Spread your wings and fly away

Headache got worse.

Didn't eat after lunch in fact I bought that up.

Layon sofa, son upstairs with friend and felt so sorry for him couldn't chuck him out so I could go to bed, though I wish I was there.

Hubby taken him home now so off to bed I go before I feel any worse.

Now where did I put the nurofen?

Says the stick of rock that is sitting in my fridge.

but I am good girl, I will resist.

And that is as good as it is going to get

witty titles, he wanted, dear Nick.

Yes 40 minutes of my life wasted standing in a queue waiting to be served at the Abbey today.

Not impressed.

Not happy.

Almost everyone complained, lots of staff milling around looking important and not doing anything and only two of the five tills open.

If it wasn't so important to make sure the money was in the account to cover a few bills I would have walked out!

40 flipping minutes.

Not on!

Today i feel drained of all energy and inclination.

I have a lot to do, including being Mum's Taxi to the kids as eledest and friend have decided to go into town.

How are you getting there? I asked all innocently.

Oh I told him you will drop us off!

Thanks son.

Actually I have to pop to the building society so no harm done really but next time he will learn to use the bus or walk it!!!

woke up with a massive headache as well this morning which isn't helping much, hoping once I have had breakfast and showered that will ease.

Apart from that not a lot happening here, just the grey boring morning as usual

Hope you all have a good day.

Popped out to see a friend and put the world to rights as you do.

Come back to find two children still glued to the telly where I left them

Plan on doing a stir fry, but have no idea what time hubby will be home, will he be able to heat it up later I wonder?

Simon is supposed to be going swimming later, Richard to Wing Chun and we are then off out to quiz night. Feeling this will not go to well, one member of our team is on holiday and he is really good at the music quiz. If it isn't rock I have no chance!!

Ah well, better get off backside and go and cook dinner

To the following people

Go for luck
zhucgsool
love you so
greenhorse

Invites have been denied

Spam has been deleted

Do not spam my blog. Not interested in your sordid schemes or your sick pictures.

Not interested in what you have to offer.

You are all a total waste of space!!!!!

No dreams last night, instead I had a giggling fit.

giggling fit?

Now if you know me at all, I tend to laugh a lot. I am known amongst my friends as the giggler as I tend to have uncontrollable giggling fits. Anything can set them off at anytime and I giggle until I am gasping for air with tears coming down face.

the last such fit was while I was driving on the A303. I was behind a caravan that was being towed, and it was weaving all over the place, not because of wind but because the car pulling it was all over the place. I couldn't overtake it so was stuck behind and an image came into my head that started me having a fit of the giggles that went on for about 20 minutes while I was driving.

So what was the image you ask?

Well the night before hubby and I sat and watched the film Crank, with Jason Statham in it. Jason Statham plays an assassin who's rival has injected him with a poison that will kill him if his heart rate drops - in other words to live he has to keep his heart pumping fast and live on adrenalin. At one point he is driving along the road with his girlfriend (played by Amy Smart I think), when she does oral sex on him while he is driving, and this was what popped into my head as I watched the caravan swerve to the left then right of the road, thereby causing me to have a fit of the giggles leading to uncontrollably laughter. the more that anyone asked me what I was laughing at, the more I laughed and I just couldn't stop long enough to tell them so it came out all wrong and in spurts until hubby managed to piece my mumblings together to work it all out.

So back to last night. Woke up suddenly, not really knowing where I was or who I was, you know that startled feeling you get. anyway hubby turned over in his sleep and all he did was elbow me in the ribs and I started to giggle, and giggle, and giggle. The more I tried to keep quiet so that I didn't wake anyone, the worse it got, until I was laughing so hard, I couldn't catch my breath and hubby was sat bolt up right in bed asking what I was laughing at which made me laugh even more!

This went on for about half and hour and it took ages to get off to sleep again because when I did manage to get settled down again, he would turn over and I would start giggling again. I did manage to go off to sleep again eventually but still can't understand why I did this, but even now, sitting here writing it, I am giggling away like a naughty teenager

In other news, it is very cloudy outside and the trees are swaying in the wind. Autumn has arrived early and I feel we have been cheated on summer this year. I have not had my quota of sun, so feel that we have a long winter ahead of us.

Ah well can't do anything about that really , if only I had a magic wand

Have a good day

I am sorry, but rubbing yourself against your partner while they are attempting to catch up with their friends posts is NOT a turn on!

In fact it is quite annoying!

And on that note I am going back to my stitching!!

Have a great day hun.

hugs

xxxx

Popped to Sainsburys, didn't have enough petrol to go any further so had to pay their prices for a few necessary items that I needed.

Wasn't as bad as I expected though. Managed to get some chicken, so doing a roast meal for tonight, tomorrow will be a stir fry (may be chicken again) and Friday a butternut risotto perhaps if I can find the recipe I used a while ago.

Supermarket was packed with hassled parents and bawling kids. Managed to sneak out of the house without my kids knowing so didn't have to drag them around. Eldest has unpacked for me and put everything away and hung out the washing (haven't I trained him well).

Yet surprisingly, despite all the checkouts being open and staffed by holiday workers/ students waiting to go back to college etc, the checkouts were empty, and most of them seemed to be bored out of their tiny little minds. Not that I am complaining I haven't got time to be standing around in queues

Now going to have a nice cup of tea and some lunch, peel some spuds, and put the chicken on to cook then I can sit and do some sewing

Lots of fitful dreams last night, none of which made much sense, usually means there is something I am not going to like about to happen.

Also worried about a few people, nothing I can do, but wish I could, and it is not helping much.

Just sat and wrote a long post about dreams and angels, yet when I read through it, it sounded a bit silly so deleted it all. Feeling very unsettled today.

Right enough of this, the sun is shining and the towels need to be put on the line and I need to get to the shops as we are out of food. So I bid you adieu for now and hope that you all have a good day

Hugs xx

My eldest son has decided that hubby and I are too embarrassing to be proper parents.

I have no idea why he has come to this conclusion, neither do I understand why he should have told us this over dinner yesterday evening.

Upon questioning him, he tells us that we like each other too much!

Apparently, normal parents do not go round sitting on each others laps to have a cuddle while watching the television.

normal parents do not kiss each other when they see each other as they come home from work.

Normal parents do not need to have to touch each other, affectionately, you know the fingers on the arm that is resting on the sofa, the ruffle of the hair, as they pass by.

Normal parents do not cuddle in the kitchen as they are waiting for the dinner to cook

Normal parents do not talk about sex with their children as though it was the most natural thing to do (and yes if they ask questions we answer them honestly, better they know the facts rather than the fiction they get in the playground).

Normal parents do not feel the need to walk down the road holding hands

Normal parents do not people watch and make silly comments

In fact Normal parents behave sensibly, do not show up their children in public by acting like 5year olds, laughing hysterically (me) and making silly comments (him).

Normal parents are sensible. They have a room and they use it they do not have the need to have open displays of affection when their kids are around!

So there you have it. According to my soon to be 16 year old son, Hubby and I are not Normal parents, we should be locked up, and should learn how to behave accordingly. We should never show our love for each other. We should never have open displays of affection.

Oh will he will just have to live and put up with his abnormal parents, because we aren't going to stop now

Dawns grey, with a watery sun trying to push its way through the clouds and not succeeding. the sky is a mixture of greyish hues and though it looks bright in the garden it is not as bright as it could be.

Not much planned for today, in fact I won't be blogging too much as there is a pain in one of my wrists. Could be due to too much sewing, could be due to typing on here, not sure but it is painful.

Have to drop eldest son into town later so will see what I want to do from there.

Housework definately. Looking at the floor it could do with seeing what a hoover looks like lol!

Have a good day

I have caught up with blogland

I have uploaded piccies

I have chatted away

I have done other numerable things that are not worthy of mention

And now I am going to sit in front of the telly with my stitching for an hour or two.

Have a good evening everyone

It is worth reading the write up to this item

here

Our final destination on our holiday. We came across this by chance as we were driving round the countryside and taking in the spectacular scenery Devon has to offer.

We decided to drive through Exmoor and came across these signs for Tarr steps. Of course we had to follow, parked up the car, walked down and hill and there they were.

Tarr steps is nothing like I thought it was going to be, e.g. steps. In fact it is a Prehistoric bridge over the river Barle near Winsford. Dating from 1000 BC, some of the stones weigh 5 tons and were said to have been placed there by the Devil to win a bet. We walked across them and did the circular walk round marvelling at the scenery, cameras snapping as Simon found unusal rock formations which would go well in his Geography project.

A peaceful place to go, full of tranquility as you walk along the river and a perfect end to our holiday

Here is what we called the Devil of Tarr - look closely and you can see the horns, eyes, mouth, nose and beard

The afternoon was spent on the beach at Westward Ho! where we were staying. The sun still shone but it was windy, so windy the sea was very choppy. Now don't be fooled by the pictures. To get to the beach you had to walk over lots of rocks, stones and shingle and as anyone that knows me well will tell you, I am not very good on two legs at the best of times. I have a fear of falling over. I think part of that may be due to breaking my nose when I once did years ago, but putting that aside, getting down to the beach took some time and was an act of bravery on my part!! It did help that I was wearing beach shoes, you know those waterproof shoes that are ideal for wearing in the water, the type that surfers may wear. I was not happy with the colour choice however when I purchased them. Oh no, not for me the black or navy ones on sale, did they have my size? No. The only colours in my size were flourescent yellow or bright red! so plumping for the red ones which went fetchingly with my black trousers and blue top, I hobbled down to the sand to watch my little darlings try out their surfing techniques in the waves In fairness, despite the rough accomodation, the view from our chalet was lovely every morning and it was nice to walk beside the sea and take in the sea air every evening as well.

I am now on flickr, like the sheep I am

http://www.flickr.com/photos/faffajane/

Sunny day appeared outside so we headed over the border into Cornwall to visit Bude, a mere 45 minutes away from where we were staying.

I am not sure what I expected to see. Seaside yes, and a bit of a town, what I did see was a small seaside town, with shops the sold all manner of things to do with surfing, and as we headed towards the beach I could see why, the waves were a surfers delight!!

Bude has been a popular seaside resort since the Victorian era and it manages to maintain its easy, relaxing charm. In the 19th Century it was notorious for its wreckers, who plundered the ships that came to grief off the coast - more than 80 between 1824 and 1874.

The Atlantic-pounded beaches of both Summerleaze and Crooklets have been described by Australian surfers as the "Bondi of Britain" and it was here in 1953 that some of them formed the first Surf Life Saving Club in the country. The Club still thrives and weekly demonstrations give an insight to its valuable role.

Bude was home to Sir Goldsworthy Gurney, an inventor and builder of the Castle that is a castellated stone mansion standing on a grassy knoll overlooking Summerleaze Beach, which is now home to the town hall and a museum where you can find out about his inventions as well as the history of Bude.

If you ever visit Bude, may I recommend that you try a cornish pasty from here
It is one of the best I have ever tried and even the kids enjoyed them.

Well the sun has disappeared behind some clouds.

Nigel got fed up waiting for me to get dressed so he has gone to fuel up his van and popping into Asda for me for some shopping.

Not that I was lazy or anything, in truth I was sorting out how much money was in the account and paying some bills before I spent it all on food, hoping we have enough to get by on until the end of the week at least lol!

