Brrrrrr who turned the teperature down!!

Well arrived back on friday night and was greeted by my daughter with a lovely smile and a hug, she had text earlier in the day " i know you don't want to come home you two shirley valentines but i am really looking forward to seeing you" made me smile! spent the night at her house then made our way home to cornwall on saturday after a lovely lunch at Toys Hill in kent (home cooked ham egg and chips). My friend dropped me off at Launceston and Tony picked me up from there. So we had a great run back only 4hrs from kent, unlike our trip up which took nearly 7hrs the dreaded M25 again, got caught in a bad accident where everything just stopped for over an hour and half so frustrating and tiring.
Had a super holiday our hotel great and the food really good met some lovely people so if you are reading this now P and M i didn't write anything bad LOL we hit it off straight away which was great we met up in the evenings and had a good laugh and a gossip!! such good company so thankyou both! In fact we are all meeting up with our respective daughters in december!
We did not do all we had planned but we certainly made the most of our week there in Sorrento and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves from the moment we arrived to the time we left.
Just chilling out today in more ways than one its blooming freezing after being in temeratures of the high 20's sitting here typing with my jeans and two jumpers on brrrr. Will get some pics up during the week it was so beautiful can't wait to share the sights. Shame we can't get smells over the blogs because they were fantastic too lemon, orange and olive trees i can smell them now.

A week over or is it !!

The week with the grandchildren has been brilliant, but it may not be ending today after all.
Last night on our way home from being out getting the eldest grandaughters nose pierced (yuk) it was sanctioned by mum and dad by the way! the car showed a warning light on the dashboard, hubby took it in this morning to the garage, they seemed to have fixed it BUT twenty yards down the road the light came back on, back again and on closer inspection they have now said the cam shaft is nearly broken , not good , can't borrow another car as the garage will not let tony drive it out of the county so i think we will be stranded for another day, but that means i shan't have to say goodbye just yet to the young ladies in our charge. Best laid plans and all that!! Hey Ho.

Getting ready!

I promise it is there my heron, been seeing him on and off for two years around locally i now think he has a mate, i have been trying to capture a picture of him for ages, they were taken from our spare bedroom skylight so they are not very good but hey i got him or her finally, hope to get a closer view another time. It was one of those moments when you think nature is great and right on your doorstep.

Well next week we have the two eldest grandchildren with us for a week, off to pick them up today staying one night at sues then back tomorrow, can't wait to have them here and revert back to my childhood for a week going to take them to a theme park (flambards) yay i have a reason to go on all the rides. Please let the weather be ok fingers crossed, the eldest Amy wants to try surfing again and Jess bodyboarding so we will be in the water even if it is rainy, can't get much wetter can we LOL ! The beds are made their bag full of goodys are ready just need them here now bless em! probably shan't be saying that after a week.

So my overnight bag is packed my packet of malteesers are packed, my journey is never complete without the malteesers!!! And off we go leaving around 4ish to miss the traffic on the good old M25.

Suitably refreshed

Well i am now back from my little trip, got back on saturday afternoon.
I must admit it did me good to have the break, everyone left on the monday so i had the house to myself apart from the three beautiful doggies (photos to come tomorrow) sounds really horrible to say it but i really needed to be alone with my own thoughts for a time, can't say that things are back to normal in my head (my head is never normal) but that is to be expected i guess, it is still quite emotional. Anyway had a fab time, lots of walks, lots of wet kisses and licks and plenty of cuddles on the couch in the evenings, cooked what i wanted when i wanted it, had some wine watched some tv and just generally unwound felt so much better when i returned.
Will post tomorrow with all the piccies and there are quite a few.

Taking a break

Well i'm off on my travels again, this time to look after my friends three rough collies, i leave tomorrow morning, have to see how everything works at friends house ie: cooker and heating etc: and most importantly where the doggies have to be walked during the day. I won't be blogging for a week or so as the friends are not on the internet don't know what i will do without it!!! Have to take a couple of books, although i am not a great reader, still maybe time for a change . Should be nice in bude weather permitting, but all seasons of clothes are being packed wet, dry, cold, hot. It will be a change of scenery and i will treat it as a little holiday, could do with a break. Hopefully i will take some photos of bude and the lovely doggies of course.
So see you soon

Seem to be coming out the other end of the tunnel

Today has been a good day not had to many of those in the past month. We went down to the beach with our lovely daughter who is down with us for a week., its been such an emotional ride for us both with her coming to terms with her own problems as well and mum going it has been horrible. BUT i think we are turning a corner, all be it a small one, it was a glorious day today so we all headed for the beach just sat and talked a lot did us both good i think, sun was shining not many people ,a lovely ice cream and to finish off a glass of wine overlooking the beach, ah a little bit of sanity at last , small steps seem big ones at the moment, but we will get there.
Love you lots little daught!

