I have so far

Done the lettering for one class display based on the book they are reading - The sheep pig.

Found a picture of a pig for the board which I have printed off, will enlarge it onto A3 then paint it tomorrow (if I get time)

Found a picture of a Target board which needs laminating for the Maths board (still no idea what to do for that board but trying out a few things)

Sorted out whether I can afford the £118 for my sons Geography field trip in January

Discussed my options with a friend (this was not a lot of help but got things off my chest)

Cooked dinner (which the dog ate because someone left the kitchen door open, so dog ate our gammon joint)

Ate the Pasta bake son cooked to replace it

Cleared up after the dog when he was sick (serve the bloody thing right he is lucky to still be in the house)

Found some good story openings to go on the Literacy board.

So far a constructive evening.

Going to put youngest to bed, put my nightclothes on then sit with feet up and do some sewing!

Nig decided to go to football straight after work so the house is to myself for now, peace will reign!

Went round to a friends house last night as she was hosting a Virgin Vie party.

Said to eldest son as I left him in charge " Only popping out for an hour to J's house, don't answer the door or phone, Dad should be in soon."

"WHy you going to J's house" he asks

"she is having a Virgin Vie party, just need to give her my order" I replied

"but your not a virgin mum" he says with a grin on his face. Groan!!

At party, only a neighbour and another work colleague turn up so feeling pleased that I didn't cancel which I was going to do as I really didn't feel like going out. It is unusual for J to have so few at her party but originally it was organised for Friday and as we are now meeting up with a mutual friend to meet her new boyfriend, she changed the date.

So glass of wine in hand and some low fat pretzels my phone rings.
"Hello darling," says hubby " just to let you know I am home so don't hurry back. Why are you at J's anyway?"

"Virgin Vie party"

"Oh if you meet a virgin take a photo for me"

"Hardly likely dear we are all at the age where we are in relationships, married or divorced"

"So why is it called Virgin then?" he asks laughing at his own joke,. More Groans from me of despair as I put the phone down.

Honestly I despair of the men in my house I really do.

It was a good evening, got in at around 11, £40 worse off, good job I got paid yesterday lol!

Right that is it, I have done enough for tonight! I am now going to sit and relax with my stitching which I know I will not get finished before Christmas but going to give it a try.

See you all later!

Arguments galore here this morning you can tell it is Monday can't you?

Eldest in a mood and gone storming off upstairs. Why? Because we bought his borother, new school shoes, new trainers and a pair of plimsoles - all in all spent £30.00 altogether on him - very good considering.

Eldest thinks this is unfair because he only got school shoes when I went shopping with him - cost £30.00. Pointed out that he also got 4 new t shirts (sportsworld £10) and other bits and pieces for school - cost £6.00 from Staples. Also he got a pair of trainers when we were on holiday £25 and youngest only got a pair of deck shoes £3. Oh and all the clothes we got him when we were away as well total cost £70 (this includes the trainers).

Yet we are being unfair towards him?

I often wonder why I had kids sometimes!!

Hope you all have a good day.

Sat and watched Shrek 2 on sky while Nig popped out and picked up eldest from his friend's house via the local Pizza take away place.

He comes back with a huge pizza for me and the youngest child, of course youngest only wnats one piece grrrrr.

Diet out of the window for today then.

Anyway after Shrek 2 finished, Nig asked children to put Shrek on so he could watch that "afterall there is nothing else on" he says not even bothering to check.

Now Shrek is on Video tape. we purchased it before we got a DVD player, so we sit through 15 mins of previews of other films - Barbie in the Nutcracker being one of them.

"Hans Christen Anderson wrote that didn't he?" says Nig

"No Tchaikovsky did" I reply only half listening, was looking up something in the Argos catalogue at the time.

"He wrote the ballet didn't he?"

"Yes" says I

"So who wrote the story?"

"Hoffman" says I

"Who?" he says

"Hoffman wrote the story I think, well the story is called The Nutcracker and the King of Mice. Tchaikovsky wrote the music to turn it into a ballet"

"Never heard of him" he replies.