But money doesn't seem to concern him much, he just earns it, I worry over the bills and what has to be paid.

He still hasn't written that letter to the NICEIC, driving me mad nagging him to do it, perhaps I shall just shut up and watch it as the world falls apart around him as it will if he doesn't do it.

Right better get under that shower, spent too long in front of this screen and there is housework to do - sod it that can wait until tomorrow!!1

Sunday has dawned bright and sunny, a better day than it was 9 years ago when we had torrential rain.

9 years ago?

Yes because that is when my youngest child was born. this time 9 years ago I lay in bed, very sore due to a C section that I had 5 mins before, worried as they had whisked my child away because he needed his tubes cleaned out due to all the melatonin (?) he had swallowed during delivery.

Fortunately he was ok, couldn't feed for 24 hours, but other than that we had our second healthy boy and Nigel was delighted.

Today I sit here and watch as he opens his presents and wonder where that time has gone. That little baby is no longer a baby though to me he always will be. That child who will talk to anyone despite my best efforts to insill some sense of 'stranger danger' into him, it goes unheeded. He is so trusting, I worry about him. The child who struggles with school, the child who laughs all the time, the child who you can't be angry with for more than a few minutes at a time. He drives me mad, he makes me smile, but most importantly he is mine and I am so lucky that we were blessed with him after giving up trying.

So plans for today is to make his favourite dinner, macaroni cheese. Not doing much he had his birthday treat yesterday, today is his day. Cake later and no doubt MIL will pop by to see him as well.

I am blessed with two wonderful sons.

Did you know that eagles mate for life? Well one day Harry the eagle
waited at the nest for Mary his darling of 10 glorious years. After a while
when she didn't return he went looking and found her. She had been shot.
Dead!
Harry was devastated. After about six minutes of mourning he decided
that he must get himself another mate but since there weren't any lady
eagles available he'd have to cross the feather barrier. So he flew off to
find a new mate.
He found a lovely dove and brought her back to the nest. The sex was
OK but all the dove would say is "I am a DOVE, I want to love! I am a
DOVE, I want to love!"
Well, this got on Harry's nerves so he kicked the dove out of the nest
and flew off once more to find a mate.

He found a very sexy loon and brought her back to the nest. Again the
sex was great but all the loon would say is, "I am a LOON, I want to spoon!
I am a LOON, I want to spoon!" So out with the loon.
Once more he flew off to find a mate. This time he found a gorgeous
duck and he brought the duck back to the nest. Again the sex was great,
but all the duck would say was.....well, you know.....

No, the duck didn't say THAT!!!!! That's an awful thing to think!

The duck said, "I am a DRAKE you made a MISTAKE!

There is a funny strange object in the sky that is brightening up the world outside and hopefully drying my washing!!

Not up to much at the moment which is why posts are a bit sporadic, I sat and sewed mainly yesterday apart from the hour spent with a friend who came round to cheer me up.

We are off to the cinema in a bit as youngest wants to see Harry Potter, which I don't want to do, but it is his birthday tomorrow so he has the choice of what we watch - better than watching the Simpsons anyway

So better sign off for now and will catch up with you all later, once I feel a bit more human and not such a sour puss

Hugs to all!

Not feeling up to much at the moment, feleing very bleurgh.

Have to go to quiz night and really don't wnat to be sociable, but for some reason hubby thinks it will be good for me.

In reality PMT has really kicked in and being sociable is the last thing I want to do

Have a good evening

The weeks seem to be flying past at the moment, let alone the days.

Stayed in bed this morning, couldn't be bothered to get up, neither could hubby so we snuggled up and watched countryfile - summer diaries on the telly instead - how sad is that!!!

so I have emerged now, eaten my wood shavings museli in the hope that if I can kick start into healthy eating mode again then I will be slimmer this time next year for my holiday!

Yes I am thinking about next year already, and no I make no apology for it, I need sun, we haven't had any this summer, just wet, wet rain and I am truly fed up with it all!!

Mum emailed me earlier and said everyone will have SAD syndrome, I replied I have it already lol!!

Right better get under that shower and get respectable, getting funny looks from the kids as I sit here with my night attire on and you can guarantee someone will pop up to visit if I don't

here

All in the name of fun of course

-- A mama mole, a papa mole, and a baby mole all live in a little mole hole.
One day the papa mole sticks his head out of the hole, sniffs the air and says,"Yum! I smell maple syrup!"
The mama mole sticks her head out of the hole, sniffs the air and says "Yum! I smell honey!"
The baby mole tries to stick his head out of the hole to sniff the air, but can't because the bigger moles
are in the way so he says, "Geez, all I can smell
is....

Scroll down.......

Get ready.....

Are you sure you're ready?
You may never forgive me for this one...

MOLASSES

1. Kidnappers are not very interested in you.
2. In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first. 3. No
one expects you to run into a burning building 4. People call at 9
PM and ask, "Did I wake you?" 5. People no longer view you as a
hypochondriac. 6. There is nothing left to learn the hard way.
7. Things you buy now won't wear out.
8. You can eat dinner at 4 PM.
9. You can live without sex but not without glasses.
10. You enjoy hearing arguments about pension plans.
11. You have a party and the neighbours don't even realise it.
12. You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.
13. You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into
the room.
14. You sing along with elevator music.
15. Your eyes won't get much worse.
16. Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off.
17. Your joints are a more accurate meteorologist than the national
weather service.
18. Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember
them either.
19. Your supply of brain cells is finally down to a manageable size.
20. You can't remember who sent you this list.

The Full Nelson

Nelson: "Order the signal, Hardy."

Hardy: "Aye, aye sir."

Nelson: "Hold on, that's not what I dictated to Flags. What's the meaning of this?"

Hardy: "Sorry sir?"

Nelson (reading aloud): "'England expects every person to do his or her duty, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religious persuasion or disability.' - What gobbledegook is this?"

Hardy: "Admiralty policy, I'm afraid, sir. We're an equal opportunities employer now. We had the devil's own job getting 'England' past the censors, lest it be considered racist."

Nelson: "Gadzooks, Hardy. Hand me my pipe and tobacco."

Hardy: "Sorry sir. All naval vessels have now been designated smoke- free working environments."

Nelson: "In that case, break open the rum ration. Let us splice the mainbrace to steel the men before battle."

Hardy: "The rum ration has been abolished, Admiral. Its part of the Government's policy on binge drinking."

Nelson: "Good heavens, Hardy. I suppose we'd better get on with it . full speed ahead."

Hardy: "I think you'll find that there's a 4 knot speed limit in this stretch of water."

Nelson: "Damn it man! We are on the eve of the greatest sea battle in history. We must advance with all dispatch. Report from the crow's nest please."

Hardy: "That won't be possible, sir."

Nelson: "What?"

Hardy: "Health and Safety have closed the crow's nest, sir. No harness, and they said that rope ladders don't meet regulations. They won't let anyone up there until a proper scaffolding can be erected."

Nelson: "Then get me the ship's carpenter without delay, Hardy."

Hardy: "He's busy knocking up a wheelchair access to the fo'c'sle Admiral."

Nelson: "Wheelchair access? I've never heard anything so absurd."

Hardy: "Health and safety again, sir. We have to provide a barrier-free environment for the differently abled."

Nelson: "Differently abled? I've only one arm and one eye and I refuse even to hear mention of the word. I didn't rise to the rank of admiral by playing the disability card."

Hardy: "Actually, sir, you did. The Royal Navy is under represented in the areas of visual impairment and limb deficiency."

Nelson: "Whatever next? Give me full sail. The salt spray beckons."

Hardy: "A couple of problems there too, sir. Health and safety won't let the crew up the rigging without hard hats. And they don't want anyone breathing in too much salt - haven't you seen the adverts?"

Nelson: "I've never heard such infamy. Break out the cannon and tell the men to stand by to engage the enemy."

Hardy: "The men are a bit worried about shooting at anyone, Admiral."

Nelson: "What? This is mutiny!"

Hardy: "It's not that, sir. It's just that they're afraid of being charged with murder if they actually kill anyone. There's a couple of legal-aid lawyers on board, watching everyone like hawks."

Nelson: "Then how are we to sink the Frenchies and the Spanish?"

Hardy: "Actually, sir, we're not."

Nelson: "We're not?"

Hardy: "No, sir. The French and the Spanish are our European partners now. According to the Common Fisheries Policy, we shouldn't even be in this stretch of water. We could get hit with a claim for
compensation."

Nelson: "But you must hate a Frenchman as you hate the devil."

Hardy: "I wouldn't let the ship's diversity co-ordinator hear you saying that sir. You'll be up on disciplinary report."

Nelson: "You must consider every man an enemy, who speaks ill of your King."

Hardy: "Not any more, sir. We must be inclusive in this multicultural age. Now put on your Kevlar vest; it's the rules. It could save your life"

Nelson: "Don't tell me - health and safety. Whatever happened to rum, sodomy and the lash?"

Hardy: As I explained, sir, rum is off the menu! And there's a ban on corporal punishment."

Nelson: "What about sodomy?"

Hardy: "I believe that is now legal, sir."

Nelson: "In that case............................... kiss me, Hardy."

Well off we headed to St. Albans this morning, leaving eldest behind because I allowed him to have a friend over, which meant of course taking youngest with us because I know full well he will not leave any of them alone otherwise.

Anyway after driving around the roadworks we finally managed to park the car in the Maltings and headed off to Jessops with the faulty camera.

Lovely man in there, gave him the customer number given to me by the other branch, he found the receipt on the computer straight away After looking at the tape we left in the camera, agreed there was something wrong with it and has sent it off to be mended. We will be without for at least 30 days (no problem don't use it that often) and so we are now all happy little bunnies for now, problem solved.

Walked around St Albans, popped into Pizza Hut for something to eat (bad idea it always upsets my stomach) and purchased two tops for me from BHS - a successful day out in my mind

Youngest was a pain though, he did not stop blabbing away all the time he was with us, does my head in sometimes especially when it is about gobblygook! We treated him to a Tshirt with Bart Simpson on it which says "Thanks to Television, I can't remember what happened 8 minutes ago!" sums him up perfectly!

So home now, no wild parties going on in my absence so now going to catch up with the posts while they are all upstairs playing on various electronic games equipment out of my hair for a little while .

See you later

July 2007

NICEIC man comes for his annual inspection. Hubby has to ferry him around from job to job and loses a days pay as well as having to put Diesel in his van.

Inspector fails him on something that has always been acceptable, that every electrician in the country does. a minor thing that will not cause any harm, then tells hubby as he leaves that he will need to do another inspection and hope that this helps him to make his mind up as to whether he stays NICEIC registered or not.

July 2007

An appointment comes through for reinspection, but we are going to be on holiday when it is made for. We have to cancel within 14 days which we duly do in writing.

Saturday

Come home from holiday, letter from NICEIC wanting over £300 for the fact he had failed first inspection. A few expletives later and hubby makes a decision, makes a few phonecalls to various people then calms down.

This morning

Two letters from NICEIC, one has the new date that he will be inspected (September) another has the fee for the re inspection over £250 as well as the £300 they want.

Stuff it he says, they can stick it up their .

He has decided to terminate his membership with them and try elsewhere.

Now here is the thing that really pees me off just slightly.

