Not done much today at all.

Cleared all the holiday washing, now have the pleasure of ironing it! Still have to do the washing that is left in the washing basket from before we went.

Other than that I have sat and blogged and replied to emails. oh forgot I did manage to pop to Sainsburys to get something for tea tonight - ended up doing a pasta bake in the end lol! Not a very productive day!

collect the dogs tomorrow. It has been strange them not being here to greet you or get under your feet as you move around, let alone bark at their own shadows lol!

Friend phoned earlier today. She is off to Norfolk tomorrow to stay in her future son in laws cottage they have there, somewhere outside Cromer. She has asked if I will go to Edinburgh with her and future sil mother next year to get outfits for the forthcoming wedding. Should be a laugh for all concerned and something I am now looking forward to. Just discussed it with hubby who is quite happy for me to go and suggested he will pay. Also a posibility of a girly weekend away to suffolk, in October, though Brighton has also been mentioned as well, still haggling over the finer details and that is of course if we can ever agree on where we are going!

In the meantime I am sitting here browsing through posts chatting on messenger and catching up with work for school.

Such is the joys of life!

Thought I would join in

this isn't in any particular order

1: Visit Nigs Family in Australia
2: Move to Wales.
3: See and know my Grandchildren.
4: See my eldest achieve his dreams and both of my children be happy with their life choices.
5: Do a tour of New Zealand.
6: Visit Japan and singapore.
7: Tour round Canada.
8: Write a novel.
9: Spend whole weekend in a hotel in an isolated spot with hubby.
10: Talk to a ghost.

Husband: Oh, come on.
Wife: Leave me alone!

Husband: It won't take long.
Wife: I won't be able to sleep afterwards.

Husband: I can't sleep without it.
Wife: Why do you think of things like this in the middle of the night?

Husband: Because I'm Hot.
Wife: You get hot at the darnedest times.

Husband: If you love me I wouldn't have to beg you.
Wife: If you love me you'd be more considerate.

Husband: You don't love me anymore.
Wife: Yes I do, but let's forget it for tonight.

Husband: Please...come on
Wife: Alright, I'll do it.

Husband: What's the matter? Need a flashlight?
Wife: I can't find it.

Husband: Oh, for heaven's sake, feel for it!
Wife: There! Are you satisfied?

Husband: Oh, yes.
Wife: Is it up far enough?

Husband: Oh, that's good.
Wife: Now go to sleep and from now on when you want the window open, do it yourself!

Why Are Men Happier?

Men Are Just Happier People-- What do you expect from such simple creatures? Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another snack.

You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO shirt to a water park. Car mechanics tell you the truth.

The world is your urinal. You never have to drive to another petrol station toilet because this one is just too icky. You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Same work, more pay. Wrinkles add character. Wedding dress £2000. Tux rental-£100.

People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.

The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected. New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet. One mood all the time. Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about tanks.

A five-day holiday requires only one suitcase. You can open all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.

If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.

Your underwear is £4.95 for a three-pack. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough. You almost never have strap problems in public. You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes. Everything on your face stays its original colour. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.

You only have to shave your face and neck.

You can play with toys all your life. One wallet and one pair of shoes one colour for all seasons. You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.

You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife. You have freedom of choice concerning growing a moustache..

You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

No wonder men are happier.

Some guy bought a new fridge for his house. To get rid of his old fridge, he put it in his front garden and hung a sign on it saying: "Free to good home. You want it, you take it." For three days the fridge sat there without even one person looking twice at it. He eventually decided that people did not trust the deal. It looked to good to be true, so he changed the
sign to read: "Fridge for sale $50." The next day someone stole it!
They Walk Among Us!
====================
While looking at a house, my brother asked the estate agent which direction was north because, he explained, he didn't want the sun waking him up every morning. She asked, "Does the sun rise in the north?" When my brother explained that the sun rises in the east, and has for sometime, she shook her head and said, "Oh, I don't keep up with that stuff!"
They Walk Among Us!
====================
I used to work in technical support for a 24/7 call centre. One day I got a call from an individual who asked what hours the call centre was open. I told him, "The number you dialled is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week." He responded, "Is that Eastern or Pacific time?" Wanting to end the call quickly, I said, "Uh, Pacific!"
They Walk Among Us!
====================
My colleague and I were eating our lunch in our cafeteria, when we overheard one of the administrative assistants talking about the sunburn she got on her weekend drive to the shore. She drove down in a convertible, but "didn't think she'd get sunburned because the car was moving!"
They Walk Among Us!
====================
My sister has a lifesaving tool in her car it's designed to cut through a seat belt if she gets trapped. She keeps it in the trunk!
They Walk Among Us!
====================
My friends and I were on a beer run and noticed that the cases were discounted 10%. Since it was a big party, we bought 2 cases. The cashier multiplied 2 times 10% and gave us a 20% discount!
They Walk Among Us!
====================
I was hanging out with a friend when we saw a woman with a nose ring attached to an earring by a chain. My friend said, "Wouldn't the chain rip out every time she turned her head?" I explained that a person's nose and ear remain the same distance apart no matter which way the head is turned!
They Walk Among Us!
====================
I couldn't find my luggage at the airport baggage area. So I went to the lost luggage office and told the woman there that my bags never showed up. She smiled and told me not to worry because she was a trained professional and I was in good hands. "Now," she asked me, "has your plane arrived yet?"
They Walk Among Us!
====================
While working at a pizza parlour I observed a man ordering a small pizza to go. He appeared to be alone and the cook asked him if he would like it cut into 4 pieces or 6. He thought about it for some time before responding. "Just cut it into 4 pieces; I don't think I'm hungry enough to eat 6 pieces!

