Thursday 27 November 2008

Diet blogs, brothers and bloody Christmas!!

Stop the Press! My Weight Watchers Blog has gone live today!! Whoooo! Here's a link for anyone who wants to have a gander - clicketh hereth! Hurrah!

Not an awful lot to report really, so I won't ramble on with an entrance for the most boring blog in the world competition! The wabbit has so far not attempted another escape act, or if he has, he hasn't succeeded! He's settled in well and loves to jump around the garden when the sun's out.

The Bean is fine, Sion Corn (Welsh name for Father Christmas) is coming to visit school tomorrow so he's getting more excited by the day! I've already done his Xmas shopping so I hope to God he doesn't ask for something he's not getting! Every day he seems to come home clutching another piece of papaer asking for more money....raffle tickets, non-uniform day, visits to Sion Corn, trips to the theatre to see the panto.....it goes on and on!

SLA is finally seeming better on the tooth front - next weeks sees the root canal so let's hope that goes well and puts an end to the last few months of agony, poor chappy.

Oooh good news from my little brother too, not that he's very little anymore...he's just auditioned for We Will Rock You, the stage show and has another recall in two weeks! YAY! Go bro!!! Will keep you posted on how he gets on :o)

Right, I'm cold so I'm off to have some lunch.....veg soup, I need to keep the points down now that blog is up there for all to see!!! Someone remind me why I did this again??!!! lol

Monday 24 November 2008


I've been busy, busy, busy today.....too much to do and not enough time to do it!


I thought I was off to a good start setting the alarm clock a whole half hour earlier - it should have been plain sailing! Things started to go pear shaped as soon as we got downstairs and SLA headed out to the garage to bring our guinea pig (Johann) and our new wabbit(Redding) back into the garden. It was a cold night last night so we left them in the garage for a bit of warmth......SLA is such a sweet, soft hearted chappy, he left music on for them until we went to bed and then left a battery powered light up ghost for them in case it was too dark...bless. Anyway, by this morning, all hell had broken loose - the wabbit had escaped! The shop had warned us he's a bit of an escape artist but this was his first houdini job since we got him home. He was easy enough to catch, big white furball that he is, but by the time I'd rounded him up, got him back, refilled the food bowl etc etc I was back to my usual late running........


Anyway, after dropping the Bean off at school I came home and got some work done for one of my clients and then submitted my week 9 blog for Weightwatchers. Apparently it will go live from tomorrow!!! Fingers crossed!


I headed out and braved the supermarket - why do they get SO much busier on the run up to Christmas? Do most of these people not normally eat? I don't get it.....then came home, had lunch, did some more work, picked the bean up and so it goes on....and on....and on!


Hopefully, tomorrow will be spent in a more relaxed and chilled fashion......hmmm, who am I kidding? Something's bound to scupper that plan!

Saturday 22 November 2008

Blogging, books and bad teeth


Wow, is it really so long since I last blogged?? I'm terrible! Apologies for the break in service, but believe me you haven't really missed much!


My poor SLA has been off work again, with his teeth, again.....this has been going on since July one way and another and he's really struggled. Anyway, one tooth less and one root canal to go I think he's turned a corner and is really starting to feel more like himself again. The whole experience has underlined my dislike all things dental and I will still avoid going at all costs, although I was delighted to hear they can administer sedation at the surgery in case I did need any work doing.....a useful last resort!


I had the delight of starting a new book last night, Christina Jones' new novel 'Happy Birthday' - so far I'm up to chapter five and I'm loving it!!! Can't wait to read more in bed tonight. Thing is I have to be in work for 6am for a broadcasting shift tomorrow so I'll have to be strict and put the book down instead of staying up reading for hours! If you haven't checked out Christina's blog then you should - always gives me a giggle


The weightwatchers blog still hasn't appeared on the site, even though I'm about to submit week nine's installment! Having said that, it seems to be down for maintenance tonight so maybe they're updating it....very uselful timing as it means I really can't track the Indian meal I had tonight. Shame that.


On the writing front, I'm still editing a couple of stories for one of the weeklies. One is ready to go, the other a bit on the short side so I'm going to beef that up early this coming week. I've just sent a query off to another magazine, one of the women's monthlies with an article and I've been working with a client who is setting up a wedding planning site and writing the web content for her and working with a long term client writing text for his interactive music site. It's busy, busy, busy and I'm a bit behind on my VisitBritain work this month and need to get 6 articles submitted onto the site this week! Wish me luck!


Anyway, best finish up so that I can go and read my book before it's time for sleep! Thanks Christina :o)

Friday 14 November 2008

Writing, eating and a lack of routine!