He has been in the trade for 20 years now, done all the exams, apprenticeship everything. He often goes on courses to keep up to date with all the latest recommendations and changes to the guidelines and building regs. He is good at his job and I am not saying that because he is my hubby, but his reputation for being quick, effective, honest (too honest for his own good) and doing good work precedes him. Currently for the firm he is working for, he is one of the highest paid electricians they have and they ask him to do jobs no one else will touch because they are too complicated or take time, because they know he can do them and quickly. He often goes into repair other peoples work and believe me there are a few cowboys out there.

He registered with the NICEIC as an approved contractor, when he was self employed, because he thought that having a name like that behind him was a good idea.

How wrong he was.

They charge and extortinate amount of money for very little support, in fact the NICEIC have leaflets which they will send out to people telling them how you can complain about an electrician rather than support you as one. If you phone for advice they rarely give it or they have no idea what you are on about. They do an annual inspection where they will go through everything and pick pieces in it if they can't find anything wrong, most of their inspectors are jobsworths. Half the time they have no idea what they are talking about and again offer little support. Every year he has a new inspector, there is never the same one for two years running. Their charges for their paperwork is extortinate as well. Last year the inspector wanted to fail him because he didn't change a fuse board. The woman concerned wanted a light changed and when hubby pointed out to the inspector that that was what he did he was told that he should have changed the fuse board as well. Hubby argued against this saying that you don't get called out to change a light fitting then tell the client they need their fuse board changed, but the inspector wouldn't have it. There was nothing wrong with the fuse board btw, it fitted in with current regulations. How would you feel if you asked an electrician to change a socket for you and you were told that he would have to change the fuse board as well? You would think you were being stitched up wouldn't you?

Part P came in - it was supposed to do away with the cowboys out there.Everything was going to be monitored tightly. To carry out a part P inspection you have to register as a competent person for which they charge you (the contractor) £1.50 for each piece of paperwork you fill in for each client. The inspector admitted that he could not inspect the electricians who were only part P registered and not full approved contractors because he didn't have time, there were too many.

Did you know that you can do a college course as an electrician, pass an exam, then join the Part P scheme after having very little experience? Here you are going to shout me down, but I tell you this is true. Yes it isn't supposed to happen but it does and I have met one or two of them. How does that stop the cowboys in the trade then? I could tell you a few horror stories he has come across yet no one is checking up on them.

There is a trade magazine hubby gets and each week there are a number of complaints about the NIC and how they treat the electricians. There are also a number of complaints about how easy it is to register on the part P scheme regardless of how much experience you have had with electrics. Oh and in case you think Part p is quite easy to follow, think again as thiswill show you it can be quite confusing, in fact there are building inspectors out there that haven't got a clue what it is all about!

There is a government registered scheme that he is now thinking of joining but it angers me that he is being treated this way, it isn't on especially when there are businesses out there where their electricians do some dreadful jobs yet they are not picked up on, why? because they make the NICEIC more money in the end that is why. Small business, single one man bands the NIC are not interested in ,you make no money out of them do you. The NICEIC is one of the most prominent registered schemes in the country and they really do try to be the only one. However they are not. There are others out there, which is probably why there are so many electricians leaving them in their droves!

Great I say, the bastards!!!

Hubby watching Aeon Flux.

-Thought you don't like this film, says I
- I don't, but its women in skimpy gear doing various acrobactics and getting into various positions he says.

Enough said.

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

Earlier conversation as he was flicking through the channel and Girls of the Playboy mansion comes on.

- Wonder what happens to the bimbos when he dies, he says

- His son inherits them, says I

- they are only after his money anyway, says he. They are so false.

- What the girls?

- no the boobs he says, before changing channels.

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

- Are we going to St Albans tomorrow says he

- yes says I

- Oh good, where do we park again?

there really isn't a sensible answer to that one well at least none that won't be offensive anyway.

And that dear reader has been the subject of conversation this evening. How exciting you say, not really says I.

Now i am going to log off, and go to bed before I may have to commit murder.

PMT has a lot to answer for.

See you tomorrow

Hubby is on the phone to his accountant.

He hasn't spoken to her for over a year.

He never makes contact with her at all she usually has to phone him.

it is usually me that chases everything up.

Several weeks ago he asked me to do something which meant phoning her, I said no.

I put my foot down.

I have enough to do I can't be bothered having to deal with everything else as well, so I said no.

Today threatening letter from tax man.

Today he phones his accountant.

At last result.

We don't actually owe them money for a change they actually owe us as we overpaid them one year, but in the way that goes round so slowly with the Inland Revenue, they take ages to sort this out yet still demand money from you.

a bit hard when you are now salaried and get tax deducted at source.

Then i find out the reason they are still asking is because the paperwork that he should have filled out he hasn't. He left it for me to do. Yeah like I can fill it out, like I know the answers to the questions on it.

Why the hell can't he do it himself as well as write the letter to the NICEIC that are trying to stitch him up big time bunch of uselss wasters who do nothing but pick on the small business man while the big companies get away with murder because they give them the most money

Not doing it, he can , I have better things to do.

An easy day.

Finished reading my book, though a historical romance the history side of it was interesting though slightly incorrect in parts but still it was a story and took me from reality for a while.

Went to Sainsburys (evil) to stock up on a few bits and bobs for dinner, met Simons friend and his mum, stood and chatted as you do - at least I now know where he got his 16th birthday party idea from (not going to happen).

Richard has been an angel by keeping out of my way.

Not happy about the weather still but can't do anything about it

So that was my day, not that much fun but relaxing anyway

how was yours?

Apparently, according to the email I have just received, a catalogue company thinks that this is the medieval look.

hmmm not what I class as medieval, don't think I will be buying

It is wet out there today.

So fed up with the weather, it is August and we have had nothing but rain with the odd day of sun if we were lucky enough to be anywhere where it decided to shine. Ok shouldn't complain, I am not flooded, I am not likely to flood, there are some people out there worse of than me, but honestly there are some days when I could just scream!!!

It is cold as well. Very tempted to put heating on, but won't, it is August afterall, but have no idea how I am ever going to get the washing dry.

And my mood is no better really. Well a bit brighter, not so down and decided enough is enough will try and sort myself out and get out of this rut I am in, but when the weather is the way it is, is it any wonder that looking through blogland so many of us are feeling down?

Hubby is working today. He is in fact officially still on holiday, but has decided to do a job for someone, which gets him out of my hair for a little while. As much as I love him there are times when he just gets in my hair, he fusses and I just want to be left alone. He is affectionate at times, wants a cuddle now and again, I just don't want to just leave me to read my book, look at my friends blogs or sew in peace. he has taken eldest with him, youngest is upstairs on the playstation, just hope he doesn't get bad tempered with it, my nerves are frayed.

Fortunately no dreams last night which is good, but still an unsettled sleep. It will get easier in time.

Decided if my eldest child is fortunate enough to have a partner/girlfriend/wife and they settle down to have children, being at the birth will probably not be a good idea. The sight of blood and pain makes him queasy and while I am all for men being at the birth of their child to be shouted at, hands squeezed and suffer as their other halves are in the process of pushing a melon through a needles eye, perhaps eldest should forgo this pleasure as he would be no good to anyone. Seeing his face as youngest hurt his hand the other day we really though he was going to faint. did tell him that it would probably be better if his future wife/girlfriend, had a c section as you don't see anything (unless you are like his father who had a good look to see what was happening and giving a running commentary), but that seemed to make him go a funny colour. I offered to show him my C section scar, which btw is bloody sore today and itching like mad despite the last one being nearly 9 years ago, he declined that offer which is just as well as by this time he was nearly green.

Honestly some of the conversations that come up over the dinner table is just mindblowing

Right I am signing off for now, given up tearing place apart for this receipt and think I have caught up with what has been happening in blogland while I was away!

However before I go, I just want to thank those 188 visitors who passed by for reading my blog on average 10.25 times today. It is most appreciated

Hugs and good night to you all.

Aren't they just the best ever!!!!

Yummy!!

Eldest son comes downstairs about five minutes ago.

"Grandma phoned earlier" he says.

"when?"

"About 12 ish"

Thanks for that bit late to phone her now says I.

There are times when I wonder where his brain is.

Hope it wasn't important.

A young couple wanted to join a church. The reverend told them, "We have special requirements for new parishioners. You must abstain from sex for one whole month." The couple agreed and after two-and-a-half weeks returned to the Church. When the Pastor ushers them into his office, the wife is crying and the husband obviously very depressed. You are back so soon... Is there a problem?" the Reverend inquired. "We are terribly ashamed to admit that we did not manage to abstain from sex for the required month..." the young man replied sadly. The Reverend asked him what happened. "Well, the first week was difficult.... However, we managed to abstain through sheer willpower. The second week was terrible, but with the use of prayer, we managed to abstain." "However, the third week was unbearable. We tried cold showers, prayer, reading from the Bible.... anything to keep our minds off carnal thoughts. One afternoon, my wife reached for a can of paint and dropped it. When she bent over to pick it up, I was overcome with lust and had my way with her right then and there," admitted the man, shamefacedly. "You understand this means you will not be welcome in our church," stated the Reverend. "We know.." said the young man, hanging his head.. "We're not welcome at Homebase either...

Ok I admit I was stupid

Bought camcorder for hubby as a Christmas present from Jessops in Town, which is now closing down.

Camcorder, when it plays back, keeps coming up with a mosaic picture.

Done the cleaning of the heads several times, even tried changing tapes but it still keeps happening.

So into Jessops we go where they advise up to take camera and receipt to the next branch that is not closing down.

Cannot find receipt.

I know I wouldn't have thrown it away - I have receipts that I have piled through going back to 2005!!!

Jessops did however give me a customer number but couldn't find any other details of my purchase.

Aha, thinks I , will look through my bank statements.

But as I trawled through them i realised I paid with cash because I didn't want Nig to see how much I had spent if he accidentally saw the bank statement!

There is the stupid bit - moral of story pay by bloody card next time!!!!!

Only hope if I flutter eyelashes at whoever serves me in jessops they will be kind

Today I am not quite sure how I feel.

Depressed yes and not my usual funny self at all.

Think seeing myself in a few photos and on tape hasn't helped, God I look so bloody huge, really depressed about all that.

Not sleeping isn't helping either.

Same dream for the past week about the same person, reaching out to me(?) or at least someone, crying in despair and I am watching, like I am not part of my body, just floating and looking on. Behind the person is a shadow, feels evil in fact everything feels bad about it all. As I try to reach out another person, someone I have seen before tells me no not now and I wake up sweating.

I feel that something is not right.

i feel at a loss

I feel bloody stupid, and no I haven't been at the cheese, reading thrillers or watching horror movies.

The person who tells me no has been in my dreams before, he says that to me everytime I see something that I shouldn't or like he is protecting me, I have no idea who it is, but he has been there before, except the dreams were pleasanter, not like this one. This one is bad. Same thing over and over again. Feel like something is going to happen just wish I knew what.

Hubby concerned, takes me to friends house earlier to cheer me up, did a bit but mainly him and her talking while I was lost in thought. we did discuss our trip next year though so that was good.

