Exciting prospects...and too much food!

I'm back. We had a lovely time down in Cardiff over the last few days and I've come back on year older. It doesn't feel too bad.......thank goodness!

I came back to an inbox of 27 emails...we were only away for 3 days, I ask you! A couple of them were very interesting as it seems the publishing company are interested in my CV from last week. This would be my first book, if I get it. It's a factual one rather than fiction and is very exciting - and rather scary! I'll be sure to spill all the beans if it comes off! Keep your fingers crossed for me :)

I've got some more work to do for a consultancy business on Monday as well.......that should be fun since I've also booked for my friend to do my hair as well. My priorities are all upside down! Ooops! It's a nice feeling to come home to some work though - 12 months ago I never thought I'd get this far. Only 1 day to go to Nanowrimo as well! I really don't have any idea how far I will get. I haven't done anywhere near as much planning as I wanted to have done....it'll all be a bit by the seat of my pants.........eeeeek! We did stop off in a lovely tea room in llandeilo where I would happily sit and write the whole 50,000 words if they kept plying me with their latte and lemon drizzle cake - just scrumptious!

Today should have been weigh in day for weightwatchers but, thank God, they don't have scales in hotel rooms! I've eaten like a pig while we've been away, just so much more than I would have done at home. Don't get me wrong, I didn't completely lose the plot, I turned down dessert every night except my birthday and that was only a kulfi in the Indian so I haven't gone crazy but I still feel yucky and I am dreading getting on the scales in the morning. It will have to be done though. I have to record another WW blog to submit on Monday so I need to confess and clear my conscience so that I can move on and get back to where I was asap!

Coffee and Cardiff

Isn't coffee good? Just thought I'd share after having a sip out of my mug. Mmmm, lovely when you're feeling a bit chilly. And I am. Very chilly. Winter has come in through the door, thrown off its coat and made itself well and truly at home. It's been 4 degrees for most of the day and I nearly spat my coffee out when they mentioned snow on the weather forecast. SNOW??!!! Already? I've not actually seen any yet but it's forecast for tomorrow. We'll see!

Over the next few days we will be spending time in Cardiff. I love the city and we have some lovely plans for places to visit and restaurants to eat in :0) Of course, the snow may scupper the lot but I'm hoping for some crisp, sunny days when we can get out and about. No doubt I'll have some stories to share when I get back.

It's only a matter of days until nanowrimo gets underway. I can't see me getting much written on the first two days as it's a weekend so I'll be behind as soon as I get going! Still, I'm looking forward to the challenge. SLA is joining in too and is doing an album in a month. Sounds like good fun. I hope we can both come out with good results.

Thank you for all the lovely birthday thoughts and wishes :) They mean a lot. I'm sure I'll have a lovely day with my two best boys.

Hwyl fawr a Nos da.

Spiders and books

Why, oh why am I blogging at 7:25AM?? Because I'm in work and have been for an hour and half already I suppose. Yep, it's Sunday. Another 12 hour shift. One coffee down........eleven to go!


OK, it got busy.....its now 8:46. Two coffees down.....ten to go.

Yesterday was rather surreal as I took a spider to a party. I know, I know. I hate the things but I had to. It was wearing trainers too.. Bleurgh! Of all the fancy dress costumes available, why oh why did he pick the spider one?

Anyway, we went, he ran, we came home. Does anyone actaully enjoy children's parties? I came out feeling slightly sick with a banging headache. It didn't do much to quosh my worries for the Bean either. He just seems very different to the other boys and I worry that he will struggle to fit in and all that may bring. We take one day at a time. Not much else we can do.....

Plans are afoot for the coming week. We're heading down to South Wales for a few days which I'm really looking forward to. I just know I'm going to eat too much, which isn't good for the old diet but it's only my birthday once a year right? I'm going to try not to go too mad with it........honestly!

I sent my CV off on Thursday to a publisher which was a first! It's in connection with a book that a friend of mine is hoping to write. All vague I know but I promise I'll spill all if I'm successful :) I've still not sent any of my short stories out. I must try to get onto that after half term. I know I've been saying that for so long now but I'm still unsure where to send them. I been browsing around the various guidelines and looking through the mags themselves but I'm still not sure where to aim my first story. I do know which one I want to send; I'm not convinced any of them are good enough but I think this one is my best bet..... my zero confidence club membership is shining brightly through this morning isn't it?!!!

Ah well, another broadcast looming....best toddle off :)

What to do......?

I am officially tearing my hair out. Why did noone every tell me this parenting jobby was so darn confusing, complicated and impossible??!!

