Merry Christmas

Here's wishing everyone a Verry Merry Christmas to those that know us and those that don't. To those that are still with us and those that are no longer.To those that we touch and those that we don't. To those that will be with us, and to those that live to far away to be not.
We hope that you all have a really good one.......

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE KIDD'S

Done, done and done

Yea, is me steph and I hit tesco's at 5.30am this morning for the last bits. All the coffee and walnut cake orders have been delivered that I have to make for people every year. Work has now finished 4days off......YIPPPPEEEEEEEE for me...... The dogs have been walked. The shopping put away. The last of the laundry dried and ready to put away. Kids taken to the pictures to see "eragon" brill film recommend it to anyone..The housework finished.
Yipppeeee for me it's only 2.30pm I'm totally relaxed with nothing left to do except grab a coke and sit down and watch a film, cooking will be done tomorrow, so with that in mind bring Christmas on as I am now ready.......

the teeth

Not a good idea to hve to visit the dentist just before christmas, i have to have 3 big bits of work done. The first was last week of which i am only just starting to get over,having been very sensitive since, the 2nd visit was today for an hour, the last will be in the first week of January. Now i am not afraid of most things but the dentist is my one big fear, So here iam now cooking tea for everyone else as i still can't eat, gasping for a hot drink, tried it, but still not happening.
Then to top it all the bill which will be produced after the last visit for some astronomical amount of nearly £4oo. just to add insult to injury of visiting the place you most hate. Still all i have to do is get my veg for christmas and i'm all done, can't be bad even though i say so myself. Now i'm going to feel sorry for myself and watch everyone eat their tea....

Ten things you love at Christmas

My friend sent this to me , so i thought i would share it with you

1...Having Andy, Jamie,Stephanie and the dogs around me.
2...Decorating the tree and the rest of the house.
3... Scents of mulled wine and christmas spices around my home.
4... Snow when we get it.
5...A break fom my job's.
6...Seeing friends.
7...My kids faces when they open their presents.
8...Phoning my mum and dad to wish them a Merry Christmas.
9...A christmas afternoon walk with everyone and the dogs.
10.making and eating my dinner.

Doing Well

Mum and Dad have now gone back to Potugal taking my brother with them for Christmas, with my dad being so ill it is a shame they could not stay longer , but it is nice to have the house back to ourselves again.
I have now put up the xmas decs, the tree is done, the outside of my lounge window is done, all the presents are bagged and ready to give out,all i have to do now is get myself into gear and get the christmas cards written out and either sent or delivered.
I have been making dog beds as i do every year for the dog clubs i go to, my two longingly looking at them thinking how much they would like a new one to. Sorry lads you will have to wait just a tad longer.
Stephanie goes to a school which has the title of a performing arts school, needless to say she is in the chior and also does "tone chimes" these are like bells but are chimes, so now its taxi service time with so many concerts to do, Jamie with his school business meetings and rugby matches.
Roll on next week when everything breaks up and i may just be able to have a small breather.I will also get a break from my 2nd job till new year......

Stressed

I can safely say iam pretty much stresed at the moment, it was the works christmas party on Friday night and about half an hour before i am due to leave i get a call from Andy's boss telling me he has gone into the central reservation on the m27 and writen off the company van. Thankfully he was not hurt and had done this to stop going into a small pile up infront of him.
2nd part my mum told me on the same night my dad is not doing as good as we were originally told and tests will be back on monday. To cap it all Andy and i have a funeral we have got to go to on Friday, I'm trying to hold the house together and work and keep everyone happy although tensions are starting to creep in a bit.
Needless to say can i just go and hide for a couple of hours or can everyone else just go and hide and leave me to a bit of peace........

Hectic House

Our house has turned into one hectic place, all i can say i am so pleased the xmas shopping is all done.
Mum and Dad arrived from Portugal on Saturday afternoon to stay with us for 2 weeks. My dad has been very ill just recently and it was thought best he have a bit of T.L.C from the boat, so with that they arrived with us. Now i only have a average 3bed house, so with 4adults two older kids that will not share a room and the 2 dogs i leave it to your imagination of what i am going through as well as my dad having special meals. On top of all this iam still working and doing everything i do.
Spare me a hug if you can as i need it, or i think a drink may just come in handy.......

We did it again

I thought after the telling off I gave Bruno the other day it may just have sunk in not to touch peoples trainers. yesterday was a good day and all were still in there place reined between me and Bruno.
Today peace does not reign, he has had a pair of Andy's trainers , yes not one but both happily shredded to say the telling off I can't put on the blog for various animal cruelty issues. He is still alive and I am now up the attic trying to find some old material to make a cover for the shoe rack. Hopefully what he can't see he will not go for. I have no space to move the rack to another place , so he either stops or the cage comes out of the shed.

trade in

I could really trade Bruno in at the moment, He had only been left for about half an hour and he decided to go through the shoe rack, he lifted a pair of Andy's shoes out of the way, one of his trainers, yes you guessed it he wanted a certain trainer belonging to Stephanie. He then proudly shredded it as he had done a week before to her best pair of sketchers.
Now i love my dog to bits but at over £30 a pair i am not amused, he had the harsh telling off, but yet we have another pair to go in the bin. So i have now to buy Steph another pair of trainers and she will have to keep them in her room.
The weired thing is he does not do this all the time , he must just get a thought and he only goes for hers. So the little S**T got another telling off and god help him if he goes for another pair......

no time

there just isn't enough time to blog at the moment, besides jobs x2 the kids the dogs, andy. i need to create time that just isn't there . I have steph's photos to do, dog beds to make, still do the dog training, be a mum, be a housewife and all the other stuff we mums have to do, well thats it time to do the teaand the kids want the computer again.......

Happy Birthday Stephanie

Gone has the small bundle i held 12yrs ago, and now is a mature girl full of life, she has such a will of her own that sometimes i find it hard to cope with. She definately takes after her dad, she knows what she wants and how to get round you to get it.
Having just started senior school life has turned another corner, me feeling another year older and being slightly left behind , steph wanting to explore more of life, and being more independant, me not wanting her to grow up as fast as she is but having to let her fly just that little bit more.
I cannot ask for more in more ways than one, her jest for finding things new and trying them for herself, of her ability to be liked by everyone who meets her, her attitude to people and school , having a grade A student with a love of knowledge, Her wanting to please and at the same time you just want her to do as she is told. She is not allways the angel she thinks she is but in my eyes comes a very close call.......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY BEAUTIFULL STEPHIE XXXXXXXXXXXX

classic blond comment

After a long old morning at rugby all of us could not wait to get home to the lovely chicken stew that was cooking. I had made the stock the night before and had done all of the veg etc, but none of my lot like leeks so i decided to put the stock through the liquidiser first so that all the flavours jelled together.
So while we were all busily eatig Stefs classic comment came out.

