people's heads, either. Wht bag up dog poo and just abandon it? I think I'm in danger of getting a bit obsessed, my ees are constantly trained on litter! xxx

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  16. Entertained as usual. Your variety is my spice! 🤣

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  17. love mr. & mrs. rabbit!!!
    and congrats to the love anniversary! you both are definitely soulmates.....
    i´m green with envy about england getting forwrd with vaccination and coming out of lockdown - we only will have the next one after easter. sigh.
    xxxx

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    1. Thank you! I hope you get your vaccinations sorted soon. We've just been watching the news from Germany on the BBC and it's ridiculous that you're having to wait so long. xxx

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  18. Adored the rabbit photos. What fun. And absolutely love your wine glasses. I have never seen an episode of the walking dead but actually live where they film it. Have met a few of the actors and done the walking dead tour as a friend runs it. Ironically she has never seen it either. Happy anniversary toy you both.

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    1. Hello Amanda! Jon bought me the wine glasses years ago, I'm amazed they are still intact.
      It's Waking The Dead that we watch, a British cold case series that aired on the BBC for 11 years and starred Trevor Eve & Sue Johnston. I've never seen The Walking Dead, zombies aren't my thing! xxx

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  19. Happy anniversary. You really did celebrate in style. Kudos to you for continuing street cleaning. I love the rabbit photos and outfits. Absolutely fabulous.

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  20. Happy Saturday Vix, love the rabbit head pics ha ha, bit surreal. Love the kaftan it looks great and with your layering tricks still wearable in the cold. Been feasting on hot cross buns this week end so don't look forward to the Wii fit weigh in ha ha (son makes us do it for a laugh once a fortnight. I love the shot of the magnolia. I have the deepest purple tulips out and thought of you. Nature certainly does give us joy. Nearly finished watching Survivors. Hubster putting up a new fence at the mo so as usual all go this end. Have a great Sat night and I will raise a glass to you. Shazxx

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    1. Hi Shaz! Glad you liked the bunnies! That Wii Fit will be asking you why you think you've put weight on and being all stern with you!
      I bet those deep purple tulips are gorgeous. I wish my Queen of the night ones would get a shift on, it'll be summer by the time they bloom! Cheers, my friend! xxx

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  21. Happy Never-had-a-wedding-anniversary!! Love the pic of your magnolia tree. There was one where I used to work, but now that I retired I never get to see it anymore. The catnip and catmint are sprouting up in the garden, but that's about all I've seen so far. I can't wait for the dhalias to come up, but first I need to plant them. I think while everyone is celebrating Easter tomorrow, I'll celebrate Spring by planting some dhalias. Awesome bunny head outfits! I need something like that to freak out the neighbors...haha!
    Wishing you a great weekend!

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    1. Magnolias are magnificent, ours seems to be even lovelier this year! Our cat mint is doing well and I'm watching the tulips & waiting for them to bloom like a woman posessed! xx

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  22. Happy Never-had-a-wedding-anniversary, Vix & Jon! Our weather has reverted to its usual dismal Spring self as well. From about 27°C on Wednesday to 7°C on Friday: what a difference! Your new-to-you embroidered kaftan, however, is colourful enough to cheer up the most dismal of days. Good to hear that your Dahlia seeds have sprouted and that you were able to get a new crown of rhubarb. We haven't got the Aldi advert here, but how hilarious are your Easter bunny shenanigans. Best dressed Easter bunnies ever! And mmm, hot cross buns. We haven't been able to get some here for many years. Perhaps we'll have to try our hand at making our own batch next year! xxx

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    1. Thanks, Ann!
      Spring is such a weird season, we get every kind of weather known to man! It's so hard to get warm after you've been spoilt with delcious heat and sunshine for a couple of days.
      I'd forgotten how much I like hot cross buns. The shops do all fancy ones these days but nothing beats the traditional fruit ones! xxx

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  23. Look at you two cool coneys! I love Jon's suit (so dapper - L would wear that in a heartbeat!), and you look amazing in your Anokhi, Vix! Happy Not-a-Versary! Here's to many more years of good times for the both of you and your other-species fam (and of course, the family you choose).

    I'm so glad your litter-picking is getting adherents - not all the youngs are terrible! I have traumatic memories of my mom trying to make hot cross buns (which were not hot, nor crossed, and only vaguely resembling buns - they were burnt on top and doughy inside! such a terrible cook/baker, she is).