20 years ago the disaster

Saw a programme last night called Oil Spill- the exxon valdez disaster it was a programme that made you think afterwards, it did interviews with people that are still there 20 years after the event and how their lives are still being affected really sad even now. One fisherman still collects oil from the seashore today. The footage of the wildlife was really distressing made me cry all the sea birds and otters and the fish of course. One fact that stuck in my brain was 50 MILLION gallons of oil were being carried on the tanker that fateful day , that is just beyond comprehension!! The captain left his post to go to his quarters and left the 3rd mate who was inexperienced to navigate the change of direction into another shipping lane, the tanker takes 3miles to stop so it was to late to avoid the rocks and she went aground, which ripped oped one side where all the oil was. the captain said in his sos "we are aground will be here for a while and we are leaking a little oil" !!!! my god what an understatement that was
Twenty years on have we learned anything about distroying our planet i think maybe a little but we are still a long way off. As i say it affected me a lot so felt the need to share it.

Hitch the Chaffinch

Sorry pictures not too clear, but this is our friendly chaffinch If it is not i'm sure Pete will let us know! This little bird comes around every year for the past three years ,chirps away quite happily then BANG he decides the window looks inviting and proceeds to fly head first or should i say beak first into the window over and over again he starts around 5.30am at the kitchen window where the bird table is and we do not have any curtains to pull there. all our front curtains are drawn at night so as soon as we are up he starts at the front windows, he is on the go until dusk!! when the windows are open i am scared he will get in as he did last year, quite strange behaviour, but we think it may be a territorial thing. Spring would not be the same without old hitch {named after Alfred Hithcock} in case you are wondering!

Well had bad day yesterday had the dentist in the afternoon, to be honest it was not that bad the guy was very nice and put me at my ease, he could see i was very nervous, the shaking may have given it away i think LOL upshot is nothing to bad to be done just a couple of things but he said we will do it gradually thank goodness. Job centre earlier in the day, found out that i cannot claim any job seekers allowance so i signed off again, that was a waste of time filling all those endless forms in, still have to try these things! sent away for another couple of job application forms. Maybe not a good time to look anyway as i have a few things lined up in april and may, going up to london for mum end of april, then middle may i am off to bude to look after my friends three lassie dogs for a week while they are away at their sons wedding, should be a nice little break and a change of scenery it is beautiful in bude, quite looking forward to that. We are off there on saturday to spend the night and have a lovely meal knowing terry it will be delicious, be nice to be cooked for.
Started my running again and it seems to be working lost two pounds last week, when i am running i tell myself "thats another glass of wine you can drink" my goal is to lose a stone. It is an effort to actually get out and run but once i am there i quite enjoy trying to beat my last time.

Our thought of the day:
Life is a challenge meet it
Life is a song sing it
Life is a dream realise it
LIFE is a game play it
Life is love enjoy it

A few changes needed

Well had some news that the company we work for is going on a short week, [they are a building company] it does not affect me to much as i only go in for a few hours a week, but hubby will be only doing one or two days per week, we saw it coming but were hoping that it would not be so soon. They are talking of maybe returning to full time after a few months if things pick up, but i think they are being a little optimistic.
So adjustments will have to be made don't get me wrong we are not on the breadline yet thankfully, unlike so many people! maybe now the weather is getting better we may be able to get out a little more during the day and explore places we haven't been to. just hope we don't kill one another by the end of it LOL

Thought of the day:
It is a beautiful world despite all it throws at us.

Birthday weekend part three

If birthdays can be like this i really don't mind how old i am LOL and it is not even the day yet.
Had a great day shopping and having a lovely pizza lunch yesterday, bought some new clothes very pleased with them, the morning started quite gingerly as sue and i both were still feeling the effects of the night before but by lunch time we were fine only fresh orange juice for me at lunch. Got home around 3.30pm to get ready for the evening as people were coming for drinks and nibbles at eight. Had my own personal hairdresser and make - up person to hand {thanks sue} had a fab evening everyone had a good time i think, got to bed around 1.30am it was a good night.
Today we went for a long walk on perrenporth beach to blow the cobwebs away, beautifully sunny all be it a little blowy, we walked for two hours , our legs were killing us afterwards but really nice.
Just about to have dinner now ooh more wine LOL . Birthdays are fun !

Little pearls of wisdom

After two weeks away from home i finally got back last wednesday, the extended stay did have it's benefits got to do more things with sue my daughter i am usually flitting from place to place when i am up so we had some good quality time together. Good news on mum she is progressing well and should be home very shortly, so i think i may have to go up again to finalise her coming home, but on the whole a successful trip. Even got to go to the cinema we saw "Slum dog millionaire" really impressed well worth a watch.
Whilst being at sues i got to reading a little book that she had been given as a present it was a small book of tranquillity, calm and Patience some beautiful quotes and little thoughts so we will be having a thought or two of the day whenever i post thought this one was quite apt after the weather we have been having
How calm , how beautiful comes on the still hour when storms have gone, when warring winds have died away And clouds beneath the dancing ray melt off and leave the land and sea sleeping in bright tranquillity. THOMAS MOORE
If speaking is silver then listening is gold. TURKISH PROVERB
It is who is in your life that matters not what is in your life

Reflections of 2008

Taken from our house a view of town and church when the snow was falling

My word another year gone already.