Don't get me wrong, I love the bean to bits, that's why every decision just has me in pieces.

This time yesterday I was convinced we'd done the right thing bringing him out of school and back into the home full time and we have had a lovely day today with home ed friends. I've laid all the ground work for home schooling and not really thought about much else.

Until I got home.

There were two messages from the school on the answerphone. The first from his class teacher, the second from the deputy head. The second was in Welsh so I didn't understand it fully but SLA says that it's a very nice message and that they really want to sort this out and have him back.

Have him back.

HAVE HIM BACK? I'd forgotten that was an option.....and what if it is the right one?

This can't go on...this in school, out of school thing. He needs to be one or the other and it's easy to say go with what feels right but what if I truly don't know what is right? Because I don't. If I wrote a list of pros and cons there would be both on both lists.

It is such a major decision, one that will affect his life in such a huge way. SLA and I are going to talk it all over again tonight but it's ground we've been over so many times now. And neither of us are feeling 100% at the moment anyway. I've left a message on the school answerphone saying that one of us will certainly talk to them tomorrow so at least that's one decision made.

Any advice would be appreciated, as ever. I'm in a quandary.

Strange Old Day!

It's been a strange and surreal kind of day in many ways... I got quite a lot of work done this morning, polishing off 3 articles that needed writing by the end of the month. With next week being half term I wanted to have them out of the way early!

Then I made a brave start on an piece entitled 'Regret'. It's a request from someone on one of the writing forums I am a member of who is looking for pieces from female writers on the subject of regret. She wants them between 1500 - 2000 words.

I have been planning to write something for a few weeks now but I knew it would be about Mum and I knew it would be hard to write. So I put it off....and off.....and off.....until this morning. It was hard going, and I spent much of the time trying to type through the tears (ooh, I like that as a phrase!) and I haven't finished yet. I think I'm about 1200 words so I've saved it and I'll come back to it later in the week to try to put the finishing touches and edit it. It's not a job I'm looking forward to really.

Then I went to pick the Bean up from school...all seemed fine until I got talking to him about his day. I won't go into it all here but I think I will be rejoining the ranks of home education. It's all a bit raw now, he's fine, it's nothing to worry about, but once again we are not happy with certain things. This is three schools now. Enough is enough. SLA has left messages on the school ansaphone so no doubt I will have them on the phone first thing tomorrow. Not looking forward to that much, I'm not much good at confrontation or standing my ground but I'll have to. I've already arranged a play date for later in the morning with some friends who home educate so hopefully we will have a nice day.

SLA is bogged under with work from school. He's got so much that he needs to get done and is still not feeling 100%. 8 weeks is a long half term, I'm hoping a week off next week will make all the difference - that and a whole lot of birthday cake!

It's open!! whoooo!!!

Hurray!!! Remember I blogged weeks ago that they had closed the road at the end of our estate for roadworks?? Well, it's been closed ever since, until this evening! They have finally reopened it and I can't tell you what a relief it is. It's been a very long 10 weeks....we've been pretty much cut off from the town centre and the supermarkets, it's taken longer to get everywhere and has cost a lot in extra petrol. I feel like dancing now that it's been opened!

I've had a productive day today, all things considered. Got the supermarket shopping done this morning and then knew I had two deadlines to hit at lunchtime; one for this week's WeightWatchers blog, the other 3 pages for a client's website. I managed them all and got the invoices off too so that put a bit of a spring in my step...... :)

I've spent most of the evening reading with the Bean which has made my voice a little hoarse! We've read a big book on Mega Machines.......(he loves all things tractor and these look just massive) then we moved onto Spike Milligan's Children's Treasury.....just hilarious! We both laughed and laughed. There's nothing so precious as the sound of his hearty little laugh, I adore it.

Tomorrow will be more of the same. I'm trying to get as much writing done as I can this week so that I don't have much work to do during the half term holiday!

Thank you so much for all the lovely comments yesterday about my mum. They all meant a lot to me and it does help knowing how many others feel these same emotions. The photos are of us both; one on my wedding day and the other my 15th birthday :D

My melancholy Sunday blues.

I'm feeling more than a little melancholy at the moment.....not helped by being half way through a 12 hour shift behind a microphone...... Also made worse by hormones, no doubt. I'm female - everything is made worse by hormones.