In other news hunting for a receipt going back to November of last year that I put in a safe place and can't remember where, so that we can get the camrecorder sorted out as it is still not working properly. Also got to try and find a receipt for my new camera as well though that is just so I can put it in a safe place with some other stuff for when we go to Florida next year, just read somewhere about being stopped by customs and having to pay VAT if you can't prove goods were bought over here before you went. Better to be safe than sorry I suppose

Right enough of this freak show, better get a move on and sort out this paperwork!

Two brooms were hanging in the closet and after a while they got to know each other so well, they decided to get married. One broom was, of course, the bride broom, the other the groom broom. The bride broom looked very beautiful in her white dress. The groom broom was handsome and suave in his tuxedo. The wedding was lovely. After the wedding, at the wedding dinner, the bride-broom leaned over and said to the groom-broom, "I think I am going to have a little dust broom!!!" "IMPOSSIBLE !!" said the groom broom. "WE HAVEN'T EVEN SWEPT TOGETHER!" Sounds to me like she's been "sweeping" around!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Handle every situation like a dog.

If you can't eat it or hump it.
Piss on it and walk away.

As we came away from Torrington, on the way back to Westward Ho! we happened to pass by this place http://www.gnomereserve.co.uk/. The gnome reserve is set amid rural countryside between Bideford and Bude just 7 miles from the Devon Cornwall border. The 4 acre Reserve comprises woodland, stream, 30 yard pond, meadow and garden - home to 1000+ gnomes and pixies, and about 250 labelled species of wild flowers, herbs, grasses and ferns.

Now both hubby and kids had begged me to go here and I have to say I didn't want to. I am not into gnomes at all, so was rather reluctant to visit, but turned the car around, like the good wife and mother I am, and headed to my destination.

Once there we had to put on these silly hats so that the "gnomes didn't get frightened" (and they say I am mad).

we walked round a garden full of different types of gnomes, some old and some new and did a quiz that was in the wildflower garden, counting how many fairies we saw, how many cuckoos, what the names of the plants were etc etc. Hubby insisted upon buying a gnome for his van, and I saw a couple of gift ideas which I may order from the website at a later date. I have to say it was better than I thought it would be though The kids loved it, even hubby did though he had a thoughtful moment in the garden

I can't leave without showing you a few piccies of the inhabitants

Situated in unspoilt countryside is the little town of Great Torrington which is an ancient settlement sited on an inland cliff top with steep drops down to the River Torridge below.

Great Torrington for years was valued for its strategic importance. The town had a significant role in the English Civil War, specifically, the Battle of Torrington in 1646 which marked the end of Royalist resistance in the West Country. Great Torrington today has become well recognised as an important heritage centre for the history of the 17th century. It is a vibrant community and people in the town, proud of their heritage, can often be seen dressed in costume for re-enactments, festivals and celebrations.

One quirk of the locals is to put straw men outside their houses. Some hang from upstair windows, others sit on the edge of the gardens leading to their houses, others are on rooftops. A wonderful sight to see.

Great Torrington also has an centre on Castle Hill known as Torrington 1646, where you will be shown round by various people dressed in period clothing and told the story of the Battle of Torrington, all about medicine of the times by a barber surgeon, the herbs and their uses and the clothing and armoury worn by the people of that day. You can also find out how to make rat stew by this man otherwise known as the barber surgeon, who demonstrated on my son how to remove a stone from the urinary tract Very interesting day out and well worth taking a visit as it is very informative and well worth the admission price. http://www.torrington-1646.co.uk/

Headed off towards the church of St Michael and All angels which was rebuilt after the battle in 1651 .

The local museum was interesting as it had the history of glove making in the area and a feature on the various fires in and around Torrington including one at Sydney House, which was home to children who were ill, suffering from tuberculosis or other childhood ailments. On the night of Thursday 19th February 1942, there were 59 children and 8 staff resident in Sydney House. At 19:35, just after lights out, a fire broke out in the linen room, on the top floor, where the dormitories for all the boys and the younger children were also situated. The fire spread very rapidly and quickly became uncontrollable. The house was abandoned but 5 boys were missing from the roll call. Firemen fought throughout the night in freezing conditions to try and find the boys, helped by many other courageous individuals. Three were brought out but could not be revived. The other two were found dead in the rubble the following morning. This tragic event is reflected by a commemorative stone on the site of the building and the creation of a new Secret Memorial Garden in the Castle hill grounds.

The museum is housed in the town hall and admission is free.

It began to rain as we left Barnstaple so we headed up the A39 towards Hartland Abbey. Very picturesque scenery we drove through and though some of the roads were very narrow it was a joy to drive to.

The Abbey lies about one mile from Hartland Quay and lies across a narrow, sheltered valley which winds its way to the spectacular Atlantic Coast. To the right is a splendid walk which takes you down to the Quay itself while to the left is a walled garden that is worth looking at if it is not raining, or at least if it is not torrential rain, as it can be quite slippery when wet

Hartland Abbey was built in 1157 and consecrated by Bishop Bartholomew of Exeter in 1160AD as a monastery of the regular canons of the Order of St Augustine of Hippo. The Abbey remained as a monastery until 1539 when it became the last monastery in the country to be Dissolved by Henry VIII. The King made a gift of the Abbey to the Sergeant of his Wine Cellar at Hampton Court, Mr. William Abbot.

In 1583 the first of three heiresses, Prudence Abbot, married Andrew Luttrell of Dunster Castle in Somerset and the Abbey remained in that family for some 100 years. In 1704, the second heiress, Mary Luttrell married Paul Orchard. The Orchards were to remain at the Abbey through the 18th century until the third heiress, Anne Orchard, married George Buck and moved into the Abbey on the death of her brother in 1812.

The great grandfather of the present owner, Sir Hugh Stucley , who was also called George Buck changed his name to Stucley (being a much older family name) when he was created a Baronet for political services to North Devon, in 1859. The Abbey continues to be the lived in home of the Stucley family.

There is plenty to see including the donkeys that are very friendly, the Black Welsh sheep and the many peacocks that are in residence very amicably in the deer garden

The Abbey contains many pictures, porcelain and furniture which have been accumulated over many generations and is well worth a visit if only to look and admire the many paintings that are on display.

After leaving here we popped into Cheristow lavender farm, one of my favourite plants, and after looking around managed to buy a few pots of muscle rub for our tired and aching limbs

http://www.cheristow.co.uk/

A bustling market town, which we would have overlooked had it not been for the fact that we desperately needed to visit an Abbey National for some funds and the one and only library we came across told us the nearest branch was either in Barnstaple or Swansea!!! I cannot believe that they think Swansea is nearer than Exeter, but there you go So we headed into Barnstaple, found a parking space and walked along the River Taw into the town, which is home to a pannier market (well worth a visit), Green Lanes shopping mall which is home to a variety of well known shops, Butchers row (no prizes for guessing what is sold here), a huge leisure centre, as well as other places that you can visit or shop at. It also has a small out of town shopping area as well. Despite its popularity as a main shopping area for North Devon and for its tourists attractions, it remains reasonably unspoilt and we all agreed that if we lived locally then we definitely would be going there to buy our fresh fruit, bread and meat from the small shops/market it housed rather than from the bigger supermarkets.

From Coombe Martin, we headed towards Ilfracombe.

I had been there once before, many years ago and felt I needed to put some ghosts to rest so to speak as I don't have many happy memories of the place at all. However things were not as bad as i feared.

Ilfracombe, for those who do not know, is a small seaside town that is surrounded by cliffs and yes another town that is on a hill!! (can you tell my legs hurt by this time ) It was the first seaside resort to be developed in North Devon and by the early 19th century it had a road, and rail network to transport significant numbers of visitors to and from its town and beaches.

The scenery is spectacular and a must see attraction is 'The Tunnels' Which were carved out in 1823 by Welsh Miners to allow easy access to Crewekhorn Cove where there were two tidal bathing pools, one for the women and one for the men.

The museum is well worth a visit as well, full of interesting facts about the surrounding area and its history and yes I did lay my ghosts to rest

Didn't get to see much of this little seaside resort mainly because parking is at a premium with all the car parks full to overflowing. However we did make it to the Wildlife and Dinosaur part for the enthusiasts in the family.

A little disappointed in this though as there wasn't an awful lot to see in the way of fake dinosaurs, what they did have were a few models that moved occasionally but only every hour on the hour and as eldest said, he has seen better. Not sure what he was expecting, but he is the 'expert' amongst us!

There is a Dinosaur museum on site though that was well laid out and gave the history of the Dinosaur (like I haven't seen it several times already) as well as a collection of Dinosaur eggs (very Jurassic park!).

The wildlife park is home to a variety of animals though some had managed to escape and were annoying some of the inhabitants!

All Saints Church Clovelly

All Saints' Church, restored in 1866, is late Norman, containing several monuments to the Cary family, lords of the manor for 600 years. There are references to the Hamlyn family as well, the grave of Christine Hamlyn lies here as well as the father of Charles Kinsley, the Reverend Charles Kingsley served first as Senior Curate then as Rector here.

This font that stands in the church is over 1000 years old.

And an inscription on a headstone, though unfortunately we only managed to decipher some of it.

"All you hath here do pass this way, behold three children here do lay, who lived in love, all died in peace ..............."

Beautiful fishing village that is built on a steep hill in Devon, with whitewashed houses clinging to the hillside and cobbled streets leading down to a most ancient and beautiful harbour, the sea and of course, most importantly, the Red Lion Pub so you can quench your thirst once you have walked down those narrow streets. The village has ancestry going back to the Doomsday book and beyond.

Clovelly is traffic free and the main street, known very simply as 'up-a-long' and 'down-a-long', tumbles its cobbled way down 400ft of solid rock to the tiny harbour and lifeboat station, and local hostelry which are protected by an ancient stone breakwater. One of the passageways contains a small church,St. Peter's Chapel, opened in 1846, for those people who could not walk up the steep cobbles to attend the local church. There is also a small Methodist chapel which is situated next to the New Inn Bar, not quite sure what John Wesley would have thought of this

Clovelly owes its present preservation to one Christine Hamlyn who dedicated herself to the restoration of the cottages and the shops in the village. Here you will find various styles from her travels around the world, the swiss looking architecture, the fruit on the door of a cottage, all with her initials carved into the houses with the date of their restoration. The Clovelly Estate Company, which owns all of the buildings in the village and a few thousand acres around it, take responsibility for all the maintenance and is thus able to ensure that the results are a unique village, standing still in the midst of the 19th century in terms of its buildings and streets (and its donkeys, which were used to ferry goods around) but with a community of the 21st century.

Clovelly was also the childhood home of the Victorian author and social reformer, Charles Kingsley and the place which inspired him to write his enduring children's classic, ‘The Water Babies’. 'The Three Fishers' which he wrote in 1851, is a stark reminder of the harsh realities faced by fishing families.

"Three fishers went sailing away to the West,
Away to the West as the sun went down;
.....Three wives sat up in the lighthouse tower,
And they trimmed the lamps as the sun went down;
They looked at the squall, and they looked at the shower,
And the night-rack came rolling up ragged and brown........
Three corpses lay out on the shining sands,
In the morning gleam as the tide went down,
And the women are weeping and wringing their hands
For those who will never come home to town."

Visitors, who venture all the way down to the pebbled beach at the foot of the village, are rewarded not only with stunning views across the estuary, but also the sight of a lovely waterfall emanating out of the cliff face, trickling down to the sea. There is a cave behind the waterfall where legend has it that Merlin was born.