Me... do you think the stock is better as i put it through the liquidiser first so you hopefully would not taste the leeks like before.

Steph...does this have leeches in it as you can die from them !!!!!!!

Me... laughing

Andy...(Trying very hard to keep a straight face)No not leeches , leeks.

Steph...Oh i thought mum said leeches and then goes off into girlie gigles.

All of us...Well that has to be a stephie blond classic.

gettin better

Tyson is recovering well from his operation a week ago. he can have his stitches out on Saturday and then he will be able to be let off his lead and go in all the puddles and mud again.
On another note Bruno went and competed in his last show of the year and came a very credible 10th. Is was in a class above what he normally competes in so as you can guess i was very pleased. Lets hope it is an omen for better things to come next year.

the TomTom

Going back to actually having a bit of money in the bank it was decided rearlier in the week to buy a sat navigation system. Now the friends i go to dog shows with all have a TOM TOM which is a type of sat nav. They have been the best ones i have seen so far. At work we sell various satallite navigation systems for cars, but i have seen various types of these coming back. So with that in mind we had some coming in on special offer.
I had got round Andy by saying he could do with one for when he goes to other Rugby clubs to referee and is not sure where he is going. But because of Tyson that went out of the window , he needs the money for his op on Wednesday. Andy's comment for the day was i could have done with the tom tom today as i got lost and tyson next to me would not be much of a navigator.
SORRY BUT I LOVE MY DOG MORE THAN A TOM TOM........

The Joys Of Having Dogs

Just before we went on Holiday i noticed Tyson was getting like a small wart that was the same feel of his pad. It did not seem to cause him any bother , so as Bruno was due for his yearly jab i took Tyson with us to get it checked out.
As usual my big old boy does not do things by half , so he goes in Wednesday morning for yet another operation this year to have a lump removed.Just as i think oh great i have some money in the bank where does it have to go. Yep on the dog, it seems that it happens everytime.
Still he is a real dream of a dog and i would think anybody would fall in love with him, "if they could put up with the slobber".I just hope that he won't try and eat the bandage off so i will have to put one of those big plastic collars on.

On holiday

Last week we all went away with the usual crowd of Wendy,John and their kids, It was Andy's only holiday of the year, needless to say we were the only families on the complex with kids. Now we are not of the hoodlum type but we did have security out to the caravan to complain of the noise. Well I ask you we were on holiday and the park was advertised as LIVELY (NOT). It was such a shame there was nothing to do the kids were not allowed to do anything, the arcade closed at 9.45pm .
The hilight was a day out at Weymouth Sea Life centre,Still we made the best of things by buying some darts and playing pool and poker.
Now our game of Poker goes on no chips , but with a lot of shot drinks being consumed by the looser good night and much drink consumed. Still we survived and the photos have been downloaded onto flicker.

We Will Not Be Going Back

Paws in the Park

Last weekend Steph and i went to kent to take part in a 2day dog show called Paws in the Park.It was an eventfull trip as we were camping and i had not done this in about 20 odd years. Needless to say we both survived with me trying to set the tent on fire at one point with my little gas stove and Bruno having to sleep in with the both of us.
MY friend Naiomi went with her pup Luca and her 3 legged Shepherd Ben, Tina went also with her 3 shepherds and i took little Bruno. Naiomi got a 3rd in the heel to music freestyle, i got a 2nd with Bruno in the dog with the most appealing eyes and Steph got a 4th in "scruffs" child handler class. It was a huge turn out at the show so we were really pleased with all our dogs. Photos will be posted later when i have 5 mins to download them.
I now have to get us all ready to go on our family holiday next week to dorset, much to Andy's delight _NO DOGS........

Happy belated

Thursday was Andy's Birthday another year older and just a little bit greyer, we had done the B.B.Q the weekend before to celebrate as i was going away with Steph for the weekend camping more of that tommorow.
We went out with friends for a quiet drink to toast him on Wednesday nite as they were going away on Thursday to the States.
Needless to say he had a good one although a bit of an uneventfull one with me being away.Still he got to have a weekend of Rugby without me moaning so i'm sure he is pretty happy with that......

forgot the M O T

As usual my life is far to busy and while i was getting ready for my trip to the States i was due to book the car in for it's mot. well you guessed it i totaly forgot and low and behold i went to get the tax stuff ready last night and my MOT ran out today.
Several panacking moments went buy after a hundred phone calls to garages , yes i have a new MOT.I now need to get car tax and get Andy's car booked in for him. The other major thing that seems to have gone missing are Andy's tax forms so after hunting for those that now needs to be sorted out and sent off before the 30th Sept.
I either need a secretary, new calender or most importantly a new part to the brain where i may just start to remember things. I have a feeling that this may be the start of that horrible thing called ageing, going past 40 things slow down. I'm just not ready for that and the saying " you are having a senior moment" is just not a road i want to go down........

first week

I can safely say i am now well and truly back at work after just completeing that horrific first week. You just wish you are back on your hols lazing the days away, spending time with people you haven't seen in ages.
But no it's back to the hustle and bustle that suurounds my house . juggling work, kids, dogs and the wonderfull husband , who may i say is doing a fantastic job of putting in my new kitchen, most of this was done while i was away but has now lost the fixings for the top cuboards, so we are at a bit of a standstill. You know what i mean if your a woman, they say they gave them to you when you have never seen them before, we beg to differ none the less. The hunt still continues.
I now need to get busy for our annual b.b.q which is on Sunday fingers croosed it will not rain.......

back from my trip

I had a wonderfull trip visiting Samantha and her family , i ate far too much had a brief side glance of hurricane John went and stayed in a friends beach house on the New Jersey Shore, shopped of course and treated myself to a new digital camera amonst a few other things. Went and watched my first baseball game (yankees against Minnasotta) that was pretty awsome i must admit.
Well all in all it was brill, what more can i say but i did take a few photos so you can see for yourselves.... But i'm glad to be back home.

HELP

With just 4 days to go before I go away, today has just been one mass of jobs. It is one of our best friends B.B.q's tomorrow, so with orders of my coffee and walnut cakes to make, chocolate cakes, Garlic bread, food shopping to last 2 weeks, the housework to do as we are out all day tomorrow. I am now totally whacked.
Steffie needed school trousers turned up, her blazer sleeves needed a quick turn up, Jamie's uniform needed checking and yes I got all this done today, tea cooked and was ready to sit down to watch the X-factor.
Now all I have left to do is fill the 4 coffee and walnut, and chocolate cake then I shall be done. Next I will just hopefully have my case to pack, Andy bless him will just have to cope if I have forgotten anything else.

just over a week to go

My holiday is fast approaching, i'm off to see my old friend Samantha and her family in New Jersey, Andy is staying at home looking after the kids and dogs for me.