Also adding in to the equation is that it's my birthday in just over a week. I still get excited about it sometimes, but I'm not having much in terms of a pressie as I'm holding out for a Wii for Xmas! Anyway, we'll be away probably for a few days, we'll have a meal....it will be lovely. Honestly, I'm looking forward to it but I can't help but go through these melancholy moments missing my mum. It's impossible to think of a birthday without thinking of her - after all she was the one who gave birth to me. It's a bizarre concept that she gave life to me but is no longer here herself. I struggled to come to terms with that for a long time. I'm not sure I've got it worked out yet really.

It also makes me think of birthdays passed....the parties at the swimming pool and at the bowling alley, the cakes that she made, the cards with the longest verse she could find....such special memories of such a special person.

This year, as for the last two, there will be no card with a long verse.....no silly present with a cow on it...she was the world's best at finding cow related gifts. I miss the dinner she would cook, the hugs she would give and the 'secret' phone calls to my hubby about some plan she had!

She always made such a special day out of my birthday and no matter what we do this year I will miss her being a part of it. I know I musn't wallow in the past, she would hate that but sometimes, and this is one of those times, the future seems a duller place without my mummy.

Four Things and more on the Teeth....

...
Poor SLA, the dentist poked, prodded and pulled yesterday and his mouth is just so sore............thank goodness it's Friday and he only has one day to survive in school. I've decided to have a change of plan for tomorrow, Saturday, though. So apologies to those who I was going to meet at Tiger Tiger in Manchester at the Romance Panel but I'm going to have to cry off :( Pain is one thing......add in trying to entertain a 5 year old in the city centre for 2 hours is something else entirely! I'm sure there will be other opportunities.



In Hill's latest post she has asked me to complete the 4 things survey. I love these things as you really find out more about the people behind the blog! So, with now further ado, here we go....



Four Places I Go Over and Over:

1. The supermarket! I love browsing and shopping, even for food.

2. Subway - I adore Subway.....I'm veggie so I have the veggie delite, honey oat bread and either sweet onion or south west sauce....sometimes I just have the salad bowl. Yum!

3. To the kettle -I'm always brewing up.

4. Facebook. I'm addicted. Sorry!



Four People Who E-Mail Me Regularly:

1. My step mum, usually through facebook though.

2. My work contacts (thank goodness, or I'd have no work!)

3. WeightWatchers - I signed up for their newsletter to keep me on track.

4. Sheesh...I really don't have many friends do I??!!! lol



Four Places I'd Rather Be Right Now

1. On holiday, anywhere, I'm not fussy but somewhere warm would be good.

2. Shopping.....with someone else's money!

3. In a big detached house with a cosy study filled with books.

4. In a thinner body!



Four TV Shows I Watch:

1. America's Next Top Model

2. X Factor

3. Dirty Dancing...The Time of Your Life

4. American Idol



Four Things I Have for Breakfast:

1. Cereal (usually cornflakes)

2. Milk...on the cereal!

3. Tea or sometimes coffee

4. Toast if I'm pushing the boat out!



Four Animals I Like Best:

1. Cows - love them!

2. Dolphins - have swum with them 4 times and counting.

3. Cats - love their paws.

4. Dogs - small ones, especially westies.



Four Beaches I've Been to:

1. Blackpool

2. Porthmadog

3. Massouri, Kalymnos, Greece,

4. Santa Eulalia, Algarve, Portugal



I could go on with the beaches for a week or so I think!



I don't know if I'm supposed to pass this one on, I know some people don't like them...so if you want to do it then I'll love reading your answers....if not, then I hope you enjoyed reading mine anyway!



Right, I'm off to put the kettle on...see Question 1!

Teeth and Hermit Like Tendencies.

It's the day that my SLA finally gets something sorted with his poorly teeth......I hope! He's been struggling for six agonising weeks now with one abcess after another....as one dies down another starts up. He's coped tremdously well. He's had four (I think!) visits to the dentist, each time hoping that they would actually DO something, only to be sent away with yet more antibiotics.... Today I really hope they will sort something. They have said they would. I'm guessing he'll be in a fair amount of pain again afterwards, poor thing....and more soup for dinner!

Recently I have been turning into a bit of a hermit....well, not literally a bit of one but you know what I mean. When the bean was in playschool, I used to walk around town with some of the other mums while we waited. Now he's in school, I come straight home and I'm reluctant to head out. It's partly due to the money - if you go out, then you spend and I think everyone is finding it tight at the moment. I'm also getting increasingly obsessed with my Aussie soaps in the afternoon; Neighbours and Home and Away.

None of this really matters of course but this week I did wonder if it was getting a little out of hand. A friend had invited me to meet for lunch. Lovely. I'd look forward to it....but as the day drew closer I started to feel differently. The night before, I'd all but decided I would cry off, say I wasn't well. Then I could stay home. And I wouldn't miss my programmes....I'd be able to stick to my diet more easily.....it was just a safer option all round.

The morning came and a text arrived - was I OK for lunch still. Crunch time. Was I or not? Something made me reply 'Yes' but then I gave a reason that I had to head back at a certain time.......

I went and you know what I really enjoyed it. There's a whole world out there! We had lunch, we had a look around the shops and then, after about an hour and a half I headed home...and was in time to watch my programmes anyway. I was so glad that I had gone, it's given me a new lease of life and I'm going to make sure I head into town a little more often now. .....although I'll always be back for 1:45pm!!

Certificates, cash and conkers.

I admit to hitting 'New Post' and wondering what I was actually going to write...which is why I am rambling like this I suppose!

I received my 'Certificate of Competance' from the Writers' Bureau this morning which was lovely. Sadly, it hasn't inspired me to get much done today as I've wasted most of my morning on Facebook :( I never learn! I've got nothing worthwhile done in terms of writing or cleaning so far...and yet here I am typing this. Is there no hope for me?

I also received details in the post from Action Aid, a child sponsorship charity. I'm in a quandary now and almost wishing I hadn't requested details at all. Bottom line is that I have always planned to sponsor a child. But money is tight, I know I have more than these children do and for that I am forver grateful, but still there's is veyr little leaway between what goes into the bank and what comes out. This information this morning was very specific, complete with a photo of the child who needs a sponsor, his name, his details and an address where I can write to him. But there is still the issue of the finances. I don't know what to do now. Can I not sponsor him and justify that decision or do I fill out the form knowing that it may make things more difficult for us at home...and yet even as I write that I realise we will never know the difficulties that this little boy faces every day.

I don't know which way we will go. I will talk it over with SLA later on and take it from there.

After school I'm taking the Bean into town today - we're going to have a mooch around the shops and go looking for conkers under the trees near the library - I love Autumn!!!

My first ever award for my blog!

Just look! It's my first ever blog award! I'm so excited and can't thank Sunshine enough for choosing me :)

The winners of this award have to answer these questions, in one word per question.... so here we go:

1. Where is your cell phone? Kitchen
2. Where is your significant other? School
3. Your hair color? Brown
4. Your mother? Heaven
5. Your father? Spain
6. Your favorite thing? laptop
7. Your dream last night? Gone
8. Your dream/goal? Published
9. The room you're in? Lounge
10. Your hobby? Playing :)
11. Your fear? Death
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Detached
13. Where were you last night? Here
14. What you're not? Shrinking
15. One of your wish-list items? Wii
16. Where you grew up? Lancashire
17. The last thing you did? Wash-up
18. What are you wearing? Jeans
19. Your TV? Off
20. Your pets? Eating
21. Your computer? Laptop
22. Your mood? Calm
23. Missing someone? Mum
24. Your car? Orange
25. Something you're not wearing? Hat
26. Favorite store? Sainsburys
27. Your summer? Exciting
28. Love someone? Yep.
29. Your favorite color? Orange
30. When is the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? Sunday

OK, I also have to pass this award onto another 5 blogs that I love - so here we go :)

Christina at Bucolic Frolics
Pat at WriteUpTheHill
Debs in her shed :)
Tiffiney and her Southern, hippy, married, mom of four life
Jan Jones

I enjoy reading all your blogs :)

Writing this, writing that, writing t'other!

I've not stopped this morning....just don't ask me what I've done. I have no idea. The house still looks like a bombsite........

I'm getting that overwhelming feeling again with my writing! Help! I'm drowning in the stuff that's piling up! I have no end to the articles I need to write for VisitBritain, all with photos -which are all too large and need downsizing before I can use them.

I have 1 short story that I think is ready to go, but I'm not sure where to. I have another that needs rewriting and ideas for two more that keep going round and round my head until I have time to do something with them! Also going round my head is my novel for the Nanowrimo - not long til November now!

I have just written my WeightWatchers blog - week 3 - even though Week 1 isn't up on the site yet, apparently it won't be long now. I also remembered to email my tutor on the Writers Bureau course to apologise, again, that he still hasn't received assignment 6! It's been well over a year now! Truth is I'm too busy writing other stuff. Apparently, this is good though as I have now qualified for my certificate of competance (ooh - Get Me!). I have also just had a lovely email from the lady who edits the monthly E-zine for them asking if I'd like to feature as one of their success stories! Me? A Success? Who'd have thought it eh? (I can feel me mum smiling down saying 'Me, of course!' and yes, she always did :))

So, much to do, not enough time to do it...and yet I'm sitting here blogging! Typical! Oh and the photo is me and the Bean, taken on Saturday at Llyn Brenig......his face is hilarious although I don't know how clearly it will show up on here - I recommend clicking on it to get the full size! lol

From the goldfish bowl.

