Just sat and watched X men 1 and 2, now going to settle down and watch 3. I haven't been feeling well today, maybe it is due to what I was told earlier, or maybe it is chocolate withdrawal, so I may not be around later to post this so thought I will do it now.

I want to wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year. Have fun tonight, keep safe, and enjoy yourselves whatever you may be doing. Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts over these last few months and for being my friends.

May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts. May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills. May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips! May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires and may happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy. May the problems you had forget your home address! In simple words ............
May 2007 be the best year of your life!!!

See you next year!

hugs

Faffajane xxx

Just watned to share something with you all that we gave to our children at school. I came across it when I was tidying up and it is really nice to think about as we hurtle towards 2007.

I AM Worthy

I am worthy
I am worthy of my life and all the good things in it
I am worthy of all my friends
I am worthy of all the beautiful world
I am worthy of times of happiness
I am worthy of my peace of mind and a piece of the action
I am worthy of being appreciated
I am worthy of God's presence in my life
I am worthy of your love.

House is now back to normal, everything has gone away, everything has been dusted and hoovered again ready to greet the new year.

Youngest very much in the doghouse. He has broken one of his Christmas presents,Nigel found it this morning a blew a fuse! Everything has now been banned, lecture read, and he is in the process of sorting out his room.

Eldest not a happy chappie as I have just had a go at him as well. he hoovered his bedroom and blocked up the hoover, didn't empty it and it has taken over an hour to clear it so I could hoover up. He is now using a broom in his room to clean it!

Then hubby told me he had mended my tumble dryer and yes it did work for a couple of days. Went to get out the towels that were drying in there this morning, smell of burning and obviously it had stopped working again, towels still wet. decided not to take any more chances with it, dragged Nigel to Currys where we purchased another one and bought it home with us.

This is when Nigel dropped his bombshell, but more of that later

Off now to go and have a much needed cup of tea!

Well the last day of the year is upon us.

I didn't get the in depth analysis of the football that I was expecting last night following Hubby's beloved deafeat. What I did get was "crap game, crap manager, here I got you a McDonalds"

uck.

I hate McDonalds.

So he ate both meals that he came home with.

I told him about Neil's question "Does anyone ever understand what Joel says"

"No" says Nig, "Not even the players understand him. If they did they would play football instead of pretending they are! He is crap he has to go"

I did get the updates of the goings ons of his friends lives though which is always interesting!

Then we sat and watched 100 No.1 singles, which brought back a few memories, his odd comments about why some groups weren't mentioned, who are they never heard of them, how comes you know the words.

then he went to bed and slept!

Did have one bit of good news. He struck a deal with one of the footie blokes to do some testing for him next week, south of the river.

"You're coming with me" he says.

"Why" says I

"get some practice driving in London" he says.

Oh god can feel sweaty palms now.

"Thought we would go to Bluewater afterwards, D says it is great there, so giving you £100 to spend there. We are going next Saturday"

Oh who can turn down an offer like that.

Update: Got indepth analysis this morning while sipping tea in bed. Can think of better things to do

Right got to go and listen to the moans and groans, see you later!

Just read on Ethelred's blog that spurs lost 1-0 to Liverpool.

On very unhappy husband on the way home no doubt.

One miserable evening in store for me while he analyses how crap the team were, how the manager must go, how ............

Right need to finish putting songs on MP3 player so that I can drown out his moans and groans!

Cleaned the bathroom till it is gleaming again (why is rinsing a sink after you have used it beyond my children?)

Cleaned Kitchen till it is back to it's usual state of cleaniness (again why is emptying a bin beyond my children?)

Dusted and hoovered the living room.

Decorations are going away tomorrow, this isn't a popular decision and if I had my way it would have happened today, but son didn't get box down from the loft and I can't be bothered, so tomorrow it will go away. I have a thing about the house being tidy and clear to greet the new year in!

I have sat here and read through so many blogs I still haven't been able to decide who to choose for which category for the blogcars. Good job we can pick three for each category.