The Quay is made from The drystone which was started in the 13th Century, extended in the 16th Century and lengthened again in 1826. The four cannon barrels used as bollards on the quay are said to come from Spanish ships from the Armada.
In the past centuries, this coastline was rife with smuggling, wrecking and piracy and was notorious for shipwrecks. More recently it is used for boat regattas which we were lucky enough to watch when we went there.

Since 1870, Clovelly has had its own lifeboat to help protect those in peril on the sea. The bay is sheltered from westerly winds and even today ships will wait in Clovelly Roads for storms to pass.

On the other side of the harbour, there is an old lime kiln once used for turning limestone into lime to spread on the fields and reduce soil acidity.

A good day out, not recommended if it is wet though as the cobbles can be quite slippery. There is a visitors centre which you have to go through first, which houses a cafe and souvenir shops so that the village remains uncommercialised. There is an entrance fee payable to the village that covers not only admission to the audio-visual programme and two museums but also for parking. A substantial part of the fee contributes to the ongoing maintenance programme at Clovelly which, by ensuring that slate is replaced with slate, and oak with oak, the village retains its original charm and magic.

Picked the dogs up this morning, both have been bathed which is nice, by the kennel owners as apparently they both decided getting covered in mud was a good idea!

Came home, spoke to mum on the phone when I heard youngest scream. He came downstairs crying and holding his hand. Nigel looked at it and decided that he needed to go to the hospital so that was my morning gone, spending it at the hospital!!

Apparently he was playing Tomb Raider and got annoyed with it, threw down the handset in frustration but must have hit his hand against the wooden surround, heard his thumb click and it hurt (as it would). By the time we got to the hospital the area around his thumb and hand was 3 times the size it should have been and he couldn't move it. After having it examined and xrayed, it is only a sprain and not a fracture fortunately, but you can't be too careful with kids can you? He did manage to throw up all over the reception area and apparently over the poor woman who was taking the x ray (as you do) which was slightly embarassing, but one thing I can guarantee with my children is that will happen if they are in pain and I did warn the people concerned

So he is home now, cold compress on, and milking it for all it is worth. we finally managed to eat breakfast, bacon rolls, and don't think I will cook the roast I was planning, too much hassle now

Hope your Sunday is a little less exciting

A stranger was seated next to a little girl on an airplane when the stranger turned to her and said,

"Let's talk. I've heard that flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger."

The little girl, who had just opened her book, closed it slowly and said to the stranger,

"What would you like to talk about?"
"Oh, I don't know", said the stranger,
"How about nuclear power?"
"OK," she said.

"That could be an interesting topic. But let me ask you a question first.

A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat grass, the same stuff.
Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, and a horse produces clumps of dried grass.
Why do you suppose that is?"

The stranger thinks about it and says, "Wow, I have no idea."
To which the little girl replies,

"Do you really feel qualified to discuss nuclear power when you don't know $hit?"

How very true! A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them. After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?" "This is Heaven, sir," the man answered. "Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked. "Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up." The man gestured, and the gate began to open. "Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the traveler asked. "I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets." The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog. After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book. "Excuse me!" he called to the man. "Do you have any water?" "Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in." "How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog. "There should be a bowl by the pump." They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog. When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree. "What do you call this place?" the traveler asked. "This is Heaven," he answered. "Well, that's confusing," the traveler said. "The man down the road said that was Heaven, too." "Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell." "Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?" "No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind." Soooo. A lesson for us. What do your friends mean to you? Sometimes, we wonder why friends keep forwarding jokes to us without writing a word. Maybe this will explain. When you are very busy, but still want to keep in touch, guess what you do? You forward jokes. When you have nothing to say, but still want to keep contact, you forward jokes. When you have something to say, but don't know what, and don't know how, you forward jokes. Also to let you know that you are still remembered, you are still important, you are still loved, you are still cared for, guess what you get? A forwarded joke. So, next time if you get a joke, don't think that you've been sent just another forwarded joke, but that you've been thought of today and your friend on the other end of your computer wanted to send you a smile. You are all welcome @ my water bowl anytime.

Arrived home safe and sound from holiday which was great!

We had the typical English weather, showers one minute, or sun the next if we were lucky. It was fun, we did lots, but will catch you up with that later when I have managed to have a good nights sleep, something that I lacked last night lol!!

Accomodation wasn't too good. Would never recommend Braddicks holiday centre in Westward Ho! even those that were camping complained of the showers in the shower block and yes I am quite fussy, but I don't expect to come across cobwebs and dirty baths in the chalets or rental accomodation! complaints feel on deaf ears. However the booked entertainment was quite reasonable though the two people who tried their hardest to entertain before the booked entertainment really needed a personality transplant. The guide tells us that there is a variety of entertainment done by them, yet it only constituted of 5 games of bingo, followed by another game, then the children's disco, another game of bingo, one quiz another game of bingo before the entertainment, Oh and wait for it, after the booked entertainment, yes you guessed it, another game of bingo whopppeeeeee!! Enough to drive you insane

Luckily we managed to get out everyday and do some sightseeing, which is good, even managing to go to the beach on one of those days!!

Right enough moaning and groaning, on the whole it was a good holiday but only because we made it so

so unpacking to do, quick catch up on what I have missed, look at the photos I took and stick some washing on for now lol!

Hugs to all

Put this in, take that out, where did I put my trainers, where are your wet shoes, for heavens sake, where are your swimming trunks, why haven't you put your pants in yet? Why are you taking that.

WILL YOU GO AWAY you could hear me shout as I am trying to pack, tidy, organise and not getting very far with it all.

Twisted back, not a good move and am in a lot of pain - where is everyone else, watching bloody telly!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you alright I hear,

No I have hurt my back I reply, but does anyone come and help - no!

Why because the youngest is driving me crazy and if he asks me one more time if he can take something I will scream!!!

Packing done now all bying the last bits and pieces that will be used before we leave.

Must remember to take bedding.

See you in a weeks time

hugs

xxx

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?

Oh my god I am so fat - same thing I think of everyday

2. Favourite planet?

My world

3. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?

Hubby most probably he usually complains I don't answer his calls

4. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone?

Well it is set to "Everything is Average nowadays" by Kaiser Chiefs

5. Do you “label” yourself?

No others do that for me

6. What does your watch look like?

black strap, beige dial, gold roman numerals (its a Lorus)

7. What were you doing at midnight last night?

Sleeping

8. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?

Do we have Dragonforce and Trivinium CDs mum!

9. What's a word or phrase that you say a lot?

Heck

10. Last furry thing you touched?

My dog

11. Favorite age you have been so far?

24 which is when I married hubby

12. Your worst enemy?

Myself probably

13. What is your current desktop picture?

Aberystwyth, same piccie as on the top of my blog

14. What was the last thing you said to someone?

I said they were outside for the umpteenth time, why don't you ever listen!!!

15. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be?

Money, why would I want to fly?

16. Are you in love with someone?

Yes hubby

17. The last song you listened to?

Everlong by Foo Fighters

18. What time of day were you born?

Apparently 12.05 dinnertime

19. What's your favorite food?

Lasagne

20. Where did you live in 1984?

Edgware

21. Are you jealous of anyone?

NO!

22. Is anyone jealous of you?

Can't think why they should be

23. Where were you when 9/11 happened?

At work

24. Do you consider yourself kind?

Yes

25. If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be?

Somewhere you couldn't see it

26. If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be?

Spanish

27. Would you move for the person you loved?

Yes

28. What's your life motto?

You only live once, go out there and enjoy it

29. What's your favorite town/city?

Don't have one at the moment still finding it

30. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?

About a year abo

31. Can you change the oil on a car?

Yes

32. Your first love: what is the last thing you heard about him/her?

He is going to be a Dad

33. Do you collect anything?

Beatrix potter figurines

34. The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear and why did you dress fancy?

Pink dress with matching bolero jacket and pink high heels for a wedding

35. Have you been burned by love?

No

Lots of packing to do today. Haven't made my list yet and I love making lists. In fact I never pack unless I have a list of things that i have to take, one of my most endearing features, though Nig doesn't think so. He just picks up a pile of clothes and puts them in the case without thought of what the weather will be like, what should he take, what he will wear if it rains etc etc.

Hmm better look up weather forecast. Ah yes all three in my browser say something different. One has rain for every day, one has rain for half the week the other says sun.

Hmmm better pack for all eventualities then

Just put some music onto cd so that I can put it onto tape for the car (really must get a cd player for the car), have to transfer some money over, clean downstairs, take dogs to the kennels, get Richards hair cut ..............

Sometimes I wonder if there will ever be enough hours in a day! ah well better get a move on, things will not get done if I sit here all day will it lol!

Have a good day

Just wondering if any one out there can give a little advice.

Had an email from my mum earlier.

I am trying to compose a letter to the council, the shared pathway has been dug up and replaced by concrete, which is an absolute eyesore. I was not consulted about this nor was I informed that the work was to be carired out. As the Watling Estate is now a designated conservation area I am surprised that the Local Authority has sanctioned maintenance with inappropriate materials. Do you know of a legal eagle that can advise?

She owns her own house but has a shared pathway with the council tenant next door. The pathway originally was tarmaced. Anyone have any idea if she has any recourse on this or not please?

Many thanks xx

The other day I mentioned that hubby said I had too many bras. "you can't possibly need all of these" He said as he was trying to fit them into a drawer that was just bursting at the seams. He seemed to accept that you needed a bra for each outfit and occasion and left it at that.

After a major sort out today I have to say, I think he may be right. It galls me to admit this and I have had to sort out all the drawers so that even after throwing a few out, I can fit them all in.

However I defend my absolute right to have as many shoes as I have bras, after all you need a pair of shoes for each outfit, you need a pair of shoes to suit every occasion. So what that he gets by with one pair of shoes and a pair of trainers. Excellent for him I say. But I cannot do that, no I can't, there is no way you can convince me otherwise even if i only ever wear the same two pairs (though not at the same time of course that would be silly)

Before the PC brigade jump down my throat this came from an AUSTRALIAN FRIEND!

An Australian Love Poem Who said Australians weren't romantic?

Of course I love ya darlin
You're a bloody top-notch bird
And when I say you're gorgeous
I mean every single word
So ya bum is on the big side
I don't mind a bit of flab
It means that when I'm ready
There's somethin there to grab
So your belly isn't flat no more
I tell ya, I don't care
So long as when I cuddle ya
I can get my arms round there
No sheila who is your age
Has nice round perky breasts
They just gave in to gravity
But I know ya did ya best
I'm tellin' ya the truth now
I never tell ya lies
I think its very sexy
That you've got dimples on ya thighs
I swear on me nanna's grave now
The moment that we met
I thought you was as good as
I was ever gonna get
No matter what u look like
I'll always love ya dear

Now shut up while the footy's on
And fetch another beer.

One for eh PC brigade

DEAR DIARY,

Last year I replaced all the windows in my house with those expensive
double pane energy-efficient kind. Then, this week I got a call from the
contractor who installed them. He was complaining that the work had been
completed a whole year ago and I still hadn't paid for them.

Now, just because I'm blonde, doesn't mean that I am automatically
stupid. So, I told him just what his fast talking sales guy had told me
last year.. Namely, that in ONE YEAR these windows would pay for
themselves!