Sunday again....already! The office move is complete and I am typing this from a new desk in our new office, in front of a new computer screen and new microphone (whilst dialled into Radio Cumbria but don't tell anyone.....sssshhhh). The new place is nice...I think. It's all a bit strange after 9 years in the old place but I'll soon get used to it. Our office is within another office....if that makes sense and we're surrounded by a glass wall! Honestly, if the bigger office had wanted a goldfish bowl I'm sure there were cheaper options! Having said that, there is no one working in there on Sundays so I don't feel watched! Oh and there's a Subway 5 mins walk up the road so all is good!

I had a chuckle at the Bean on Friday when I picked him up from school. As we got into the car a lady walked past.

'Oooh look, there's Sandra,' he said, 'She works in school. She does lunches.'

'Oh right,' I replied, 'SO she helps to cook the school meals then?'

'Oh no, Mummy,' came the reply, 'She doesn't cook lunches she just does rubbish and opening packets.'

I have no idea whether 'Rubbish and Opening Packets' is this lady's official job title, I'm sure it's not quite what her parents would have hoped for!

Yesterday we had a lovely walk up at LLyn Brenig. The weather wasn't great but we followed the nature trail and spotted lots of hoof and paw prints in the mud along with a couple of tiny little frogs, climbing over blades of grass like they were the himalayas. It's always good to get some fresh air and although we walked for an hour it honestly felt more like 10 minutes. We stopped off at an Indian restaurant for a takeaway on the way back too. It was GORGEOUS! I only ate half though to save WeightWatchers points and I'm having the other half tonight when I get home.

I've had some ideas for some more short stories so I'm going to try to get them started this week, or at least one of them! I've shared one of my stories with friends and on a writing forum that I belong to and have only had good reviews which is fantastic, but being a member of the zero confidence club I'm convinced that people are just saying it to be nice. I suppose I should take the plunge and submit it!

And the scales said.......

I'm having a grouchy day today....so I'd stand well back if I were you. I woke up feeling like this and my mood certainly didn't improve after stepping on the scales. This morning, you see, was WeightWatchers weigh in day, a day that I have been dreading all week. I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but I'm just not 'in the diet groove' at the moment. If you've been on a diet, I'm sure you know what I mean by that. It's a state of mind I suppose, more than anything but once you're there, things fall in to place and the world seems a rosy place. When you're not there it's like swimming through a large bowl of thick custard..(hmm, that choice of analogy speaks volumes too).

So anyway, this morning I got on the scales. They went up. Bugger. That would be the second week in a row that I'd have gained, not good with my WW blog due to go live any day now. So I picked up the scales and moved them to the right a bit. I took a deep breath and expelled every last puff out of me. Then I got back on. They went down. Only 0.2lb but a loss is a loss. I then got off quickly before they changed their mind. So, I can now record a loss...with a clear conscience but I SO wish I was getting the 1lb or even 2lb losses that I need.

I was strong again this morning taking an elderly Auntie shopping as I resisted the offer a cream cake as a 'Thank You'...they're lovely too those vanilla slices.... I opted for a few of the weekly magazines instead to do a bit more research. My writing this week has been non-existent and I'm throughly disappointed in myself!

I came home and got a bit of exercising done....I got the rebounder out and put one of Steps CD's on and bounced and boogied around a bit. It's better than nothing I suppose but I don't feel fabulous and lean after it!

Then I had the wonderful idea of digging my colour additions hair kit out - mistake! These are highlights that you stick/glue into your hair. Except they are old now, haven't used them for years. So I decided to shove a few purple ones in. First one was OK, the second one went horrifically wrong and I now just have the glue stuck to my hair......but not the purple extension. Not quite the look I was aiming for. I tried to get it out but I've not had much luck so I think SLA will have to help with that later! I did manage to put one in the other side so I'm not too lopsided but I wish I hadn't bothered now!

So, that's the day so far today. Thank Crunchie (Mmmm) it's Friday - that means Subway for dinner tonight! Yummmy! Maybe I'll try to save enough points for a McFlurry on the way home too......

The sun has got his hat on....hip hip hip hooray!

WOW, the sun is out. AGAIN! It's almost like Summer, except the mornings are really cold and I am reminded that I still don't know how to keep the windscreen demisted...if only I'd listened in physics classes. I still have to do the 'drive with one hand and wipe the windscreen with kitchen roll with the other hand' manoevre. I'm sure there must be a safer way. If I sneezed we'd be done for!

I've had an update on my WW blog this morning as the editor is working on my masthead! How exciting! I've OK'd the text and found a suitable headshot so we should be up and running soon. Maybe once it's up there I'll manage to stick to the diet a bit more successfully! Tomorrow is weigh in day, so fingers crossed I've done enough to at least register some kind of loss this week.

SLA is working late again tonight....his school has the finals of a talent show they have been running. It starts at 7pm and I think he said they have 24 acts to get through!! Sounds like a late one to me! The dentist appointment yesterday STILL didn't solve the problem and he has another one next Thursday for an extraction. Ouch. Poor thing.

Guinea Pigs and Rocking Chairs.

What a morning.......the sun is shining so I'm in a fairly good mood! I love being able to sit here and type with the patio doors open and the sun shining in. It makes such a difference!

It was a sad start to the day though as one of our two remaining guinea pigs died in the night. We used to have 14 after we had two litters of babies. They were all adorable but one by one we have lost them. They've all had good long lives though, the youngest died aged 5 and these last two were born 7 years ago! It's always sad though. Bert was a real character.....he looked a bit ill a few months ago and so, as it was Summer, we took the decision to let them out of the cage permanently and free range on the lawn. They've had a wail of a time and have just loved mooching around, sun bathing, eating, sleeping.......just doing the things that guinea pigs love to do! On Saturday, Bert didn't seem himself. He looked a bit dosey and not very steady. His eyesight has been failing for a while but if you shook the food container he still came bounding up the grass.

On Monday he seemed worse again and when I went out to him he cried for me. Now don't laugh, I know the thought of a pig crying is an odd one but he just squealed as soon as he heard me. I picked him up and, without going into too much info, could see that he was having trouble with his number twos so I helped him and we cleared the backlog. After that he seemed more content and didn't cry anymore. He did eat but he just didn't seem himself. As the nights are getting colder we got out the cage for them and bedded them down with lots of woodchip. Yesterday he pottered around and seemed to eat and drink a bit but spent most of the day inside his house. This morning I found him gone. It is sad but I'm relieved it's over without too much suffering for him and I'm glad he had a lovely last few months on the lawn. Bert is the pig at the front of the photo.

I've also been moving furniture around this morning. Do you ever do one thing that leads to you doing loads more that you really didn't want to have to do? It all started with me bringing my trampetter in from the garage (yes, see I am trying to be healthier!) I had a go on it for all of a minute maybe and then climbed off again! I will try to do some on a daily basis though, just with more....supportive clothing on!! Then I had to try to figure out where to keep it! It doesn't look too huge outside but once I got it in......ginormous! It wouldn't fit anywhere inconspicuous so, long story cut short, I ended up having to move a cupboard, an ironing board, the telescope, a whole pile of toys and games and the rocking chair! Phewwww! I'm shattered now :)

Actually I had a bit of a moment moving the rocking chair. It's the one that my mum rocked me on when I was a baby, it's very special to me and it has cushions on that my mum made for me when I was pregnant with the Bean. I was rearranging the cushions when one of the covers came off and just for a second, on the inside of the cushion, I could smell my mum as if she was there with me. It was very emotional for me and I'm tearing up again a little just thinking of it. I miss her so SO much.........

Today I am accompanying SLA to the dentist. He has been having problems for about 6 weeks now and has so far had 3 courses of antibiotics but today I HOPE the dentist will actually DO something! Like take the darn things out! I have a feeling it may be soup for dinner :)

Busy, busy, busy

Having a busy day today so far and am ecstatic to have seen the bottom of the washing basket for the second time in a week! Whooop! I do seem to mention the washing a lot in my blog....I'm not obsessed - really!

Just finished writing 3 articles for VisitBritain, still no sign of my blog on WeightWatchers but I'll keep logging in! Speaking of WW, had a shock this morning after baking a second batch of their double chocolate brownies and realising they are actually double the points I thought they were! Could explain why I ended up gaining weight last week as I wolfed the whole lot in just over a day! Ooops! I'd better show a little more self control with this lot!

Getting more and more ideas for my Nano novel although I am still petrified at the thought of 50,000 words in one month! If you have no idea what I'm going on about then you could nip to http://www.nanowrimo.org/ if you really want to - but hurry back, you hear!

