PS32

Promises promises

Have just realised quite how long I have neglected the blogging world....! So, am making a promise to myself to get back to it in the new year. For sure!

Happy holidays...!

PS31

PS30

PS29

How old?!

Well, that time has come! As hard as I find it to believe, the big 40 has finally caught up with me!! I am, today, officially 40! I have absolutely no idea how that happened!!

Last weekend saw 9 of us girlies heading to log cabins in the deep dark woods of Lincolnshire, with a lovely spa on tap! A great time of extending girly bonding was had over Wii Sing, Sex and the City, shopping, Christmas food fairs and relaxing in the pool! Not to mention copious amounts of alcohol (even for me!) and endless deliciously rubbish food.

Today, has been a quieter affair, but pleasant none the less, and I have been positively spoiled with presents. So, another year rolls by, and will hopefully bring with it a return to some of the adventures of my youth. I can certainly feel a mid-life crisis tap tapping on my shoulder, and am half expecting to go completely off the rails at any moment!

PS28

PS27

PS26

PS25

PS24

Happy Birthday ATM!

PS23

PS22

PS21

PS20

One down

Well, thats it! The iconic time has come, and this morning saw myself and Y driving to the University of East Anglia for Y to start his 3 year degree in Computing Science. It was less emotional than I thought it would be, I think I have got all my stress out of the way in the run up to it, and by the time it finally came I was just glad to get all the piles of uni stuff out of my front room and kitchen, and also glad to be able to get into his bedroom and give it a good clean and sort out!

So, one of my children has flown the nest, and it feels like it won't be many years until X is joining her brother (although it is still another 7!!), and I will begin to be free again. When that time comes I might just jack it all in and travel the world!

PS19

PS18

PS17

PS16

PS15

18!!

I am now officially old enough to have an adult son!

Happy 18th Birthday Y!

PS14

Summer fun

Where does the time go? The last few weeks seem to have been a whirlwind of carnivals, lazy weekends, work ridicule and the culmination of all by a visit this week to Glee live in good old London town!!! Yay. I love Glee!!

I am sure there is more to tell - not least an overnighter with JB (although no funny business and things are now back to their usual ways - perhaps with slightly more contact!) but frankly it is bloody hot, and I can't be arsed!

The wonders of the internet

I am conscious that according to my blog DM has not made an appearance or impact in my life since sometime in the earlier half of 2010. That is not strictly true, in fact not true at all, but I have wanted to leave an appropriate period of time so that I can bury this post back where it belongs, and not feel that comment or judgement will be made on it.

There has been some minor contact earlier this year, around June time but the exact timing escapes me, (which is probably a good thing and says much about how far I've come!) He suddenly friend requested me on Facebook - quite out of the blue, although it may have had something to do with a blogging post (I am pretty sure he still checks in occasionally - probably to see if I'm still posting about him, which, I'm not - or haven't been until now!!!). It took me a little by surprise and it took me a few days to decide what to do about it (which probably says much about how far I haven't come!), but eventually, if only out of curiosity, I accepted him. I think that really I didn't want him to think it was a big deal, although, truth be told, it kind of was!

To be honest, he doesn't really use it very much (although I am writing this today (25.2.12) and he has just posted a picture of the wife and dog, which, even after all this time, is still enough to fuck me right off!!), and as I have seen the wedding photos months ago (its amazing what you can find on the internet these days!) there hasn't been much on there to worry about. Its odd though. It's something I am conscious of, and I couldn't help but post a little post that I knew he would understand and that I hope makes his wife just think a little....

PS13

>

PS12

Playtime, or not!

The sun is shining. I have no X. And I want to go out and play!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually, revise that. I want to go out and play with JB!

Actually, revise that. I want to go out and then stay in and play with JB!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my 11 year old X. Currently holidaying and partying in France with Lily and family. Though appearing to be managing without me perfectly fine!

Have you missed me?

I am still alive, just not inspired to blog.

Life is toooooooooooo dull!

That said, I have been out and about, here there and everywhere, lol. Just nothing interesting enough to report on.

May life pick up shortly....

PS11

Beautiful South - I'll Sail This Ship Alone

An oldie, but an oh so goody!!!!