I shall happily be being spoilet rotten shopping in New York, I leave on the 31st for A WHOLE WEEK. yes i know how lucky am i, all i can say is i can't wait......

Tyson gets gold

Wow am i happy or what. my big old boy Tyson "the boxer" passed his gold award for the kennel club good citizen award.Over the years of training him we have done the bronze and silver but the gold has put the icing on the cake. This proves he is obedient,and has exemplary manners.

I now have to work hard with Bruno as we are going for the same award next month.
Some of the test we had to take......
Stop your dog while on a recall to you more than ten paces away.
Put food infront of your dog in a dish and they couldn't eat it until you say they can.
Send them to their bed
Answer questions on dog ownership.
heel free walking by your side. This means dog off lead.
Road walking dog by your side and sitting patiently at the kerb to cross not moving until told.
So as you can see I have every right to be proud

Doggy Fun Day

Bruno with Naiom's newest puppy Luca deciding whether or not to jump in her fishpond to get the fish.

Doggy Fun Day

Steph with Ashen after a long old day.

doggy Day of fun photos

all the dogs we took, Bruno, rio, Ben and Ash. A quick picnic break.

Doggy Day Of Fun

Last weekend Steph and i went to Windsor Great Park for the Wag and Bone Show, this is basically a big fun day for dogs. Everything was a pound a go, there was everything from toy bobbing, agility, Doggy pop idol, displays and lots more that would just take to long to mention.
Bruno and i did our agility and won our heat against another dog, we also did the doggie dash. Now this he is good at , you had to leave your dog go 50metres and then call your dog and they timed how long it took to get to you. Bruno did it in a time of 4.22 seconds, not bad for a little dog with short legs.
Needless to say a fantastic day was had by all.here are some photos taken from the day Naiomi with one of her 4 shepherds, ben with 3 legs steph with Ashy,all our dogs having a picnic and steph.

Good Mum

Here am i on my hols still down to only one child (steph) and have so far been the very good mum that i hope i am. We have had her Friends stay over , the pool is out and in frequent use, we have done the flicks and today we have been to the Quays which is our local pool in Southampton for the fun with floats session.
My jobs i wanted to get done have of course gone totaly out of the window, the curtains have still not been washed or the covers for the settee or the washing down of walls etc. I am a bad housewife, we went out with friends for our monthly meal last nite and it was commented on how brown i was looking. This may be slightly true which was not good for me as Andy is working hard and it looks like all i have done is sit out in the sun.Well i have .... but only for short space of time because of the skin cancer i have to be very carefull and of course i still have the check ups to make sure it is no worse . As steph commented it to Andy the other night it was only my freckles joining together that made me look brown, AH i love my daughter.
Tommorow if it is not too sunny i may just do the wifely things and do my housework and possibly the ironing

A Quick Update

life here in the Kidd household has been a slight hectic, Steph has now left Junior School. I went to her leaving assembley on Friday there was shirt signing from all her friends and teachers, we had photos, messages vodeo taped from the kids and of course we had the tears. I must admit i very nearly succumed but was very good and managed to keep it together.
I must now get myself ready for my last child to start senior school in September and with Jamie i have to get ready for him leaving Senior's next year.
Jamie at the moment is doing his challenge in Scotland, so far he has climbed Ben Nevis and as far as i know he is now canoeing down the rivers, I get him back on Saturday so i will have a week left of my hols with both of the kids.
We have also been to Netley Marsh Steam rally which is a huge event on the Hampshire coast, it was a fantastic day out watching friends do their dog display, the heavy horses , steam engines and of course the old motor bikes as well as so much more going on. I have taken loads of photos lately but can't put them up as i have to take the computer in to the shop this week and can't download any.
Hopefully after we get the computer back i shall be able to do a bit more as it has been very tempremental for the last couple of months, plus i'm on hols for 2 weeks and there is just so much of sitting out in the garden and dipping in the pool i need to do first as theweather is so fantastic at the moment.

only 3 more days to go

Stef leaves junior school on Friday, my last time of going to school to pick her up, when she starts senior school in September she will be able to walk to school. I can still remenber like yesterday when i took her for her very first day , this little blonde shy girl. Those days have gone now. I have a very confident 11yr old who knows her own mind, is full of knowledge nad loves her life so far.
I'm sure thre will be tears as i stand by the gate on Friday probably from the both of us. Mine will be for the fact my kids are growing up so fast and this is my last one now we hit the really big schools where mums are just not needed as much. As for Steph , she is going to a different school from all her friends, i think there are only about 4 girls that are going, I just pray i have done the right thing and she will be ok, she has grown up with most of the other kids since Primary School.
Knowing our steph and of how popular she is with other kids her age i'm sure she will do just fine............

off sick

The bedroom is now finished and looks great, the colours are fantastic together, i have new bedding ,curtains and have managed to get a lovely red voile for the window. All i need to do now is to get some sort of blind to put infront of the window to black it out a bit.
So now what, i am off sick, i did some overtime on Saturday at work and have ended up pulling both muscles in my lower back. hence i am now off sick for a week. I just don't do sick , this from a person who had 100% attendance last year from work, worst of it is i am in bed for the next 2 days doing nothing, I don't do nothing so this is going to be very hard.The pills though are great and i must admit the pain is definately going down a bit . I will just have to lie in bed and watch all the girlie dvd's that Andy refuses to watch with me.

STRIPPING

Stripping and more more stripping is going on here in my house, NO!!! not that kind , i have now finished getting all the paper off the walls , so i am now just about ready to start painting. I may just get the ceiling done today, as i feel i have spent the whole holiday so far confined to the bedroom, and it certainly isn't the playing kind or sleeping.
The worst of it has been it has been brilliant sunshine all week and i have been couped up exept for taking the dogs out before it gets to hot.I'm taking tommorow off so i can take them over to The New Forest which is our local National Park. I'm going with friends and can't wait as i ache all over and a good walk on the heaths will do me and the boys the world of good.....
Right i'm now off to go and get motovated to start the Bedroom again........

Summer

Summer may just be here, we have had 2 glorious days of perfect sunshine,the dogs have been paddling , Steph and i have competed a dog show. We did well unfortunately we did not get placed but it was a really good round with no scitzo fits to be seen.
Jamie has had his rugby presentation, he got a medal for completing the tournament and i got a huge bunch of flowers for my help within the club for the last year.It is so nice not having to get up early on a Sunday morning, exept of course when we have a show then it is even up with the sun.
I am now on holiday for the week so as from tommorow i hope the weather gets bad as i have really got to make a start on decorating our bedroom. I have had all the paint etc for a couple of months, but just have not had the inclination to start.
With the weather being so good , that may just go to pot and a good deal of veging in the garden may just be a little more in order.

The garden

My garden is unfortunately not that large, we have had to have the whole lot either slabbed or it has decking on it, Through the winter it has been left to the elements of living next to the sea. So with a Bank holiday weekend off, no dog shows it was time to get it started.
I now have 3 hanging baskets up , my lanterns have gone up, the tubs have been filled, the furnitutre has been cleaned , The decking and patio has been washed and a good general tidy up has now been accomplished.
It is a good feeling when you have worked hard and as i now look out of my kitchen window the garden has started to come to life again. Not looking like steptoes yard as it was. The only thing i now have to watch is that Bruno does not try and wreck it all , he has a lovely habbit of eating plants and when that becomes boring , he will just dig them up, even the really spikey ones find it hard to survive.....

Drowned Rat

Today was a very wet day at the dog show at Sherbourne castle, the grounds were fantastic and had it been a wonderfull sunny day, the day would have been perfect.
No such luck it just poured all day long we got drenched the poor dogs got drenched only nipping out to do our rounds in the ring, we sat in Jaynes tent trying to keep warm and dry , bacon butties and coffee at the ready.
The only good thing out of the day was that Bruno did not have a skitzo fit,He stayed by my side for the whole round, boy was i proud of him. What he normally does , is at some point goes mad , he runns madly round the ring when off lead and won't come back. It is a game to him , he gets too exited when he goes in the ring and just can't controll himself.Although he broke his stays just in the middle of a horrific downfall of which i just could not blame him for, It was a productive day.
I am now just warm and dryed out and waiting for the numonia to set in.....

Monthly Meal

Every month we go out with 8 other couples for a meal, tonight is this months night out , It is usually someone's birthday or Anniversary, but as we have none through the adults we are celebrating Jamie's and Katies birthdays.
I t has been another bad day so i am just not going to even go there, lets hope with happy couples it will bring a smile to my face again.Of course it would be even better if we could really afford it, but what the hell we don't get to go out that often and the company is fantastic and you just know it will be a good night.

Whats new

I have now decided my life gets no easier, the days just seem to get longer and longer, the help gets fewer and fewer, but still everyone expects me to be sunshine and joy.
Well lets face it my life is not always sunshine and joy, most of the time it is don't get me wrong i have a great family, but life is never made easy . I have my dad with us for a month while he has a couple of minor operations, my mum has stayed on the boat, so i now have 5 to look after as well as the dogs , the house and 2 jobs.
I know i'm moaning but i am knackered i just wish someone up there would give me a break, not a big one but just a small one to make things a little easier.
I'm also loosing the interest with my blog it just feels i write and nobody seems to look i suppose it would help if i could get to grips with it more , but not being very good with a computer it is not easy.
So it is 6.45 in the evening i have been up since before six , i still have the dogs to walk and the load of laundry in the machine so i had better get my backside in gear and crack on......

Sunny sunshine

having to be at work by 6.45am all this week it has been a trying time, but with hope in the air there was a beautifull day becoming, at 5.30 am i was up the field with the lads for a walk, pure bliss me the dogs , the sun and not another soul in site, it was a good start to the day.
It did unfortunately get worse for the time at work, the customers were being rude and arrogant mostly of the male sex. One called me a jumped up little girl, I ask you well iam 5ft nothing but girl i ask you iam 43yrs old, needless to say i kept my cool and refrained from calling him a jumped up prick which i would have loved to have done. It is health and safety that we cann0ot accept any goods with petrol in them and low and behold their's had some left in. he told me it was empty and when i checked was not so i said i wouldn't refund. Anyway duty manager later the guy appologises to me and we empy the rest of the liquid out and everyone is happy.
After that i finished early wizzed over to port solent, sat in the marina with friends and had a handsome lunch, chilled out totaly while watching the yachts go back and forwards, sitting in the sunshine. A good end in the day and am now totally mellowed, sitting listening to the thunder that is getting closer and closer , the sky getting greyer and greyer.

Happy Birthday

Today i am the very proud mum of a fifteen year old son, besides the fact i now have to say i have a fifteen year old i can happily admit i love him as much now as i did 15yrs ago when i gave birth to him.
He is a very enegegetic boy loving his rugby which he still plays, he is not a lad that hangs around the street corner,, he has a great bunch of friends and although i maybe a little bias a totally wonderfull human being.
I have so far never have had to worry about him getting into any sort of real trouble , today that is not a common thing. i will say he is not totally perfect , he has a mischievous nature and a wicked sence of humour.
I fell very privalliged to be his mum and would like to say A VERY HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY JAMIE.......have a good one. love you loads mum xxxxxxxx

Steph at the show

We had dog shows all over the last bank Holiday, i just took Bruno as i am trying to get him more confident without Tyson. Stephanie was working my friends dog called Rio which is a nine year old German Shepherd.
Now i have been doing Obedience shows for about the last two years, it is mainly a hobby that i can do and Steph comes with me for the day out. She loves dogs and we are hoping to get her a dog in the next few years so she can start competing herself.
Well getting back to one of the shows Rio's owner Naiomi and i decided to put them both in an obedience class just for a bit of a laugh. Steph has never been in an obedience round before , she has only done novelty classes. Both dog and steph went in the ring with the guidence of Naiomi and i telling her what she had to do and to just listen to the steward and what commands he was giving her to do to work the dog. Now this is hard enough as it is and i still get nervous everytime i go in the ring.Well bless both of them, of about 30 dogs in the class Steph and Rio won, she got her first place , red rossette and a cup that she keeps for the year and then takes back next year.
So there i am a very proud mum and Naiomi pleased as anything that her dog won the class, sadly not with her , I think i should just get Steph now to work my dogs as she seems to be a lot better than me at it.

Work experience

Jamie has been on work experience for the last 2weeks, this is where the school sends the kids out to jobs that they have shown an interest in what career they have chosen. Jamie is tinkling with the idea that he would like to work with electronics , in what field he is not entirely sure, but we are trying to help in whatever way we can.
The school managed to find a placement for him doing maintenance with the local YMCA , so he has spent the last 2weeks doing the following.......
Painting doors, putting up doors,changing lightbulbs, drilled a hole, helped mend a lawnmower, painting again. The great thing about our wonderful systems in life is that because of insurance purposes they cannot do anything until the age of 16yrs.
The darling government has also made it that electrical companies cannot take kids on work experience now because it costs the companies so much in insurance that you just can't get a placement small electrical firms just can't afford it so how are kids meant to try their hand at doing some practical work to see if they like it when our society today just does nothing to help the young choose their careers.
The only chance Jamie will get is after he leaves school and hopefully will get an apprenticeship and college combined , with the hope he has chosen the right career.

