Spread your wings and fly away

My maths exam.

So pleased.

Only a moment of sheer panic when I saw one question and throught WHAT??????????????? took me ages to work it out but at least I PASSED! Can now breath a sigh of relief and start concentrating on the next hurdle - HLTA course lol

Just stopped studying to say many thanks for the birthday wishes yesterday.

Tried to reply to most of them but connection is a little slow lol!

Anyway I had a great day and fortunately the rain held off for our trip out. Will write about it once I have sorted out the photos lol!

Oh I have a new subscriber not sure who it is could you make yourself known to me please if you are ewi_williams? Don't want to delete anyone I do know I just don't recognise the email otherwise you will be deleted lol!

Anyway thanks again for the birthday wishes yesterday including the one from the powers that be at blogland it was much appreciated.

Hugs to you all

xxx

From HERE

In 1990, NASA launched the Hubble Telescope, to facilitate the viewing of the dark places in our universe. So...

1. Do you believe in Life On Other Planets?
Yes. there must be we can't be the only planet to be inhabited

2. If you met an ET, how would you feel?
Interested

3. Do you believe that Mankind belongs among the stars?
It is a big universe so why not explore however I have issues with being told not to fly due to global warming if they keep sending space ships up!

4. Do you think we will colonise another planet in your lifetime?
No at least i hope not because you can see how that will develop

5. Would you be prepared to accept the challenge of being a colonist on another planet, with all the possible hardships involved?
They wouldn't want me so that won't be an issue lol

Just because I am bored so took this from GilreanH.

1. When showering, do you start the water and then get in, or get in then start the water?

Before

2. Do you read the labels on your shampoo bottle?

No

3. Do you moan in the shower like the people on the Herbal Essences commercial?
No though I may sing occasionally

4. Have you ever showered with someone of the opposite sex?

Yes.

5. Have you ever been forced to shower with one of your siblings?

No we only had baths

6. Have you ever brushed your teeth in the shower?

No

7. Have you ever dropped your soap on your foot?

No.

8. How old do you look?

Depends on how I feel at the time at the moment 42

9. How old do you act?

20

10. What's the last song you sang?
sober by pink along with the song on the radio

11. Have you recently become a member of anything?

No

12. What are your plans for the weekend?

Go to the St. George's day festival at Wrest park

13. Do you kiss with your eyes open or closed?

Closed.

14. What's the sexiest thing about Condoleeza Rice?

Errr sorry haven't got the foggiest idea dont find anything sexy about her

15. Does anything on your body itch right now?
Yes my back

16. Who's the sexiest famous woman alive?

no idea hubby says Mila Jovovich

17. Who's the sexiest famous man alive?

Hugh Jackman is one of many

18. Does every family have a crazy uncle?

No i don't

19. Have you ever smuggled something into your home country?
No

20. Does playing the guitar make a girl/guy more attractive?

Yes

21. Do you live in a city with a good sports team?

No

22. Have you ever finished off the popcorn and ate the junk from the bottom of the bag?

no don't like popcorn just air isn't it

23. Have you ever had sex in a tent? 24. What about in a boat? 25. Have you ever dated a Goth? 26. Can you fix your own car?

No, no, no, no.

27. Are you a beach person or a snowy mountain person?

BEACH!

28. If money were not a problem, where would you like to live?
Anywhere where Gordon Brown couldn't tax me!

29. Soft bed or firm?

Firm

30. Last thing received in the mail?
Catalogue bill

So here I am dressed in red and white with my St George cross on as well.

Why?

Well at work we celebrate everything, Eid, Diwali, Christmas, chinese New Year etc etc. Even American Independence day was celebrated because we have a member of staff who is American! However St Patrick's day wasn't mentioned except by one member of staff who is Irish and made a fuss by bringing in a selection of Irish food into work, so a few of us have rebelled and decided that St George will be celebrated, by dressing in red and white and wearing the St George Cross somewhere (mine is an actual cross necklace though lol ).