I have listened to Evanescence, James Morrison, Feeder and Snow Patrol while doing all this. Peace has reigned here with only the odd child popping down the stairs once in a while to make sure I haven't left home or that I am still alive.,

Bliss.

Right going to vegetate in front of telly, pop on a DVD and do some sewing!

Not the fire which should have come before Christmas and hasn't arrived, but the rain! It is as dark as ditchwater here, it is coming down in torrents and has turned cold as well.

oh hum.

Just a little bit of fun!

Love
Hubby
my children
my dog
good cooking
Reading a good book

Likes
Good Music
Watching a good film
Men who dress in black (no not priests) and smell nice
Wearing stockings
smiling and having fun
Blogging
My friends

Dislike
People who are two faced
eating fish

Hate
Wearing tights
earwigs

What I want for 2007
To be 2st lighter
To be happy and healthy
To see my children and husband be happy and healthy.
For my friends to have a better year than they did this year
World peace (yeah like that will happen, one can live in hopes)

The sun is shining, the wind has died down, it is hot as I sit and type with the sun streaming through the window, showing up all the finger marks on the pane of glass,

last night was dreadful weather wise. The wind could be heard howling around outside, surprised there is no damage out there at all though I am sure, from the look of the rubbish on my front lawn, someone must have lost a bin in this street.

Nig has gone off to football to see his beloved spurs play against Liverpool. No doubt he will come home and inform me of all the gossip about his mates and how their Christmas's went. We are a rare breed, Nig and I, in that we still talk to one another, most of his mates just moan about their wives, he sits and tells them how wonderful I am which they must be sick of hearing about - that reminds me I must make him an appointment with the optician!

Just looked at the state of my house, which really needs a good tidy up but I can't be bothered. Should do something constructive today though can't keep leaving it.

Looked at myself in the mirror this morning and yes I do look huge. Really must do something about that as well.

Oh well better be off and pretend to be a domesticated housewife!

Right I am off to bed, had too much fun this eveing, got to lie down in a dark room!!

Wind is really getting up here, looks like a we will get the high winds as promised, oh joy! Just think hubby will be on the terraces tomorrow in it while I can stay all warm and cosy indoors!

See you tomorrow folks!

Nite nite x

Well it is now minutes past 9 in the evening and surprise surprise, no BIL. I suspect that he didn't turn up at MIL house either because there has been no phone call from her to say he is on his way or the moan about how he hasn't managed to fit her taps yet despite the fact she has been waiting 4 years for them to be done!

What annoys me is that he couldn't even be bothered to phone to say that he wasn't coming.

Hopefully he will not turn up tomorrow, I am here, alone, with the kids and cannot face the thought of seeing him without hubby, I am likely to say something I will regret later!

So this afternoon, after loading varous music on my MP3 player and listening to other cds, Nig and I sat and watched a couple of DVDS - Over hte Hedge which we saw with the kids at the cinema, and Silent Hill.

Now I have to say I am not a gamer. Hubby is. He has played all of the Silent Hill films and I have been the one who has tried to get to sleep late at night while he has sat there playing them. Horror films have no affect on me at all, think I must have watched far too many when I was younger. So there I sat watching the film wanting a joystick in my hand to direct the main characters, shouting at the screen "get a gun!" and telling them "don't go in there" much to Nigels amusement. The atmosphere of the film is very much like the game even down to the same noises when the baddies are around. It was a good film, each actor played their parts well but must say it didn't make me jump, it didn't make me scream, it was all far too predictable, paerhaps watching Nig play the game has had some affect on me! It was good though, definately will watch it again anyway!

Simon had his first shave today. He has got rid of the caterpillar that was beginning to sprout under his nose. We bought him a battery shaver for Christmas as he is going to be one of these lucky people who will probably only have to shave once in a blue moon, unlike his father who has to shave daily, and he tried it for the first time after much conjouling (sp) from his father! My baby is all grown up!!