I got my short story typed up yesterday that was stuck in my notebook and I still like it - which is fairly unusual for me. I'm going to do a bit of work on it and then have a think where to send it to after perusing the guidelines for a few mags.

Diet is going well so far this week (although I've only had one day to mess it up so far!) I really hope I come in with a loss this time. I really must try to work out how to get some more exercise into my days really.....I do keep getting a rather worrying urge to go for a 'run' and I put in '' as it wouldn't class as running for most people! I've had another look on the Couch25K website though and it's put me off again. Mainly because it sounds painful and they keep stressing how important it is to buy good running shoes - I can't see myself spending money on running shoes anytime soon so I think I'll just stay home. I've got an exercise bike and one of those little trampette things in the garage somewhere....maybe I should dig them out?

Writing and Washing

Where's the sun gone? I'm sure it was out this morning as I traipsed into Sainsburys but now I want to hang my washing out it's nowhere to be seen!

The photo is one I took on Saturday up at Valle Crucis near LLangollen. It's a special place and I love this photo. I wanted to have our wedding here but it wasn't licensed to we couldn't. It would make a beautiful setting.

I've just been in touch with the WW team and they confirmed that there is a delay in getting my blog up onto the site so I'll just have to keep checking in to see when it appears! I've just submitted week two's piece so that's one box ticked for today's work.

I now have another 6 articles to write for VisitBritain so I'll be working on those tomorrow and I have a short story scribbled in my notebook that I want to get typed onto the laptop too. I don't know about you but I really do prefer writing with a good old pen and paper. Somehow I find it flows a lot better.......it's just I can't always make out my spidery writing at the end!

I'm feeling a little better than I was yesterday about my articles and short stories. I'm still a member of the Zero Confidence Club, you see. I can convince myself very easily that everything I've ever sent out to anyone has been binned and there's really no point in sending anything ever again.... In a moment of madness though I'm sure I will be strong and send out a few pieces. I think getting my new copy of the Writers and Artists' Yearbook will spur me on a bit.

Off to hang my washing out under the clouds (hummph) and shove some soup in the microwave for lunch before I get tempted by all things sweet and delicious.......

The demise of Traffic Towers......and Bye Bye view.......

Two hours and 17 minutes to go until the end of my shift.......my last shift before the office move.......my last shift with this beautiful view over the city centre of Manchester. I've sat at this desk, on and off, for the last 9 years and seen the seasons change through this glass frame. And it's a gorgeous day outside today, I can see the blue sky disappearing on the horizon over the green of the pennines and in front of them the city skyline with its mixture of rooftops, chimneys and cranes.

.....Two hours and ten minutes to go now


Thankfully my throat is holding up well so far! Finally! A day without pain! WHoooooo!!! (Yes, I am touching wood just to be on the safe side).

...Two hours eight minutes........

I'm feeling totally overwhelmed and disheartened by some of my writing at the moment.... I know I'm lucky....I write and I get paid and I do enjoy the stuff I write. It's the other side that's getting me down and I only really have myself to blame for it.

I have completely lost track of the articles and short stories that I have written. I can't remember what I wrote when, I can't remember which piece I have sent to which publication ...it's all just a disorganised mess and I have no idea where to start to sort it all out.....any ideas gratefully appreciated.......

.....Two hours one minute........

I'm also failing miserably with the diet this week. That mental spark that gave me a real push seems to have deserted me. It all felt so easy when I first started again but this last week I've felt out of control ........I'm over my WeightWatchers points and I need to sort myself out. Where do you get that motivation from? If only it was just a button that you could switch on and off as required....... Sadly, it's not and I'm going to have to find a way of getting myself into a 'healthy' mindset.... I'll be sure to let you know how I get on....hell knows I'll be moaning and groaning on here until I do!

One hour and 54 minutes.........

Autumn, work moves and sheep.

Autumn is definately here and I love it! OK, so the washing got rained on and the guinea pig's house blew down the garden but honestly it has some beautiful bits! The trees are just starting to turn the most amazing colours...those dark reds and oranges that are just stunning. I really must make the effort to keep noticing these changes, it's too easy to switch off, go into auto pilot and miss these gorgeous changes.

Tomorrow I have my last day in work before the BIG office move. We're moving offices next week and so by my shift next Sunday we'll be in the new place. It'll feel very strange - I've worked in this office for 9 years! Still, it's quite exciting. I'm taking the camera in with me tomorrow to document the day! lol

We've had a lovely day today. I needed some more photos and info for my VisitBritain articles so we headed out to a few places including an old abbey, a cafe on top of a mountain surrounded by wild sheep and a country park with lots of pig sculptures!! What a lovely day :)

Off to bed for me then, loooooong day in work tomorrow.....12 hours of broadcasting............with a STILL sore throat.......I'll be hoarse by tomorrow night!