"He wrote operas as well"

"Who Tchaikovsky?"

and so the conversation went on, going round in circles with me hoping and praying no one suggests we get Barbie in The Nutcracker for Christmas. Don't think I could bear that!!

So we settle down, eventually film starts and we watch it for the umpteenth time.

"Is there going to be a Shrek 3?" asks Nig

"Yes"

"Oh good can't wait!"

How many kids do I have? I often wonder lol

Copied from Christin82 (superkween) blog. Asterix the ones that apply.

25 SIGNS YOU HAVE GROWN UP

1. Your houseplants are alive, and you can't smoke any of them.

2. Having sex in a twin bed is out of the question. *

3.You keep more food than beer in the fridge. *

4. 6:00 AM is when you get up, not when you go to bed. *

5. You hear your favorite song in an elevator.

6. You watch the Weather Channel.

7. Your friends marry and divorce instead of "hook up" and "break up." *

8. You go from 130 days of vacation time to 14. *

9 . Jeans and a sweater no longer qualify as "dressed up." *

10. You're the one calling the police because those %&@# kids next door, who won't turn down the stereo. *

11. Older relatives feel comfortable telling sex jokes around you. *

12. You don't know what time Taco Bell closes anymore. - never been to one!

13. Your car insurance goes down and your car payments go up. *

14. You feed your dog Science Diet instead of McDonald's leftovers. - never eat McDonalds so they never had the leftovers!

15. Sleeping on the couch makes your back hurt. *

16. You take naps.

17. Dinner and a movie is the whole date instead of the beginning of one. *

18. Eating a basket of chicken wings at 3 AM would severely upset, rather than settle, your stomach. *

19. You go to the drug store for ibuprofen and antacid, not condoms and pregnancy tests. *

20. A $4.00 bottle of wine is no longer "pretty good sh_t."

21. You actually eat breakfast food at breakfast time. *

22. "I just can't drink the way I used to" replaces "I'm never going to drink that much again." *

23. 90% of the time you spend in front of a computer is for real work.

24. When you find out your friend is pregnant you congratulate them instead of asking "Oh shit what the hell happened?" *

Bonus:
25: You read this entire list looking desperately for one sign that doesn't apply to you and can't find one to save your sorry old butt. Then you forward it to a bunch of old friends 'cause you know they'll enjoy it & do.

Can you tell I am bored?

Pinched this from Kizlode as I wanted to see how many I have actually seen. These were the top 100 films as voted by viewers on Channel 4. I have put the ones I have seen in BOLD.

the ones in bold are the ones that I've seen (I have seen some of some of the others but not seen them all the way through), anyway here they are:-