So as I believe that we should celebrate it as a nation, I am leaving now wishing you all a happy St George's day whatever you may be doing

I have to admit I have a slight obsession about vampires. I enjoy watching vampire films, read most of Anne Rice's novels and so it was no surprise to anyone in my family when I said I wanted to see this film. However before I had a chance to go and see it, it was no longer showing in cinemas. Many of my friends who had seen it raved about it. My own son said he had to read the book after watching the movie.

I have a theory about books that people rave about and films for that matter. They are usually a huge disappointment when you come to read them. I have read so many great reviews about this book that I really was hesitant to buy it to read for myself. It couldn't be that good.

I, was also a bit dubious about reading a book about teenage love, ok watching a film is slightly different, but a book about high school kids - I'm in my forties please! So in the bookshop at the weekend, there was me flicking through the book and before you knew it I was walking out of the shop after paying for it (of course) and dying to get home to put my feet up to read it.

Unfortunately it wasn't until the next day I could actually start reading it and apart from a short break in which to have the quickest shower ever known to man, and a short conversation with my mum on the phone, I didn't put the book down. It had me hooked from the first lines. It is a well written piece of fiction, thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. I really enjoyed reading it and yes most of the hype about it is to be believed. I admit it left me wanting more when I read the last lines, so obviously had to go out and buy the rest of the series!

Can't wait to see the film version now, will have to order the DVD when I get paid, only hope it is as good as the book now!

Last day of the holidays today as I am not able to attend the inset course as my son is still off from school and I have no childminder. So back to school tomorrow to try and see what I haven't done during the holidays that I should have done but couldn't be bothered.

What I have done though is declutter a house, spring clean, sorted out clothes and given them to charity and now I am feeling good about that if nothing else.

I have also read three books - one in a day as it was totally unputdownable.

I want to stay at home.

I don't want to go to work.

Sats are looming, HLTA course looms and a maths exam.

Can see I will need to stock up on wine!

Have a good day xx

1. My ex... I cannot abide and have my reasons for feeling that way

2. Maybe I should... do some exercise

3. I love ..... my family and friends

4. People would say..... that I have an infectious laugh

5. I don't understand...... why everyone is making such a fuss of the girl on Britain's got talent, ok I haven't seen it, but why do people have to go overboard?

6. When I wake up in the morning.....I hear the birds singing

7. I trust ....my husband

8. Life is ..... too short for regrets

9. My past......taught me to trust my instincts

11. Parties .... are only good if you really know the people attending

13. Dogs....are funny, and always make me laugh

14. Cats are .... loners

15. Tomorrow is..... Sunday and I am on my own with the kids

16. I have ... to do some exercise soon!

17. If I had a million pounds..... I could pay my mortgage and buy my bedroom furniture

18. I'm terrified of....... losing the people that I love

19. When I look at the night sky.... I look at the moon and smile

20. If I could be anyone it would be... me still I am unique

21. God is .....misused for man's greed

22. One thing I want to do before I die....... is make sure my children are secure and happy

23. I hate people who.....lie to get where they are or what they want

24. If I had a superpower it would be.... to cure the world's ills

Oh and just to make my day complete.......

Driving home earlier, on the roundabout turning right, man on a cycle pulls out in front of me causing me to break sharply.

He gets off his bike and taps on window.

Man: You weren't paying attention you had me off my bike

Me: Err no actually you pulled out in front of me. According to the highway code you make sure no one is coming from the right on a roundabout.

Man: I can book you. I will let you off for now, next time I will book you for not paying due care and attention

Me: I have a better idea, hop into the car and we will drive to the police station to sort this out or shall I phone them now?

Man: I am letting you go this time. (he gets on his bike and rides off)

I resisted the temptation of shouting after him a few choice words, he was at fault not me, he pulled out in front of me.

Oh did I mention he was one of these 'special' policemen? He seems to be the local community bobby - I am assuming as he was approaching from the local estate up the road from me he had been doing his rounds! Shame I didn't get his number to report him!

I am so fed up.

We have had someone round to measure and design our bedroom in the hope that we can get more storage space up there. My clothes are now encroaching on Nigels space in his wardrobe, let alone a few dresses that are hanging up on the back of one of my son's doors. The previous occupants put in fitted wardrobes that are so tiny there is very little space and the room is constantly cluttered - this is even after chucking out 12 bags of clothes and filling a recycling bin up with crap!

Anyway designer from one of the showrooms came round, got out his laptop, measured up and designed the room which was lovely, using the cheapest furniture they do and it still came to just over £6000 totally out of our price range! Can't afford the finance plan so that is that really. Looks like I will have to put up with the clutter and lack of space a while longer!

Now looking at plain wardrobes but even to get good quality ones are out of our price range a little. Will have to look around - Ikea here we come I think!

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

Just to add to the depressing day which did nothing but rain, I got up to a house that looked like a bomb had hit it. So fed up with people who think the fairies visit to tidy away. Apart from getting up to find last night's dishes still needed washing which I wasn't happy about, my husband filled a carrier bag with paperwork that needed to be shredded and dumped it by the shredder - when I complained about it he told me to chill - not happy afterall why couldn't he bloody well shred them in the first place!

Damm it enough moaning when others have so much more serious things to worry about mine is due to PMT!

Disappearing now before I lose anymore friends - who is it that has disappeared this time?

Hugs xx

From here

1. Did they really go to the moon or was it all filmed at the BBC studios in Shepherds Bush?
Probably did get there

2. Just how you would feel wearing an astronaut's suit and have to wee down a tube?
I am claustrophobic so think I will give it a miss.

3. What would you miss most while floating about on the Space Station for a month?
My bed

4. Would you pay to be one of the first space tourists?
No.

5. Have you seen a rocket launch for real? How awesome was it?
No

Well that was done in a jiffy lol

Thought this was appropriate as I am about to wander outside to drop eldest son into town:

Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet. ~Roger Miller

It is raining here.

Pouring down.

A sharp contrast to the weather yesterday, where the sun shone and if not careful one got a very red nose!

I took the boys out, in the afternoon, to enjoy the sun and to have a break from the endless revision for various exams that are looming. We went here which the boys found fascinating. There are so many things to see and do here, gardens to walk around - italian garden, period garden, herb and medicinal, Elizabethan knot garden etc etc, play areas for the children, which being the holidays meant it was packed! A history museum of the area with the usual archaeological findings, and the Mossman collection which is mainly a transport museum. There was an area that was the history of the house that used to stand on the site as well as a history of the surrounding area - eldest found this quite fascinating!

It was a good afternoon out and got the boys out in some fresh air which they seem to have an aversion to lol

Knot Garden

Crest of Catherine of Aragon

Romany Caravan

Hive

Twisted

There isn't a day that goes by when I thank my lucky stars that I we got together when we did hun, thank you for saving me:

And yes life is good no matter how hard we have it, because we have each other.

here

Happy Easter to everyone don't eat too much chocolate will you lol!

As for me I spent easter tidying, cleaning and sorting/decluttering our conservatory. It is only small but it was a total mess. Over the last year it has become a dumping ground so needed to be sorted and cleaned badly. I took down the curtains and washed them overnight but they won't go up as we have decided to put blinds up. We did look into this when the conservatory was built but it was way out of our budget so we will look into it again maybe do it all ourselves who knows.

Just come back from having a lovely meal at the local Beefeater. One of our dogs needed several teeth out in the week so we had saved up for it only to find it didn't cost as much as we had budgeted for. He had eight teeth out altogether so after putting a small portion of the amount back into the savings account decided to spend the rest on an Easter meal as it has been a while since we have been out as a family. Feel stuffed now lol!

Not much else to report going to settle down with a lovely cup of tea now!