Browsing through my emails, I have come across all the have a good holiday wishes that you have all snet. Thank you very much it is much appreciated, and yes, if you have plughed your way through the previous 7 or so posts, I did have a good time.

Reality now. Several lots of washing on the go and hung out. Sun is shining, keeps coming over dark at times, but there is a good strong wind as well - as my mother would say good drying weather. hopefully the majority if not all of the washing should get dry, fingers crossed.

As well as the posts from everyone here, I received several e mails from friends that were really funny. Will post the better ones on here at some point. looking through the posts I notice that several of you have met up and that is quite nice. Hope you all enjoyed yourselves and had a good time.

So I have also noticed some changes. There now seems to be some german advertising at the top of my page, a certain French man seems to have resisted requesting that he be my friend (thank you AJ so far your little note seems to have helped) and it seems that I can be seen when I am online. This doesn't bother me, but what is the use in that unless you are hoping that the person will repond to your post straight away? Though may come in handy if they are ignoring you on msn 'Oi why are you ignoring me when you are clearly online!' lol!

So to anyone on my friends list that hasn't got it my msn is faffajane@hotmail.com. I can't always guarantee I will be signed in though, as I am always forgetting to do that and can't have it come on automatically as then the kids access it! (we have had a few problems in that departmet).

Anyhow better go and search my emails and try and sort out the bills!

Packing done, sun is shining and car is loaded. Nice and easy morning followed by a wonderful roast dinner, with rhubarb crumble for dessert - bliss!

Eldest doesn't want to go home. He loves it here, not because he has been spoilt but because deep at heart he is a country boy. As he says here he is in the countryside, mountains and hills all around, the river flowing whereever you are, yet you can get to the beach easily as well. I know that one day he will achieve his dream and move here, it is what he wants, has been that way since I first brought him here as a baby - to him it is home. I know how he feels as that is the same way I feel as well, have done since I was a little girl. However I know it will not happen, I will not live here, hubby has always said he will never live in Wales and so I no longer live in hope that one day I will be here, where my ancestors lived, and where the family that is the most important to me still reside. As soon as I see that 'welcome to Wales' sign, I am home. I feel sad, as I realise that my children will grow up and move on with their lives, probably the same way all mothers feel when their offspring move on to pastures new.

So I have spent the morning playing with my cousins child and my youngest, football in the garden then sat by the river at the bottom of the garden while the pair of them throw stones and old apples into it (ok not environmentally sound, but they were happy in each others company and she was learning to count as well). Then we took some photos of them both to share with each other, and she told me all about the baby in her mummy's tummy.

I also have a new name - Antha. We keep telling her to call me Samantha and my aunt told her to repeat it which she did well, then reverted to calling me Antha again! I have promised her that I will come to Cardiff to see her when the baby is born so that she can show me it.

I miss things like this.

So now we head out of Wales, through the glorious countryside and towards our real home. As we talk about all we have done and seen, my hubby announces that if I want I can start looking for houses in Wales. I am quite taken back by this, he is the one that has been dead against the idea of moving here, but his reasoning has been that he is fed up with what he is doing, going for contracts that he gets undercut by then having to sort out the mess the cheaper contractor has left, the fact that to keep the NICEIC registration is getting harder each year and that they find fault in the most silliest of things. He says if he can find work here, any work at all, then we can sell up and move here - he is willing to give up his dreams knowing that Wales is home to me, that I miss so much and as long as we are together that is all that is important.

Think he is frightened of the fact his eldest will leave the nest as well.

So we have compromised. I will start looking, but no final decision will be made until after eldest has left school in two years time. Credit cards will be paid off and our house has been decorated from top to bottom just in case. Once that is done we can start looking for work and houses. Difficult decision will be where to live. Do we go to where ppl know me to the same village that my Aunt and Uncle live, or do we live in South Wales, Do we go to somewhere in between so that I can see both sides of the family easily or head towards NewQuay which Nig loves best of all?