1. Star Wars (1977) / The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
2. The Godfather (1972) / The Godfather Part 2 (1974)
3. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
4. Pulp Fiction (1994)
5. Some Like It Hot (1959)
6. Gladiator (2000)
7. It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
8. Blade Runner (1982)
9. Schindler's List (1993)
10. Goodfellas (1990)
11. Psycho (1960)
12. Jaws (1975)
13. Apocalypse Now (1979)
14. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
15. The Matrix (1999)
16. Casablanca (1942)
17. The Usual Suspects (1995)
18. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
19. Citizen Kane (1941)
20. Raging Bull (1980)
21. ET (1982)
22. Taxi Driver (1976)
23. Life Of Brian (1979)
24. Singin' In The Rain (1952)
25. LA Confidential (1997)
26. The Wizard Of Oz (1939)
27. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
28. Kes (1969)
29. Vertigo (1958)
30. Lawrence Of Arabia (1962)
31. Fargo (1996)
32. Gone With The Wind (1939)
33. Trainspotting (1996)
34. The Full Monty (1997)
35. The Graduate (1967)
36. Alien (1979)
37. The Silence Of The Lambs (1990)
38. Withnail & I (1987)
39. The Great Escape (1963)
40. Toy Story (1995)
41. The Third Man (1949)
42. Four Weddings And A Funeral (1994)
43. The Sound Of Music (1965)
44. Fitzcarraldo (1982)
45. Deliverance (1972)
46. The Good, The Bad & The Ugly (1966)
47. Kind Hearts And Coronets (1949)
48. Chinatown (1974)
49. The Exorcist (1973)
50. Annie Hall (1977)
51. The Italian Job (1969)
52. Sunset Boulevard (1950)
53. The Jungle Book (1967)
54. Titanic (1998)
55. Jean De Florette (1986) / Manon Des Sources (1986)
56. Dr. Strangelove (1963)
57. Rebel Without A Cause (1955)
58. The Seven Samurai (1954)
59. A Matter Of Life And Death (1946)
60. Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969)
61. Secrets & Lies (1995)
62. Blue Velvet (1986)
63. La Dolce Vita (1960)
64. Spartacus (1960)
65. Metropolis (1926)
66. Bonnie And Clyde (1967)
67. King Kong (1933)
68. Get Carter (1971)
69. The Searchers (1956)
70. The Seventh Seal (1957)
71. Don't Look Now (1973)
72. Brief Encounter (1945)
73. M*A*S*H (1970)
74. The French Connection (1971)
75. Top Hat (1935)
76. The Producers (1968)
77. Three Colours: Blue (1993) / Three Colours: White (1993) / Three Colours: Red (1994)
78. Cabaret (1972)
79. Goldfinger (1964)
80. Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (1937)
81. The Gold Rush (1925)
82. High Noon (1952)
83. Saturday Night Fever (1977)
84. The Adventures Of Robin Hood (1938)
85. Enter The Dragon (1973)
86. Breathless (A Bout De Souffle) (1960)
87. Ice Cold In Alex (1958)
88. Battleship Potemkin (1925)
89. The African Queen (1951)
90. The General (1926)
91. A Hard Day's Night (1964)
92. Way Out West (1937)
93. Henry V (1944)
94. Easy Rider (1969)
95. My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)
96. Belle De Jour (1967)
97. The Bride Of Frankenstein (1935)
98. The Terminator (1984)
99. Saturday Night And Sunday Morning (1960)
100. Do The Right Thing (1989)

Hmmmm far too many lol!!

It has been a weird weekend thus far.

PMT has kicked in big time and so I do one of two things - shout at anyone who gets in my way or burst into tears at the slightest thing. Also anything that can be eaten has been which is not good for the diet!

The PMT seems to be getting worse as I get older. My patience is wearing thin, Nigel is getting on my nerves yet the poor sod really hasn't done anything to warrant me to be so hard on him - he is a saint sometimes.

One son has defected to his mates house in the hope that his mother isn't premenstrual, the other one is in his room hoping that I won't want him sometime soon - yes it is that bad!

I haven't heard from my mum this week either, which is strange, she phones at least once a week to moan about how bad her life is! Perhaps she has decided not to risk being shouted at this week lol!

I am also concerned about my leg. It is hurting again and due to walking funny it is affecting my back. Getting a doctors appointment is a joke round here, though I will try on Monday to get slotted in within the next two weeks - you have to plan in advance!
Typically hitting 40 isn't much fun I am falling apart at the seams.

I should have cooked a roast dinner today. I had every intention of doing so. I stayed in bed until 11 reading my book and then got up to find that youngest's school shoes were falling apart - so off to Brantanos we trot to get him some new ones. To be fair he needed new ones anyway just putting off buying some until payday. Fortunately Nigel had some spare cash on him so youngest ended up with not only a pair of new shoes, but some trainers (that were going for a bargain price of £12 for reeboks) and a pair of plimsoles. We also went into TK Max a shop I absolutely detest! I really cannot be bothered sorting through rows and rows of clothes trying to find something I like, it is like going to a jumble sale at times in there. However Nig found a toy for Richard that he knows he will love to have to Christmas so while he and Rich went to have a look upstairs I bought it and took it back to the car! Need to find a hiding place for it later.