What a crazy week! I've not managed to blog since Monday......

The bean didn't go back to school until Weds after his tummy bug. He still looks run down, I hate it when he's not at 100%. I hope he can get himself built back up to normal soon. Poor thing. He's gone to school in non uniform today as part of the BBC Children In Need Appeal. He's also taken some money for the Bring and Buy toy sale, I dread to think what he'll come home with. He's a sensitive little chap and quite often picks up the dirtiest and ugliest things because they 'look' at him. I do know that feeling but he even struggles at throwing things away such as broken clothes and toys.....poor mite. The contents of his school bag will be .....interesting this afternoon!

Anyway, SLA is now home from school ill. He felt bad on Wed night and went to the Dr yesterday - sinusitis so he's back on more antibiotics. Today he has to go back to the dentist again and hopefull, FINALLY have the tooth out that's been causing him problems for months now. I really hope he can start to put it all behind him from his appointment today.

With the extra bodies at home I've not got much writing done at all. I've all but given up on NaNo. I've not added to my manuscript for days now so I'm never going to hit the 50,000 mark by the end of the month. I will keep at it bit by bit though, just as a longer term project. I'm just brushing up a couple of stories to send to one of the weeky mags -so I hope they may get somewhere. Keep your fingers crossed for me!!!!

WeightWatchers update I've lost 1.2 lbs this week. I thought it was more, but I'd forgotten how much I weighed last week....I know, I know. I'm useless! Anyway, it's a loss and I've just submitted my blog. Still no sign of it up on the site, I'll let you know when it appears!

Monday 10 November 2008

Help!!

I'm currently on 8286 in my NaNo word count but I'm getting myself into some real plot holes!!! Any suggestions gratefully received!! For example:

The ex of my main character has been spotter creeping up towards her front door with a mysterious white envelope that looks a bit like a card. He pauses for a second before turning around and getting back in his car and driving away. The neighbour sees him......but what was in the white envelope??? I have absolutely no idea! lol What would you put in it????? lol I should have thought about this first maybe??!! hehehehe

Tummy Bugs and Word Counts

I think I'd better blog quickly now, while it's quiet!

My little boy has succumbed to a tummy bug and so is home from school today. It's 9am now and he's still fast asleep so I hope that the rest will do him the world of good. He was only up twice in the night, he's coping really well, but it will be a day without food for him today as his little tummy needs a rest. He's been looking a pit pale since Friday night really so I'm glad he's getting rid of it now.

I've just read the lastest NaNo email - apparently the aim is to be at 15000 words by the end of play today.....not very likely I don't think! I'm not quite at 7000 yet. Oh dear. Oh well, I'll try to do some more later, depending on how the day goes.

I was supposed to be taking my MIL out shopping today, but I've had to phone and cancel and we were meant to be having lunch out too....hence there is nothing in the fridge to eat....lunch will be another bowl of cereal me thinks! lol

Right, I'm going to creep around a bit more and try not to wake the little man. Bless.

Sunday 9 November 2008

Sunday's here again

We've had a lovely weekend, especially with it being SLA's birthday. It's actually today, but as I'm in work all day we celebrated yesterday. He was like a child opening his pressies yesterday which was lovely then we went out shopping for him to spend some vouchers he had received and then we had a lovely Indian meal last night. Just perfect. Except for the onions. I NEVER want to see another onion! I don't know what I was thinking of but I opted for onions in every course and spent all last night and most of this morning in absolute agony! I'm still not right! No more onions!


I've not got any further on NaNo, I'm seeing the 50,000 target slipping away from me to be honest. Although I did write over 1000 words in 25 mins on Friday night so I suppose if I was strict with myself I could just about catch up if I put the hours in. Thing is, there is just so much other stuff going on as well. I know I'm taking my MIL out to look for new curtains tomorrow and I'm meeting a couple of friends on Weds morning too to try out the new Starbucks that has opened in town......the house still looks like a tip and I'm wanting to really get it sorted in the next few weeks before the Xmas decs go up. I hate it to be cluttered before we even start!

Right, I'm off to do another broadcast now and to keep browsing the menu of a healthy food place I spotted just up the road. I'm spoilt for choice! I normally head to Subway for a salad but the thought of the onions just puts me off. I know I could just miss them out but I think I fancy a change :o)

Friday 7 November 2008

Phone calls and parents' evenings.

I survived parents' evening! Whoo! Actually they seem to like the little rugrat which is fantastic. We've gone from school to school of people who did nothing but criticise so to find a school that actually recognise what he has to offer is just so wonderful and reassuring!

I had to make a very important phone call this morning to speak to a publisher about a possible book. I've not written a book before, let along a factual reference type on, so you can imagine how petrified I was! Anyway, he was human, which helped immensely! I'll know the outcome in the next couple of weeks so I'll be sure to let you know how I get on.

Tomorrow we are celebrating SLA's birthday. It's actually on Sunday but as I'm in work on Sunday we are pretending it's tomorrow! I have lots to wrap for him later on today, cards to write etc etc I hope he has a truly special day :)

I'm off now to write my weekly blog for WeightWatchers.....it's not going well, actually, maybe that's harsh, it's just not going quickly. I've always been like this when some people can easily lost 2 or more pounds a week I faff around with half on and half off. It drives me crazy. This week I've only managed to lose 0.2lb....I may as well not have bothered! Here's to a better loss next week....now how to write that in 500 words to submit! Hmmmm.....

Wednesday 5 November 2008

Fireworks and NaNo



I'm just taking a short writing break to erm...well write this, so I guess it's not much of a break from writing! Hehehe

I've made a good start on my NaNo novel, well by my standards anyway. I'm just over 3000 words now, don't know if the widget on here is keeping up much or not! I'm enjoying writing and making most of it up as I go along, I have some ideas and plans for the characters but nothing is set in stone so who knows where they may end up?!!!

I'm going to break off a little bit now as I need to get 3 articles done for VisitBritain and I need to finalise copy for a website I'm writing for a Chef. It's easy to get carried away in my new novel but I have to remember the stuff I'm actually getting paid for!

Tonight, we're heading on over to my in laws for a little fireworks party. We've got 22 to let off, all nice and quiet ones I think and I'm going to call in at Sainsbury's and pick up the stickiest loaf of parkin cake I can find although I've never found one that betters the one my Grandma used to make. Just scrumptious. I won't be having much though as weigh in day is looming once again!

Have a happy and safe bonfire night everyone!

Hwyl :)

Tuesday 4 November 2008

Tuesday....need a kick up the bum!

It's all gone very quiet.....very, very quiet. Today was the first day in months, maybe longer that I've logged in to no emails. Not so many people seem to be blogging. I've got no new comments....it's getting rather spooky. I'm guessing it also means that other people have more to be getting on with than me, or at least they are more strict with themselves than I am!

The Bean seems to have settled back into school OK, we have parents' evening on Thursday. Tomorrow we are heading to my in laws for some fireworks in the garden so that should be lovely too. I haven't heard any more about the book possibility this week so no more news on that front just yet. Amazingly my WW blog is still not up on the site yet and I've just sent in week 6's installment! Obviously the WW team are still extremely busy.

I'm very disappointed in myself on the NaNo front. I still haven't started and I'm beginning to think now that there's not a whole lot of point as I'm so SO far behind. As you can no doubt tell I'm feeling a bit defeatist about most things this morning so maybe after a cup of tea I'll feel different! lol

On a brighter note an old friend got in touch via facebook yesterday and it's lovely to hear from her. We were really close throughout school and lost touch when we went to different univerisities really. It's been about 9 years or so I think. It's great to catch up :0)

Sunday 2 November 2008

Tic Tacs and Steps


It's another Sunday, another 12 hour shift - they come around very quickly don't they?!


I'm hoping to get some of my writing work done in the quieter times today, I've emailed it all to my work address....my theory being that if I can get the money earning stuff done now I can actually make a start on the NaNo.....I'm falling behind already and we're only one day in!

The Bean gave us a bit of a fright yesterday. He's a fairly sensible type really, older than his years in many ways and forever asking questions about life, the universe and other unaswerable subjects..... Last night, however he reverted to the 5 year old head he should have and decided it would be a good idea to stick a tic tac up his nose. Why? I have no idea. I've asked repeatedly but have yet to hear an answer that makes even the slightest bit of sense. He was in the back of the car when he did it, maybe he was bored.....it led to a sharp swerve onto the pavement where I thankfully managed to remove the small white mint from his equally small right nostril. Amen. And no more tic tacs for the Bean!

The other Bean development over the last few weeks is that he has found a real love for the music of 'Steps' - the group that is. I'm not sure if American readers will have heard of them, they did support Britney on a US tour once but I don't think they were that well known over the pond. They were big here in the UK though, albeit they were never 'cool'. They did real pop music, loved by children and those of us who are children at heart and aren't afraid to admit and accept it!

I was always a huge Steps fan, as was SLA, much to the amusement of many people, but we never cared. I was lucky enough to meet all 5 members of the band over the years through work and really don't have a bad word to say about any of them. Maybe I'll blog more about that in the future but for now I'm just delighted that the Bean has inherited such good musical taste! :0)