Well I am listening to my Meatloaf Cd, the new one Bat out of hell III. Not a very original title, but very good all the same. I have a pile of cds to listen to that I got for Christmas as well as some that came today that I ordered. I have ordered a couple more that Nig doesn't know about yet, but they were all of my Christmas list and were the ones that he didn't get because he had forgotten what he had got me already!!

Truman show is on the telly in the background as well, Nig in the bath, one child in bed otherone is in his room playing animal zoo or something. Life is good

I have been listening to this a few times during the past week and just love it! Enjoy!

Phone rings.

Determined not to move away from computer where I am in the process of putting some music onto my new MP3 player, I let it ring, afterall Nigel is sitting right by the phone upstairs.

It continues ringing.

Stops.

Starts ringing again.

Shouts up stairs as I head towards phone "Don't worry I will get that!" only to find as I pick it up that it is Nigel on the other end.

"Oh good," he says " while you are up can you put the kettle on please?"

I didn't.

He has just made me a lovely cup of tea without my help

Well I did it, I faced the crowds this morning, headed into town and did hte banking, had breakfast, treated myself to some new placemats for the dining room table in the Debenhams sale and came home.

Just had a quick tidy round as the Inlaws, i.e. BIL and SIL are due round anytime between now and 10pm. They visit the aged P first then make their way round to us for some sanity.

My BIL will as usual wind up my children until one of them goes into a sulk (simon usually), eat any chocolate that he will find because it obviously belongs to him as it was just 'lying around', then most likely argue with his brother. For two brothers you would never ever think they belonged to the same family. Hubby is tall, and has a reasonable figure due to his Martial Arts training. BIL is a chocoholic, who will convince anyone who meets him that he is on a diet while consuming the biggest bar of diary milk imaginable! bless him.

They do not even look alike. Nigel is the exact replica of his best frined in fact they could have been twins they are so alike. He looks nothing like his brother, in fact most ppl on meeting them often say that they can't possibly be brothers they are so unalike in temperament and appearance, but alas they are.

My SIL, his second wife, is just so nice and a lot like me in a way. Great sense of humour, loves to have a good drink in company, and knows how to have fun. How they ever got together I will never know, but as they say the world would be very boring if we were all the same.

So I sit here, trying to decide what tracks to put on my new MP3 player, while waiting for that bell to ring that heralds their arrival. Better go and hide that tin of Quality street!!

Just been upstairs to sort out the washing into various piles to be put in the washing machine at some stage.

Walk into our bedroom to pick up the clothes that wouldn't fit in the washing basket this morning and there is Nig, spread out on the floor, assembling that scalextric that Richard opened on Christmas morning with the look of What did they get me this for on his face.

"Having fun?" says I
"Yes" he says, "just assembling this for Richard"

"It wasn't for Richard was it?" Says I, "It was for you really wasn't it, Richard was just an excuse to buy it"

"Yep this is great" he says.

Typical.

He always wanted daughters and he got two sons. Somehow I don't think playing with a Bratz doll or a tiny tears would have given him quite the same amount of pleasure!

Diary of a Viagra Housewife

Day 1 Just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary
with not much to celebrate. When it came time to
re-enact our wedding night, he locked himself in the
bathroom and cried.

Day 2 Today, he says he has a big secret to tell me.
He's impotent, he says, and he wants me to be the
first to know. Why doesn't he tell me something I
don't know! I mean, he actually thinks I haven't
noticed.

Day 3 This marriage is in trouble. A woman has needs. Yesterday, I saw a picture of Nelson's Column and burst into tears.

Day 4 A miracle has happened! There's a new drug on
the market that will fix his 'problem'. It's called
Viagra. I told him that if he takes Viagra, things
will be just like they were on our wedding night. I
think this will work. I replaced his Prozac with the
Viagra, hoping to lift something other than his mood.

Day 5 What absolute bliss!!.

Day 6 Isn't life wonderful but it's difficult to write
while he's doing that.

Day 7 This Viagra thing has gone to his head. No pun
intended! Yesterday, at Burger King, the manager asked
me if I'd like a Whopper. He thought they were talking
about him. But, have to admit it's very nice - I don't
think I've ever been so happy.