Time will only tell but am excited by the possibility that my dream may one day be reality after all!

Well spent yesterday evening listening to sister moaning about the friend they brought with them and how much he was getting on their nerves!

Question would you take a friend on holiday with you with another friend knowing they have never met each other but expecting them to get along? Well they didn't and this one friend was driving them all mad!!

So back to today, got up, showered and dressed and gathered round kitchen table to sing happy birthday to youngest who has turned 8 today. Aunt has planned several activities for him and her grandchild so that they can be kept busy. Sister, boyfriend and friends arrive and aunt sets about cooking breakfast for everyone. Sister going home today and is looking just a tad stressed to say the least, and has to go earlier than planned due to 'friend' wanting to be home by a certain time. Hence she is unable to be there for my sons little birthday party later in the day which she is sad about.

Lots of presents to be opened, lots of cards with money in them, making of cakes to be done, icing of cakes to be done, lots of board games being played.

Today has been a relaxing day. Weather has not been too great but it has been dry. Sister has now gone, and we have set the table for tea, just small little party bits and pieces to eat rather than a full meal. Youngest loves his caterpillar cake (unfortunately not homemade, bought from Morrisons earlier) and has blown out his candles ready for it to be cut and distributed.

Later this evening, after kids have gone to bed, we play Game of the Year, fun and entertaining, wine flowing freely as we put the world to rights. I love this part best of all as it feels so comfortable. You can say anythign without anyone being offended and you can discuss anything as well, which is even better.

I am a little sad, tomorrow we will have to go home and I will miss being here.

Well I predicted yesterday, as I could see Anglesey from the beach in the distance, that today would be a bad day weatherwise and it has lived up to that!

It is quite misty outside, the hills you cannot see from the window, and it is drizzling. Sun makes an appearance once in a while but only in short bursts.

Aunts friend came over to see us and so we have had a leisurely morning catching up on the gossip. Aunt has gone off to pick up her grandaughter from her son so that she can spend the weekend with us, and as I haven't seen her in a couple of years, since she was a year old in fact I am looking forward to seeing her again to see how much she has changed.

We have a leaflet for Hafod, so we decide to do one of the many walks there. http://www.hafod.org/ The sun has made an appearance so off we go down long winding country lanes where ideally only one car can go down and lol and behold if you should want to pass another car it is a bit tricky!

Stilll we arrive there in one piece. Kids and I decide that the weather isn't looking too good so we put on our raincoats. Hubby decides he is a man and needs no such covering, afterall he is wearing a t shirt and jeans, and anyway what could happen, so off we treck along paths following coloured signs on posts.

We start out following the blue walk which is supposed to be the Lady's walk. Hmmm remind me never to do this walk in a long dress it must have been incredibly difficult!!

The walk took us along a river, with small waterfalls here and there. It was peaceful, lovely to walk along and very steep in places. It starts to rain but as we are surrounded by trees it hardly affects us so on we trundle.

We came to a river bend, lots of midges here and the kids have a great time being bitten while they try and outdo their dad by throwing stones in the river!

As the walk progresses we come to a huge field. Now Hafod used to have a huge house built here by its owner Thomas Johnes (1748-1816), who wanted the house to overlook spectacular fields, and it certainly does. The house no longer remains, having been burnt down and later demolished several years ago. The land where the house stood is now grazing for sheep and yes we spent the next hour or so walking through a field of sheep trying to avoid the sheep poo along the way!

By this time the heavens opened and it came down hard. Hubby by now is drenched through and wishing he had listened to me and worn his coat - needless to say he got no sympathy whatsoever!

At Hafod church there was an exhibition about the house. I walked in not having seen the sign about how much they charged, hubby did pay £5 each for us to go in a total ripoff! The exhibition was laid out at the end of pews which you couldn't get down because people were sitting on them, obviously sheltering from the rain outside. The only thing you could really see was the fabric that the maid uniform was made with - I kid you not! A huge disappointment and one which I don't think we will repeat again!

Back at aunts house and we meet my cousins daughter who is absolutely gorgeous! Huge brown eyes and she took a real shine to my youngest, both children happily playing together and having fun. Did manage to get youngest to bed early as well which was a huge help to us all!

Easy day today.

Got up earlyish to bright sunny weather outside. Ate breakfast and decided to go to Constitution Hill in Aber and see the Camera Obscura http://www.cardiganshirecoastandcountry.com/cliffrailway.htm

We decided to go on the cliff mountain railway rather than walk up the cliff. Not because we were being lazy I hasten to add, but purely because the muscle in my calf was really hurting (too much walking yesterday?) and we decided that as I have physio later next week, now was not a good time to damage it further.