Seeing how fed up I am, Nig then decided that I could buy the coffee table I saw in a shop for £69.99. After depositing me at home he goes off to buy it only to find that they are no longer doing the one I wanted and the one in its place was £75.oo. So he decided against it and I have ordered one online instead.

So that is me at the moment., Even the sun shining can't lift me out of my sullen mood. I am trying but it isn't working much lol!

Just ordered pair of school trousers for youngest. We got totally soaked yesterday and in my eagerness to get fit and lose weight, decided that he should have several pairs of trousers as rain is not going to stop me from walking him to and from school when I can.

So as I said ordered him some more trousers and me some jogging bottoms (not so bad when they get wet, whereas jeans are!) from the catalogue online about an hour ago.

What domes through just now?

An email telling me that if I place an order with them and quote this code then I can get my purchases on buy now pay April 2007!

Why didn't they send that before I placed my previous order!!

Grrrr..

Seen some nice shoes though, may have a look...........

Saturday mornings always have the same routine in our house.

Alarm goes off at 6.30 and I know I have half an hour before I have to get out of bed.

7am - get up and head for the shower. Once dried wrap in dressing gown and go downstairs to make a cup of tea and let dogs out (invariably Nig is still snoozing)

7.30 - take tea upstairs, kick hubby awake (yes kick) dogs usually jump on him as well, sip tea, put on makeup, get dressed dry hair.

By now Nigel should have made his way to the bathroom, though occasionally by this point I usually have to get stroppy with him.

By 8.15 I am usually giving instructions to kids, feeding dogs, sorting out purse to make sure I have everything and heading towards car to drive to town.

8.35 - Having found my usual parking space (tendency to forget where I have left car if I don't park in the same spce) Nig and I are walking around the shopping center (renamed the mall) in while waiting for bank to open.

Now at this time of the morning there isn't much open. Next is, Debenhams is, so is Woolworths. We usually are in Woolworths to see what bargains are to be had in the toy department and making a note of what to buy the boys for Christmas. We have been known to have bought a few things to hide away for Christmas by now as well! Once the building society is open we head there so that Nig can transfer the housekeeping money into the joint account for me to spend on exciting things like food, bills, and more bills!

Then we stop at Debenhams for Breakfast. For some reason Nig loves doing this, think it may be that this is the only time he gets a cooked brekkie! Final wander around the shops, for gift ideas then we head for home stopping off occasionally at Asda to do the weekly shop.

Why so early?

We both like to get out of town before it gets crowded and before the various factions that make up our multicultural town descend. It has been known for there to be fights amongst the different races, often leading to bloodshed or for the police to be called in. Of course it is now the footie season as well, so we will also have to try and avoid the football crowds when the town is playing at home.

It is a nightmare. I hate our town centre but unfortunately the building society will not let us transfer funds from one account to the other via the internet. I prefer going to Watford or Milton Keynes but that isn't always possible especially if Nig has to get back to go to work - he has a lot on in private work at the moment, so the local town centre and the sooner I get there the sooner I can come home again!

The centre management are undergoing a refurbishment programme to make the shopping mall more welcoming, but this has come at a price. Most of the shops that we used to like visiting have now closed as the cost of the rents had risen to levels which didn't make them viable to trade there, so they have moved on or gone into receivership country wide. There are a lot of 'cheap' stores there now, which have their place, I have no doubt, but they never seem to have anything in them that I would want. Also they have just done up the indoor market, it looks a lot brighter and cleaner than it used to. However again the rents have gone up and most of the stalls are empty, my favourite stall is no longer there. The butchers have closed, the grocer is gone, the toyshop disappeared.

So now I am home, the sun streaming through my window, washing out and housework done. I have ironing to do but that can wait, my leg is painful and I am going to put it up. My trip to town is over for another week

Kizlode sent this to me earlier and thought I would share.

Getting worried about him a little bit lol!!

A friend at work is selling throwovers - you know the
thingy that you put over your bed. I've only got this
sample (see below).