Good things, bad things happy things and sad all happened in one year, probably all these things happened to all of you in one form or another, but here are some of mine.


March: i was finally told i could have my eyes operated on after so many years of being told they were not operable i can tell you it was the most amazing thing for me to be able to see things so well , just to see things that other people take for granted truly wonderful.


May: My holiday to new york i finally got there after a year in the waiting, it was great and well worth the wait


Bought our first digital camera!


June: My best friends daughter gave birth to a son, it is wonderful to see him grow he is so gorgeous such a happy little boy.


Had my other eye op done what a difference that made as i could never see to much from that eye hey i can now !!


Started my blog , still really enjoying it


September: Another holiday to turkey, it was great to get some sunshine.


October: Our youngest daughters 30th birthday, great fun was had by everyone at her party where we were all dressed as her or what reminded us of her.


Went for a long weekend to dorset, such a beautiful county most impressed.


Not all things were so good but i guess you have to have some bad things happen to make the good things even more special.


Most worrying thing has been mum who is still in hospital but how will she manage when she does finally come home, such a dilema for me. an ongoing thing for this year.


It has been wonderful seeing my grandaughters growing up they are all special and give me great pleasure.


And all my friends old and new who each in their way have made this year special


And thanks to all you bloggers out there for sharing so many thoughts and photographs


Lets hope 2008 is a happy and healthy one and may all our hopes and dreams come true

It never rains but it really pours!!

Decided to sleep in the spare room last night, did not want to keep hubby awake with my coughing and spluttering, just got to sleep at 1.30am then awoke to DRIP DRIP DRIP oh not again this time the roof was leaking , so at 1.30 i was moving the armchair getting little pots to catch the water black bin liner to save the carpet, did hubby awake NO! t it did stop after a while but could not believe it water water everywhere! finally got to sleep sometime. So we will now have to get a person in for that. wasn't my day yesterday was it?

On the kithchen front it wasn't the dishwasher but a faulty pipe behind the cupboard, the chap has done that but it needs for the cupboard to come out and the pipe tightened up some more and the floor to dry out, but it has ruined the floor covering so will see if we can get some compensation on that, but at least the leak has stopped.

Seems all doom and gloom at the moment sorry, doctor said i have a really bad throat infection so i am on 8 antibiotics a day for 5 days to see if that will clear it, i had said that this was going on since we got back from holiday on and off apparently these things can take months to shift gee thanks makes you feel a whole lot better i don't think! See how i feel tomorrow then decide if i will go to london or not maybe the tabs will kick in by then.

Happier sight today the sun has finally come out in cornwall , all the windows open get some fresh air in the house, so i think it is time for tea in the garden

Will post again if i am here if not will try when i am up in essex next week . Happy blogging everyone x

Oh hell!

Panic stations, saw a dark mark appearing on my kitchen floor not a good sign! on lifting up the lino oh my god a big leak from the newly fitted dishwasher, i had a new kitchen fitted in april , so the pipework must be dodgy somewhere, must have been leaking for a while i think , the floor will need replacing and maybe a cupboard luckily we had not got new flooring, the guy who fitted it can't come till monday but rang the kitchen company directly and they are coming out this morning at see what needs to be done why does nothing ever go smoothly these days urgh!

Not sure i will be taking my trip next week, got this really bad throat again, off to the docs later hoping they will give me some antibiotics, tony went on monday with the same thing, we just can't seem to shift this virus we have had since coming back from new york, brings you down after a while . I shall be so upset if i can't come up to see everyone, have not seen the two oldest grandchildren since the end of febuary, still may feel better by saturday, be positive!

All clear!

The above picture was taken in new york in may from the top of the rockerfella centre at 8.30am you can see the buildings are fantastic . We had a wonderful time there will post a few more pictures another time, just really experimenting with the blog at the moment seeing how things are laid out. Our camera is a not a good one but it does the job. Really enjoying this blogging !

Had hospital appoinment and everything is fine and healing well, i can now start back doing things again, went back to work yesterday just a few hours, then probably back next week , then i am off up to essex to see the family the following week, can't wait to see the grandaughters , daughters and my mum who is now 82 so will be busy up there giving mum's house a spring clean. Will catch up with a few friends as well. Found a cheap flight from london to newquay and i mean cheap, one way it cost £1.21p amazing no taxes, only taking hand luggage as i leave clothes at mums, could not believe it!

As from next week i will start running again it has been a while, my friend has got us into a charity race in september not sure what for yet but it will be 10k so will really have to get started, looking forward to the challenge though gives you something to aim for, put on so much weight through not exercising so it will be good to start again, we go out in a group of 6 people all different abilities but kim and i are about the same , my record so far has been 5 1/2 miles so i think 10k is achieveable. The hills in cornwall are a killer especially where we are.