Have a good evening

1. How many Easter Eggs have you got already?
None

2. Will you go to church over the Easter period?
No

3. When you think of Easter what is your first thought?
Time off from work

4. What is your favourite chocolate? White, milk, dark?
I like good quality white chocolate, enjoy milk if it has fruit and nut in it, dark chocolate gives me migraines

5. Did you give anything up for Lent?
No.

Here

If you live in Kensworth

By some fields

Have two pit bull terriers that are allowed to run free

Allowed to attack other dogs, particulary those on leads while you turn a blind eye and walk away

While the owners of the dogs are trying their hardest to pull them off their dog who is squealing

While you walk away

If you are the person who then threatens to set the dogs on other people if they come near you despite the fact they only wanted to tell you what your dog has done

But you are irresponsible aren't you

You shouldn't have dogs

You shouldn't be allowed to have them

You should also thank your lucky stars that the owners of the dogs yours attacked have decided to take no action because if I had my way then the police would have been informed and I would have made sure you were prosecuted and charged particularly after the threats you made

I hope the next set of dogs your dogs attack the owners do take action against you and you suffer as much as my Inlaws have after their dog was attacked. At the very least you should have had the vets bill sent to you.

Not that you care but the dog is ok just very, very sore after having his flesh ripped from his sides

You bastards!

George Santayana:

A child educated only at school is an uneducated child.

How many times have we heard parents say "It's the schools fault"

I ask this only because on the radio today a mother, who has a pregnant 13 year old child, uttered those very words to the amazement of the presenter - "It's the school's fault, they didn't give her any sex education."

Working in a school myself I see those children who's parents will willingly lay anything at the school doors. It is the schools fault that they failed their exams. It is the school's fault that their child is being bullied (9 out of 10 times the child is the bully). and on it goes. Then there are the parents who see it as their duty to keep their child informed. They do anything to make sure their children are well rounded, take them on trips, read to them, make sure homework is done, so on and so forth.

In a world that is so materialistic, people often forget that children need to be nurtured, need to be talked to to learn about the important things in life.It is easy to let them watch the telly all day or play the playstation xbox etc, and believe me I am just as guilty as the next person of doing that. However I do believe that one of the reasons that my sons are good in company is because we talk. We are open with them. We have discussed sex with them, if they ask questions we answer as openly and honestly as possible. We talk about the day they have had and they will often ask after ours. WE help with homework, we go on trips, we discuss things that they are interested in even if it bores us to tears.

Children learn by example. They learn from people around them. They learn how to act, what to do and how to treat others by how their peers, parents and if they are lucky to have one nearby, their extended family. To blame just the school is wrong, we need to look at ourselves as parents, how we behave towards our children and how we behave towards others. Raising children is not easy. It would be nice if they came with a manual, unfortunately they don't. Once they get to the teenage years they are nigh on impossible to reason with if they haven't had a good grounding in their early years. Going back to my earlier question I don't think it is the school's responsibility to teach children about sex, I do think, no matter how embarrasing the subject, the parents should take responsibility for it as well. I have two sons, they talk openly to me about sex because we have always been open and honest with them when they have asked questions. We discussed wet dreams with them, they know about girls having periods, they know about contraception and they also know that getting a girl pregnant is your responsibility as well as the girl, not mine. They also know that getting into trouble with school, police etc will not mean I will automatically defend them, they will be in serious trouble with me. However they know that I will listen to both sides of the story that yes they are likely to be in trouble with me as well as they have learnt that every action has a consequence and they need to deal with it.

I am not perfect, far from it, but I do believe that talking to your children and building a relationship with them is important. After all they learn from so many sources shouldn't they learn from their parents how to behave in life rather than be taught it by whoever is in school?

As this African proverb says

It takes a village to raise a child.

Funny Thought for the Day - Inner Strength

* If you can start the day without caffeine Funny thought for the day
* If you can get going without pep pills
* If you can always be cheerful ignoring aches and pains
* If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles
* If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it
* If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time
* If you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you when through no fault of yours something goes wrong
* If you can take criticism and blame without resentment
* If you can ignore a friend's limited education and never correct him
* If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend
* If you can face the world without lies and deceit
* If you can conquer tension without medical help
* If you can relax without liquor thought for day
* If you can sleep without the aid of drugs
* .....Then You Are Probably The Family Dog!

And yes I do expect I will get slated for posting this but I really don't care. Parky says it so well here

Oh and don't get me started on the latest news of erecting a statue in her honour! here

So there was I this morning, deciding that as the sun was shining I will get out of bed and put the washing on.

I collected all the whites together in a nice neat pile and decide that I will put my dressing gown in as well. Load up the machine, play on here for a little bit and then go out to hang out the washing when it was finished.

I, as yet, to my shame, have not got dressed or showered. I have on a fetching little number, a short nightdress that covers what needs to be covered up quite well. It is in a nice fetching gypsy style that hubby says resembles me wearing a short dress to bed rather than a nightie. In fact he was convinced I was going slightly madder than I am already by wearing a dress to bed!

Anyway, as I said, I decided to hang the washing out, we are not overlooked and we only have one neighbour, who as it is a weekday, will be at work so I am relatively safe in that no one will see me.

Alas I didn't account for the fact that there was a gust of wind that caught the bottom of my nightie and lifted it up just as the neighbour had popped into his garden! Oh the shame!!

It is a good job I remembered to put some knickers on otherwise I would have been totally humiliated!

bloody weather!

And on that note I am now going to hide in embarrassment and attempt to get some of my dignity back!

Saw this and it made me smile

Have a good day everyone x

Day one of the holidays saw me spending the best part of it shredding and recycling old letters, documents no longer required, clearing out a cupboard in the dining room and filling it up again, removing the rubbish that had accumulated on the coffee table and the table in the conservatory and the table in the dining room which no one thinks of ever removing just dumping there instead.

I hope I haven't got the dates wrong and the recycling men come this week as the bin is now full - can't get anything else in there!

Still have the rest of the conservatory to sort out but will see to that later in the week. Have tomorrow planned out, going to dust and hoover everywhere and spring clean the kitchen cupboards. For now though I am going to give it all a rest, done enough for today.

Need to weigh in at fat club and discover how much I have put on and then drop eldest off at his mates house as they are both bored to tears. Doesn't help that I will have to pick him up again at some unearthly time! Still better safe than sorry especially as his mate lives the other side of town

Right signing off to make myself presentable for going out even if it is to the scout hut to be weighed lol!

Have a good evening

While I was attempting to declutter downstairs, I was clearing out a cupboard when I came across a book that a friend gave me one Christmas, all about friendship. There are some lovely quotes in there, from various sources, all of which tell us what friendship is really about.

I tend to be choosy who my friends are in real life. On here, there are many that I can associate with, who I gladly call a friend, those that share similar interests and those that I can be open with without causing offence and receiving none. Friendship is about helping one another, to be there when you are needed, to know when to take a step back. In real life I have a friend who I do not speak to for years, yet, when we are together, it is like we have never been apart. That is the important thing about true friendship.

I came across this quote at the beginning of the book by Alexander Smith:

The tide of friendship does not rise high on the banks of perfection. Amiable weaknesses and shortcomings are the food of love. It is from the roughness and imperfect breaks in a man that you are able to lay hold of him. .....My friends are not perfect - no more than I - and so we suit each other admirable. It is one of the charitable dispensations of Providence that perfection is not essential to friendship.

How true those words are.

My youngest child was bemoaning the fact that his friends do not seem to want to come and play with him. That though he likes the holidays his friends seem to want to play with others rather than him. As I look out of my window I see one of his friends playing with a child my son is not allowed to play with (I know cruel mother but I have my reasons - protection from his influences being one of them). I know the 'friend' will not want to know my son while this lad is his friend, so bad mother that I am I am not allowing my son to go out - he will get hurt as he did last year when this child caused so many problems. His friend only ever calls for my son when this other child is not around. that to me isn't friendship, friendship is inclusive not a convenience and yes, this child uses my son as and when he needs to.

I have told him not to worry. He is off to high school in September and that will give him a chance to make new friends, people that have the same interests that will take him for what he is and not for what they want.

My heart bleeds for him at times, I know what it is like to be alone, but we overcome these things eventually and even as we are older we may find it difficult to form friendships, we learn to value those we do have.