    Happy weekend, you two! I save your posts for last for reading, so that I can savour them. :)

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    1. L would totally rock that suit, wouldn't he?
      Oh no, those doughy hot cross buns don't sound very appetising, your poor mum! I rememebr you saying she wasn't the world's greatest cook (mine wasn't either!)
      I do the same with your posts, I'm saving your wardrobe reshuffle to have with my coffee tomorrow! xxx

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  24. Happy Not a wedding anniversary.
    The Rabbit costumes are very David Lynch. Thanks for the nightmare fuel ;)

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  25. Love the rabbit attire. You two do a great job of pulling it off. Seems you look great no matter what you wear. Wanted to share a cute posting of a sign recently seen on FB. It said "Free Yoga" Kindly bend over and pick up your dogs poo. You have so many great ideas of your own but thought this was also clever. Ranee (MN) USA

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    1. Hi Ranee! I love that slogan, I shall definitely pinch that for a banner, thank you! xxx

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  26. Seeing you in the rabbit masks did make me wonder what your neighbours think, although I expect they are used to you by now :)
    Enjoy your NT visit. We've travelled a little farther this week and it does feel very strange. X

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    1. It will be weird travelling outside of Walsall but I am excited! xxx

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  27. Maybe you need to petition your council for more bins by showing them the evidence of everything you pick up? Good work bunnies.

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    1. Hi Julie! We've tried. They have increased the number in local parks but more street ones mean more refuse collectors would be needed to empty tham and the council haven't got the funds. xxx

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  28. Just loved you both as rabbits. Who on earth leaves all that rubbish ? It looks such a good area you live in. It reminds me of the tale I learnt at school. Someone was doomed to roll a great stone up a hill. It would roll back and he was doomed to do it for ever. I so admire you but don’t waste your life dear people. It’s a pity the culprits can’t be arrest. Your food always look so yummy. ❤️

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    1. Hello Sally! Littering is a massive problem in the UK and got worse during lockdown but we're rising up and making the litterbugs the minority, the decent people far outnumber the scumbags! xxx

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  29. Oh gosh, you two are the stuff of nightmares with those bunny heads on ... you'd scare our Jack Russell half to death if she saw a rabbit that big!!

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  30. You and Jon look fab in your bunny heads but I'm sorry to say I find them very, very creepy! Love the new kaftan (what a bargain) and the leather jerkin combo was fab.

    We are off to Cornwall soon and hope to visit some NT places while we're there and I understand the excitement...

    The banners are brilliant. You're the Banksy of Walsall!
    xxx

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    1. I promise not to come round in the dead of night and tap your windows dressed as rabbits! xxx

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  31. Happy Anniversary!. We've celebrated our own 'togetherness' on 4th too, as it's our official anniversary. We don't celebrate particularly our wedding anniversary, as it was just red tape. Usually, I tell people that my wedding costed me ten cents, which I paid for a photocopy. Romantic as I am! ;DD
    Lovely to see you in your new kaftan, such a colourful piece, and you styled it so fabulously despite the awful weather. Loving it!
    And you've put a smile on my face with your amazing Easter themed outfits!, thanks for the fabulous photos!. ;DDDDD
    Looking really elegant in your vintage finery!. Love your Anokhi outfit and fab jewellery, woww
    Thanks for another joyful post!
    besos

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    1. Happy Anniversary to you and the Mr for the 4th! xxx

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  32. You look so funny as a bunny! You know you could have blatantly worn JOn's purple jacket to dress as Missy- hers is very like that with the fancy edging too!
    Hurrah for the Rhubarb- I HOPE we get to eat some of our own this year after the sodding badger ruthlessly attacked it time after time last year and this year. This morning, CBC angrily told me I'd made a mess when he looked out the window as I had dug in a whole load of vegetable scraps where I will plant beans later on- I told him that I had covered it with earth but no, something had dug it all up and left all the rotting veg exposed. Sigh.
    The new kaftan is wonderful! The banners are excellent too!

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    1. I'm not sure who Missy is - I clearly need to do some bunny research!
      Oh no, what a shame the badger snaffled your rhubarb. We've created weird bamboo cages things to stop any creatures messing with ours. xxx

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  33. You and Jon make very stylish rabbits! Glad you had a nice un-anniversary. Your anti-littering banners are the best street art.

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  34. What splendid Easter bunnies you make!

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix