Friday 14 August 2009

Warm Weather


Q. Is the good weather finally here to stay? 
Q. Who knows?
A. Absolutely no-one! 

Weather forecasts are not to be relied upon in any shape or form, I do know that, yet I get taken in by the 5 day ones on a regular basis I'm ashamed to say, just can't help myself. If sunshine is predicted for the following day, life takes on new meaning (!?), well for a while at least until I wake up to rain the next morning!!

So far so good though. Since Tuesday, when incidentally my face got incredibly  sunburnt (after doing a 7 mile walk), we've had a good run of that ball of fire and the temperatures have been great. 

Apparently, it's going to continue to shine right up until next Wednesday. 
Q. How do I know? 
A. I've fallen for the latest 5 day forecast!

But I just have a really good feeling that this time it's going to be spot on. Think positive.....

PS. (If, by some REMOTE possibility, it all goes awry, I will not be stepping foot out of bed until I see the sun beaming through my venetians!)

 

Friday 17 July 2009

A great day...

Today my daughter graduated from Portsmouth University with a 2-1.  We had a lovely day, I took along my mum for the ceremony too so my daughter had her mum (me!), her grandma and her dad there for support, I am one very proud parent!

The car journey to and from Portsmouth was a little fractious. Mum didn't want me answering phone calls in the car with my handsfree for starters and every time I managed to reach the dizzy heights of 70mph in my banger she held on to her arm rest for dear life as if we were about to take flight! 

Oh and no radio either, she asked me to turn it down to such a degree I couldn't hear anything above the engine, so I just turned it off.

Tomorrow I get my lie-in, one of many now that I have started my summer hols, wooo! I don't have a lot planned for my time off  as yet, though there are a few trips out which I'm looking forward to. 

Sorting out my garden and repainting the fence is definitely a priority and I must continue working on my friends garden too, it's been a slow process this year trying to get it completed. 

And of course I need to socialise more; I must find a Salsa class, catch up with friends I haven't seen for ages (which includes a visit to Manchester) and hopefully have days out with my girls.

The depressing thing is all of the above involves spare cash, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, (does anyone know what it looks like?) hmmm, could be spending alot of time at home then!! 

It would be great to be in a position to actually go abroad each summer, considering I have 6 weeks off, but that has never been possible unfortunately, so towards the end of the hols I do start pulling my hair out! Won't think about that just yet though, will wait until the novelty wears off first.

I think it's time to go to bed now, motorway driving always drains me. I have my roomie's bed all to myself tonight and tomorrow, yay, she's staying in Portsmouth for graduation celebrations.

Now, what tropical island shall I visit in my dreams tonight........

 

Wednesday 15 July 2009

Roll on the summer hols!


Well today was the day of Year 6's 'leavers play'. The word shambolic comes to mind, but hey, it's done, over with at last, I can not bear to think about it another minute, it was the bane of my life for weeks!

And now, for my sins, I have their party to look forward to tomorrow afternoon. Ooh, it's just one delight after another. Personally I feel they don't deserve any treats, considering their diabolical behaviour over recent months, but who am I to question the powers that be. So my presence is expected at the party they requested, I shall have to grimace throughout the proceedings and just go home with face ache. It will be a veritable chimpanzees celebration, of that I can guarantee.

I know I sound like an evil witch and anyone (!) reading this will probably think 'thank god/I hope she's not my childs teaching assistant', but this Year 6 have been trying, honestly and truly!! 

My mum came to stay yesterday, until next Thursday. I love her very much but am so used to just me and my daughters living together it can be difficult for me to keep my patience with her sometimes. My girls always put me back in my place though. I lose my status when mum comes, I become a daughter myself again instead of head of the household and it can be frustrating.

I've given up my room this time, for my mum, and have taken to sharing a bed with my eldest daughter, who isn't overly pleased that I have become her 'roomie' but if you love your mum you have to make sacrifices, right? Anyhoo, for the remainder of her stay I have promised myself I will be a respectful daughter and a patient one too.  

Monday 13 July 2009


Last week at work was draining to say the least, loads to get done before the end of term.  My class have lost the plot, switched off  before the summer hols have arrived (as is usual). If you can imagine how impossible it was trying to inspire thirty 10 year olds to rehearse their 'leavers play' with feeling, you'll know exactly how I felt when I left work on Friday!

Thankfully I had the weekend to look forward to;  Saturday night in Scotland, in a swish hotel with a gorgeous man! After an early breakfast on Sunday we hit the road just after 8, spending the day  in the fresh air 'til we caught the 6 o'clock train back to London, arriving  late, totally whacked but feeling good.

Leaving a cosy warm bed at 615 in the morning is never easy,  leaving behind a nice warm body within that bed is nigh on impossible, but I did it this morning, had to drive back home. However, I had the luxury of  languishing on my couch to look forward to. I had the day off and instead of using it wisely and completing an important piece of paperwork (amongst other things)  I lounged. 

My mum's coming to stay tomorrow for a week or so and I want my house to look tidy, but did I dust and hoover, did I wash the bathroom floor and clear the landing of 'stuff'? No, I climbed out of bed at 240pm(!), had a leisurely late lunch in the garden and started reading 'Wicked' instead. 

I read so much I started to feel sleepy round about 7ish and had 40 winks, can you believe it!! I love days like this, when I don't have to be anywhere, spending the day in my pyjamas, hair uncombed,  it does me good!

Thing is though, I've slept for England and it's now 1230am and I'm not tired, I'm up again at 7 for work  so think I'll go back to bed and read some more until I fall asleep, again!  


Wednesday 8 July 2009


"The art of love is largely the art of persistence". 
Albert Ellis 

Monday 6 July 2009

Hello.......




A friend of mine started a blog  last year and suggested I try it. He's a writer by profession and when he said he thought I'd be good at it because he liked the way I wrote, his compliment saw me giving it a go. 

I started in January 2009 and by March had given up! Apart from trying to get used to the idea that the whole world could read my words I could also see that my blog entries consisted of work and family near enough and that was it, nothing exciting in my opinion. The fact that I only ever got one comment on what I was writing was proof to me that it must be pretty boring stuff!

Encouragement made me toy with the idea of starting up again on a few occasions but self doubt took over, still wasn't convinced I could write anything that was of interest to anyone. Still not sure now to be perfectly honest, but I've definitely missed writing. 

So.... here I go again, I'm back, this time I'm just doing it for myself (maybe that's the answer?). It's good to see one's thoughts written down and having read back the entries in my blog they all made me smile and remember, which has got to be good.



Tuesday 10 March 2009

Pallone per il calcio


I don't support a team, not a big fan at all, never have been.

However, things did change a few years ago after I met and became good friends with a Man Utd supporter! Since that time I've watched a game or two on the box with him and I have to say I always enjoy the experience. 

Funnily enough, on Friday I was asked by my Head if I would escort our school's 5 aside football team to a tournament, she had double booked and couldn't make the trip. To be quite honest the request didn't appeal to me at all but of course I said 'yes' because I wanted to help out.

I had to make my own way to the venue and got hopelessly lost (turning up fifteen minutes late) but thankfully I hadn't missed a game. It wasn't long before I'd gathered a little valuable information: no off side rule, no swapping ends due to the matches only lasting eight minutes.

I listened carefully to the yelling supporters and soon found myself joining in, shouting "Mark him!", "Aw ref!" and "Go on my son!" (not). I even doubled up as physio and applied some vaseline to a nasty scrape (I discovered astro turf 's a bugger if you're unfortunate enough to meet it with your knees).

It turned out to be a great afternoon for us, winning the league, quarter finals, semi finals and final, an event that hadn't happened in a long while. I felt really chuffed and was more than glad to have been there and seen their big win.

Today I was asked if I could accompany the lads to the next stage in the game, apparently I've been adopted as their lucky mascot! This time round I didn't hesitate to say 'Yes' and nearly cheered  'Bring it on!' (do they say that in football?!)

I might find out who the opposing teams are and get my Man Utd friend to pen some chants for me!


 


   

Monday 9 March 2009

I have this friend (ha!)


She's 40 something and over the winter months she's put on weight. Not stones by any means but enough to feel uncomfortable around the waistline (6lbs to be exact).  

She's a little concerned, feels 'big' sometimes, seeing the unwelcome spread of flesh in the mirror. She feels her derriere has spread too but still finds it hard to cut out the snacks every night.

I tell her 'What's it going to take for you to realise that if you carry on eating this way you'll soon have a stone to move before you know it!' 

She wants to be slimmer and tanned for the summer, she wants to be able to give those younger girls a run for their money when the short skirts and pretty dresses come out of the wardrobe. 

I told her that she just needs to stick up pics of Beth Ditto all around the kitchen as a stark reminder of what her body could look like if she doesn't stop being a pig (I know it sounds harsh but sometimes the girl needs a slap!).

You have to feel sexy to look sexy right? 

I'll definitely stick with her throughout this ordeal, after all what friends are for? It's got to be done, even the sit-ups?! 

Just think 'slim, sexy, confident, slim, sexy.....' 



 

Thursday 5 March 2009

I want that big, hot........


..... shiny, yellow star back in our skies.

Some say spring has sprung (as of 1st of March to be precise) and I say 'poppycock'! Surely Spring starts towards the end of this month? It still feels and looks like winter to me, all you gotta do is step outside!

When the daffodils start blooming on the green at the end of my road, then I will know it has arrived at my place. 

Monday 2 March 2009

Life


"Look, I don't want to wax philosophic, but I will say that if you're alive you've got to flap your arms and legs. You've got to jump around a lot, for life is the very opposite of death, and therefore you must, at the very least, think noisy and colorfully or you're not alive".
Mel Brooks

Wednesday 25 February 2009

My memory


..... or lack of it!

My forgetfullness is a concern (to me) and occasionally a situation will prompt me to mention it. Family, friends or work colleagues laugh and tell me it's 'normal'. I can accept their reassurance 99.9% of the time, but now and then that 1% 'niggle' is hard to ignore. 

I've been mislaying my car for years. It's so easy; enter a shop, buy a few items, leave and then panic because you suddenly have no idea where you've parked the car; is it to the left or right? I have to rewind, retrace my steps, even visualise parking, in the end always finding it. But I don't think it's funny, I'm not 70 or 80 years old by a long shot!

I'm damn sure struggling to remember the surnames of my work colleagues and the names of the children I've known for years can't be 'normal'? 

Today has been a busy day, so much had to be done. So much to remember, I actually felt frustrated (not a feeling I have very often). I was supposed to drop the post in the letterbox on my way home from work, but promptly forgot, having only been handed the envelopes about 15 minutes before. 

Also I offered a lift to a colleague and said I'd meet her in the staff room because I needed to speak to someone quickly before leaving. Instead I ended up getting into a conversation and left her sitting for 10 minutes. 

As I passed the door to leave I saw her there and suddenly remembered my offer. I couldn't apologise enough, she said she didn't mind, but I felt a fool. I was glad to get home. 

I have had other things, not work related, on my mind though so maybe that's why I've been extra forgetful today .... possibly.

Thankfully this 'condition' (that we all suffer from to varying degrees) isn't contagious, that's something I do remember!



    


Monday 23 February 2009

Back to the grindstone


Going to make this short and sweet, it's past my bedtime! No more crawling up to bed at 'stupid o'clock' (!), half term is officially over. 

Back to work today. Chatted in the staff room about who went where over the break; Las Vegas, Dubai, Dublin, Spain got mentioned and lucky me got to stay in ....... sunny South London!

Hey ho, up the apple 'n' pears, there's no limit to where I can travel to in my dreams, I'm off to an island in the Indian Ocean tonight I think. 

Thursday 19 February 2009

Moolah






Good news - my car is back, I picked it up this afternoon. Bad news - I'm £214.43 out of pocket!! 

Serves me right really, it's never let me down in the four years I've had it, so I guess it finally decided to protest.  Apart from having an MOT each year the only attention I lavish on my car is the occasional valetting and topping up the oil and water. I'm ashamed to say my funds never stretched to an annual service. I got close a few times then other things took priority and that was that.

After taking my hard earned cash my mechanic left me with a little nugget of information and it was this; the petrol pump symbol on your fuel guage has a handle (or hose and nozzle) and whatever side it is on indicates what side your fuel cap is on. I never knew that, but it's worth knowing if you're driving a rented or new car.  

So, to be ready for it's next service in December, I've got a jam jar and labelled it 'Car Fund'. I have placed it right next to the jam jar labelled 'Christmas Fund' and will be putting £1 coins in each one at the end of every day. Bills take near enough all the money out of my bank account so this is the alternative, oh what a granny I have become!!

 

Wednesday 18 February 2009

Carless





A moribund motor, that's what I have. I drove it to the car hospital this afternoon for an overnight stay, the diagnosis to be announced at some point tomorrow. Until then I shall nurse this sense of loss, for it is the first time we have ever been apart.

Up until the current car in my life I simply owned a succession of what can only be described as jalopys! The most I could afford for a car 'back in the day' was £100, which I would invariably borrow and then pay back over the following months. 

I did splash out on a red Golf once for £500 (which I borrowed from an old friend and paid him back £50 a month!). Unfortunately that died a terrible death one January morning, whilst on the school run, when it spontaneously combusted at the traffic lights. Burnt out car AND debt, fantastic!

Each machine would stay with me for a year, then, when it failed its MOT the process of borrowing began again. Alas the cash was never used to fix the car of the moment because the damn repair bill always came to more than what I'd bought the heap for in the first place! Time for the next banger. 

So now I'm thinking positive thoughts, 'it WILL only be minor repairs', 'I WILL not get a big bill', 'I WILL have my car back in no time', that sort of thing. 

Can I just say, having read this back; from the serious separation issues I'm clearly describing one might think I was talking about a brand new Mini or Audi. OR for those who aren't even a smidgeon materialistic that I might just be attaching a little too much importance to, what in reality is, just a hunk of metal (WHATEVER, I'll discuss it with my shrink on Monday). 

Actually folks I happen to be the proud owner of an 'S' reg Hyundai (that's a 1999 model) which is worth more to me than ten Mercedes convertibles.

And if you believe that..... I'm Jimmy Saville!!! 





Tuesday 17 February 2009

Kino




I would love to go more often but never seem to get round to it. So I love weekends, when I don't have to work,  a good time for me to catch a film. Come Friday afternoon I slip into relax mode without any effort at all!

This weekend I was spoilt for choice when it came to picking something to watch. On the list happened to be 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona', a film I had no intention of seeing, even though I didn't have a clue about the story line. 

To be honest my decision was based purely on a dislike for its advertising on a billboard I happened to drive by one day. Nah, didn't look like my sort of film. Coupled with the fact that it was written and directed by Woody Allen (of whom I'm not a big fan),  I knew I'd be giving this one a miss.

But then, in  a moment of frivolousness I changed my mind and am glad I did because it was really good. The volatile relationship between Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardems characters (estranged husband and wife) was great acting.  When I found out that the male lead was actually the same actor who'd played the nasty, crazy baddie in 'No Country for Old Men' (another great film), I couldn't believe it. Isn't it amazing what a decent haircut can do for a guy?!

I was impressed that he'd played such a completely different character. A complete seducer, he had the look of Ollie Reed and George Clooney in this film,  attractive in a dangerous kind of way, definitely not a man to take home to your mother.

On the other hand a film I would love to see is Breakfast at Tiffanys.  Once upon a time I actually borrowed the DVD but never made time to watch it. I'm not into romantic films as a rule, but I think for this one I could definitely make an exception.

Friday 13 February 2009

Kids these days.....


13 year old girls to be exact. Wanting to grow up too soon.

I see them going through the gate as I drop off my 13 year old daughter every day, done up to the nines', for school??? I must admit though I have given in to her wearing mascara, after her two older sisters assured me, 'It'll be ok mum', (but it doesn't make me happy!). 

I always watch her go through the gate, she always looks back and gives me a discreet wave. Once in a while I get this feeling of deep love as I watch her go, the thought, 'how could I live without her, I hope she gets home safe today', running through my head.

We visited a good friend of mine this afternoon. Our friendship began many years ago when our young teenage daughters first started primary school together. As we were drinking tea (and dunking digestives of course) my friend asked my daughter if she was going to 'this club night'. 

My relaxed pose ceased to be as I sat up and looked from one to the other and calmly repeated the question to my little one. She answered "I didn't tell you about it because I knew you'd say 'No'. " 

As more details emerged on the subject (including my visit to the 'Youthoria' website), I took a moment to congratulate her on the psychic powers she clearly possessed, because she was spot on with regards to what my response was going to be, ha!

Oh yes folks, Youthoria are offering 'The ultimate teen club experience', oh and  'a good night for all, ' is also guaranteed. Giving them '...the opportunity to experience the club scene' for those between the ages of 13 and 17. 

Hmmm, would anyone sane parent encourage their 13 year old daughter to go 'clubbing' with 16 and 17 year old boys?? Oh, but wait, they are only being offered free coke and lemonade all night and weapons, alcohol, drugs and chewing gum are mentioned on the prohibited items list, so that must makes it all ok then!!!!.

My 'gobsmackedness' increased as I clicked on the 'Photos' page. But the youtube video on the homepage did if for me, placed just underneath the headline 'UV Valentines Bubble Ball'. A veritable rave it was, the place was 'rammed', everybody waving their free glow sticks (to go with the free lollipops on offer I guess). 

At the very end of the 'Parents' page it said, "Any person who appears to be intoxicated through either alcohol or drugs will be refused entry with no refund". Well why in hells name didn't they say that on the homepage? Had I read that important piece of information first I definitely wouldn't have felt the need to investigate any further. 

I could have been packing my daughter off on her very first night club experience at the age of 13. I would be heard saying 'Go for it girl, forget the cinema and meeting up with friends at some fast food joint. Don't do window shopping, milkshakes and cookies, that's for kids'!!!!!!!!!!!!! 


Monday 2 February 2009

I'm not skiving!




No work, yay! 

My head called me at 720 this morning,  "stay at home, no school" she told me.  I smiled, resisted shouting 'YES!' and tried my best to sound disappointed. Any guesses where I was 2 seconds after that brief call? Yep, right back in my nice warm bed until 10ish!  

Another call came late afternoon, no school tomorrow either. Boy was I gutted, now I'll have to go for a lovely walk in the snow instead!

My girls are still at their dads after failing to make it home Sunday night because of the terrible weather. I'm missing them even though we've talked on the phone a lot. It's so frustrating knowing that they're less than a 20 minute drive away.  I'm not even sure if we'll see each other tommorrow  now that icy conditions are expected on top of the 8-10 inches of snow we've already received. 

So, my first day off was spent quietly, all by myself, with only the BBC TV news channel to keep me company.  I chose to stay in but frequently looked out of the window at all the white, white snow. Actually I enjoyed just pottering around in my t-shirt and track suit bottoms, heating full blast. My hair tied up (remains uncombed) and my teeth uncleaned, ha!!!!



 

Sunday 1 February 2009

Quite a lot of white stuff and bloody beef!




Boy what a snow blizzard and a half on my way back from West London! The last leg of my journey includes a fairly steep hill, trying to drive up it was great fun (not). Everyone was driving at a snails pace, cars sliding all over the place. Coming down was even hairier, with the police arriving and keeping an eye on all traffic.  

I'd been staying with a handsome man for the weekend and earlier he took me out for Sunday lunch to a place called the North Pole on North Pole Road in White City. 

We both ordered the traditional roast beef and he asked if it would be possible for his to be cooked medium to well, the waitress said she'd enquire. Clearly she didn't bother because when our dinner did arrive she promptly served him beef that was medium/rare! Not a good start!

I was roughly half way through eating when he asked me if I was enjoying my meal. Knowing him well enough I didn't have to beat around the bush! 

The beef was sliced too thickly (making it difficult to cut) it was also rather chewy and didn't have much flavour either. The roast potatoes were crisp on the outside but mush on the inside and the cauliflower and broccoli were undercooked. 

Needless to say I couldn't finish my meal (which is highly unusual for me!). To be fair I did enjoy the carrots, the glaze made them quite sweet,  but still a push to give it 5/10 though! 

Under normal circumstances we would have complained, but on this occasion that wasn't possible. My friend had had an open invitation from the owner to visit anytime and also the manager, who was actually running the place this particular lunchtime, was such a nice guy we didn't have the heart. 

 
  

Friday 30 January 2009

Why the long face?




Can't shake off this rotten mood, 'go away grey cloud'. Feeling sorry for myself, I hate it when I feel like this,  my mind has a lot to answer for, being a Gemini aint easy! I desperately need a bloody good long 'belly' laugh right now, anyone got any good jokes?

On a positive note though it is Friday, which means a lie in tomorrow, followed by a long leisurely breakfast consisting of fresh coffee, naughty croissants and pancakes, or maybe a muffin or a crumpet instead of a pancake, ooh I'll make that difficult decision in the morning. (Methinks I could be completing 'The Evil Food Circle' very soon!) 

I need to go to bed with the positive thought 'Be thankful for what you've got', then maybe I shall wake up feeling sunny and bright again. Cross your fingers!



 

Tuesday 27 January 2009

Something nice



I do like my food. Oh and I don't do exercise and I love to sleep.  A recipe for disaster ..... perhaps?

For breakfast on a week day I'll have a mug of boiling water and a slice of toast or a weetabix with semi skimmed milk. For 11's I'll have a cup of tea and a few biscuits and lunch (I have half n hour from 1210) usually consists of a sandwich, a packet of crisps and and apple.

Hmm, not too bad I'm thinking. But once I get home, round about 330, I'm pretty peckish and usually I'll go for the crackers and humus whilst preparing dinner. We usually eat between 530-6, but by 9pm I get the nibbles, so usually the crackers and cheese come out. Or even worse something nice from the dessert section at M&S. Is it any wonder I worry about my evening eating habits.

Last year, in June, I went to see my GP. I was to have some blood tests because I had been feeling constantly tired for a very long time (having siestas almost every afternoon). I needed to know if this was due to any medical problems but luckily for me my results showed nothing untoward. Now I knew it was just down to my lifestyle, particularly my eating habits.

So the next thing I did was book a consultation at a health clinic. I came away from that appointment totally confident that I would buy the vitamins, drink the soya milk, cut out sugar and white rice and pasta etc (you know the no-no's, right?). And I did, I tried, but not hard enough I'm ashamed to admit. I went for walks (for a while), I tried it all (for a while), but as I've confessed already, I've well and truly fallen off the band wagon.

My life tires me out. Sometimes I think I'm just a wimp. Sometimes I think 'Hold on a minute, you've been a single mum bringing up three daughters for the past ten years.' 

I've done the mind numbing cleaning jobs to work around school and moved onto part time jobs as they got older, still determined to be there to pick them up from school. I pay my bills, I even run a car (god knows how!). I'm not asking for a pat on the back, I know there's plenty of single mums and dads out there doing the same thing. I just need to stop punishing myself for feeling tired maybe. AND I need to stop eating crap!! 

PS. Gillian McKeiths says in her book 'You Are What You Eat'  that a burger meal (large burger, fries and cola) contains 38 teaspoons of sugar and over a 5th of a block of lard! 

  

Monday 26 January 2009

Ugh, Mondays ....





Having completed a one and a half hour motorway journey in rotten weather yesterday evening (which made me so tense) the last thing I should have done was stay up into the wee small hours, what was I thinking!

Consequently I woke up this morning feeling like I'd only had 20 minutes sleep. Not a good way to feel when you're about to go on a day out with thirty 8 year olds believe me! Thankfully all were returned safely back to school this afternoon despite my zombie state, which is just as well because we'll be doing the same trip tomorrow and for the rest of the week! 

I was greeted with a cup of tea and biscuits when I got home courtesy of daughter no2, which was greatly appreciated. I sooo could have done with a foot rub too, but no-one was offering. No3 didn't even drag her eyes away from the computer, but did just manage to release a grunt, when I asked her if she'd had a good day at school. So... asking her to touch my feet was definitely out of the question, ha!






Sunday 25 January 2009

Oh what a day....




Home, safe and sound.

I didn't enjoy driving back from Pompey at all (why is that Portsmouth's nickname by the way). Motorways bore me at the best of times but the dark, coupled with pouring rain, made this particular trek even more tedious than usual. 

It was worth the pain and suffering though 'cos I've gained a daughter this trip, leaving only one behind in Portsmouth and she'll be home on Friday. I do like us girls all being under one roof.

Had a laugh out loud moment earlier on this evening . . . .  my girls were watching X-men3 and I happened to see the bit where Magneto attempts to rescue Mystique from the clutches of the government. To cut a long story short Mystique takes a bullet meant for Magneto and loses her mutant powers. 

So she's lying naked on her side on the floor of this armoured vehicle (arms and legs strategically placed) but all I could look at was her amazingly flat stomach. I told my girls (they hadn't noticed funnily enough!) and added 'no-one's stomach looks like that when they lie on their side'  to which my 13 year old boasted, 'Mine does'. Ooh that hurt! 

I let out a cry of disgust as I hurled a cushion at her from across the living room. This was swiftly followed by cushion no2 (which I'm glad to say actually hit the intended target spot on) launched by her big sister who felt equally wounded by this younger siblings blatant honesty! 

I had to let her off though, for earlier this evening she did something for me that was very thoughtful, without being asked.
 
A very gorgeous friend of mine was to be interviewed on the radio and I had planned to listen on my mobile. However, that plan was instantly snookered when I realised it was about to die so I had to charge it instead.

At this point I ran upstairs to tune in on the radio in bedroom no2 (couldn't use the one in the livingroom because the girls were watching TV). However, I ended up muttering 'oh sh*te' at it instead when I could only get stations on FM. I needed MW but couldn't even find one station!

As time was well and truly running out I suddenly remembered there was a portable radio in bedroom no3, but found myself muttering 'oh sh*te' yet again as I quickly discovered it only had FM and AM bands. Hours had passed (ok slight exaggeration) as I flew downstairs like a banshee to try the computer. 

I was just in the process of googling internet radio when a voice piped up,  'Is this the station you're looking for mum?' and low and behold my little angel had stopped watching CSI and instead, on the box, she had the radio station for me (for a fleeting second I thought about giving her a big kiss but decided against it, she would not have been impressed). 

I'm so glad all that damn fuss paid off, for a moment later the radio host introduced the man I'd been waiting for and we all ended up listening to him together, whew!  

Saturday 24 January 2009

Family time




My alarm went off at 830, I peeked through my blinds to see my parked car covered in frost so was glad I still had snooze time to snuggle back under my duvet. I forced myself out of bed at 9, showered, got dressed, had breakfast and left just after 1030.

Should have filled the car up, put air in the tyres, checked the water and oil yesterday but mistakenly put it off, so once all that had been done we eventually set off for Portsmouth about 1115.

The journey itself took about 1hr 45mins, but without my Garmin I could have ended up in Russia, my sense of direction is sooo non existant!

It's great to see my girls, they're so independent. I'm happy that they're loving it here and coping so well with their workloads. They seem to have struck the balance between studying and living it up.

Right now they're busy debating the choice of DVD. The plan is to curl up on the sofa with a cuppa and then see who can stay awake until the end of the film. I'm certainly not going to win that one!

Friday 23 January 2009

Let the weekend begin!




I love Fridays! I treasure my weekends, if only they were longer. However, I'm luckier than most as far as having time off's concerned (an advantage of working in education, ha!).

Meant to write this entry much earlier but ended up playing around with customising the look of my page instead, so have spent aaages changing templates and the colour of everything! Still not sure about my choice, I will probably change it again, to suit my mood (and being a Gemini that could be an hourly occurrence!)

I'm driving to Portsmouth in the morning with my youngest daughter to keep me company. We're going to visit my two other daughters who are currently at university there. My eldest has turned 21 today so we've planned a birthday lunch and some shopping at Gun Wharf when we arrive tomorrow.

I miss my girls terribly, my youngest is 13 and she can be quite difficult to live with at times. She seems to have perfected the Kevin and Perry 'attitude' thing and will insist on re-enacting scenes on a daily basis. I love her but she can be so frustrating!

Right, now I shall climb my stairs, must keep that date with my lovely bed. To feel refreshed I need at least eight hours sleep, plus the obligatory 3 snooze hits before I can rise and I need to be up at 9. So...

Goodnight, sweet dreams.


Thursday 22 January 2009

Shake a leg and lose some pounds!





Had an uneventful day at work today, which is to say the usual suspects decided to behave and actually listen and learn, always good, beats coming home in a bad mood with a headache. The fact that it's an inset day tomorrow, so a day off for the kids, might have had something to do with it?!

My friend and I made a New Years resolution to start Salsa again (we stopped dancing over a year ago). We're on the lookout for a decent venue and tonight was our first outing.

We visited a local community centre type place just to take a look, but it didn't appeal, the room was a bit dingy and there were quite a few odd bods attempting the 'beginners' steps. After only 20 minutes we decided to split (having spent the last 10 minutes giggling very discreetly at the ones who didn't have any rhythm whatsoever, miaow!)

We ended up at The Crown, had a 2for1 meal, a glass of wine and a jolly good chat, something we know we can do well. The search continues!

Wednesday 21 January 2009

I've just been born!

Hello, I've just started up so tune in tomorrow when I have thought of something to say!