Anniversary

Tomorrow is Andy and I wedding Anniversary we will have been married 16years, it seems a lifetime ago, two very young looking people , no wrinkles,no bulges were there should be no bulges, fresh faces ready to start life.
We have had two wonderful children totally different in their own ways, we have had the pets, cats and now two very energetic dogs. We have had our hard times and have been put through several tests , these we have managed to come through with a bit of help from friends and you know who you are.....
Now 16 years on we are a solid unit that goes on , I am sure there will be times in the future that will still put us to the test, but I can happily at this time say "bring it on" and we will get through that. We never seem to have any money, Andy is self employed in the building trade, so come on summer as we need the rain to stop. I work two part-time jobs, it pays for the kids to go on their trips, we both work too hard and look forward to when life will get easier. Our family is a strong unit full of fun and laughter so who could want more.
Roll on tomorrow and look up at the wedding photo of the fresh faced girl who walked down the isle and is still married to the same man.
Happy Anniversary sweetheart XXXxxx

Happy Easter

A Happy Easter to you all,A day where the kids go on an Easter egg hunt, people go to church when they don't usually,everyone eating far too much as they have gone crazy food shopping because it has 2 bank holiday's in one weekend, Kids wondering how many Easter Eggs they will get and who got the biggest.
Families grouping together for the festive lunch , the dads and grandads falling asleep in the chair in the afternoon, the women in the kitchen clearing up all the work they did that morning.
Well not of that for us today a lazy morning and then off to a sevens rugby match this afternoon with kids and dogs, we had our Easter dinner yesterday, a wonderful roast beef with all the trimmings and a scrumptious apple crumble for pudding a stress free day of trying to fit everything in , NO not in this house. The kids have no Easter eggs they have 2 new DVD's..... The chronicles of Narnia and King Kong .NO "mum I feel sick later" a much better solution....
With that I have to go as the kids have just got up wished me a Happy Easter and want to make bacon butties for breakfast. I hope everyone has a good one

Holidays

The kids have been off now for nearly 2 weeks, I have been off this week with Andy and we have been doing the horrible job of cleaning out the attic. We hired a skip which is now overflowing and are boarding the loft out properly never want to lift one of those boards again, I have been and bought the paint to do our bedroom as the new pine bed has arrived, there is no turning back for Andy now. It will be the colours i first chose, he will come round and he will love it when I have finished, he just has to have a little faith in my colours. The rest of the house is looking great so he will go with the flow.
Last Sunday we did a trip to Alton Towers with the rugby club. Lorraine, mike and myself took 34 lads ranging from 14-17 for the day. Andy stayed at home and looked after the dogs and I took Steph, My daughter, the thrill seeker of rides.
Have you ever done a major rollercoaster while in hailstones that were the size of marbles, we did. The weather was fantastic when we got there then through the day we got ......Hailstones.......Snow......Rain......Sun.... Hailstones. What a day, photos of me and steph will be posted later looking like two drowned rats......but a great day was had by all, plus I did all the ride except "air"but we won't go there....

Ache all over

All i can say today is i ache all over after yesterday's caper with Tyson. Thanks Len for the usual supportive comments. I am taking him next week to a friends who has 6 massive long haired German Shepherds. If he decides to have a go i have my old dressage stick at the ready and i will give him an Alpha talk he will not forget. Hopefully i may just get the respect back of my dog.
There is no way after having him for nearly 5yrs that he is suddenly going to loose his respect of me and forget who is the alpha out of the two of us.Roll on next Wednesday for the battle to begin....hopefully by then i won't hurt so much.....

The beast

It was such a beautifully day today Lisa and I decided we would take the dogs down the shore for a paddle, I have had a few problems with Tyson lately , where he has gone for a few other strange dogs, I now carry a muzzle with me for such occasions incase I need to put it on him.
The dogs had a wonderful time chasing the thrown stones in the water, we had just finished and had the dogs on the leads when this guy suddenly appeared with a black Labrador. I shouted to the owner to call his dog as it was starting to come towards us and tysons lead was all wet , plus the grass was very wet where I was standing. Anyway the guy totally ignored me, You can see what's happening here,dog come up to us very erect Tyson feels threatened , I slip , lead goes through hand and tyson has a go. The guy does nothing I'm on the floor and the dogs are fighting,I'm still trying to hold onto Bruno while shouting at Tyson to leave and the stupid guy just stands there.
I eventually get up grab Tyson meanwhile the guy just looks at me and wanders off. The muzzle goes on I have an ALPHA talk with my dog, My neck killing me from where I tried to hold both dogs and falling over. So we get round the corner and low and behold the guy is there again with his dog, me now I'm not to worried at this point as Tysons got his muzzle on, but I again ask the guy to call his dog as again it is coming straight for us. Yep he does nothing, bloody great I try and be a responsible owner and you get some idiots that that just don't care.
I can safely say I'm totally pissed off with my dog and to make matters worse my neck really hurts. So if there are any dog owners out there that have come across the same sort of thing and have any tips as to what I can do , I could really do with help. Tyson is nearly 5yrs old has never been an aggressive dog, he has been used for socializing other dogs because his nature is so good, never instigated fights. So why is he starting to go for strange dogs.....

Dads day out

We have a very happy girl in our house tonight, Steph has spent the day with her Dad. As you are aware Jaime has gone to Wales for the school trip for the part of mountaineering.We don't get him back till 10pm on Monday.
So back to steph, Andy and Jamie were meant to go up to harlequins so as he was away Steph decided to go instead, she has been a few times with us all but has never just been with her Dad. Well needless to say she came home grinning like a Cheshire CAT had some money to spend, she went into the kids part and made a Easter card for me, bought her lunch and sat with her Dad to watch the match... You can't beat the quality time you spend with your kids and boy she was full of it when she got home.....
Me I had a very peaceful day and went Shopping for shoes and boy did I buy some shoes. $ pairs to be exact so roll on the summer when I can wear them.....Definitely a good day for all the kidd's....

Staff Appraisal

This week we had are Appraisals. Well me being me I'm blowing my trumpet...It went something along the lines of the following.......

Can always be relied on to complete her tasks, has worked within Fashions and the stocktake . I have full knowledge of the Health and Safety issues on her department.
She is very polite- likes to solve problems and customer as well as staff issues am well respected by other managers and staff- she can also deal with Head office in a professional manner.
She is very flexible- worked weekends to cover Supervisor absence, with additional hours being done over the telesales period. Time keeping is exceptional and has had a 100% attendance for work.
She is a fully trained receptionist, she can train others with patience and understanding . I also got asked if I would consider being a supervisor , but I have had to say no for the time being ,Stef needs to be that little bit older before I can think of taking up that sort of position again......
So what do you think good or what and yes I can happily say I was chuffed with my report, well done me........