Nos da :)

Friday's musings...

Friday already, wow the days just fly by. Still, I'm glad today is Friday as it means my SLA comes home from his school trip this afternoon. YAY! It will be lovely to have him back home :)

I've got a fair bit done this morning as I didn't let myself switch the laptop on until I'd got an hour of housework done. And it feels good, sitting here now, knowing that I'm not typing on stolen time. The sheets are drying beautifully on the line in the garden, the floors are hoovered and the kitchen sink is empty. Life is good!

So far, my blog has not appeared on the WW site. I'm not sure why although I believe the people who upload the pieces are based abroad and were on a national holiday until Tuesday. I suppose this must have put them back a bit. I'll have to check when the next blog is due since the first one hasn't been published yet. Maybe I won't have one to do for this coming Monday....which is just as well since I've managed to GAIN weight this week. I blame my sore throat, antibiotics, school trips and chocolate brownies!!! I'll blame anything but myself!

Today I need to get writing....I have 3 articles lining up for Visit Britain so I'll be attacking those first. I'm still looking forward to the NaNoWriMo in November. It'll be nothing short of a miracle if I manage the 50000 words but I'll give it a good go! I started Julia LLewellyn's book 'The Model Wife' last night and I'm really enjoying it.

One funny thing that the Bean came home with yesterday..... In school they had to write about things they like doing and things they would like to practice so that they can get better at them. He wrote that he liked riding his bike and playing cars and that he wants to practice OPENING PACKETS so that he can get better at it..... I don't think it's quite the answer they were looking for but, hey, he's practical! lol

Hwyl fawr!

I licked the bowl!

Mmmmm, the smell of chocolate brownies has taken over the house :) I've just removed them from the oven and will be cutting them as soon as they are cool...and I licked the bowl! How decadent. I should add that they are WeightWatchers brownies and not that unhealthy really at all.....I suppose I still shouldn't eat the whole lot in one sitting though?

Last night we went for a pizza; my MIL, the Bean and me since SLA is away on a school trip until tomorrow. I made the mistake of getting on the scales this morning and have put TWO POUNDS on since weigh in last week. Oh dear. I have today to get them back off again before I have to record my weight again tomorrow morning. Maybe I shouldn't have made those brownies this morning...... It was a lovely meal last night though. Forwards and downwards for the diet now though!

My new blog for WW should be live on the UK site later on today which is exciting! I'll keep checking back throughout the day. I've not been doing much about my writing really this week, it's been one of those weeks where things just seem to have got in the way again, I've done writing work but not worked on the writing I love, if you see what I mean. I need to sort myself out and DO something though.

The throat feels a bit better again this morning. The results for the test came back normal too. YAY! I now feel a bit snuffly and my eyes are itching...I'm wondering if buying those flowers yesterday wasn't such a good idea after all! They look beautiful but seem to be starting my hayfever off again. Oh joy!!! lol Not so grown up after all eh?

Feeling all grown up

Finally, my thoat seems to be feeling a little better! Whooo! Typically it is the day that I finally have all the medication I was prescribed to help it and the day I can phone for the test results too. Marvellous.

I'm feeling very grown up today. SLA is away now until Friday on a school trip. It's cold and blowing a gale and yet he has to take his students to the middle of Welsh nowhere to learn how to make rafts, climb walls and generally get colder and wetter. Actually, it sounds like a lot of fun although so does curling up with a good book and a milky coffee.

So it's me and the little chap at home til then and I'm feeling all grown up and in charge! I don't spend much time home alone and it makes me proud that I can! I know that probably sounds daft as a lot of people spend time home on their own but I've never lived alone and it's still a bit of a novelty to me. I even bought some flowers this morning which I can see now...gladioli. I've never bought them before but they are beautiful.....good choice, me! I also bought ingredients for baking and so that's tomorrow morning sorted out. Can't wait.

I'm very excited that it is now October. The little girl within me always gets like this as my birthday is later this month. I REALLY want a Wii, and eventually Wii Fit but we'll have to see how the finances go and what the birthday bunny can manage. It looks such good fun. I love computer games of all kinds and I hope that combining that enjoyment with some of the more active games will help me along the road to weight loss.

Having said that, we're off for a pizza later on. Oh dear.......