Hellooooo.? It's been a year.!

There was only silence at the other end of the line, so I finally just
hung up. He didn't call back. Bet he felt dumb..!

The sun is shining again, though didn't manage to watch the sun rise. I did however, from the cocoon of my bed, listen to the dawn chorus. why is there always one bird louder than the rest!

Simon is off to town today to meet with friends and have a day out. His dad paid him some wages for the work he has done and left it to me to read the riot act - yes I have to go through the routine of do's and don'ts even though he is 15 and quite sensible I can't let him go out without doing this routine!

Richard is definately getting his hair cut today. It looks like he has had his hand in an electric socket, it sticks up all over the place and drives me mental!

Nigel is working and my plan after dropping Simon off, is to pick a few things up in town and then come home and clean the house - cant' go away if the house is untidy, it has to be tidy so today is a good day to do that, though it may be hot Richard will be a friends so I will be able to get on.

Back is hurting a little today, think standing all that time and ironing didn't help much at all. Ah well, hopefully once I have been over my fit ball that will stretch it out a little.

Right enough of this mundane news, now I have bored you all to tears, I am going to catch up with the overnight news

Have a good day

Finally finished the ironing.

Sat and watched The Castle, typical Australian film, lots of narration with funny bits.

Also sat and watched a very yound Jude Law in 'He loves me, loves me not' was just getting into it when the tape stopped about 3/4 of the way through - damm snooker that year overran!

so quite a few vids I managed to get through while ironing. Good thing is I have no ironing and no washing to do Yippeeee! Bad news is all that ironing of mine I did will not fit in my wardrobe! So looks like I will have to have a sort out now as if I haven't got enough to do.

Hubby complaining about the amount of bras I have, won't fit in the drawer. You can't have too many bras in my opinion, you need the standard white and black ones, then the odd coloured ones to go under outfits, the ones that give more of an uplift, the ones that are strapless and the ones that are multiway, afterall we don't have just one outfit do we girls lol!

So big sort out tomorrow by the looks of it, plus a good clean and to take my son into town as well, too much to do and so little time

Going to have a lie down now.

As I sat outside eating my lunch today

I decided the other day to have a sort out of our video cabinet, which was getting over crowded and cluttered.

you know those videos. The ones that you used to tape a programme or film on that you were going to miss, but never got round to watching, before we had the ability to record on set top boxes via sky etc (which I still cannot do). Some had lables on, others didn't which when I went through to see what was on them required me to be quite quick on the old stop button as they were of a sensitive nature and obviously belonged to Nigel check to see if they are worth keeping :ahem:

Anyway today whilst doing the ironing thought that I would watch the ones that I had taped films on that I hadn't got round to seeing, only to find that one of the films I had taped was aired on telly in 1996! How do I know? Weight watchers advert on with the promotion that was ending on 1/8/96! OMG. Now that is bad.

Note to self, if you must tape things from the telly watch them!!!

So so far I have watched a very old episode of ER, an old episode of Chigaco hope, and a film called Dead men don't die with Elliot Gould in it, which was quite funny if only because you kept seeing the boom microphones appear in it all the time!! Other than that it wasn't all that funny really and I have no idea why, back in 1996 I thought I would like to watch it. Perhaps it was to go with Nigels collection who knows lol

Ah well found another one, may as well get on with the ironing

Slept well last night, in fact slept too well as I woke up tired instead of refreshed. I remember Nig getting up at one point to let the dog out but I must have gone back to sleep again as I don't remember him coming back to bed, though he was there when I woke up!

I have just sat in the conservatory, sipping my first cuppa of the day watching the squirrels trying to get at the bird seed. The wood pigeons arrived along with the Jay and scared them off, or rather, decided they were not going to allow the squirrels have their seeds. The Jay is a beautiful bird, wish my camera was to hand to take a picture of it. The woodpecker was around yesterday as well, came down to inspect what was on the table before he found a tree to hammer at!

We get a lot of blue tits and great tits in the garden as well as well as the thrushes and sparrows. Sometimes you can hear the thrushes hit the shells of the snails against the concrete! In the morning the garden is a hive of activity and lovely to see, though there seems to be fewer birds this year than last though we now have three robins instead of two

Found a cat had bravely attempted to walk into the garden yesterday - must warn its owners about the dogs. They are new in the area, and while the dogs cannot touch the cats that come into the front garden, the same does not apply if the cat wanders into the back, it is their territory and neither dog is keen on cats, which is why our back garden is normally cat free, they know the dogs live here, they know they attack so they give the garden a wide berth. You get the odd stray who feels brave enough to give it a go, but they soon realise why none of the others come in. The back door remains open throughout the summer when we are at home, and the dogs tend to sun themselves on the patio, Even the squirrels take their lives in their hands so to speak, though the dogs seem to be more tolerant about them being in their garden, so cats beware!!

Have a good day

I am signing off for this evening. Feeling a bit bleurgh. Lot has been happening and I still have a lot to do. But I will leave you with this. We all moan about what happens in life, in our own life and in others. We sit and watch our friends on here suffer. We offer support when it is needed. We share laughs and tears with each other. Today after moaning about life in general as you do when you are with friends, I heard something that was heartbreaking, about a friend of a friend. In fact it put my petty problems in perspective for a while. We all have problems, they are out problems. Some are trivial, some are major. Some we get through without help, some we need help to see the light at the end of the tunnel. but no matter what there is someone worse of than the next person. Thank you for being here when I needed you. thank you for being my friend. Hugs xx

Bruce and Jenny...

Little Bruce and Jenny are only 10 years old, but
they just know that they
are in love. One day they decide that they want to
get married, so Bruce
goes to Jenny's father to ask him for her hand.
Bruce bravely walks
up to him and says "Mr. Smith, me and Jenny are in
love and I want to ask
you for her hand in marriage."
Thinking that this was just the cutest thing, Mr.
Smith replies, "Well
Bruce, you are only 10. Where will you two live?"
Without even taking a moment to think about it,
Bruce replies "In Jenny's
room. It's bigger than mine and we can both fit
there nicely."
Still thinking this is just adorable, Mr. Smith says
with a huge grin, "Okay
then how will you live? You're not old enough to get
a job. You'll need to
support Jenny."
Again, Bruce instantly replies, "Our allowance..
Jenny makes 5 bucks a week
and I make 10 bucks a week. That's about 60 bucks a
month and that should do
us just fine."
By this time Mr. Smith is a little shocked that
Bruce has put so much
thought into this. He thinks for a moment trying to
come up with something
that Bruce won't have an answer to. After a second,
Mr. Smith says, "Well
Bruce, it seems like you have got everything all
figured out. I just have
one more question for you. What will you do if the
two of you should have
little ones of your own?"

Bruce just shrugs his shoulders and says "Well,
we've been lucky so far..."

Mr. Smith doesn't think the little shit is adorable
anymore

so i changed my profile photo, wanted something different. Something that would appeal to all. something that was different

Tried a couple out.

But then found when answering comments I didn't recognise me.

So gone back to my original profile piccy.

Maybe one day I will try again

Hope everything is ok hun.

Thinking of you, hope it isn't too bad.

Hugs xx

Hope you have a great day hun!

Hugs xx

Woke up panicing, then realised I couldn't see as my eyelids were stuck with gunk. Soaked them and the itchiness started, though I have been good and resisted, but they are so bloody sore and wish they would stop watering!

Nose is running as well and back of throat and ears are itching like mad. Although I have suffered from hay fever for years I have never had it this bad and I don't like it.

I have a lot to do, on top of which I am going for lunch to a friends house to see another mutual friend I haven't seen for a while. Feel guilty about this, she has MS and i have had reports that things have got really bad for her recently, so feeling guilty that it has been a while since I have seen her. Still should be a good afternoon.

Simon has gone to work with his dad again, hoping to get some pocket money for his day out on Thursday. Something which caused a bit of a disagreement - hubby wants to pay him £50 for the work he has done this week plus give him spending money for his holiday next week. the £50 is for him to spend on Thursday when he is out with friends. I said no, it is too much for him to have on him as he walks around town, but hubby seems to think it will be fine. Not happy with this at all, told Si that he isn't to take all of it to town with him, that is not a good idea at all, but I am only mum, what do I know? There are times when I really worry about him, he is only 15 afterall and yes I know that he has to learn, but it isn't as though he needs anything apart from pay for the pictures and get something to eat!!

Right enough of this nonsense, need to go and get showered and dressed and stick some washing on.

See you later

Here.

Don't go hun, we all love you here.

hugs xxx

"Mozarella is better than internet explorer!" says son.

And he is supposed to be gifted and talented!!!

Is what I wanted to say to the pharmacist in Boots, afterall he was quite dishy, but instead I stood there and just said "my eyes are sore".

Driving into town was painful. The light hitting my eyes made them run, tears streaming down my face causing my son to ask why I was crying, except I wasn't. By the time I actually reached town, parked the car and stood in the queue at the bank (again), both eyes were beginning to hurt and were watery. by the time I made it to Boots to get a few bits and pieces I decided I needed to do something. rubbing was making it worse, yet my eyes felt gritty as though something was in them, they were streaming, and very very itchy.

He looked at me, asked when I last wore contacts (Friday before last), if I had hayfever or was suffering from a cold. THat is when it hit me. Yes yesterday I was complaining of hayfever, yet once I had taken my tablets and nasal spry I felt fine. I had sat under the gazebo sewing all day without side effects and thought that I felt something go in my eye at one point. Yesterday evening in one eye it was beginning to hurt, yet I couldn't find anything in it - what if it was pollen? I know two doors down they were mowing their lawn and the birds were in the garden a lot, could it have been?

He advised I bathe them in salt water, and to see the doctor if they don't get any better. He has also given me some eye drops as well to use, anti allergen one saying it should help ease it a bit, which it has.

Son comes home with his dad, first thing he says is "Your eyes are red mum have you been crying?"

Bless

Something flew into my eye yesterday. I thought I had got it out, but my eye is really sore this morning and I have a lot of gunk coming out of it. May have scratched my eyeball, then again it could also be hayfever, regardless it is irritating, it is running and sticky as well

Simon has gone to work with his father this morning. I have to go to town and stand in a queue at the bank again, and I have a lot of ironing to do, which now it is cooler I may get on with, though may do my exercises before I do anything first.

I was asked yesterday by Somebloke who my top blogs were. A difficult one this to answer as I have so many that I visit. I always try to reply to all posts and and visit all my friends when they do post. I try to reply to comments as well. So I couldn't really say who are my favourites because everyone has different qualities, some I can relate to , others make me laugh. My 'friends' list is made up of a mixture of people that entertain me with their writings. So to pick out my top blogs would be difficult because they are all top for different reasons.

Right enough rambling. Have some exercise to do better get on with it

Have a good day

Hubby is home. he took youngest on his bike but lost his temper as he still can't ride it and keeps making excuses rather than listen to his dad.

He is now upstairs playing with Lara Croft, Simon in his room texting a friend and I have just come in to get some new batteries for my mp3 player.

The thing about stitching in the sun, when it is quiet with only some good music blaring in your ears is that it gives you time to think and reflect. Most of the songs on my MP3 player mean something to me, some remind of times when I was younger, of a person who means a lot to me, some help me see things clearly, some remind me of how much I love my husband and children. some of course are on there because I happen to like them, nothing more, the way the tune comes together, the guitar playing, the keyboard harmonising, the singer being soulful or full of life, the ones that bring a smile to my face.