They are £69.95 each and she assures me that they are exceptional quality & look gorgeous on the bed.

Have a look, and let me know if you are interested.
Stocks are limited

I've ordered a couple, they're really nice.

Some of you may have seen this on Molts blog this morning but it may be worth a second airing, as I got it in my inbox as well.

Today is going well diet wise so far.

Walked to youngest sons school with a neighbour (who also has kids to pick up ) and we decided to go the long way round, which takes 20 mins instead of the usual 7.

quick walk round, in the pouring rain and boy did it rain in buckets!!!

Picked son up, started to walk home and there is a pain in my calf. Not the one I did a couple of months back, the other one and it hurts!!!! I can just about put foot to floor but I am hobbling.

I am so annoyed and upset.

Beginning to get paranoid, is there something seriously wrong with me? I am falling apart.

It isn't as though I never exercise, I do regularly. It isn't as though I don't ever walk anywhere I do. So why is this happening.

Really fed up now, and feeling sick to boot!!

Got up this morning, looked in my wardrobe and gloom descended about me.

Why?

Nothing fits again.

Right so I am back at WW and had my first wi for 4 weeks to find I am back at where I started.

Not good.

So decided that I need to get things going again and get back on track. This time no excuses. I have a family do to go to in February and really would like to lose at least 11/2 stone by Christmas so I am going all out now to do just that and lose this weight!!

Problem is though I get so far then I get fed up with it all. Motivation is my downfall at the moment. However I have to lose I don't want to get where I started previously!

So as from today I will track everything I eat and do some form of exercise daily!

Todays exercise, if it ever stops raining, will be walking the long way round to my sons school to pick him up. Also have to go through this house like a thing possessed, it is looking like a pigsty!!

Oh well to describe my mood in a song.

My son comes home from school with a permission form for me to fill out from the Music service.

He wants to play an instrument.

Great thinks I, he can play the clarinet.

No.

Flute?

No.

Trumpet, says I fingers crossed behind back and fearing neightbours reaction.

No.

Hoping for a good response to this one - Guitar?

No.

What then.

The Drums.

OMG he wants to play the drums. As if I don't suffer from enough headaches!!!!!

No idea why, he just thinks it will be great playing the drums.

Apparently he can't learn to play the guitar, because there is no teacher for it anymore - oh yes I forgot, the really nice man with the gorgeous eyes and beautiful fingers has moved on to pastures new. Damm.

Molt if you fancy a career change hun and wish to teach the guitar there are several children round here dying to learn lol!!!

Secretly hoping child will decide against playing the drums but looking into childs eager face earlier, I can see that won't be the case!

................................................................

My leg is covered in bruises where I have walked into children's chairs today. The classroom is fairly big, but badly laid out and the chairs not exactly the same height as normal chairs so if I am not walking into the edge of a table it is those wretched chairs!

.................................................................

And onto chairs of a different kind.

The kind that is head of a Governing body. Yes it is what I affectionaly call silly season, the season where the school Governing body meets once again and elect the chair, vice chair and sorts out the committees.

Had the high school one last week. First meeting back.

Chair approaches me and generally chats, passing pleasantries and asks if I am interested as standing as chair of one of the commitees.

Explain I have very little free time especially as I will be busy with another school I am also on the Governing body of, and we have some staffing issues to deal with.

We come to the start of the meeting. He is elected as chair of the main Governing body, no surprise there.

He then asks if anyone wishes to stand as vice chair.

Everyone looks at floor, ceiling, nails, anywhere but at him.

Any nominations he asks.

None.

He then says "Well I nominate Samantha"

I spit orange juice over table, knew it would be a bad idea to drink at this point!

The nomination is seconded and everyone agrees on it.

And so I am now vice chair of the Governing body - yes me - the person who usually sits and doodles all over her minutes and barely says a word unless I have to!!

There are times when I wonder why I am doing this lol!!!

First saw this group on the tv show Las Vegas, on sky 2 last week. They are soooooooooooo happy, and the tune is really catchy as well!!