Cheeky

I'm having a cheeky day off from work today - ssssh! Not completely skiving mind you!! I'm meant to be at Uni learning the delights of Uni dissertation preparation, and to be honest they're two lectures that I quite wanted to go to. But.... Uni is so far away and I have to get up sooooooo early to get there on time and I just hate getting up early in the morning! Its bad enough on a normal day!!

However, I have a legitimate excuse (kind of) to miss today as the crown came off my tooth last night while chewing a stick of rock! Goddamn thing - just popped off. So, I had to miss Uni to ring and make a dentist appointment, which unfortunately is at 5pm this evening. So, alas I shall just have to spend the day at home - doing very litte, hehehe.

Don't tell the boss though!

PS10

I'm only bloody human!

I am feeling really, really grumpy!!

Pictures of gorgeous photographers (on holiday in NYC no less) and an evening out with JB, do not a content and calm OG make!

I really, really need to get drunk and laid! And not necessarily in that order!!

One door closes...

Its official. H is in a long term, loving relationship! Dang it!

Good job JB has arrived back on the scene to titillate me...!

H update

Well, better update on H, my photographer I suppose. In brief, he is a) quite lovely, b) pretty bloody easy on the eye, c) very up for working on my project with me, d) attached!

Well, he hasn't said as much (I couldn't quite squeeze the question in, lol), but in all honesty I'm pretty sure from the stalking that he is not single - although I find it odd that his girlfriend (according to my sleuthing) is not one of his friends on Facebook, although she is on Facebook. Weird? Maybe not!

Anyway, unfortunately I suspect he will only be a crush from afar, and with my relationship karma I am certainly not pursuing anything that is going to push me even further down the relationship food chain, that is for sure!

Bloody pity though!

PS9

I love a good wedding!

Well, sucker as I am for a good wedding, the royal one has been an excellent opportunity to revel in the romantic for a few hours, and revel I did.

We have been off visiting again, and have spent the last four days in Lincoln with my sister and hubby, and the entirety of Friday was taken up with the Royal Wedding (yip yip), which I had intended to watch only partly, but in reality the telly went on about 10am when we all got up and stayed on until about 2.30pm when it was all over!! We did then drag ourselves off the sofa to a nearby village for a quaint, quintessentially English village party - including the obligatory hog roast, wooden skittles and huge musical organ van. Fabulous darling!! The day was also made particularly thrilling by the fact that the aeroplanes that did the flyover at Buckingham Palace took off from the RAF airbase where my sister's hubby is based, and we saw them take off from literally just over the field from us! I was quite embarrasingly excited by that event I have to say!

Saturday saw me slightly less like an excited child as we headed off to Lincoln for the day, and we had a nice relaxing time looking around the Cathedral, combined with a bit of wandering the old Lincoln cobbled streets and requisite posh shops including the most cluttered antique shop I've ever seen, not to mention the most gorgeous handmade chocolates shop, before a visit to the more modern part of the city which resulted in the purchase of no less than 13 books in a wonderful (and very cheap) book shop, and the ending of the day in excited child status again!

The seaside beckoned on Sunday, and despite the very breezy (Skegness is so bracing) seafront I insisted on us all walking along the beach for a good way before the pier, the arcades and the candy floss stalls came calling! Fish and chips were eaten, rock was bought, 2pences were cashed in by the pocketful, and we finished the day with a walk back along the windy seafront once again.

So now, both long weekends are over and back to work and reality tomorrow, which is frankly rubbish!

PS8

Not so good friday

Happy Easter all!

I've had a lovely bank holiday; lazing this morning, visiting Lily this afternoon, saying goodbye to X until Sunday, reading in the sunshine, and now enjoying the peace and quiet and catching up on tv.

That said, I'm so much more in the mood for misbehaving!! So much for Good Friday eh?! Though as there is no misbehaving to be done, I guess I will have to be good after all...!

Crush

I have a new crush!

It's been brewing for a while, and has started in that inimitable way of cyber stalking, lol. Me, not him.

Anyway, after some successful stalking, and some very creative thinking in terms of getting in touch, I am due to meet him at work tomorrow (for a work thing). Hopefully he is as lovely in the flesh as on the screen.

Although I think he may be seeing someone. And he may be 12 years younger than me! Yah boo! Time will tell though, eh, and it's still the fun of the crush :-)

Home again

Well, we have returned from our short sojourn to the wonderful Clacton on Sea, and I say that in a completely non-ironic way as it was actually really lovely.

We were staying on a holiday park not far away in St Osyth, and were expecting a caravan only to arrive and find we had been allocated a little detached bungalow/chalet! Not the most auspicious of properties, but certainly good enough for our little stay. Spent the first afternoon/evening wandering around the campsite, strolling along the seafront, nipping into the clubhouse, and generally getting our bearings, before a relatively early night after the days travelling.

Saturday dawned bright and beautiful so we decided to bite the bullet and head for Clacton itself, which was a great call. The beach is great and the pier is huge, and the actual seafront is really pretty, it was much better than I expected and nicer than many typical seaside towns. We spent a great day there, with gorgeous sunshine on the beach and then a fabulous time in the funfair part, with X getting her groove on the trampoline thingies and the mini water Zorbs. Watching Bridey on the jungle top type climb thingy will probably go down in history as one of my funniest times, although possibly one of her traumatic times! The evening was topped off with a night in the clubhouse playing bingo (we didn't win!) and watching the cheesy entertainment whilst I introduced Bridey to the delights of Cherry Lambrini! A slightly drunken couple of mum's, and 3 sober kids headed to bed late, after a good time by all!

Sunday brought with it a little more cloud so we headed to the inside swimming pool for the morning, which was good, although slightly disappointingly the log flume wasn't in action, and after deciding not to shower before swimming I then forgot the shampoo/conditioner/shower gel needed to shower after! However, the sun started to come out as we were leaving, so after a quick shower back at the pad it was time to hit the outdoor play area and the sunshine, and a few hours later the kids (the bigger two anyway) were back in the swimming pool, although this time the outdoor one! Yes, in England, in April!!! Another relatively quiet evening, after an hour of discoing in the clubhouse, as we were visiting Colchester Zoo the next day before the long drive home.

So off we set on Monday, getting to the Zoo just as the weather picked up, and had a fabulous time there. The zoo is absolutely gorgeous, and both of us felt it was probably the best one we'd been to. The animals all had great pens and enclosures, lots of which you could actually walk through and if the animals were close they were close! It really felt very interactive, and despite being really busy was clean both in the enclosures and out. I would definitely recommend it for anybody who is going to be in that part of the world! We stayed until about 5pm before setting off for home (via McDonalds) and enjoyed every minute of it.

All I need to do now is pick up the bags from where we dropped them when we came in, empty them, get a long bath and an early night before work again tomorrow...!

PS7

Seaside

Pray for good weather this weekend folks! X and I are off to a cheap deal caravan by the seaside near Clacton on Sea tomorrow, along with Bridey and her two in tow! I'm looking forward to it, although I'm a little concerned about having to share a caravan with a 15mth old for four days! I feel ear plugs to prevent the early mornings may be in order!

It will be nice to get away though, even if the weather doesn't favour us (although please don't let it rain all weekend!), as long as it's nice enough to get on the beach for a few hours a day, to eat chips on the pier, and to get some fresh sea air in our lungs that will be just fine with me!

PS6

Butterfly

I have been out socialising for the start of a hectic weekend of being a social butterfly this week, and have just got in from a party to Smiler and Mrs Smilers this evening, to say farewell as he has rejoined the Army and is off to Afghanistan for 6 months on Wednesday! It was nice that there were quite a lot of us there, so a good time was had by all and it was great that he got to have a good bash with his mates and leave feeling all popular and loved.

Tomorrow night its girly night in the OG household, and the celebration (albeit alittle belatedly) of Spring at last! Cocktails and cupcakes are planned, along with much gossiping girlies! I'm looking forward to it, though I think X might be looking forward to it even more! Even though she isn't really invited, lol. I will let her host for an hour or so before hooshing her off to her room though - I'm not a completely mean Mummy!

After all that late night partying, the weekend is rounding off with a Sunday afternoon at Bridey's, with dinner supplied for me - always a bonus - and if the weather holds, it will no doubt be an afternoon in the garden to boot. I'll need another weekend to get over this one at this rate!

Well I never

I've been off work today, feeling a little off colour, and have made the most of the time by watching back to back recorded True Blood Series 3, and I have to say, strangely, it seems to have been particularly full of male snogging, which, also strangely, I have found most enjoyable!