In a melancholy mood as I have been reflecting on things past and how different things are now. They are better certainly, but one thing I am convinced of sometimes you need to go through the bad to appreciate the good, to appreciate what you have and how happy it makes you feel.

Of course I have to admit I am lucky, I have a wonderful and supportive husband, my soulmate in every way, who means so much and my children who despite their ups and downs I would do anything for.

And here is one song that means a lot to me, Nigel this is for you

Ok can't find the shorts with the stretchy waistband and the other ones don't fit!

Where did this weight come from?

Panic, only 12 months to get back into shorts eeekkk!!!

Woke up this morning unable to breathe through my nose, a sure sign that the pollen is high and that I have hay fever. Itching throat, blocked sinuses and eyes that are slightly swollen.

Hobble downstairs, let out the dogs and take my tablets, make a cuppa (that first one of the day is sheer bliss) and go back to bed.

By now hubby is up and dressed so I can stretch out, move all the pillows around into a comfortable position and go back to sleep.

Bliss

Nig has taken Simon swimming training and then they are off to work, so just me and little'un today. Just had my second cuppa and about to take a third out into the garden with me to sit in the sun and do some stitching. Such a lovely day out there seems a shame to waste it

Have a good day

Think it may be a humid night.

I am soooo hot

Can't leave the windows open though as we have a plague of moths at the moment. we have evicted one or two but they seem to keep coming back!
Not complaining though

laying in the sun (well under the gazebo) in a short skirt and skimpy vest (not that good a sight I assure you), eyes closed, mp3 playing great music into my ears and the wind blowing gently on my skin.

bliss

Until your husband decides it would be fun to lean over and attempt to be romantic by blowing on you then it isn't so good I mean there is a time and place for that sort of thing and it isn't in the garden where the neighbours can see.

There is a smell of food cooking. Someone somewhere is having a barbecue and by the noise has invited a friend or two to join them. son asks silly question of the year "when making a cheese and pickle sandwich can you use grated cheese?"

Youngest is out playing with friends for a little while, the dogs have been fed and are catching the last rays of the day.

Going to have a glass of wine and change a few tunes on the MP3 player

On comment 9999 who will be comment 10000!

No prizes

Two 90 year old men, Mike and Joe, have been friends all of their lives.

When it's clear that Joe is dying, Mike visits him every day.
One day Mike says, "Joe, we both loved footy all our lives, and we played footy
on Saturdays together for so many years. Please do me one favour,
when you get to Heaven, somehow you must let me know if there's footy
there."

Joe looks up at Mike from his death bed," Mike, you've been my best
friend for many years. If it's at all possible, I'll do this favour for you.

Shortly after that, Joe passes on.

At midnight a couple of nights later, Mike is awakened from a sound
sleep by a blinding flash of white light and a voice calling out to him,

"Mike--Mike."

"Who is it? asks Mike sitting up suddenly. "Who is it?"

"Mike--it's me, Joe."

"You're not Joe. Joe just died."

"I'm telling you, it's me, Joe," insists the voice."

"Joe! Where are you?"

"In heaven", replies Joe. "I have some really good news and a little bad news."

"Tell me the good news first," says Mike.

"The good news," Joe says," is that there's footy in heaven.
Better yet, all of our old friends who died before us are here, too.
Better than that, we're all young again. Better still, it's always spring time and
it never rains or snows.
And best of all, we can play footy all we want, and we never get tired."

"That's fantastic," says Mike. "It's beyond my wildest dreams!
So what's the bad news?

"You're in the team for Saturday."

Standing in the building society/bank, which is now part of a financial institution that operates in Spain, waiting to pay some money into my account, I remarked to my hubby busy it has become since another building society (woolwich)over the road has closed down. He said he was thinking the same, but I also said how disappointed I was becoming that we had to queue for far too long to do a simple transaction.

Now don't get me wrong, queuing is part of our culture, us brits tend to do it well, but tell me why when there are 5 service points, only two are open on a Saturday?

Why is there no one around to deal with queries so you wait longer while the stressed person behind the counter is dealing with another query that could have been dealt with elsewhere?

Why on earth do cashiers decide to sit at the counter and work if they have no intention of serving anyone?

And why oh why did it seem necessary to send someone on a tea break and not put any one else in her place when the queue is at the door?

On top of all this, for weeks now, the three cash machines inside have not worked properly. One tells hubby that he has withdrawn his full limit for today - he hasn't drawn anything out at all. One will not take cash deposits, it lets you go through all the screens before it tells you this and the third doesn't tell you how much is in your account.

35 mins of waiting in a queue before I was served. I told the woman behind the desk (again) how appalled I was with the service, she smiled and said they were short staffed. All I can say is they must be dreadful to work for then because they have been short staffed for weeks now yet there have not been any adverts for them in the local paper. Maybe they have been suffering from a lot of cutbacks as so many are nowadays but it doesn't help when you have to transfer from one account to the other.

Oh how I wish they would let me do that over the internet! Alas we cannot do that they will not let us link hubby's business account to our joint account, so it is the weekly trudge into town just to transfer the housekeeping money each week - and stand in a long queue to do so.

On a slightly happier note, a woman was in front of me in the queue. A buxom lass who obviously accentuated this with a wonderbra as the breasts wobbled like jelly under her chin each time she moved. He top cut low and tight, had to smile as you watched all the men take regular looks at her surreptitiously. There weren't many of them complaining about how long they had to wait, my own husband included, as they stood and admired from their point in the queue

A friend of ours collected the car yesterday to have a look at it this morning. this was sparked by me panicing as it was making a funny noise in Suffolk last week, though it didn't make it either on the way there or home, only as we went to and from the beach. It has only made the noise once since and that was going over a few road humps where Nig heard the noise as well so thought we had better get it checked out, which our friend did.

nothing to worry about, he had all the wheels off and checked it out, and as uaual can find nothing wrong with it, so he has just done a full service in preparationg for our holiday to Devon (bless him).

So off to town we went to look at the photos we had done a couple of weeks ago, and parted with more hard earned cash, buying various sets of them. They have come out well, though I am not too keen on any of the ones that I am in I have to admit

It is quite hot out there. I am not complaining though it is about time we had some sun, just hope that it stays for our holiday and doesn't disappear. Will go out in a minute and soak up some rays and do some stitching. for now though I need a well earned cup of tea and a biscuit

Especially for AJ

1:
I am currently out at a job interview and will reply to you if I fail to get the position.

2:
I'm not really out of the office. I'm just ignoring you.

3:
You are receiving this automatic notification because I am out of the office. If I was in, chances are you wouldn't have received anything at all.

4:
Sorry to have missed you but I am at the doctors having my brain removed so that I may be promoted to management

5:
I will be unable to delete all the unread, worthless emails you send me until I return from vacation on 4/18. Please be patient and your mail will be deleted in the order it was received.

6:
Thank you for your email. Your credit card has been charged $5.99 for the first ten words and $1.99 for each additional word in your message.

7 :
The e-mail server is unable to verify your server connection and is unable to deliver this message. Please restart your computer and try
sending again.

8: Thank you for your message, which has been added to a queueing system.You are currently in 352nd place, and can expect to receive a reply in approximately 19 weeks.

9:
Hi. I'm thinking about what you've just sent me. Please wait by your PC for my response.

10:
Hi! I'm busy negotiating the salary for my new job. Don't bother to leave me any messages.

11:
I've run away to join a different circus.

12:
I will be out of the office for the next 2 weeks for medical reasons. When I return, please refer to me as 'Loretta ' instead of 'Steve'.

here

:

Put a cd on this morning into the cd drive of my stereo and it played without any problem at all. However, cds 2, 3, 4 didn't play, just skipped to number 5.

So I went over to investigate. According tot he display there are no discs in 2,3, and 4.

Sit a look at it for a moment, can remember putting discs in yesterday. So I investigate by opening the drives - yes discs still in there. So try to play them. No nothing happening then the notice no disc in drives.

hmmmm scratches head, burns eggs she is cooking and overcooks the beans she wants with eggs and toast for breakfast - bugger.

So turn everything off and find instruction booklet.

Open to relevant page.

Symptons : Playback does not start
Ah there we are, thought I, good start.

Possible causes: Is the disc loaded upside down?
Err no of course not do you think I am an idiot (but goes to check just in case one did have a mad moment) no everything is ok there.

Does the disc satisfy the standards? What standards? BSI, is there a standard disc? Hmm, looks at case, everything is fine there, oh look parental advisory notice,perhaps it is objecting to the swearing like someone on BCUK is? Hmm, should be ok, got all of these from Amazon.co.uk so cannot see why it shouldn't meet standards.

Will class that as a yes then.

Is the disc distorted or scratched? Better not be, new discs, just arrived yesterday morning! So I take them out, give them a wipe over, give the disc drivers a clean just in case and put them all back in.

pressed play button and voila - disc 1 working, hopefully the others will too so fingers crossed?

got this from another forum

Relaxing day at home or a day at a theme park? home

Take away or home made food? home made

Cat or dog? dog

Whats your best meal ever? honeydew melon with raspberry coulis, steak with mustard and honey sauce served with fresh salad and grilled tomatoes and mushrooms.

Whats your hair color? brown with blonde streaks

Smell nice or look good? smell nice

Can you dance? I try to but don't think so

Whats your best smell? freshly baked bread

Do you like cleaning? Once I get started, just give me the motivation to do it

Whats your fav film? There are just far too many I like to pick a favourite, depends on my mood

Do you tan or burn? burn even with factor 50 on

What do you hate about people? People who are two faced

Whats your best song and who is it by? And nothing else matters by Metallica

Whats your best album and who is it by? Foo Fighters in your honour which I am currently listening to

Your best ride in the whole world and where is it? haven't got one, don't do rides

What do you get stressed out at? People who think they know what they are doing so make my job a lot harder than is should be

What are you afraid of? Losing a member of my family, especially my children

Exercise or sleep? Sleep

Eastenders or friends? Friends though really I can do without seeing either programme

Whats your fav drink? Currently lemon and lime

Micky mouse or minie mouse? Neither they both get on my nerves

I have a theory.

To me you blog for a number of reasons. To share your thoughts and day, to discuss problems with strangers, for enjoyment, for release from everyday life etc etc. Whatever your reason it is something that gives release, to share with others. Sometimes you post a lot, other times you post very little.

You trawl through sites and read other blogs. You like what you read so you make a comment or two, get to know a bit about the person behind the blog through their writing and invite them as s friend.

The ones that you don't like reading you don't bother looking at anymore, you deny them when they invite you as a friend, you have nothing in common, you don't like their style of writing, you maybe don't care for their language.

As time goes on you build up a friend list, it gets longer. Occasionally you weed a few out, those you haven't heard from for a long while, maybe, or because they haven't kept their blog up to date so perhaps they are no longer around. But you keep those that still make an odd comment, those that do post regularly, those ones you enjoy reading.

So tell me this, why do some people who obviously don't like what they see on someone's blog, decide to persecute them for it? Why do they have to harrass them? Why is it necessary to make yourself look like a total idiot?