I have just finished my roast dinner and was looking forward to putting feet up in front of the telly.

However not going to.

Nigel still not home yet, he said he was going to work late today, and as he isn't home yet one can assume that this will be the case. A lovely roast dinner is in the microwave waiting for him.

I hate cooking roasts mid week, but as I didn't do a roast on Sunday thought I should make the effort today - Nig loves his roasts.

I have refused to bring work home today. I know that I am behind with a lot of it, but decided that it can wait until I get to work tomorrow. Things have not improved much but we are getting there after much discussion with various ppl. I have been training on the computer this afternoon, so my head is feeling fuzzy, the sort of feeling you get when you have stared at the computer screen for a long time!

And now a little joke that someone sent me

Mike is getting along in years and finds that he is unable to perform sexually.

**** And now you know why you shouldn't end a sentence with a
preposition.

Oh it is lovely to have my computer back again!

Kids not so happy as mother is now hogging it again!

Been looking up my pirate name

Iron Ethel Cash

A pirate's life isn't easy; it takes a tough person. That's okay with you, though, since you a tough person. You're musical, and you've got a certain style if not flair. You'll do just fine. Arr

Not too sure about this one, though one of the kids at school said I was cruel. why? I made him write out his spellings that he got wrong 3 times!! Said if that is the worst he has to face then he will be lucky! My spelling group will know how to spell properly by the time I have finished with them!!

Well better get a move on another lot of washing needs to be hung out and meat in the oven before I toodle of to work.

Have a good day!

I am soooooooo happy! My computer needed a new graphic card in the end, so without leaving home I am £30 poorer, but definately happier I can come online again without fear of the computer crashing on me lol!

However it now means more insane moments that you lot will have to read about. More ramblings, more nonesense!

I have just piled my way through over 200 e mails ranging from friends sending me jokes and pictures - some rude, some funny and of course the messages that you have sent that I have been unable to reply to - thank you to you all.

There are some funny jokes that I will post on here when I have more time.

So just catching up, notice a lot of friends, including myself, have been tagged as yawnfest. Very funny really and no it won't stop me posting! If you find it a yawn then don't read lol!

Had to laugh at the ' 1000 posts a day' one thought that was silly afterall I can't post 1000 posts a day I don't have time and still can't do it when I do - also been offline for what seems like an age! Good job I have a sense of humour and just laughed lol!!!

Three invites from french ppl, hate doing this but declined them, not much point accepting if they never respond to posts and I don't speak French.

Oh well off to catch up and do some more silliness!

Hugs to you all

Prised son off laptop to let you know I received my Rainbow facilitator training today and got my badge and certificate. So I can help children who are suffering from loss or bereavement to overcome their fears and express their feelings.

For those of you who have no idea what I am on about, here is some info taken from their website

http://www.rainbowsgb.org/index.asp

England and Wales have the highest divorce rate in Europe.
Most divorces occur between five and nine years of marriage.
In 2000, approximately 41% of marriages that took place in England and Wales ended in divorce. By 2010, it is expected that 50% of all first time marriages for both partners will end in divorce.
Teenagers who marry are more likely to divorce than any other group.
50% of all marriages are re-marriages for one or both of the partners and 50% of all second marriages end in divorce.
It is estimated that 25% of children under 16 experience their parents’ divorce.
3 million children are living in a stepfamily situation.
In 1996 there were 157,000 divorces in England and Wales. Of these 147,000 involved children under the age of 16.
There are 19,000 suicide attempts by adolescents every year- more than one every 30 minutes.
Young women (15-19 years) are most likely to commit suicide but the suicide rate amongst young men has tripled since 1985.
There are two suicides by young people in England and Wales every day.

