Flushed with success

First off, please don’t take flight on sight of our old toilet as there is more to this story than meets the eye. Not only is this post a bit of fun but it’ll show you something that you can use yourself when it comes to getting more out of your images.

As some of you know part one of our home renovations are near completion. One of the greatest joys for us so far is our new bathroom and four star soft closing toilet. Alas it doesn’t open when standing before it!

So! Do you want to see our new toilet and surrounds?

Well then, pass your mouse cursor over the image below (it may take a moment to kick in) to see what is currently tickling us pink! What a sight for sore eyes or should I say, bums.

How do I change an image on mouseover using HTML

You too can use this image effect in your blog. All that’s needed are two images and a few lines of code that you see below.

<div><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" onmouseover="this.src='http://lh6.ggpht.com/_tpq91pcqIw8/S6-k3AbWzjI/AAAAAAAAGjE/U12wkXjt0t4/newtoilet.jpg'" onmouseout="this.src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tpq91pcqIw8/S6-kjDAFloI/AAAAAAAAGjA/EQoRNlVfoB0/oldtoilet.jpg'" alt="toilet" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tpq91pcqIw8/S6-kjDAFloI/AAAAAAAAGjA/EQoRNlVfoB0/oldtoilet.jpg" /></div>

1. In the code above the first image is named newtoilet.jpg for obvious reasons. The properties for this are in red.
2. The second image is named oldtoilet.jpg and the properties for this are in blue.
3. The whole image is centered which accounts for the first line of code.
4. Copy my code, remembering to replace the image properties with your own, and insert it into your post.
5. Hint: It’s best to have two images of the same size.

Now, I’ve tested this in Internet Explorer 8, Firefox 3.5.8, Opera 10.10, Google Chrome 4.1.249.1042 and Safari 4.0.4 and it works in all of them.

The inspiration for this post came when I stumbled across Mohammad Mustafa Ahmedzai’s article on a Floating Feedback Button at My Blogger Tricks while taking a break from home renovations.

Well enough of this! As the sun has just risen it’s about time I started painting the new doors, all eight of them!

P.S. If you do give this a whirl please let me know how you get on.

Update: If you’re viewing this in a reader, Google Buzz or by email you will have to visit my blog to see the effect. It does work in Feedburner for some strange reason!

To be continued…

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Our one and only grandchild spoke her first words

Back on the 11th September 2009 we received the wonderful news from our son that his beautiful partner had given birth to our first grandchild. Their first child was surely a gift from heaven; not only for them but for us as well.

How time flies! Now we hear that Emmi, our one and only grandchild, has spoken her first words!

Son and father with their first born

This is where I have to apologise, as I’ve been telling people her first words were, “Mama.” Yes, I’m due a good flogging for mucking this one up – any floggers out there?

Now, what were her first words? “NAN NAN NAN.” I’m sure both grandmothers are over the moon about this! By the way mum, what were my first words?

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”How cool is this?” and “What were the first words your child spoke?”

To be continued...

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How to overcome the empty nest blues

So how do you overcome the empty nest blues? A home renovation is what is called for and we are in the midst of ours now that our adult children are no longer living at home.

Yes, they may be living a life of their own away from the nest but the memories and their presence still lingers. No manner of cleaning, sanding, repainting and the installation of tiles and new gadgets can remove them.

What I won’t be sad to see the end of:

1. Fist and boot sized holes in doors and gyprock walls
2. Stickers plastered on bedroom walls and windows
3. Girly and racing car pictures nailed to the walls
4. Car parts and lubricants in bedroom cupboards
5. A full beer keg that doubled for a bedside table
6. Rubber thingies secreted here and there
7. Blobs of Blu-Tack everywhere
8. Fingerprints in hard to reach places
9. Clothes that have never seen the light of day or a washing machine
10. Light fittings left bare by indoor sports

All of which have been a constant reminder of how our children made their mark on the family home as a result of brotherly love gone wrong, stunts, mischief, capers, pranks, frolics, escapades, foolishness, silliness, playfulness, skylarking, horseplay, buffoonery, tomfoolery or just plain bad luck when they were hanging out with the old folks.

Yes, I could have covered all of this by using just one word, Antics, but it just wouldn’t do justice to this story.

Alas, even though part one of the home renovations are nearing completion, our home seems so empty without the ones we love so much – our children.

P.S. When they do come to visit, they’re staying in the granny flat so help me God!

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“How did you overcome your empty nest blues?” or “How do you plan to overcome your empty nest blues?”

To be continued...

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Controlling your destiny come hell or high water

Have you ever come close to fulfilling a lifelong dream only to see it ruined by the complexities of life that have been heightened by a mix of foreseen and unforeseen events?

Controlling our destiny is one of those things and it is defined by hard work, unselfishness, diligence and patience in order to fulfil a life's dream of becoming what we so desperately want in life - for example, a career that will hopefully lead us down the yellow brick road not only for personal success but also for our family members as well.

Things don't always go our way to reaching that goal for one reason or another. Yes, procrastination, moving from one state to another or just plain bad luck, just to name a few, can hamper our dreams but if we can get through all of that we will make our mark in life especially if we have the support of our loved ones.

Oh! I almost forgot one other – The Boss. A few that I know have been more than than a godsend when it comes to a certain member of my family.

Now, this may go down in the Guinness World Records book as the longest apprenticeship ever - our son finally realised his dream of becoming a licensed electrician after overcoming all sorts of obstacles for so, so many years.

Yes, just the other day we received the wonderful and it’s about time news that he had passed his final exams with flying colours that has made us and his beautiful partner in life even more proud of him.

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What obstacles have got in your way to fulfilling your dreams, and, how did you overcome them?

To be continued…

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