Spread your wings and fly away

I have spent the last hour or so looking at glasses.

The reason for this is because of my impending holiday in August. At the moment, as a glasses wearer, I find it really irritating that I have to keep taking my glasses off to put my prescription sunglasses on. Of course I also wear contact lenses so that I can wear ordinary sunglasses, but I don't wear the contacts everyday.

Last time we were in Florida I spent most of my time changing my glasses and we came in from the sun into the shops and going back out again. Now I could have kept them on but doing so would have meant that everything indoors was in darkness and taking them off even for a few minutes is not an option as I am really as blind as a bat without them.

So I am looking for buying some new glasses, ones with polarised lenses. Simple one would think but they cost the earth on the high street - my last pair of glasses, without any tint of any kind, cost me £300.00 something which I cannot afford.

So my friend recommended the above link to me and I have requested catalogue and been browsing through their glasses online, pricing up what I am looking for. I can save around £200 buying from them and I know that others say they are good , I am still wary.

Anyone had any experience of purchasing glasses from them?

Which was obviously the thoughts of the man and woman who were driving in front of me on the motorway heading home from Milton Keynes. I kid you not, they spent more time looking at the image on their Sat Nav than they did on the road in front of them!

here

The 98 year old Mother Superior from Ireland was dying. All of her sister nuns gathered around her bed trying to make her final journey comfortable. They tried giving her some warm milk to drink but she refused it. One of the nuns took the glass back to the kitchen and, remembering a bottle of Irish whiskey received as a gift the previous Christmas, she opened it and poured a generous amount into the warm milk. Back at Mother Superior's bed, the resourceful nun held the glass to the Mother Superior's lips. Mother drank a little, then a little more, and before they knew it, she had drunk the whole glass down to the last drop. Elated to have this unexpected opportunity, the nuns implored, "Mother, we beseech you, share with us your most precious wisdom before you die." Mother Superior slowly but determinedly raised herself up in the bed and said, "Don't sell that cow."

I amsitting here listening to some great music on the telly and thinking about some of the things I should be doing instead lol!

As it is I am here on my own for the day. Hubby has taking the children to watch Spurs play as there are a few spare tickets, mainly because one of his mates has to work at T5 and all leave has been cancelled so he isn't happy he is missing the game today. Another mate can't go as his wife has banned him so with one very excitable child and one very reluctant child in tow, off he has gone to leave me by myself to do and watch what I want.

Bliss.

No one to kick me off the computer or change channels.

Only me to cook for.

Sheer bliss.

I had a strange dream last night (when don't I, I hear you ask) but this one was slightly different. I spent the time talking face to face to a blog friend, we discussed everything and it was really quite sweet. No before you even suggest it, there was no sex, just talk, and it was very liberating in a way. However I have no idea why I should be so open to this person, or them with me, in fact he/she did most of the talking, obviously needing to get things in the open and clear what concerns they have - no I am not saying who it is other than I know it will all work out in the end, I have a feeling it will all be good.

There were other dreams as well that were also weird in a way, though I am less bothered by them, nothing that I don't already know about lol

Right sun is shining, there is washing that needs to go out on the line, and a phone call that needs to be made.

Hope you are all well and have a good Sunday

Hugs xxx

Sitting here catching up on posts before I get kicked off again, I feel something on my arm.

I rub it

It still feels though something is crawling on me.

I scratch, not paying much attention to arm

A while later, i feel something on my arm again

I look this time and it is a very, very small spider crawling on my arm.

Good job they don't scare me isn't it lol

I actually kept my mammogram appointment. I was met with, 'Hi! I'm Belinda!' This perky clipboard carrier smiled from ear to ear, tilted her head to one side and crooned, 'All I need you to do is step into this room right here, strip to the waist, then slip on this gown.

Everything clear?

I'm thinking, 'Belinda, try decaf. This ain't rocket science.'

Belinda skipped away to prepare the chamber of horrors.

With the right side finished, Belinda flipped me (literally) to the left and said, 'Hmmmm. Can you stand on your tippy toes and lean in a tad so we can get everything?'

Fine, I answered. I was freezing, bruised, and out of air, so why not use the remaining circulation in my legs and neck and finish me off?

My body was in a holding pattern that defied gravity (with my other boob wedged between those two 4 inch pieces of square glass) when we heard, then felt a zap! Complete darkness and the power went off!

'Oh, maintenance is working. Bet they hit a snag.' Belinda headed for the door.

'Excuse me! You're not leaving me in this vise alone are you?' I shouted.

Belinda kept going and said, 'Oh, you fussy puppy...the door's wide open so you'll have the emergency hall lights. I'll be right back.'

Before I could shout 'NOOOO!' she disappeared.

And that's exactly how Bubba and Earl, maintenance men extraordinaire, found me, half-naked and part of me dangling from the Jaws of Life, and the other part smashed between glass!

After exchanging polite 'Hi, how's it going' type greetings, Bubba (or possibly Earl) asked, to my utter disbelief, if I knew the power was off.

Trying to disguise my hysteria, I replied with as much calmness as possible 'Uh, yes, yes I did thanks.'

'You bet, take care' Bubba replied and waved good-bye as though I'd been standing in the line at the grocery store.

Two hours later, Belinda breezes in wearing a sheepish grin. Making no attempt to suppress her amusement, she said, 'Oh I am sooo sorry!' The power came back on and I totally forgot about you! And silly me, I went to lunch. Are we upset?'

And that, Your Honor, is exactly how her head ended up between the clamps...

It did start out nice I have to say. A trip to Milton Keynes this morning where I was treated to breakfast, browsed round the shops, got some clothes for the boys for our looming holiday, and a top for myself, and then headed back home for a lovely cup of tea.

it is pouring down outside now !!

I do plan on doing some exercise later if I can tear myself away from the latest chick lit, then again I may just sit and do some sewing - maybe not lol

Just ordered my tax disc online, no doubt it will not come very quickly and I will be driving around without the new one, though hopefully not lol!

Right have a child standing behind me waving his arms and tutting as I was only supposed to be on here to pay a couple of bills and not hogging the computer or taking up his study time !!!

See you later folks!

I have just logged on quickly while the computer was sitting idle, waiting for eldest to hog it for his coursework, homework, studying, and before youngest went onto the cbbc website for more fun and games.

Shouldn't have looked at my inbox - 101 messages - I have only been off here for a couple of days!!

I am around, don't panic, just Simon's studies are taking a priority at the moment and I am chilling out by reading lots of silly chick lit novels.

I have also done some spring cleaning, though that dreaded ironing pile is still taunting me shuts door on it.

Normal service will be resumed once I can wrestle the computer out of my son's grasp - it is the only one that is connected to the internet and he needs to do SAM Learning or some other site that has tests on it so that he can chat to his friends hopping onto Bebo while pretending to practice/study/for those all important GCSE exams that seem to be looming over us all at an alarming rate.

Trust me he will get good marks and go on to sixth form if it kills me!! He is just so lazy at times lol!

So hope you are all having a good day, despite the dreadful weather out there - it is pouring down heavily here lol!

Hugs to all xx

Once upon a time, in a nice little forest, there lived an orphaned bunny and an orphaned snake. By a surprising coincidence, both were blind from birth. One day, the bunny was hopping through the forest, and the snake was slithering through the forest, when the bunny tripped over the snake and fell down. This, of course, knocked the snake about quite a bit. "Oh, my," said the bunny, "I'm terribly sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I've been blind since birth, so, I can't see where I'm going. In fact, since I'm also an orphan, I don't even know what I am." "It's quite ok," replied the snake. "Actually, my story is as yours. I too have been blind since birth, and also never knew my mother. Tell you what, maybe I could slither all over you, and work out what you are so at least you'll have that going for you." "Oh, that would be wonderful" replied the bunny. So the snake slithered all over the bunny, and said, "Well, you're covered with soft fur, you have really long ears, your nose twitches, and you have a soft cottony tail. I'd say that you must be a bunny rabbit." Oh, thank you, thank you," cried the bunny, in obvious excitement. The bunny suggested to the snake, "Maybe I could feel you all over with my paw, and help you the same way that you've helped me." So the bunny felt the snake all over, and remarked, "Well, you're smooth and slippery, and you have a forked tongue, no backbone and no balls. I'd say you must be a Team Leader, Supervisor or possibly someone in Senior Management." o,,,o /),/) ( ` ` ) ( ` ` ) (,,)--(,,)(,,)--(,,)

Getting out of bed was obviously going to be a mistake as I:

1) stubbed my toe on the end of the bed
2) couldn't find any clean underwear and realised that it was all probably at the bottom of the ironing pile
3) cleared up the pile of sick that one of the dogs(most likely Baron) decided to leave at the bottom of the stairs for me
4) Check my account online - a bad move, not as much in the account as I thought there was
5) find youngest still coughing his guts up
6) Virgin flipping media is having a fit on my cable box again and you can't change the fecking channels or look up what you are watching.
7) A phone call to a doctor to make an appointment for youngest and myself, they are fully booked and probably won't be able to see us until next week sometime!!

So after a calming cuppa, some cornflakes (for a change)I decided that the living room,dining room and kitchen needed a good tidy, dust and hoover before I head off to the shower.

All ok so far and lol and behold any member of this family making a mess of my clean and tidy rooms they will be shot at dawn lol!!!

Then off to the physiotherapist at the hospital, an appointment I had to make 4 weeks ago as I had to cancel the last one due to illness.

This isn't fun to do when you have a child that is coughing so much no one wants to look after him for a couple of hours while you visit the physiotherapist.

A couple of hours was all I wanted, it wouldn't have hurt, afterall I'veput up with the coughing day and night since Saturday!!!

Good news is physio is happy with my progress and signed me off, I have a lot more movement in my neck now, she has given me some more exercises to do and will keep my file to hand until end of April, just in case I feel the need to return otherwise I am signed off for good.

Aching now though through all the manipulation she has done!

Sainsburys was busy with lots of screaming kids, none of which were near a parent of any reasonable responsibility - thankfully Richard only managed to keep up a constant stream of chatter in between coughing fits, laughing at me as I had left my list at home again and helping by adding things to the trolley I didn't need but really couldn't be bothered to keep taking out. I am still wondering how the cookies made their way in there, but as they have been eaten now they are not likely to make me worry about them any further.

So now I am having a lovely cup of tea, before I head off into my pristine kitchen and make some chilli for tonight's tea.

you never know at some point today I may, just may, get to sit down and read my book lol

EDIT I do not iron underwear, towels, bed linen, jumpers, nightclothes. They came out of the tumble dryer and no one separated them hence there is a mountain of an ironing pile yet most of it will not get ironed, just folded and put away lol

Have you ever got up in the morning and realised you have made a huge mistake?

In other news, most of my bank holiday has been taken up with a sick child. Well he isn't really that sick but he has a hacking cough, one that goes on and on and on and on till no matter where you are in the house you can hear him coughing all day and night long. Of course he is clingy, tired due to lack of sleep, and we spent most of yesterday curled up on the sofa, me periodically checking his temperature, watching lots of children's films till I got to the stage of being able to recite them word for word.

Having spent the best part of the weekend with my youngest child, while hubby takes the eldest son to work with him, I was hoping for some repite towards evening time when the workers came home. This didn't happen though until after youngest had been put to bed. I cleaned the kitchen and sat down to read my book. Hubby took himself off upstairs to play his game on the playstation which is when I heard Richard coughing again for the umpteenth time and then start to cry. Hubby losing his temper and doors being slammed and a lot of movement upstairs.

Decided to keep out of the way, being the caring, concerned mother I am, afterall, hubby was upstairs and dealing with things his own way.

When all was calm once more I headed up to the bathroom where I find Richard's bedding on the floor.

"What happened?" says I

"He wet his bed" says the concerned father. From the smell of it that is not all he had done. Apparently he started another coughing fit and lost control of bladder and bowels. After that everytime he coughed he ran to the bathroom - just in case - he was clearly mortified the poor thing!

I wasn't impressed though afterall what idiot leaves the soiled washing on the bathroom floor? Would it have been too much of a hassle to bring it downstairs and put it in the washing machine? Clearly yes, it was and after I shouted as much and got everyone running all round the place taking the soiled items downstairs and putting them in the said washer, giving instructions on how to turn the washer on so that the items could be washed, I finally made it to bed, where I lay awake listening to child coughing, and coughing and coughing.

Fortunately he doesn't seem to be so bad this morning, he has calmed a little and the cough isn't as noisy as it was over the weekend. Hopefully we are over the worst of it now.

Better get on and do some more washing and housework now, or take a leaf out of a blogfriend's book and make a cuppa first!

Have a good day everyone

xxx

To all my blogfriends, hope you have a great day

Hugs xxx

Woke up this morning to a fine layer of snow, covering the trees, the grass and the rooftops around us.

Spent a happy hour watching a squirrel attempt to get at the nuts in the bird feeder in next door's garden and watching the birds hop on the ground looking for food - though it defeats me why they didn't look on the bird table where there is plenty and not covered in snow- perhaps they were after meatier things lol!

I did want to go out and take some pictures today, but I know from experience going anywhere in this, particularly up the A6 where there are usually snow drifts is not a good idea, so think I will abandon that idea for now. Anyway as hubby and eldest child have abandoned me for work today I know that youngest will not want to go out in this (it is still snowing) particularly as he has quite a nasty cought that managed to keep us all awake last night!

So housework it is then, or maybe curling up with a good book - hmm decisions, decisions

The theatre was excellent last night as always. Considering I had trouble getting seats when I tried to order tickets online, the theatre was half empty - maybe people decided not to go out due to the snow. The play, Importance of Being Earnest, was good, the vicar being played by Tony Britton was excellently done though I have to say it was a shock to see him looking so old, and he did look ill as well. Algernon Moncrieff played excellently by Jim Alexander (Dream Team, London's Burning)was so funny he had me in stitches in every scene he appeared in , Jack Worthing was played by Tom Butcher (Doctors and The Bill) and worked really well with Jim Alexander, they made quite a double act, Zoie Kennedy (The Royal) played Cecily Cardew really well,Gwendoline Fairfax was played by Corinne Wicks (Doctors), With Miss Prism played by Pat Mackie (Doctors) and Lady Bracknell being played by Fleur Chandler (Emmerdale Farm) who, let's face it, has a hard act to follow when Lady Bracknell has been played by some great actresses such as Dame Judy Dench, Dame Maggie Smith and Penelope Keith. She did do well though but I had to admit I didn't think she was as good as Dame Judy in the film but I may have been a little biased there lol

George Telfer stole the scenes though playing the long suffering Butlers, Merriman and Lane. His silences spoke for themselves, the look on his face was a picture the way his hand shook as he handed the tea round when he was playing the butler Merriman had almost everyone in the theatre in stitches.

I am glad I saw it and definitely would be a trip worth repeating.

Hope you have a wonderful day

Enjoy yourself.

Hugs xxxxxx

1. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (Mother and Father's middle name)
Ellen Michael

2. NASCAR NAME: (first name of your mother's dad, father's dad)
David Daniel

3. STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name)
Haysa

4. DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
Black Tiger

5. SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)
Jane Willesden

6. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd fav color, fav drink, add "THE" to the beginning)
The Red Taylor

7. FLY NAME: (first 2 letters of 1st name, last 3 letters of your last name)
Saden

8. GANGSTA NAME: (fav ice cream flavor, fav cookie)
Raspberry ripple Raisin

9. ROCK STAR NAME: (current pets name, current street name).
Laddie Ventnor

10. STRIPPER NAME: (name of your fav perfume/cologne, fav candy)
Paris Snickers

11. PORN NAME: (1st pets name, mothers maiden name)
Toby Price

Popped into town this morning, with youngest in tow as hubby and eldest are working today.

Not a pleasant experience as it has been snowing on and off continually, not settling much, but you just know that by this evening the roads will be hell and I have to go out!

I am taking my friend to the theatre in Dunstable to see The Importance of Being Earnest, probably one of mine, and hers, favourite Oscar Wilde book.

so hoping snow doesn't settle and the roads aren't too slippery!

I feel quite bleurgh today actually, not sure why but haven't felt right the last couple of days, think I may be coming down with something, not quite sure what yet.

Anyway better get on and do some housework - the bathroom is quite a mess, one room I hate cleaning but it needs to be done!

Have a great day everyone

hugs xxx

But Happy Birthday for yesterday!!

i didn't forget I just couldn't post sorry!

Hope you had a great day though

hugs xxxxxx

Today it is wet outside.

Reflects my mood a little.

Unable to settle indoors yesterday, I fed the kids and went round to see a friend, whom I know is moving in a few days, fortunately not too far in fact only round the corner from me - can see a few girlie nights coming up.

Anyway we passed a pleasant evening, sorting through things and helping another friend take furniture down

Slept well, don't even remember Nig coming home from the game yesterday. So if I slept well why do I feel so tired this morning!!

Just eaten breakfast, should really get a move on and get ready for work, but you know that Monday morning feeling, well it has happened every day this week. Could it be the prospect of winding down for Easter? We break up today. Or could it be the thought that I am on the countdown till I start my new role?

Hmmm.

Think it is a bit of both really lol!

Right enough rambling on, stop feeling bleurgh, better get a move on and nag the kids!

Have a good day everyone

Just reading about a blog friend's loss has taken my breath away.

I am shocked.

My heart goes out to you my dear.

hugs xxxx

To blogland hun, you have been missed.

Hugs xxxx

I am in a mood this morning.

Ok TOTM is approaching which doesn't help, but there are other reasons as well:

1) eldest son told to hand in coursework to maths teacher first thing on Monday morning - well he would have done if the teacher had been in work on Monday, but no apparently he is ill - perhaps I should write a letter of complaint especially when he told my son that he shouldn't be ill during his final year in school as it was an important year and he can't afford to miss anything!!

2) my youngest son has lost his school reading book. hopefully it will be a case of him looking with his elbows and therefore not looking properly, but after having spent yesterday evening searching his room and the dining room and not finding it, I can only hope it will turn up at school. If it doesn't he is for the high jump, about time he took some responsibility for his actions at times. Not only that but his room was a tip - a bona fide pigsty, it is a wonder he isn't suffering from something serious by the amount of dust in there.

Yes I know I am his mother, but my kids have to take responsibility for their rooms, I do the rest of the house, they need to keep their rooms clean and tidy - He obviously needs another lesson in how to do this!

So this morning fortunately only working a half day, going to make the most of this afternoon even if it is only taking some 'me' time and sitting down with a good book

Hope you have a good day everyone

hugs xxxx

My time on here has been limited. I have a son who has hogged the computer all weekend (well yesterday anyway) so that he can put the final touches to any coursework that still needed to be handed in.

Driving me nuts!

I had to read a book from cover to cove instead to keep me occupied lol!

Sun is shining this morning but it is quite deceiving. Rescuing shirts from the tumble drier so that they could be ironed ready for the kids to wear this morning (why do they save them all up to be washed on a Sunday night when they say I have no shirt for school tomorrow mum!) there was definitely a chill in the air which was not very pleasant - I was glad to get back inside I can tell you!

Right I have to dash now, youngest needs to be taken to school and I need to cream my legs (turns out I have eczema! and that was a self diagnosis which has been confirmed by several people who have eczema) take a tablet and tidy round before I head out to work myself!

Right see you later, coursework allowing

Hugs xxx

Asked hubby as he got the ladder out to head into the loft to look for something.

"What?" says I

"the Girl guides are learning early, they have all shapes of balls out there and some look like they are enjoying themselves as they bounce up and down on the bigger ones" he says

And yes the Girl Guides are visiting the field to the side of the house, playing with balls of all shapes and sizes.

And my children wonder why I am not sane!

I have just attended parent's evening for my 16 year old son.

Bearing in mind it is now March, he is in his vital GCSE year, you would have thought they would have had this earlier, but no today was the day, right on top of when exams begin in some subjects and him feeling under pressure.

What really gets to me though, you have a child, you teach him since September, would it be too much to learn the name of the child you are teaching!!

English Teacher: as we go and sit down in front of him shuffles a lot of papers, smiles at us, shuffles the papers again, looks at Simon, shuffles papers, looks at laptop, shuffles papers, smiles at us then says : "Who are you?"

Simon smiles at him and says "Simon sir"

"Oh yes" he replies, coughs loudly, shuffles papers "i can't remember what it is I need to see you about" Shuffles papers.

"Ah here we are, coursework, yes. Jane Eyre needs to be redone. Can you do it by Monday?"

"er, excuse me" says I, "can I point out that letting children watch a video then ask them to complete coursework on the book is not really teaching is it or very helpful is it?"

"Errr no i see your point but sometimes you have to cheat don't you?"

"No sorry not acceptable" says I.

No reply to this he shuffles papers.

"Excuse me" I say, "Is there any other coursework outstanding?"

"Errrr, no don't think so, I will check it, tell you what errr Stephen come and see me tomorrow and we will go through it, 3 ok with you?"

"Yes" says Simon "oh and my name is Simon sir"

"Quite" he says and holds out his hand, expecting it to be shaken by us, which we didn't. I just said as loud as I could "you were right Simon he has absolutely no idea who you are" which received me a thunderous look.

I did report him to the headteacher when I saw her saying I wasn't impressed with her teaching staff.

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

Maths Teacher - Simon is having huge problems with this teacher, in fact it has got to the stage where he has managed to wind Simon up to boiling point. It is a wonder he hasn't got high blood pressure. This man has taken over being head of year 11s. He has cancelled all study leave, making sure the students stay in school right up until the last examination has been completed in June. I have a feeling his agenda is to get the praise for the highest scores the school has ever had. He wants to look good. he wants to achieve, move along. He has no regard for the children in year 11, certainly none whatsoever for the children he is teaching maths to.

Simon was off for one week with flu. During this time the coursework for statistics was handed out. He gave them three weeks to complete it, in Simons case two. Simon struggled so much with it that he got to the stage where he wanted to give up, so I got him extra lessons with a friend of mine who now takes him for once a week to teach him maths.

Now Simon is a very bright boy and has always got good grades, but this teacher is doing his head in. he is trying his hardest, he has asked for help on several occasions but it hasn't been forthcoming. This evening the teacher starts spouting on about what Simon still has to do and I can see the signs that Simon has had enough. Fists clenched I know he is going to lose it.

"You still haven't told me what I have to do" he says

"I have been over it three times in class" replies the teacher

"when sir? because when I ask you tell me you are too busy"

"no I have done everything I can"

" but I told you to do (insert several mathematical terms which mean nothing to me at all)"

"when?" says Simon "you never told me anything, you still haven't marked the other coursework or told me whatI still need to do for it"

"I am getting round to it" which is when the teacher notices I am scribbling on a bit of paper. "what you doing?" he asks
"making notes" says I "I may need to refer to them later because as you can see Simon is very upset by your attitude especially when he is trying to hard to do what is required and gets very little help"
Nig at this point takes Simon to one side to get him to calm down - he is getting worked up.

"But I have helped" he says
"WEll as you can see, Simon doesn't think you have. so tell me what he has to do to get an A in his coursework, I will write it down and he will work on it at the weekend"

Fair play he did but my back was up by then, he was beginning to rattle my cage and by the look on hubby's face he wasn't too happy either. Was just about to try and argue Simons case for him when I saw Nig mouth something in my direction, a surefire way of telling me enough let's get out of here.

As Nigel said, arrogant he was, look at me and what I have done but not admitting what he was failing to do.

I really wish he had the head of maths now, I know he would have come far with him teaching rather than the idiot he has. Don't get me wrong there are some very good teachers out there, and I rarely complain about them, but this one just is the pits!

The rest of his teachers, sing his praises and are sad that they will be losing him. He is their grade A student, shame others don't see it that way!

So now, a glass of gin and bitter lemon in one hand and waiting for hubby to bring home dinner, then go and collect my son from school who is on prefect duty, and I can relax for the evening.

Last night I went to our local theatre to see this:

Now I didn't know much about the singer Eva Cassidy, in fact the only song I could recall was 'songbird' and that is only because it is one of my favourite tracks, and of course I was familiar with her track of 'over the Rainbow' and to be entirely honest when my friend invited me to see this show because she had a spare ticket, I was a little reluctant to go and see it but anything is better than watching hubby have an epileptic fit in front of the telly while he watches Spurs play what they call football!

So along I went to see it and can I say if you ever get a chance to do so go.

it was a fantastic show. Eva was played by Faye Tozer of 'Steps'. I never realised what a great voice she had, and she certainly made the show. It was great watching her sing, though there was the temptation by us to throw our hands up by our heads in the style of 'tragedy' lol - but we were very restrained.

The musicians were incredibly talented as well. The man playing her brother, very skilled with the guitar, and the violin which he played really well. In fact sitting there watching the men fingering their guitars as they played reminded me why I love men that play guitars, there is just something so provocative of the way they are played, particulary when played well.

So just a link to the site http://www.fayetozerofficial.com/, and if it comes your way, the Rainbow is well worth going to have a look at.

Well it is a new day and things seem a little bit different somehow.

First of all unlike yesterday, there is no rain, the sun is trying to shine and the trees are still.

There is a spring in my step and I feel full of life again, my happy little self. No idea why this should be lol

Mind you I didn't sleep all that well, thoughts going round and round in my head most of the night, causing me to toss and turn as I had idea after idea popping into my head. It is weird really how much one thing can affect you, a change in direction, a new focus.

Right enough of this rambling, better go and sort myself out and get ready for another day at work!

have a good day everyone!

hugs xxx

1. Latest blog friend? Why?
xmillyxx is the latest think we invited each other after commenting on a couple of posts and reading blogs

2. Oldest blog friend? Why?
Kizlode after he sent me a link to his blog by email before I signed up to blogland. Decided after reading his blog to join up and he became my first blogfriend as well as a friend in real life Within 2 days xstitch_dreaming invited me and so my friends list began to grow

3. Groups. Good, bad, annoying?
I haven't made my mind up. I have joined up with the photography group and a few others but it is mainly here that I post.

4. Who do you miss the most from your blogfriends that have left BCUK?
Charlie and Flicky definitely the place isn't the same without them.

5. Who out of your blog friends that have since left do you not really miss?
I really don't know.

6. Would you want to meet the bloggers who are your blog friends in real life?
I've met some of them, and hopefully made some good friendships as a result, hoping to meet more that are on my list.

7. Blog friend or blogger that you wished posted more often?
CJ definitely, hating BT with a vengence at the moment really missing his wit! Missing Abilene as well

8. What is the most annoying thing about using BCUK?
How addictive it is

9. Are you a Pro? Why/Why not?
Yes got fed up with the adverts and wanted to expand my media file

10. Post a link to your very FIRST blog post here, so everyone can have a laugh....
here

11. Recommend a blog, any blog from anywhere in the world...
Purple Dragon definitely

And finally...

12. Do you think blogging has improved your life?
Yes it has really. You meet people that you would probably never come across in real life, you find out about the wider world other than what is happening in your own street, you get to read differing views and you have a laugh. It has helped keep my sanity at times and the support is fantastic.

The wind arrived in the night. You could see the branches of the trees swaying to the music as the wind rushed through them, whistling its own tune.

The rain came a few minutes later, pounding, like stones, against the window as though it was trying to get in.

This morning the wind and rain is really at it height. You cannot see out of the conservatory windows for the rain. The wind has blown the furniture around the garden and I fear for the fence, which though it needs replacing, I was hoping to make it last another season before we have to replace the whole lot.

I am not looking forward to today at all.

Ah well, could be worse. Blizzards they are having in America or we could be suffering from severe cold like in Tibet

Ah well not much can be done about it all, we can't change the weather, it will happen whatever we do.

Right better go and get myself ready for that wonderful thing we call work - that is if the weather hasn't brought or flooded the school!

Oh and just a thought for our friends on the south coast, hope you are not too affected by the weather, stay safe and know we are thinking of you. As to everyone else hope you are not flooded that you are safe as well.

Hugs xx

"Am I male"

"yes"

"Am I American"

"Yes"

"Am I alive"

"No"

"Am I an actor"

"yes"

"did I do action films?"

"yes"

"comedy"

"no"

Errrrrrr

And so it went on like this yesterday at a friends house having fun, playing games, drinking lots.

Several games were played including chardes - Lady Godiva was one I had to do, thankfully hubby got it without me having to do too much acting out!

The DVD quiz went down well, drinking games, charades, twenty questions, and trivial pursuit all fitted perfectly into an evening of entertainment.

A lot of hilarity was involved as well, my stomach muscles are sore this morning.

Course the conversation hit the realms of the gutter not helped by playing on game called funky duck, you can imagine how that went as each person had to say it as it came to them as quickly as possible - go on I dare you to try it!

Yes it was a good night, and one that I hope will be repeated in the future because there is nothing like having an evening indoors with friends and having fun.

Oh and my person that I had to guess from the above conversation was Charles Bronson. Needless to say I didn't get it, mainly as we went round in circles with me asking silly questions because I hadn't got a clue! Not as bad as the person who had to guess Macbeth though poor thing.

"Well if he is being like that you need to dump him."

"Well it will only get worse won't it"

"Yes I know how you feel but it can't go on like this, what if he saw you with someone else you were meeting as a friend, what do you think his reaction might be?"

"Well if you think it will help then yes I will come there"

"Perhaps your friends are right"

"Oh for heavens sake just tell him to piss off and get a bloody life!"

At which point in the conversation, son heads out of the room clutching phone in hand as I have just given him a very stern look about his language.

Apparently this is my 16 year old who is giving relationship advice to a friend, who happens to be a girl, who is having problems with her boyfriend who is behaving like a "pratt" (sons words not mine) telling her friends that they are not allowed to hug her as she is his property!, is being very demanding and by all accounts very controlling. She phones my son, her friend for advice on how to handle it because she wanted to know what he thought about it all from the male perspective.

needless to say he is not impressed.

They are 16 years old for Christs sake!

And my son is giving advice?

Ok I have to admit, good advice, dump him is exactly what I said when he later told me about the conversation.

But when did he get so worldly wise?

It has been busy today with one thing and another.

We went shopping to Hemel Hempstead for a change rather than into town. Usual breakfast in their Debenhams which was a lot nicer than we get at the one in town. Hubby promised to buy me at least two tops as he felt like spending some money but bought me this in Debenhams instead

What was great about it was it was from the Betty Jackson Designer range and I managed to get into a size 16 so well chuffed with that!

Then we went into Monsoon, which I shouldn't have done really, as I saw lots in there I wanted to buy but alas, very little money and as we all know Monsoon is incredibly expensive! So I have promised myself a treat next payday!

Supposed to be doing some housework now, needless to say I am on here instead lol!

Hope you all have a good day

hugs xxxx

Have a fantastic day

Hugs xxxxxxx

It has felt like a very long and stressful week.

I am so glad today is Friday, a day I can have to myself to play catch up rather than worrying about what is or isn't happening around me, at work or home.

Unfortunately, today it decides it will be a wet Friday, so part of my plans to have a nice long walk somewhere, taking my camera with me, are now on the back burner. I don't like the thought of going out when it is wet, especially when, despite it being cold, we have had beautiful sunshine all week!

That's life I suppose, never goes according to plan does it!

I feel shattered this morning, after dropping Richard off at school I may go back to bed for a couple of hours, then again that won't get the washing and the housework done will it. Doing the housework will at least keep my mind of things for a little while though so I suppose I should do that instead lol!

One thing that I was disgusted with this morning though as I lay in bed listening to the radio, was this news story. Whatever your feelings are about the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, why treat our service personnel in this way? They are not to blame, the Government is, so really these people that hurl abuse at them are doing it to the wrong people. It is appalling.

Right getting of my soapbox for now, better chuck some clothes on and start getting this house into some semblance of order lol

Have a good day

Hugs xxxx

Walk through the door this evening, arms loaded up with things I have bought home from work that need doing tonight, eldest son comes downstairs, peers into the dining hall and says

"He is still breathing"

then walks away.

"Who is?" I inquire thinking son has bought home another waif and stray from school who is probably dying in my dining room and should I be panicking?