Day 8 I think he took too many over the weekend.
Yesterday, instead of mowing the lawn, he was using
his new friend as a weed wacker. I'm also getting a
bit sore down there.

Day 9 No time to write. He might catch me.

Day 10 Okay, I admit it. I'm hiding. I mean, a girl
can only take so much. And to make matters worse, he's
washing the Viagra down with neat whisky! What am I
going to do? I feel tacky all over....

Day 11 I'm basically being screwed to death. It's like
living with a Black and Decker drill. I woke up this
morning hot-glued to the bed. Even my armpits hurt.
He's a complete pig.

Day 12 I wish he was gay. I've stopped wearing
make-up, cleaning my teeth or even washing but he
still keeps coming after me! Even yawning has become dangerous...

Day 13 Every time I shut my eyes, there's a sneak
attack! It's like going to bed with a scud missile. I
can hardly walk and if he tries that "Oops, sorry"
thing again, I'll kill the bastard.

Day 14 I've done everything to turn him off. Nothing
is working. I even started dressing like a nun but
this just seems to make him more horny. Help me!

Day 15 I think I'll have to kill him. I'm starting to
stick to everything I sit on. The cat and dog won't go
near him and our friends don't come over any more.
Last night I told him to go and fuck himself and he
did.

Day 16 The bastard has started to complain about
headaches. I hope the bloody thing explodes. I did
suggest he might try stopping the Viagra and going
back on Prozac.

Day 17 Switched the pills but it doesn't seem to have
made any difference...Christ! Here he comes again!

Day 18 He's back on Prozac. The lazy sod just sits
there in front of the TV all day with that remote
control in his hand and expects me to do everything
for him. What absolute bliss!

Mild morning, woken up by dog barking at the postman who was delivering a lot of junk mail.

Crawled downstairs half asleep, made a cup of tea for myself and his lordship who is still asleep, alright for some!

Bunged some washing into the washing machine, turned it on and thought I would check my emails.

Needless to say I am still sat here.

So plans for today..............none.

I know Nig is planning on painting the bathroom ceiling, but he needs to get the paint first, so at some point today it looks like I am going to have to face the crowds. Do fancy paying a visit to the sales, then I look in the mirror and think why bother. I look and feel huge. definately going to get back on the diet today, I will be huge by the time New Year arrives otherwise

Ok better get a move on and tidy up, at least shower, or perhaps I will just make myself another mug of Tea, glorious Tea

One of many emails sent over the Christmas holidays, enjoy!

The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn , arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve.

True Story - submitted by Pastor Rob Reid who says God does work in mysterious ways..

Browsing through the internet today and came across this gem.

It is lovely.

http://www.teachermovie.com/

'Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house,
Not a garment would fit me, not even a blouse.
The cookies I'd nibble, the eggnog I'd taste,
At those holiday parties went straight to my waist.

When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
I walked to the shop (less a walk than a lumber),
And thought of the marvelous meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,

The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese,
And the way that I'd never said, "No thank you, please."
When I put on my extra-large husband's old shirt,
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt,

I said to myself, as only I can,
"You can't spend the winter disguised as a man!"
So away with the last of the sour cream dip!
Go, fruitcake! Go, cookies! Go, cracker and chips!

Each last bit of food that I like must be banished
'Till all the additional kilos have vanished.
I won't have that ice cream, not even a lick,
I'll chew only on a long celery stick.

I won't have choc biscuits, or white bread, or pie
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.
I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore
But isn't that what January is for?

Unable to giggle, no longer a riot,
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!

Well as the new year approaches in a few days time, my thoughts turned to those important promises we make every year and never keep.

So thought I would post some New Years Resolutions for you that you CAN keep:

10. Read less.

1. Take up a new habit: maybe smoking!

Never say that I am not helpful

Christmas Day

Arrived. Nig and I had very little sleep the night before. He because he was excited (trust me he is worse than the kids) me, because the dogs kept walking up and down the stairs in the hope that someone may have left the living room door open so they can find their presents!