The railway fascinated my two who felt like they were on the beginning of a rollercoaster. You know that feeling when the rollercoaster goes really slow to get you to the top and you plummet back down again, well that is what it feels like when you are being hauled to the top of constitution hill.

Walked round and marvelled at the stunning views of Aberystwyth from the top. Looked at the Camera Obscura which some kind soul was making go round really fast not good if you are feeling a little hung over

Came down the cliff again on the railway and walked round town for a bit along the sea front. Hubby managed to buy two pairs of Le Shark Jeans for £5 each so he was pleased with that and eldest found 3 shirts which he bought for £7 in total. Apart from 2 postcards that was all I spent lol!

Had lunch then headed down to Borth beach as it was so nice and sunny. Didn't make it into the sea as hubby and sons decided to build sandcastles instead and this took a long long time to do! They all had fun while I relaxed with a good book, though I did help by naming the castle in my bad welsh!

A couple walked by and commented on how good it looked but personally think they were just being kind lol!

Oh dear.

Think a combination of one too many late nights and one too many glasses of wine have affected my co ordination this morning! Didn't get to bed until 3am as we all sat playing rummy (which as usual I come last in).

Still this morning there is a drizzle outside and mist on the hills. One wonders if it will pass over, but doubt it.

When I came here with the kids a few years ago, we went on the Talyllyn railway (http://www.nwt.co.uk/accommodation/3938/Talyllyn+Railway) up to Nant Gwernol. However I had always wanted to go on it up to Dolgoch falls so this is what we had planned for today as Nig hadn't been on this railway before.

So off we went after yet another hearty breakfast. Weather was clearing up by the time we got to Tywyn, and we also managed to get on the train straight away. The steam engine was called 'Douglas' which pleased youngest child very much as he is a Thomas the Tank Engine fan.

We admired the view as it went passed and watched the sheep graze, listening to comments made by youngest such as "there are a lot of sheep here isn't there" and "aren't there a lot of hills will we go to the top" and my other son getting annoyed and pointing out that we were in Wales afterall what did he expect! Kicked quite often by a child sitting opposite me, who was really annoying, especially as she had these thick walking boots on as well!

Eventually pulled in at Dolgoch falls station and began our steep walk to the top.

This is at the bottom

At this point I discover that the rechargeable battery in my camera doesn't stay charged for very long therefore this is the only picture we have of the falls. Typical after much rooting through bags I discover that I hadn't packed a spare battery so much disappointment that I couldn't take some of the more spectacular scenery we saw or the fact hubby couldn't take photos of me struggling to get down some very slippery slopes on the way down!

Really pleased we got to the top though, especially for me as usually I have to drop out due to back problems, so it was one huge achievement for me.

Weather by this time was really hot and and due to climbing up, my back got wet so I was covered in dye from my bag all over my nice new white top!

Came back to Aunts house and chilled for a little bit, then sister arrived who was having a stressful holiday with one of the friends she and boyfriend had invited. Sat talking to her for a little while, had dinner then sat and played cards again, this time teaching eldest the game which he has now got addicted too. Would like to say I did learn my lesson from last night and didn't have too much wine, but then I would be lying

1: What's your current favourite band/ singer?
Feeder

2: OSX or Windows?
Windows

3: What makes you happy?
Good company, my husband and sons

4: What do you really want to achieve?
No idea

5: What is your greatest strength?
Being a good listener

6: If you could travel to anywhere past or future where would you go and why?
Like to travel to see Nigs family in Australia, he does so much for me, to pay for us to do that would mean a lot to him

7: What's your favourite place to be?
Anywhere near the sea.

8: What mobile phone do you use?
Nokia 6610

9: What car do you drive?
Vauxhall Vectra Estate

10: What do you consider the worst thing ever?
Child abuse and rape

11: What would make your life complete?
to see my children grow up and be happy with their life choices

12: Reckon you could take your boss on and win?
wouldn't bother trying

13: Have you ever asked for a pay rise and got it?
never asked

14: What type of driver are you?
Calm

15: Do you dye your hair, now or ever?
I highlight it otherwise it is mouse brown

16: Favourite film and why?
Have too many to say there is one that is a favourite, though the one that tends to be watched over and over again is Forrest Gump.

17: How many of your friends would you trust with your life?
1

18: What's your highest level of qualification (academic or work)?
NVQ 3 Teaching Assistant Certificate

19: What's the make of your camera(s)?
Samsung

20: PS2 or Xbox?
Neither, spend too much time on computer

21: What are the colour of your eyes?
Blue

22: Do you imagine your blog friends to look different until you see a photo?
yes and no