If the pain caused by such statistics is left unaddressed, it can lead many young people to experience serious emotional, psychological, social and educational difficulties. The RAINBOWS mission is to support children “. . . from hurt, through healing to hope.” The consequences of repressed and unresolved grief can be serious and long lasting, making it difficult for young people to form lasting relationships. The danger is that if grief is avoided or buried, it can become debilitating. It can change one’s life to such a destructive extent that there seems little point in carrying on. For example, it is considered that many adolescents attempting suicide grow up in families with more turmoil than other groups of adolescents, coming more often from broken homes due to death and divorce, abuse or through alcohol or drugs abuse.The grief people feel as a result of bereavement, separation and divorce, needs to be told and retold in order to bring the person to accepting that the future can still hold hope of fulfillment and that the time of pain will not last for ever.There are many people who need just a presence in their isolation and grief. They need someone’s ears to hear their cry; someone’s eyes to see their distress. In short, they need someone just to be there.RAINBOWS help:

By helping children and their families to rebuild their self esteem,
By enabling them to name, understand and come to terms with the many emotions they experience,
By reassuring those who have anxieties or feelings of guilt,
By encouraging young people to move towards forgiving those whom they feel have caused their pain.

RAINBOWS is NOT therapy. It does not diagnose and treat emotional or behavioral problems.

RAINBOWS is not counselling even though each group has an adult Facilitator.

In RAINBOWS , emotions of grief are considered normal, especially one's response to traumatic loss. RAINBOWS helps because:
It is a group sharing freely with each other,
It deals with very normal feelings associated with a stressful life event - grievous loss,
There is no professional guide other than a Facilitator who listens. The experience is dependent on deepening relationships within the group,
It offers acceptance, understanding and an exploration of a person's coping skills,
It provides a safe setting in which children, adolescents or adults can, with the help of a trained Facilitator, come to terms with the feelings they are experiencing,
It creates small groups in which all are experiencing similar feelings, and can work through the programmes, exploring and expressing their feelings of grief,
Although such grief can be destructive, it can also, if handled properly, be an opportunity for personal growth,
For many, it will be the first time they have been able to express their feelings.

RAINBOWS offers children:

Alleviation of fear and anxiety
Improved school attendance and academic performance
Management of anger
Coping tools
Encouragement of positive behaviour
Unconditional acceptance in the group
Development and strengthening of problem-solving skills
Development of positive goals for themselves
Direction towards the acceptance of their loss
Confidential surroundings in which to express their grief
A safe environment to share personal stories
A journal in which to write or draw feelings, so helping to understand and release them
A caring adult facilitator to listen attentively
Increased self-esteem
Better physical health
Better communication in peer and family relationships
Opportunity to meet new friends who have similar experiences
Emotional healing

.............................................................

Still no computer and really missing it

So I browsed a few blogs and came across this.