Alarm goes off at 6am. Didn't get to bed until 12 as had to make sure kids were asleep before we put Santa presents on the end of their bed. Lay in bed for a while then Nigel starts to unwrap his santa present.
"Are you going to open yours?" he queries so I struggle to sit up and open the one and only present santa saw fit to leave me beside my bed - a tub of maltesers great! Nigel opens all three of his and I give him his main present of the day ..................

A camrecorder - honestly your minds!!

And no he isn't allowed to film in the bedroom either!

Kids arrive in room with their santa gifts and the day starts.

After what seemed like an eternity opening presents that morning, I am now stuck in a kitchen, trying to get the meal done while everyone has fun. MIL arrives with FIL, dishes out her presents, complains about how spoilt I am with mine and so sets the tone of the day and much biting of the tongue! However it does go rather smoothly, dinner was delicious and there is much hilarity.

My presents, yes I was spoilt. I got perfume, a mulled wine kit, a necklace with matching earrings and bangle, perfume bottle (one with a pump on end of it), 1GB MP3 player, 2 cds (feeling and meatloaf), DVD-Tristan and Isolade, Armageddon and Bleak house, Pilates stretchband kit, fitness DVD, wine with wine rack, sevaral chocolates, more wine, latest Phillippa Grefory novel, a set of Cynthia Harrod Eagles novels, a dressing gown, and lots more that I cannot even think off right now.

A word about Christmas dinner - I excelled myself. Turkey, roast potatoes, roast parsnips, yorkshire pudding, pigs in blankets, apple and cranberry stuffing, sage and onion stuffing, mashed swede, sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, braised red cabbage with apple, and turkey gravy. Yummy!!!

Afternoon spent playing trivial pursuit and junior risk to much hilarity and laughter, comment from eldest child "this has to be the best Christmas yet!"

Boxing Day

Total number of DVDs recived as presents this year by Nigel, kids and myself, 35. So today we spent watching some four of them, mainly the ones the kids wanted to watch, together. Boxing day is the traditional film watching day in our house. Lots of cold meat, pickle, cakes, and sweet and savory items are put onthe table to be consummed/picked at throughout the day and I rest with my feet up watching films with the family. We watched the wild, ice age 2, Narnia, and Christmas with the Kranks yesterday, all throughly enjoyable.

Today

I feel huge, my waistline has expanded, upon going to the cupboard I see that there are even more goodies that are to be consummed that I really do not think my stomach will take anymore. I should go to the shops and see what the outside world is up to, but to be honest I think I will stay snuggled up with hubby and watch some more DVDs. The kids are quietly playing on their DS's and rather than restrict them think I will let them do that all day if they want, anything for peace and quiet! It will be a eat what you like day again today, and I will watch some more DVDs and perhaps do a little sewing as well.

I hope you all had a really good Christmas, I can safely say we did!

Hugs xx

Mince pies are made.

1 Gin and bitter lemon consummed.

table prepared

Pressies under tree

Dogs trying to find theirs so I am on Guard duty as Nigel gets Richard bathed and ready for bed.

Tradition in our house is to put pressies under tree Christmas eve. Once children are asleep their 'santa' pressies are put on the end of the bed or in their stockings if they will fit. Lots of pressies to open this year, normal ppl only have a few under the tree, but we are not normal. We have main presents and then lots and lots of silly presents to open. For example, every year Nigel complains that his plate is never big enough for his Christmas meal so this year the kids and I have bought him a Serving plate, one of the huge ones and wrapped it up for him!

We tend to have too much to open, and record it all on the cam recorder every year, it can take nearly all day to open presents in this house

What the heck it is only once a year.

Boxing day is spent watching all the DVDs we have all got, that is movie day. Buffet is out all day long, help yourself as mum (me) is collapsed on the sofa exhausted from the day before!

I love it.

So I am going to sign off now and wish you all a very merry Christmas and hopefully see you after Boxing day which is when I will be allowed on the computer again!