Caledonian Challenge

Jamie is busy preparing for his weekend to do with the challenge that he is doing in July.This weekend is basically to asses the teachers that are taking the lads on the challenge, it will be basic mountaineering and also canoeing.we are lucky that we don't actually have to pay for this weekend, they will be gone for 3days of outdoor fun in Wales all that wonderfull fresh air, cold winds blowing and very cold water....Rather them than me.
I must admit i am a little anxious about him doing this challenge, he is not exactly the largest of teenagers and perhaps i am a little protective, but all i can say after watching him play Rugby for the last 7yrs i really should have more faith.....
Jamie can't wait the only thing he was at all worried about was the thought of having to go into caves, but we have been assured they are not doing that. This i am very gratefull for as i really don't like the thought of him going into caves and tunnels etc.

Happy Mothers Day

With it being Mothers Day, a day we mums are to be spoiled, the husbands helping out and the kids doing breakfast for you. I got the following day..........

Jamie comes in, Hi mum can I have a bacon butty for breakfast
Me... yep that's ok
he goes down makes his butty not one for me , no just one for himself,stef gives me my pressie of which I got a new pair of earrings and a DVD, this actually came from both of them , which suddenly prompts Jamie to remember it's Mothers Day and wishes me a good one.

We then all toddle of to rugby, yes I still have to go, it's raining so I get cold, wet and end up looking like a drowned rat. But hey its our day and I'm with my kids, I should be sat at home with my feet up not having to cook and still not getting over a major hangover from Friday night (buts that another story).
Andy saves the day, he comes home with a great bunch of flowers that are now in the lounge pride of place on my sideboard for me to look at.With that I had better get down to it and cook the Sunday lunch, so how was your Mothers Day. Hope everyone has a good as day as me. I would have it no other way.......

new trip

Jamie has only been home just over a week and again he is off on another trip, he has been put forward to go on the Caladonian Challenge 2006. It is a fantastic trip so who was i to say "NO".The expedition in july he will be going up to Scotland and canoeing for 4days through Loch Shiel and the Shiel River.He will then have a 4day mountaineering expedition including the ascent of Ben Nevis. Wow what a trip, they didn't put those type of trips togehter when i was at school.
We have been told that this will put them in good stead for the trip they are planning next year. "yep another one i ask myself, this one will be to Canada and canoeing possibly through the rockies.
With that thought in mind i don't think i can give my 2nd job up just yet.......

Memetic

i got this from Len so decided to have a go,
List 10 things you want to say to people you know, but you never will, for whatever reason. Don't say who they are. Use each person only once......

1..I do have a life,just remember that when you ask me to do something for you.....
2..it's a pity you didn't listen when you were drunk...
3..you start off with good intentions, but always end up slipping....
4..i am not your wallet.
5..i hope you feel happy with yourself for being such a bully.
6..don't take the piss out of my good nature.
7..what did i do to be treated like that by you.
8..why don't you go to hell as that is where you belong.
9..if you think you can do better then you try.
10..if life had only been different, then it would be easier now.

In the post

When arriving home tonight after picking Steph up from school, I got the post as usual, exiting yep, there was the usual yucky bills , the horrible bank statement that you dread opening and then a small package from pedigree chum.
Ok I thought , more junk for the dogs, but maybe a money off voucher. Well if you know your breeds of dogs I have a 5yr old boxer called Tyson who seems to drool or slobber you to death, especially if he has had a hard run. Now we have got used to this but to some the sight of him coming pounding towards you , white frothy slobber coming from the mouth is enough for you to turn and run. If you have ever watched the film "Turner and Hooch". Need I say more . That is the image of Tyson.
Sorry getting back to the point. In the package I just couldn't believe it . A bright cloth with the words blazoned all over it.......SLOBBER CLOTH......Well they didn't need to tell me I already knew that i was in need of one but hey thanks for the free gift.... just don't tell Tyson he has a drool problem........

Weekend

We got Jaime off on time Saturday eve, he was so exited and he should have arrived at lunchtime today, It felt weird seeing him off sitting on the coach knowing he had such a hell of a long laborious journey infront of him,still what a thrill for him to go skiing for a whole week . I hate to admit but i'm a little jealous, it's just not a thing I could afford for me to do now.
Today Andy and I went to look for a new bed, a big decision, so it needed both of us to choose. We knew we wanted pine but to the design we were not to sure, we have found one we like and it should be delivered in April. We have gone for one that is slightly ornate but not over the top, while we were there we heard this cute boy of about 4 having a conversation with his parents, didn't we giggle

Boy... MUM< MUM< MUUUUUUMMMM
BOy.... it's a baby bath .... it's a baby bath.
what the little boy was so proudly pointing at was a bidet.

The mother looked at her husband and went a slight shade of red, with me and Andy having a quiet chucke to ourselves, oh the innocence of young kids, i would have liked to have the mum's explanation to that one......

one day to go

It is nearly time for Jamie to go on his school ski trip, i have finished the shopping trip at long last and the clothes are are washed and ready to pack. He is going on Saturday and then will back the following Sunday.
It looks like a fantastic place.....staying in a chateau in the Aosta Valley in Italy hopefully he will bring some fantastic photos that i can put up as i have just bought him a digital camera to take.
He has been banned from going to rugby practice tonight as i really don't want any injuries this close to him going.... Here's hoping he has a brill time...

Bombs away

Yesterday we had to be evacuated from our homes due to what was thought to be a 55inch live mortar bomb that was 300 meters from my house had to be out by 2pm, so i had to leave work early pick up the dogs from home go and get the kids from school and then wait around for the all clear.What excitement you think. NOT. There were police everywhere my house and road were totally blocked off had to leave the dogs in the car and go round to my friend Wendy's. Bless her she cooked the kids tea, while we watched what was going on, on the news.
The frightening thing was I had actually walked over this bomb several times when I walk the dogs down the shore, luckily it was found to be a dud, but it was a big as me, they had to dig a trench round it and wait for high tide so they could float it out and then detonate it.
The blockade got lifted and we were eventually allowed back in at 5.30pm, i'm not so sure about living on top of an old navel base now,it makes you wonder what is under the house you live in. Still at least it was an uneventfull day today.....

Learned That Life Is

Life is like a roll of toilet paper, the closer to the end we get, the faster it seems to go.....
We should be glad that God doesn't give us everything we ask for......Life would be very boring.........
Money can't buy us class... That is something we make ourselves...
Small daily happenings that make life so splendid and spectacular are to be cherished.........
Under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be loved and appreciated........
The Lord did not do all things in one day, what make us think we should......
The less time I have to work , the more I may just get done......
A good friend is a friend for life.....
The word NO should be put into my vocabulary more often........

New Book

i have discovered a very interesting new read, Not that i'm really into this type of book normally but the cover just had to be opened......It just happens to be a best seller......called Why men lie and women cry.
All i can say so far very interesting, not that i agree with some parts but never the less looks like it may have to read front to back. It is about human relations and body language, as we all know we need help reading the opposit sex....
so to the part i'm just reading now is about commitment.How true to form is this........We are frequently mystifed how passionate the other half is while watching his favourite sport
, glued to the tv with an intesity that will not get him moved for anyone or anything....How is it they can have so much emotion and energy to watch that but when it comes to a relatioship, they hold back and lets face if they are loosing do we dare walk in the room......and now i must read on some more......

A day off

Yes i actually got a day off work yesterday, with that in mind i promised Steph we would go to the flicks and watch Big Mama's house 2, brill film, well Steph, Jayde and i thought, giggling away, although not many other people were. Very sad they oviously did not have much humor in them..
I then spent the rest of the day finishing doing our bedroom, Andy had finished building all the new furniture, but everywhere else was a complete and utter pigsty." so much for the day off" Andy and Jamie went off to watch the Rugby , i also cooked the Lasagne ready for them to come home to , with fresh garlic bread, did all the housework, the washing, Andy can do all the ironing today.
I should have gone into work, life would have been a lot less hectic,maybe working another 3weeks in a row is looking pretty rosy at the moment........

Valantines day

After discussions with Andy the other night , it was decided that we would only give each other cards.After finishing work i quickly popped into my neighbours, while in conversation with Lisa. her son Ryan overheard our conversation.
Meanwhile Andy had come home and i had been told that he was home by Ryan . I left Lisa's and came home to find Andy not there, wondering where he had gone, then he turns up with a bunch of flowers. Me suddenly feeling very guilty as i had not bought him anything.....
Conversation
------------
Me ... thanks sweetheart , but i thouhgt we were not buying each other anything.
Andy ...the kids told me you were expecting flowers...
Me... no we agreed the other night , not buying anything , just a card.....
Andy .. I know but Jamie and Ryan said you were over Lisa's and you were expecting flowers......
Me..... No what i said was....i hope Andy hasn't bought me any flowers... when i found out you were home..
Andy....Oh great!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Me .... Nevermind i love them anyway...
I then called both the lads over and told them if they wanted to evesdrop on mine and Lisa's conversations they should at least get the facts straight first. Still at least i got flowers......

Thanks Andy " Happy Valentines Day xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Stef gets a part

Stephanie's next school production is Oliver, she had gone for auditions 2weeks ago and heard the results on Friday before they all left for half term.
I picked up a very dissapointed girl Friday night, she had not got the part of Nancy, but she got the part of one of the flower girls.There are only 5 flower girls, so i was thrilled for her,But to her this was not good enough and so put her on a real downer.
As most mums know when they have a hormonal 11yr old nothing you can say will help, there was no amount of softening the blow that i could give. Bless him Dad came to the rescue, he told her the bit he remembers most in the film was the song" who will buy my wonderfull roses".This helped as her Dad used to sing in a group and even though i say myself he is really quite good and has just been asked to help out his friends for a few gigs this year, He did retire 5 years ago so it looks like i shall have a few saturday nights being a groupie wife again....Steph has a very good little voice and often sings with her dad, which is why i think it hit her so hard that she didn't get picked, but hey at least she is a flower girl and won't get beaten up by old bill sykes..........

conversations

This week has been really busy to say the least. I am still on sales this week and it looks like that is the case up untill the end of March. The only good thing is i have been one of the top sellers this week so i am giving myself a pat on the back.
Besides work there have been several conversations in our house this week.....
Steph has been learning about drugs at school. To her horror her teacher told the class that there were good drugs and bad drugs.The worst drug to her was as i would say a not a bad drug but to her she was mortified to find her teaching telling her "CHOCOLATE" was a drug. This caused major upset, her favourite food was a drug, still now at least i don't have to replace the choccie bars as quick.She was also telling us about this really bad drug called estsy, bless, she just couldn't get the word ecstaty, Andy and i had to do a few double takes before we got it.
Andy and i have also been having discussions....
Do we go away this year for a long weekend, we had promised ourselves we would go back to either Brussels or Bruge as we loved it so much and there was so much more to see that we just didn't have chance to..... or do we do the boring thing and re-do the bedroom. We have some fantastic offers coming in our store next week on some pine furniture and our room definately needs a re-vamp so ...... Bedroom?...weekend?....bedroom?....weekend?...bedroom?.... bit of a dilema, unfortunately it looks like the bedroom is winning, then of course it is talking Andy into the colours i want, which is a deep red, cream and gold, he has a slight niggle about the red...
Me.....i want to do it red,cream and gold with wood flooring....
Andy.....Red. no not red ok with everything else , why red?..
Me.. It's warm and sultry and romantic......it will go great with the pine...
Andy....Romantic when do we have time for romantic?
Me... well if it looked romantic , then we may end up in there more...
Andy... well show me the colours and maybe, he is not very good at picturing colours in his mind and picturing what the room would look like.
Me..... honestly you will like it....
I will work on him and hopefully i will get my romantic room. i shall just keep reminding him of how he loves the lounge now it is finished

Jamies first pay

Today was the first day that Jamie actually got paid for doing a job that wasn't for us. He has paid for steph sitting when we go out, but today he was working up the club. Bless him he had to do all the washing up as we had a lunch on up the Rugby Club for the start of the six nations.
He has wanted a little job so he could make a start on the "earning road" and be able to get a job reference. The lunch was roughly for about 100 people so my hat goes off to him, i would not like to wash up that amount.
I have a very happy son tonight , He made 5.00 in tips and 10.00 in wages, not bad for an afternoons work. He is going to put the money to good use and put it towards spending money for his ski trip next month.

being sceptical

Last night i went with my good friend Lisa to watch a clairvoyant called Stephan Holbrook. He is meant to be one of the best in England. Having never been to one before i thought what the heck i may as well go and see what it was all about.
Now i'm not a great believer in life after death , but i do believe that we go to another place, i believe it right to get married in church and have my children christened, i also feel proud to have been asked to be a godmother.
Well it was different, there were about 150 people all there some the same as me, their first time and others that go to these sort of meetings regularly.You are told to relax and that if you kept your arms folded infront of you this would act like a barrier and poeple would be blocked. I must admit for the first half i did keep my arms fairly blocked . It was something new to experience and i was not to sure if i wanted that in a room full of strangers.
It was an extroadany evening and it does open your mind up, i will say i'm still a little sceptical but not as much as i was, I shall go again although i don't think i will be a true believer untill maybe i got a message through for me.