"Barney" he says

"What?"

"Barney is at the bottom of the cage" he says and walks off.

So dumping my gear, issuing orders to him to make me a cup of tea (which I am still waiting for) I walk over to the cage to see feathers everywhere, a canary (Barney) laying on the floor looking like he is having a fit, when I notice that one of his feet seems to be caught by his beak. So I reach in, take him out of the cage, remove foot that seems to have been caught in the feathers, clean off the blood by the beak and cut his claws which have grown considerably in a very short time since they were last cut.

"Don't you are killing him" shouts eldest son "Dad said to leave him"

"I couldn't leave him in that state his foot was caught" shouts I at him, "Gawd only knows how long he has been like that"

Once his claws were clipped, and he was cleaned up I noticed that his heartbeat was slowing.

"s***" says I, "Get your father on that phone now!"

"He's dying?"

"Yes" though by this time he had gone.

Cue youngest child who has a major crying fit over a bird he barely looked at. Eldest child helps me to wrap him up in preparation for burying him where our old dog lies in the garden, which hubby will do when he gets home from work.

"What do you think it was?" asks eldest.

"Shock probably, he never did like having his claws cut, he always acted as though he was having an epileptic fit when you did them, think this was the one thing that killed him in the end" says I.

So our canary is no more. We have had him for 16 years. Hubby bought him for me, for my birthday, 16 years ago. To this day I have no idea why he thought I would want a canary, I had a dog and a baby to look after and I am not fond of caged birds, neither do I like birds flying round me. Lovely in the garden not at home.

The finches are very quiet, huddled together in the corner of the cage, heads bowed as though they are paying their respects.

I will miss him in a way. He always used to sit looking through the bars of the cage when I was on the computer, singing away to the music that came from the computer speakers. I will miss him taking a bath and showering me with water.

But I will make hubby promise not to replace him, can't have that now can we

Have a fantastic birthday hun.

Hugs xxxxxxxx

Believe me that picture is a lot happier and brighter than I am feeling at the moment lol!

The sun is shining, but it is cold outside as I found to my cost as I dashed to the shops this morning. The children had eaten everything I had kept aside for their sandwiches, not helped by a 16year old who couldn't remember where his school trousers were - duh! try the ironing basket - maybe if you had ironed them they would be in your wardrobe I said in my most sarcastic voice!

So you can imagine the chaos that reigned in this house this morning!

I am now sipping away at a lovely cup of tea before I do some tidying up and head out of the door to be at work at 11. My life is just full of fun - not!

right now to decide what to take for lunch lol!

Have a good day

hugs xxxx

Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs .... Who arranged a running competition.

The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower.

A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants....

The race began....

Honestly,no one in crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower.

You heard statements such as:

'Oh, WAY too difficult!!'

'They will NEVER make it to the top.'

Or:

'Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!'

The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one....

Except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher....

The crowd continued to yell, 'It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!'

More tiny frogs got tired and gave up....

But ONE continued higher and higher and higher....

This one wouldn't give up!

At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!

THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?

A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal?

It turned out....

That the winner was DEAF!!!!

The wisdom of this story is:

Never listen to other people's tendencies to be negative or pessimistic.... Because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you -- the ones you have in your heart!

Always think of the power words have.

Because everything you hear and read will affect your actions!

Therefore:

ALWAYS be....

POSITIVE!

And above all:

Be DEAF when people tell YOU that you cannot fulfill your dreams!

Always think:

God and I can do this!

Pass this message on to 5 'tiny frogs' you care about.

Give them some motivation!!!

Most people walk in and out of your life......
But FRIENDS leave footprints in your heart!

In two days tomorrow will be yesterday. Today is no special day and I have no particular reason for writing to you... I have no news to tell you.... Nor any problems to discuss with you.... Or gossip to tell you... It's only one of those happy moments... When I thought of you... And I would like to share these thoughts with you...

MANY SMILES BEGIN BECAUSE OF ANOTHER SMILE...

Ok I have an ordinary mp3 player.

like most I like to listen to an album before I decide to buy, or at least a few songs.

I tunes, last time I looked, wasn't compatible with mp3 players.

What is compatible with windows media player? Where can I download music for MP3 legally?

Can't afford and ipod or zen just yet though I have given off enough hints to family for my birthday (that and a ds for brain training lol )

Anyone know?

Thanks

First of all to all my friends that are mothers

So today, my son's bought me a lovely orchid for Mother's day with a lovely card as well. Hubby made me a lovely bacon and egg Ciabatta for breakfast (which was really lunchtime by the time i got out of bed and we had been to Sainsburys for all the necessary items ).

Just chilling now, playing some music and catching up with all that I have missed so far.

hope you are having a good day

hgus xxx