Have a great day tomorrow and hope you all get what you want

Ever since Milton Keynes Theatre first opened, my friend and myself have taken her daughter and my two sons to the panto every year. We have seen some great pantomimes there over the years, and some really dire ones and ok so it may not have the appeal as travelling to London to see one but believe me we have seen some great actors on stage making fools of themselves in the traditional Panto way.

This years Pantomine, Cinderella, was among the best I have ever seen.

At first I have to say, when seeing which ‘stars’ were lined up for it I was not too keen. I have never been a fan of Bradley Walsh , playing Buttons otherwise known as Danny Baldwin in Coronation Street, and certainly not a fan of the actress who is playing the fairy Godmother, Kacey Ainsworth better known as Little Mo from Eastenders. I have to admit when browsing through the £3.50 programme I hadn’t heard of any of the other performers in the show though their resumes in the programme made interesting reading.

We took our seats, noting that even though the weather was bad, there was not an empty seat to be found anywhere in the auditorium. The curtain went up and Panto began. The Fairy Godmother arrives on stage and says her words in rhyme and you were captivated. Then Buttons appeared after the usual dance and singing routine from the villagers and Cinders, and there began the start of much hilarity, adlibbing and ribbing of the audience.

To say Bradley was funny is an understatement, he was hilarious. I honestly thought my eldest was going to wet himself with laughter. The woman next to me was disgusted, complaining to her neighbour that she couldn’t hear what was being said because both me and my son were laughing so much and so were the rest of the audience.

The best bit ever was when he was doing a scene with the ugly sisters, called Trinny and Sussanah played by Roger Kitter and David Langham, both of whom, according to the programme, are very experienced panto dames and they were good. During this scene Bradley Walsh made Roger Kitter laugh so much he forgot his lines or couldn’t say what he should have done and they had to admit that they hadn’t manage to get through this particular scene in one go yet! We were all clutching our stomachs with laughter at this point!

A tiny mention about the woman playing Cinderella, Laura Hamilton is her name and she apparently is currently working as a presenter for Nickelodeon, as a co-presenter on Nick-heads. A great singer, has a good voice but tended to struggle just a bit with the high notes though in fairness I think doing two shows every day I probably would have problems as well. The prince, played by George Wood, who has been acting since the age of 4 and apparently is better known as Ollie from the BBC television series I Dream. A very pretty young man who was losing his voice at times I think as it was quite croaky but played his part well and worked well with his man servant Dandini played by Richard Reynard.

I have to say despite my initial reservations about this performance, the casting was quite good, though take Bradley Walsh out of the equation and it would probably have been a flop. He made this performance, through adlibbing, and his general silliness alone, and watching the other actors try and keep a straight face when he was on the stage was well worth going to see.

If you ever are in the Milton Keynes area or you fancy going to see a Pantomine this year, I heartily recommend you go and see this one, you will not come away disappointed!

Hi all

blogland was difficult yesterday. couldn't get onto my own page and type a message so hoping it is behaving today.

Yesterday was very busy sorting everthing out and visiting. Managed to clear my ironing as well, though did discover that my son had folded up what had come out of the tumble dryer and a lot of it was still wet. Upon checking it appears that the tumble dryer has decided that it doesn't want to work! Nigel is looking at it now, though don't hold up much hope for it!

Fortunately Nigel and I were off to a close friends house yesterday for a meal and chat and she and her husband were kind enough to let us tumble dry what we could there.

had a great evening which ended at 2 this morning after playing trivial pursuit and failing miserably to win. Did boys against girls, played three games which my friend and I failed to win at, probably due to two glasses of white wine each as well as going thorugh 3 bottles of mulled wine between us - the men were ont he beers (except Nig really as he was driving

Feeling fine today though surprisingly (or should that be worryingly) though it could be because I have only just emerged from my nice warm bed

Right better go and cook my lovely hubby some breakfast (or lunch) and then make a start on tidying the living room and making some mince pies!

If I don't get back on here, have a great Christmas and hopefully I will be allowed back on the computer after boxing day!

Hugs to you all and a