PS5

Getting my rocks off

I was, indeed, getting my rocks off last night - though, unfortunately, not in the way you may imagine! Ended up on a last minute trip to London, going to see Primal Scream at the Brixton Academy, which despite being an expensive ticketed venue, is undoubtedly a complete dive! That said, I do love a good dive, and it was good to be out and about doing something different to a usual weekend. I always forget how much I love live music until I go and see it, and then end up thinking "I must make sure I get to more gigs!", and invariably not getting round to it.

Last night was a bonus though, as I ended up being the driver (they were let down by someone last minute), and in return I got a free ticket to the gig, plus £50 petrol costs, so had a brilliant night out and made about £20 into the bargain! You really can't argue with that.

However, after a 4am bedtime and a 9am getting up time, I have to say my age is beginning to show, and today I managed to get all my jobs done this morning, including the shopping, just to ensure that I had nothing to do this afternoon but lay on the sofa (and have a little snooze!).

Jamie is due round later, and possibly Bea and mate, as I was originally holding a full girly evening tonight, which I'd already rescheduled but which left them with no plans for this evening, so it seems a mini girly evening was required! Which, to be honest I could do without as I'm fit for little other than pjs and telly, lol! Sure I will manage to get into it though, as long as they don't stay all bloody night...!

PS4

There's been a mudder!

Well, after a week that included 2 clients being sectioned, 1 client being recalled to prison, 1 client being raped, oh, and the mere problem of the complete collapse of our drug provision, (not to mention all the usual humdrum!), a night out being a murder suspect (fortunately exonerated in the end - although my delightfully charming mates made the most of not only nominating me as a "suspicious person" but also by asking some most embarrassing questions whilst I was in the line up!) was just what was needed.

There was a short time where the lights went out and I was slightly freaking out with my fingers in my ears going "I don't like bangs, don't let anybody shoot a gun near me!", like the easily spooked big baby that I am, lol, but fortunately it only lasted a very short while and it was an enjoyable night. Though I am obviously no Poirot as I got the motives all right but the mudderer wrong!

So, having decided to come home straight from the Murder Mystery due to a slightly dodgy tummy (hopefully not the arsenic poisoning that finished the hotel manager "Debra" off a few hours ago!), I am off to bed with Stieg and his final offering, in the fabulous knowledge that for the second Sunday in a row, X is sleeping out (at Daddy's this time!) and I can wake when I wish in the morning and continue more of the same - perhaps with a bacon and egg sandwich thrown in for good measure.

I could get used to this!

Labour and toil

I am so over work this week! I am just absolutely sick to death of it. Well, of bloody big wigs swooping in and messing up plans that have taken ages to get into place (as a result of other big wigs being complete arseholes!). It just amazes me that so-called professionals can behave the way some of them do and get away with it! I am just so fed up with it all.

On a good note, its Friday tomorrow. Yippee!! And Saturday brings a Murder Mystery night out in the local town with a few mates and the girls from work, which should be a good giggle, and will at least stand me in good stead for the continuing work hell to come!

PS3

A little bit of heaven

Ended up going to girly friends last night after all! Was a good night, and got into my bed about 2am with the wonderful knowledge that I could lie in for a bit in the morning as X was at Lily's. Woke up this morning to the even better news, via phone, that X was staying there all day.

So, I have had a lovely quiet day reading the second Stieg Larsson and eating marmite on toast in my pyjamas. I love Sundays.

TFIF

Phew, it has been one looooong week! It's Friday now though, woohoo, and I am relaxing in front of the tv looking forward to two days of doing very little! If you exclude the cleaning my house needs this weekend of course!

X is off to Lily's tomorrow afternoon, and sleeping over, and I am having the monthly girly night at mine tomorrow night after somebody cancelled at her place, which is even better for me as it means I don't even have to drive! I suspect the wine will be opened...

Good news this week, as my Y managed to pull off all A's in his Maths exams! Whoop whoop!! Every little helps towards a final A grade result!

Here's to Saturday...!

PS 2

I think it would be the most fabulous thing in the world to have somebody send something into PostSecret about me, although I'm far to cynical to believe it will ever happen!

Out and in

Bloody car! Engine light has come on, and so it has to go for a visit to garage tomorrow. Most annoying!!

On a lighter note, had a good day out yesterday to a space museum (oh I'm so cultured!) with X and Y and my newly reacquainted paternal cousin, as well as meeting my only paternal Uncle and Aunt for the first time for over 30 years. Was good - I particularly liked my Uncle, who was actually quite funny!

Today was spent relaxing, reading and looking at the housework thinking "I really ought to do that!" - or perhaps I should just get a boyfriend who loves cleaning and cooking!

Now its Facebook, cheesecake and Sex and the City on the telly. It's not a bad life :-)

Nada

Is having a pretty boring week. Sorry folks!

Scarey Days

For a short time this morning, I had one of the most horrible experiences of my life.

I received a phone call at 8am (always early for me!) from Tim (husband of Valerie, and groom in the Vegas wedding!), who I literally haven't spoken to since Vegas! He was calling to tell me about the massive earthquake in Christchurch, home of my bestie ATM, and that they hadn't been able to get a hold of her.

I tried to call myself, and then text asking for update, but fully expected that phones would be down so I didn't hold out much hope of hearing anything. I managed to keep it together to get X to her holiday club, but on the drive to work I just felt awful. It really was one of the worst hours of my life.

Eventually I was parked up, composed enough, and it was late enough (just in case she didn't know) to call her mum,. Thank goodness that she had heard from her that all was well, and that both ATM and hubby were safe and sound, although they have no power, no phones, etc, etc. The relief! I can't tell you!! I ended up in tears going into work, which I think was just the adrenaline release from the worry.

Much love to ATM and Mr ATM - which I really should say more often... though, I do have a hard ass reputation to uphold you know!

Update: Have received an email from them, and she sounds like the typical ATM that I know and love, so feeling much better! Although, lets hope there are no more bloody earthquakes - I really, really can't take the stress!!

Holidays are coming

I have discovered the wonders of the £10pppn holiday special offer! That, combined with some "spare" money from my car loan (which should have gone towards paying off a different loan, but hey ho, you only live once!), and no real holiday for far too long, has resulted in the need to book holidays this year.

To date, I have booked the following:

A long weekend in Clacton On Sea in April, with Bridey and her two.

Two weeks in the South of France in August, with Lily and family.

A short week in Walton on the Naze, in October half term.

Alongside that, Jamie is currently on the hunt for a cheap, cheap girly break for my 40th birthday (as NZ is not going to be an option this year!)

Yip yip for holidays this year!

Though if only my bestie from across the miles lived in Clacton, not New Zealand! Here's hoping for 2013 though...!

Beep Beep

Here's my new baby...

Fitting it in

I have had a non-stop day today!

Up at 9am to take Y bowling then home to make a start to a top to toe house clean, bath and hairwash supervision of X, 11am off to pick up new car with X, Sis and Bro-in Law, home at 2.30pm via KFC, out again at 3pm to take Y to train station to meet cousin and head off to Pokemon convention, short break then X off to her dads at 4pm, out again to take old car to garage, back at 6pm, pick up Y from train station at 6.30pm, come home and finish top to toe clean of house, welcome CJ for gossip, takeaway and wine at 8pm, say goodbye to CJ at 1am, and now a quick catch up on blog before off to bed knowing that I can have a lie in in the morning and have absolutely nothing to do tomorrow! Aside from a little shopping of course.

Phew - one heck of a Saturday!!

Wistful

I absolutely love the programme One Born Every Minute, its so lovely to see women, couples, families going through the trauma but joy of giving birth and all that goes with it.

The downside though, is that it makes me wistful to be a part of those couples whose moments are so preciously shared. Its times like these that I think being in love again might not be so bad after all.

Happy V Day

I have today bought a new car! A lovely silver 2005 plate Citroen C3 Pluriel.

Happy Valentines Day to me!

Buzzing and hungry

Has just got back from a night out dancing to funky music for Bea's birthday, which was alright but nothing superly spectacular. Am now at home too wired on caffeine overdose from the diet coke all night (I was driving, for a change!) and lack of food to sleep, but too tired (or lazy) to make myself something to eat. I should so have gone to the kebab shop on the way home!!

New day

Tomorrow is indeed another day! It's Friday, I am out tomorrow night for dancing and funky music in honour of Bea's birthday, and have just had a lovely chat with my bestie from across the miles!

Ah, life is grand!

Soft Cell - Say Hello Wave Goodbye

Enough now!

Sense

I need to sleep I think. Sleep. Forget. Regroup. Again.

Tomorrow is another day.

Sade - No Ordinary Love

I can't sleep it seems, and whilst the music should soothe, instead it seems to have inspired some dwelling, which is surely not a good idea. Not a good idea at all.

I guess it is better to believe I miss the idea of him, as it turned out I never really knew him after all...

Alison Moyet - Only You

Feeling musical tonight. This was all I ever needed. Those days seem so long gone now.

Billy Bragg - New England

Just love, love, love this....

Circle of Life

Well, after the sad demise of Dom Froggy on Friday, lo and behold nature showed that life and death are really two sides of the same coin, with the birth of 9 new little fishies on Monday! They are quick little blighters, so I only managed to capture a couple, and you will need to look closely!




In other news, my baby (X) has been to the orthodontist today and will be getting braces next week! At the grand old (or not!!) age of 10. Apparently they don't like to do it that early because its a big responsibility and then a lot of years to wear retainers afterwards, but the orthodontist thought she was older than she was, and had offered them to her before he realised. So, despite half an hour of anxiety on the way about braces, she then was desperate for them straight away!


Finally, more changes afoot, as a new moty car is planned for me! Watch this space...!

Saturday, Saturday

So the weekend has come. Yay!

I have dropped the kids off at bowling, done a quick clean downstairs and am now sat mooching about on t'internet looking for a new car. Not that I can afford a new car - not by a long shot, but my little moty car has done 97000 miles now, and I have a really bad feeling that the head gasket is about to go, so am thinking it is better to offload it before it dies completely than wait until the inevitable. Also, my bank has been foolish enough to give me a loan (well I'll believe it when its in my bank!), which was my intention to pay off an existing high interest loan with, but I could keep some of it back for a new car if need be, which is not ideal but possible. My other option is to pay off the higher interest loan completely, with the low interest one, reducing my monthly payment by about £25 a month, and then look at buying a new car on a payment plan (if they'd give it to me!) costing about £130 month, leaving me £100 a month worse off, but with a brand spanky new car!! Oh I don't know - decisions, decisions!! At the end of the day, my credit rate is not what it could be (although it had flipped up to Average for the first time in history just before Christmas!), so it may not be my choice at all - but the banks!

Well, I am off for a lengthy bath before collecting X and Y, and spending the rest of the day on my sofa, book in hand, and then off out for a curry and drinks for friend Jamie's birthday tonight.

Ah, the joy of Saturdays!

RIP Dom Froggy

Alas, little froggy Dom has been a bit off colour the last few days, and finally admitted defeat this evening. RIP little Dom Froggy :-(

Halloooooo February!

So, the year (if you start in crappy January) started off on New Years Eve with a trip to the doctors, immediate nebulising, and £28 worth of prescription medication as the result of a really bad chest infection, and for the first week of January I alternated between my bed and the sofa, with frequent use of inhalers and the necessary school runs. It continued in its inimitable way when I went back to work eventually, only to be told that there appeared to be no funding for my service (and subsequently my post!) as from the end of March! The next 3 weeks were spent going stir crazy, completely broke, and not answering the phone to all the bills people I hadn't paid in December! As well as stressing about my last Uni assignment, which I had already had a 2 week extension for, and when I wasn't doing it, it was ruining my free time thinking I ought to be doing it! Some light came in the last few days, with the completion of the dreaded assignment, the onset of payday last Thursday and then a lovely night-in-takeaway-catch-up with Lily on Saturday night, followed by a perfectly relaxing Sunday which I spent knowing there was truly nothing I needed to be doing!

However, I think it is very fair to say that I was not sad to see the back of it, and today...? Well today I have started February with money in my purse, all my outstanding bills now cleared, no more Uni (well, until dissertation time), plans for the next 4 Saturday nights and the sun shining (even if it is still bloody freezing!). Ah, I love February!

Happy New New Year

At last, the interminable January comes to its end! I think the Chinese have the right thing celebrating their new year at the beginning of February. January is such a draggy, dreary, godawful month, and can really only be viewed as the tail end of the year - most certainly not the bright new beginning of one.

So, I for one, will be celebrating the demise of the dreaded January and the start of fabulous February, and will return anew!