1. ( ) Smoked a cigarette.
2. ( ) Crashed a friend’s car.
3. ( ) Stolen a car.
4. (x) Been in love.
5. (x) Been dumped.
6. ( ) Shoplifted.
7. ( ) Been fired/laid off.
8. ( ) Been in a fist fight.
9. ( ) Snuck out of your parent’s house.
10. (x) Had feelings for someone that didn’t have them back.
11. ( ) Been arrested.
12. ( ) Gone on a blind date.
13. ( ) Lied to a friend.
14. ( ) Skipped school.
15. ( ) Seen someone die.
16. ( ) Been to Canada.
17. ( ) Been to Mexico.
18. (x) Been on a plane.
19. ( ) Purposely set a part of yourself on fire. > why ? Yes why?
20. ( ) Eaten sushi. >I don't eat fish
21. ( ) Been skiing.
22. (x) Met someone in person from the internet.
23. (x) Taken pain-killers. > for medical reasons only
24. (x) Love someone or miss someone right now.
25. ( ) Laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by.
26. ( ) Made a snow angel.
27. (x) Had a tea party.> part of having kids!
28. ( ) Flown a kite.
29. (x) Built a sand castle.
30. (x) Gone puddle jumping.>Not for years
31. (x) Played dress up.
32. ( ) Cheated while playing a game. > No can't be bothered I would still lose
33. (x) Been lonely. >even surrounded by friends yet I still feel lonely
34. ( ) Fallen asleep at work/school.
35. ( ) Used a fake I.D.
36. (x) Watched a sunset.
37. (x) Felt an earthquake.>It was very mild
38. (x) Touched a snake.
39. ( ) Slept beneath the stars.
40. (x) Been tickled.
41. ( ) Been robbed.
42. (x) Been misunderstood. > All the time
43. (x) Petted a reindeer/goat.
44. ( )Won a contest.>only ever made it to 2nd place
45. (x) Ran a red light.
46. ( ) Been suspended from school.
47. ( ) Been in a car accident.
48. ( ) Eaten a whole pint of ice cream in one night.
49. (x) Had deja vu.
50. ( ) Danced in the moonlight.
52. ( ) Liked the way you looked. > No I am very critical of myself
53. (x) Witnessed a crime. > car having wing mirror smashed
54. (x) Questioned your heart.
55. ( ) Been obsessed with post it notes.
56. ( ) Squished barefoot through the mud.
57. (x) Been lost.
58. ( ) Been to the opposite side of the country.
59. (x) Swam in the ocean.
60. (x) Felt like dying.
61. (x) Cried yourself to sleep. > Too ooften
62. ( ) Played cops and robbers.
63. (x) Recently colored with crayons.
64. ( ) Sung karaoke.
65. (x) Paid for a meal with only coins.
66. (x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t.
67. ( ) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out your nose.
68. ( ) Caught a snowflake on your tongue.
69. ( ) Danced in the rain.
70. (x) Written a letter to Santa Claus. >still do I live in hopes!!
71. (x ) Been kissed under the mistletoe. memories.........
72. ( ) Watched the sun rise with someone you care about
73. (x) Blown bubbles.
74. ( ) Made a bonfire on the beach.
75. ( ) Crashed a party.
76. ( ) Gone roller-skating.
77. (x) Had a wish come true.
78. (x ) Worn pearls.
79. ( ) Jumped off a bridge.
80. ( ) Ate dog/cat food.
81. ( ) Told a complete stranger you loved them.
82. ( ) Kissed a mirror.>I see myself why would I do that?
83. ( x) Sang in the shower.
84. (x) Had a dream that you married someone.
85. ( ) Glued your hand to something.
86. ( ) Got your tongue stuck to a flagpole.
87. () Kissed a fish. > I don't like fish!
88. ( )
89. (x) Screamed at the top of your lungs.
90. ( ) Done a one-handed cartwheel.
91. ( ) Talked on the phone for more than six hours on one occasion.
92. (x) Stayed up all night. > Bet with hubby over who would win general election so sat up to watch the votes come in
93. ( ) Didn’t take a shower for a week.
94. ( ) Picked and ate an apple right off the tree.
95. ( ) Climbed a tree that had a tree house.
96. ( x) Been told by a complete stranger that you’re hot.>He needed glasses!
97. ( x) Ever had a one night stand.>Oh boy he was boring!!
98. ( ) Ever missed someone so much it still hurts to think of them.
99. ( ) Ever loved someone that you knew wouldn’t love you back.
100 (x) Ever been to a professional football, or tennis game in a stadium ground.
101.( ) Went hiking in the mountains.
102.( ) Smoked a cigar.
103.(x) Had a crush on someone you worked with but never told them.
104.(x) Wished you had the chance to change your profession.
105.( ) Ever cremated and kept the ashes of a pet you cared a lot about.
106.( ) Wished you could live your life over again beginning at age 21. > No worst year of my life
107.(x) Been baptized?
108.( ) Rode a horse.
109.( x) Sent flowers to someone you never met.

Laptop keeps switching off and I have tried to post this 3 times so if it doesn't this time I am giving up - wish my computer was back lol!!

Popping up like a bad penny!!

Not back online yet sorry to say and really missing you all. Laptop is not working on internet properly so just though I would post a quick message to let you know I was still around.

Computer still not fixed though they think they have found the problem, and it should be back by the end of next weeki so fingers crossed I will be online again soon!

Hate being offline