You don't like what you read, you don't like the language they use. so is it necessary then to make a nuisance of yourself? Is it really appropriate to condemn, to flag their blog as inappropriate then tell them you want to be their friend?

If you don't like it, don't read it. Take yourself off the friends list and don't pass by anymore.

Blogs are simply a release. Somewhere you can do to say things you wouldn't normally say. We are but strangers till we meet,if we ever do, deal with it. Get on with it and live your life, post what you want but don't go round making a bloody nuisance of yourself in the process.

Live in peace.

Let others live theirs how they choose.

Free speech is exactly that, deal with it.

simple really.

Dropped Simon off at summer school (last day today), and on the way home Richard says:

"when I grow up I want to be a zoo keeper"

"Why?" says I

"Because I want to look after animals"

This is the same child who when watching a giraffe give birth on telly the other day went "Ewwww it is coming out of her backside, that is disgusting!" and when he heard that the baboon's bum was bright red so as to attract the females said "That is just plain stupid who would want to look at bums!"

Should be interesting

After a very late night (well for me) and after feeling tired all day, so tired that I contributed very little to last nights quiz, for some reason not understanding the questions, I slept fitfully. Not helped by Nig getting up in the night to go to the toilet and stepping on a dog who is a big baby at the best of times, and took about 10 minutes to settle because he just had to look in all the rooms to make sure everything was as it should be and decide where he was going to sleep!

So I wasn't impressed or in the mood when Nig started fiddling this morning at some unearthly hour.

"gerrrofff" I mumble, kicking him hard on the shins.

"time to wake up hun, I need a lift to the station"

"bugger off"

" up you get now, you know you want to really"

"No"

"Oh come on darling, for me, the sooner I get to work the earlier I will be home to torment you"

"another reason for me not getting up then isn't it"

So reluctantly I dragged my weary body out of bed and headed off to make some tea so that I could wake up properly.

So tody he has gone to work by train as he is working in Victoria. He could have taken the van, in fact work did say he could and told him where to park but last time he listened to them he got wheel clamped (their inability to provide parking permits is amazing) and knowing that I hate driving in London with a vengence, he decided not to risk getting clamped and having to call me out to rescue him.

His reasoning is he always thinks of me.

Simons presentation went well last night, not as good as previous years when they had a guest speaker but it was reasonable. He got an award of excellence as well which he is quite pleased with and he got his picture taken with his 'friend' - funny how his mother told him to join in with the picture and the sister of the friend disappeared - told him they made a lovely couple I just love embarrassing him.

For once though I have to say the summer school was a little organised and gave the level 3 students information about courses and careers in Archaeology, what is needed to get into university and what universities offer the courses. There was also this:

Where possible evidence of first hand knowledge of a ‘dig’ should be offered.

so I have been on the relevant website to find local archaeology society and emailed them to find out if he can join. He has some evidence, when he did the first year they were sent a DVD and booklet showing all that they did that year, so far nothing this year or last year though I have nagged him to write it up!

Right must try and get myself organised and wake up. I feel so sleepy and brain dead this morning, even thinking hurts lol! Doesn't help when you have a hyperactive child jumping around this morning either, can feel my nerves going on edge already!

Have a good day

"I'm having a shower" he says, just before disappearing upstairs.

I check the clock to make sure it is the right time and I haven't missed a few hours.

"Did I hear right?" I said to hubby

"yes" he replied, before disappearing upstairs.

45 minutes later, Simon appears downstairs dressed all in black, nice black pair of jeans and black shirt, with his dragon pendant on, hair smoothed down nicely, clearly has had a shave and wearing AFTERSHAVE!!!

OMG!!!!

Ok we are going out.

We have a presentation evening to celebrate the end of summer school and to show parents what they have been doing these past couple of weeks.

he tells me the girl he is friendly with are just friends.

We'll see My little boy is growing up

The pathway leading to my front door has a border either side of it. Due to the bad weather and the fact that I am quite lazy really, I haven't been out there to do the annual tidy up, so it has become increasing overgrown and is looking more jungle like by the day. Fushias are trying to fight for space amongst the weeds, chrysanthemums struggle through the plant that is spreading like wildflower each year and disperses its seeds at an alarming rate. All of which are leaning over the borders so you fight to get to the front door.

Well no more.

I went out laden with my spade, my fork, and a few handtools and began hacking and pulling, digging and weeding, trasferring a plant or two (shhh wrong time of year don't tell my sister) and generally pulling up a weed or two, getting stung by stinging nettles that objected, finding a tree had seeded itself where it was no wanted and not giving in until it had all been dug up. Fresh soil laid where plants had been moved and watered, other areas dug over.

All of this done with the help (or hindrance ) of an 8 year child who moaned and groaned and whinged for England!

"have we finished yet?" no we have only just started

"Is is dinner time yet?" No you have just had breakfast

"Can I dig this up?" No it is a plant

"can I dg this up?" No you are likely to put the fork through your foot

"Why do I have to pick this up?" Because mummy is in pain

"Its raining" It isn't

"I felt it spit" It didn't

"its raining now" No it is only a small shower you will not drown

And so it went on.

What I did find though, under all those leaves and weeds, were loads of horrible slugs getting fat on the plants that are still trying to survive. Seen to that, sorry but not keen of slugs so some of them are now living in the field behind me though I was very tempted to put slug killer down but I must think of my feathered friends.

After sweeping up our mess, having a conversation with a neighbour (in the rain) we eventually retired inside, to have some lunch and a cup of tea. Looking less like a jungle out there, but still have so much to do.

Alas the rain is coming down hard so will not be done today.

Time for a shower I think

Two posts I have written neither have appeared. keep being logged out still Really getting annoyed here Really really annoyed.

2.30pm text arrives - fancy going for a drink tonight?

Yes where?

Decide later pick me up 7.30.

Are we eating?

Oh good idea yes.

So there I was, picking up a friend I haven't seen since December, off to a country pub where we put the world to rights while eating good food and drinking the best soft drinks they had to offer (well she was on the cider, I was on J2O's as I was driving).

Now this friend is a little naive at times, in fact I often wonder how she got so far in life. Bless her she has had a hard life, bringing up her son, after her husband, left single handed, doing part time jobs that allowed her to spend all her spare time with her child so he wouldn't grow up on the streets and getting into trouble.

And at last it has all paid off. She is now in fulltime work, now he has left school, has passed her driving test, she has been seeing a lovely bloke for the last 4 years, though at the moment due to distance only at weekends and the odd week's holiday, and is getting her life together. I am so happy for her.

She is thinking of moving in with her boyfriend, and I have told her to go for it, but think other people are trying to dissuade her. They have put it into her head it may not work and then she will have moved away from everyone that she knows and then where shall she be. My thoughts, you are 50, take a chance, it may work, it may not, it is more likely to work because she will want it to. He sounds really nice always considerated phoning to ask if she is ok and asking what she wants to do at the weekend, what she would want to eat etc, not in a needy way, just wanting to know how to please, putting her feelings first. Sounds good to me.

Told her it isn't as though she is moving miles away, she is only going to the next town and she can drive to still see her friends etc. At the end of the evening she seemed more sure of what she will do, though it won't be immediate, she has a son to sort out first and will want to see him settled first.

Beautiful moon on the way home. Stopped and made her make a wish on it - she thinks I am daft but what the heck. Shining brightly in the sky I am sure Mrs Moon was listening.

I love spontanaeity sometimes you just need to do something without notice and it was good to catch up.

Looks like another good day out there again. Had to get up at an unearthly hour this morning and drive Nig to the Station. He is working in Kings Cross today and so decided to go in by train and leave his mate to pick up all the materials they will need for the job. It is ridiculous him going all that way when I can be certain there are jobs closer to home that others are getting, probably having to come up from Kings Cross to get there lol!

Eldest still have summer school so will drop him off later and then I will hoover upstairs, clean the bathroom and enjoy the sun for a little while. May, just may do some gardening, though there is ironing to do as well ho hum !

Right better go and have some breakfast!

have a good day

Sorry couldn't resist, followed the instructions to a message I got on Myspace.

1. Four people you couldnt live with out:
Nigel, Simon, Richard, Sue

2. Three People u are missing Right Now:
Grandad, Nigel, Simon

Love Survey
You must answer every question TRUTHFULLY!!

[01] Do you still think about ur ex?
No

[02] Have you ever been heartbroken?
Yep

03] What Movie reminds you of your current bf or gf or ex?
None do

[04] How many times have you honestly thought you loved someone?
Once

[05] Do you believe that everyone has a soul-mate?
yes

[06] What is ur current relationship problem?
Don't have a relationship problem

[07] Have u ever loved 2 people at the same time?
No

[08] Your thoughts of ur best friend and ur ex?
She is a lovely person, he is a bastard

[09] Have you ever seen a friend as more than a friend?
yes once

[10] Do u belive in second chances?
yes
.
[11] Have u ever been kissed under neath the fire works?
Yes

[12] What is your favorite color(s)?
Black and red

[14] Do you believe you only love once?
yes though there can be different types of love

[15]Could u marry someone right now?
Am already married

[16] At what age did you start noticing the opposite sex.
14 or 15

[17] What song remnds you of your ex or current bf/gf?
None

[18] Do you know someone who likes you?
Yes

[19] Do you like anyone?
Everyone!

[20] Care about someone whos not with you or know about ur feelings?
Yes

Dropped eldest off at summer school, popped to pet shop where I had to go through the process of explaining to youngest son why we could not have a rabbit (what with an ex racing greyhound in the house I think not), bought a few bits and pieces, then popped to Sainsburys (conveniently situated next shop down but one) for some milk and something for tea.

Yes more milk, what the hell do they do with it all is beyond me, is it really necessary to drink all that

Mind you so far (she says touching wood) none of them have had a broken bone, well Nig first was only because the dog stood on his toe as he tried to prise the dog's mouth open to rescue the cat - but that is another story.

So anyway Sainsburys, that evil place that tried to tempt children with their BOGOF offers - there is the child going round saying "mum can I have? It is BOGOF!" and me saying no.

Thent here is the picking things up, oh how I hate that, one thing that annoys me is children picking things up or touching them. So after the millionth time of saying " no you can't have that" and "stop picking things up" I am afraid I did lose it a little and eventually went up to him and said "This is going to be your last warning, I am getting cross now, stop touching things and stop asking for things, the answer is no!"

This was watched by a young woman who was having dreadful problems with her child who was having a tantrum every few minutes, who was obviously with her mother, who tutted and said to the daughter, the mother of the child - "see that is how you control children, not by letting scream the shop down!"

I had to walk away, I did feel sorry for her, nothing worse than being criticised when you are trying to control a child in shops which are like new toy shops to children!

Home now and just waiting for the second lot of sheets to finish their boil wash, ready to hang out in the sun. Have another lot to put on after that and a mountain of ironing to do again, either that or do some sewing or read a book.

oh decisions decisions

Well not really shenanigans as today will consist of, hanging our bedsheets out to dry, more washing, changing kids beds, washing their sheets, hanging them out to dry, popping to pet shop for some supplies, and hoovering living room floor!

Oh what an exciting life I lead!

I may, just may go for a little walk later.

Oh and I am getting my hair cut at 3.30, the 6 weekly torture session I subject myself to, though I will already have washed my hair to limit the amount of time the hairdresser has to handle it

Right, better get these sheets out on the line