being multiskilled

Work at the moment for me seems to be never ending at the moment, with me having to work the next 2weeks without a day off, Try and keep up with all the wifely duties around the house and keep up with the dogs as show season will be starting soon for Bruno. Tyson i have decided to retire after the massive trauma to his back just before Ocober he seems to be a little less enthused in strutting his stuff.
So back to the point , at the moment i am doing extra hours on fashions first thing from 8-9am, then going onto our dept for 30mins to try and keep up with my work.Then at 9.30 i'm off doing sales for the company which i do extra time,i then go from there to my cleaning job,then go and pick Steph up from school, get changed and run the dogs with 3omins traing for Bruno. With that its time to be mum sort out the tea and homework, get on the computer if i can , then if i'm really lucky stay awake to watch a bit of tv.
I think looking at my day it is ok to be multiskilled but there are not enough hours in the day to fit everything in. I don't want to be multiskilled anymore.....

people that come into our lives

people come into our lives for a reason, either it be for a season or a lifetime.They come to assist you through difficulty,to provide you with guidence,support you ,to help you spirtitually and emotionally.They may seem like the godsend that they are, they will be there for the reason that you need them to be.
Some may at some point do something that will bring this phase to a close in your life , but for most part they will always be there.Sometimes they may die, they may just walk away sometimes they may act up and you are forced to take a stand.
People often come to bring you an experience that you may never have had,they come to make you laugh, share and watch you grow. You may be given the joy you deserve for knowing these people either it be a short or a long time.
Relationships teach you a lifetime of lessons weather you learn from them or not, it is up to you,you can build on them or you can forget them. I once read somewhere a long time ago that love is blind and that a friendship is clairvoyant, i feel lucky for the friends i have , for the ones i still have and see, and for the ones that i don't. I have learnt many lessons in my life so far and that is to embrace the fact of knowing the people that i know and thank you for being in my life....

Job Description

This was on the front of my Birthday card from Andy. I dedicate this to all us wives.
Best Wife On Earth......Very Unsocial Hours

Probably the most demanding job in the universe,this role requires absolute dedication and selfless devotion to duty. Must have unlimited patience and be able to sit and watch sport on the tele without complaining.
An ability to cope with the after effects of husband's drinking sessions, which probably include obnoxious smelling botty burps and loud snoring in bed, after a truly pathetic attempt to perform sexually, would be an advantage.
Frequent opportunities for retribution will occur with regard to the over use of credit cards for the use of retail therapy, which will cause the husband to have an emotional breakdown.
A regular supply of wine may be required fom time to time in cases of stress, or celebration and is included in the package.

Limited Holidays Will Apply

Are we just perfect or what, now i just have to find a job description for a hubby.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEEEEEEE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

wELL I HAVE REACHED THE GRAND OLD AGE OF 43, IT IS A GOOD JOB THAT I DON'T FEEL THAT OLD, I STILL FELL AS IF I'M IN MY THIRTY'S. i'VE HAD A GOOOD DAY AND GOT LOTS OF GOODIES ANS X AMOUNTS OF BUNCHES OF FLOWERS WHICH HAS MADE MY LOUNGE SMELL WONDERFULL.
tHE NEXT BEST PRESSIE WAS MUM AND DAD ARRIVING FROM PORTUGAL TO SPEND THE WEEK....

Mosaic

Steph is doing a class assembly on Friday and the topic is Egypt. They have been told to bring something in that looks like form that era.
With that in mind she happily brings down her Mosaic set that she had got for Christmas, So guess what we were doing at Rugby up on the nice warm clubhouse this morning. We were decorating, we cut the bits of clay , we played with the jewels, we re arranged the bits and we filled in the gaps. Al we have to do now is put the finishing touches and hey presto she will have her Egyptian artifacts to take to school.
We will varnish and do the last bits tomorrow night when she gets home from school and then I will take some photos.....

Steph's English Homework

Today steph was given the task of writing a love letter from 2 fairytale characters . Here's how hers goes

Dear my one true love Cinderella,
I'm writing to tell you my passionate feelings towards you. My emotions run wild just thinking about your amazing smile, you are my heart of gold, my one and only reason to keep living. We can do anything you desire, like singing,dancing or maybe even shopping if that's what you really want, because as you see,I am fully committed to our relationship
I am also excellent at making bacon in the morning,unless of course you like to watch your weight. I am a true hearted wolf who would love you forever and ever also before I go, I wrote you a poem

Roses are red,violets are blue.Sugar is sweet, What happened to you
Lots and lots of love
Mr big Bad Wolf

She did this all by herself...... You go girlxxxxxx

New year and Stephs Breakfast

www.flickr.com

rain and wind

I have decided I love my dogs dearly, but on mornings like this one today it was hell.I have had to start work early this week which has meant the dogs going out at 6.30am. Now i'm reasonably brave or stupid but I walk on my own in the middle of a field in the pitch black just me and the boys.
This morning I not only had the boys to deal with but that bloody awful pelting rain and the wind which just seemed to whip everywhere. It is on days like this that I hate having the type of dogs that need to run and not a little lap dog.
This afternoon a different story I love my dogs again, there was little wind, no rain the sun was shining, so we walked for about an hour, round the the field to the shore watched the world go by, while they ran and played. With the sun on my face I am in heaven again. But please no rain tomorrow morning....

Breakfast by Stephanie

Yesterday the whole of the family went up to by Twickenham to watch Andy and Jamie's favourite rugby team play. Harlequinns were playing against Plymouth. Stephanie had been desperate to cook a cooked breakfast for everyone. With that in mind I knew how long a day it was going to be , so I said we would do it Saturday morning.
Bless her she got up nice and early and with a bit of help from me she cooked the full load. We had the following
Bacon.
Sausages
hash browns
mushrooms fried egg
tomatoes
toast with vegemite or marmalade
coffee or tea
What a grand job it did, we lasted the whole day till we got back photos to be posted later, well done my up and coming budding chef..............

Dilemma

I have decided that I am totally peeved off at work, well not exactly with the place I work but with all the hassle I get from my department.So I am thinking change, do I totally change jobs or do I go to a different department. The bad thing is if I move departments I will have to take a pay cut but there would be a lot less stress.
There are some hours I can do on our jewelery/fashions but, do I go for an earlier start 7.30-12.30/1pm or do I go for 12-6pm shift.I would need to do extra hours to make up my money loss, I shall have to wait and see.I love my job now it's just that it is pretty stressful and I could just do without it.
Wouldn't it just be wonderful if I could just win the lottery and then all my problems would be over.......

The ring

Today was the holiday over , I had to go back to work, oh yes this woman decides to go back on a bank holiday so I get double pay and an extra day off. I got up at the crack of dawn leaving my fellow loved ones fast asleep and was at work for 6.30am. (idiot I know).
But the best thing was " yes I have ordered my eternity ring "Andy had given me the money for Christmas . The bad thing is it was out of stock so I still have to wait. He had said NO more rings as I already have 2 engagement rings but I was desperate to have a 3 stone eternity ring to go with my diamond set.
I know you are probably thinking spoiled or what , but I am not by any means. I'm just a lady and hey diamonds are a girls best friend.
Anyway steph is calling "Grease" is on the tele and we need to sing......