High days and Holidays

And reeeeeeeeeeelllllllllllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx!

Finally the summer is here and I can relax a little bit lot and enjoy spending time with my family without the stresses of work.

I am fortunate that I can take 4 whole weeks off over the summer and have holiday throughout the rest of the year because of the job I do.  I am looking forward to just being mummy and doing things for me!

I have been off for 4 days so far and we have managed lunch out with the MIL, A cinema trip, shopping, chilling and picnicing!!

You will have to wait for the rest of my adventures but hopefully they will feature some charity shopping as this has been a bit lax of late!

What's in the Bag?

A think I thought today was what on earth is in my Handbag.

As I lifted it up to go to work today it seemed infeasibly heavy considering it only has essentials  my life in it!

Well here goes the contents of a my handbag were as follows:

Purse
Staff Pass
Phone
House Keys
Lip Balm
Make up bag
Note book
5 Pens
6 Receipts
2 bills
painkillers
Ipod
Head phones
Shopping list
3 fruit chewy bars
packet of raisins (contents scattered over bag)
Nappy
hand cream
half packet extra strong mints
hand wipes
lady items!!!!
tissues
Sunglasses
A flyer from a restaurant

I am a bit worried that this is what I consider to be essentials and feel I need to sort this out! Then again am I normal and everyone carries this much crap around?

What do you carry in your bag? Do Share!!!

Where is it all going wrong?

A think I thought today was what is happening in the world?

I spend a lot of time in my job with young people and of late have been wondering what is happening to the youth of today. Ok so now I sound like an old granny but really some of the things I witness are truly shocking. Having spoken to friends and colleagues who also teach I know I am not alone in wondering this. When I started my job I thought delivering a vocational course would mean the people I came across wanted to learn, they had chosen a vocation and this course was their route to doing a job they care about and have a passion for. On reflection I think I was wrong!

Many people think that the subject I teach is an easy option; they won’t have to do much. WRONG! There is a whole load of theory alongside the practical.  Trying to explain why they have to understand the theory and what it has to do with the job they want to do is a whole other job in itself.

Then there is the issue of the “youth of today”.   Aggression, swearing, violence, rudeness, poor attitude and non attendance are all daily challenges in the classroom that teachers face.  This has recently been highlighted by stories in the press. Violence in schools doubles

Mobile phones are the bane of my life constant buzzing and vibrating disrupts every  teaching session.  I am all for embracing technology in the classroom, being able to access the internet on a phone is fantastic  -  research can be done from the classroom and you don’t lose students in the “library” but the disruption of calls and texts, facebook, pinging,  BB ing etc etc is just frustrating.

I believe this behaviour is a sad reflection of the society in which we now live.  You are not able to correct someone’s behaviour without fear of recrimination – students in classes are now more aware of their rights (which is not a bad thing) and they use this knowledge to their advantage.  There are no real consequences for their actions.  The threat of a disciplinary is not enough; they need real penalties for unacceptable behaviour.  I am all for students having rights but teachers have them too!

I hasten to add that this kind of behaviour is not from the majority of young people but it is disruptive and a lot of time is lost fire fighting or managing these people. I love my job, I love the subject I teach, I enjoy the feeling of helping someone achieve their goals and I love the end of year when all the hard work from everyone comes to fruition but when I went to college I went to learn. I didn’t dare answer back and unconditionally respected those who taught me. I just wonder what has happened to change the attitudes of people so much.  

What can be done? Answers on a postcard please!  

Thoroughly modern Millie - not me

A think I thought today was that I appear to be ageing faster than I should be.

Having reached the end of the stressful time at work, I have found myself with some spare time for me. I love nothing better than sitting with a cup of tea and a magazine for a flick through at the latest celeb gossip.  However something very strange has happened instead of aforementioned celeb mag I found myself selecting woman and home and good housekeeping!!!!

What is going on?????????

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with either of these fine publications but they conjure up a certain image in my head of a good 50's housewife getting tips on cleaning!

I know I am not a young flibbertigibbet any more and that I should have better things to do other than read about other peoples lives but we all love a bit of spying don't we! Even those who say they have no time for it secretly like to hear all about the latest footballer scandal or who is dating who!

Actually I was pleasantly surprised to find a good mix of recipes, articles, fashion, advice and fiction in both and am sure they will end up in my basket again however I may have to add a sneaky copy of OK or Heat into the  mix too (just to keep up with the youngsters!)

Anyone for tart?

A think I thought today was that it had been a while so I should get my backside into gear and write another blog.

So onto the tart!

These Lemon Tarts are the easiest thing to make and so simple it is unbelievable. Being a do everything as quickly as possible kind of person they suit me down to the ground.

You need:

3 lemons (juice and zest)
1 Lime (juice and zest)
1/2 Jar of good quality lemon curd
1 tub cream cheese
1 tin condensed milk
large pot clotted cream (or 2 small ones)
16 ready made sweet pastry cases

Mix the cheese, milk and cream together then add all other ingredients and hey presto Lemon Mousse! spoon into cases - chill and enjoy!

You can sprinkle sherbert over to serve which gives extra zing!

That my friends is all!

Blistering hell!

A think I thought today was that exercise is bad for you!

I don’t care what the so called experts say they are obviously robots not humans!

Having been out for a run jog walk with Mrs J last night my feet started to rub a little in my well worn running shoes.  The pain wasn’t too bad and certainly not enough to make me stop but by the time I got home these babies had appeared!

One on each ankle just under the bone!

OUCH!

Mr D says I need to burst them and cover them but I think this could cause a tsunami in MK which really is not an option and to be honest I am a little lot scared in case it hurts! Mrs W could only laugh at my affliction today likening them to the balloon like blister Mrs G had from running a marathon. Mrs W also suggested flying to Ethiopia and bursting them from a plane overhead to help with their water problems! (A serious issue I know but the comment was funny!)

Miss D is also finding them a great source of amusement and keeps poking them saying “mummy’s poorly feet!”  Honestly is there no sympathy in this house?

Frankly one is not amused.......they hurt!  I am not sure how I will get my feet into my work shoes on Monday or indeed how I will get them back into my runners for Monday nights session. Maybe I could contact Oasics and ask if they could custom make me some shoes to accommodate the growth????? 

The memories!!!

A think I thought today was all about memories that music can evoke!

This is not an original thought for me (or for anyone I guess) and I am not going to ramble on as I already have another post about this planned! BUT I had to share these gems with you.

Thanks to Chris and crew on radio 2 this morning I was reminded of this song from my youth

A classic I believe and I wholeheartedly sang along!!

This led me to remembering another 80's classic and the embarrassment of getting up in front of the whole school and performing it with Mrs T! Scarf and all ...............  hope it makes you smile too!

3 things!

1. Spending the day with my beautiful Miss D
2. Having an afternoon nap
3. Finishing the book I have been reading 

The thing at the bottom of the garden!

A think I thought today was I wonder what the thing at the bottom of my garden is?  

Every night we let our dog  Tobi out for a last “busy” before bed and every night he goes straight to the top corner of the garden, behind the wooden gazebo, sniffing,  snorting and barking.

He freaks me out! What is out there?  In the daytime I have ventured up there to take a look and there is nothing to be seen.  I have entertained squirmed at the thought of rats, freaked out over foxes, worried about hedgehogs and wondered about cats.

Maybe it is just a strange shadow that sends him mad ...................I for one hope so but until the mysterious creature reveals itself that is exactly what it shall remain .............a mystery!

Making it all worthwhile

A think I thought today (and everyday!) is how much I love my daughter!

She is the one that makes all the shit in my life worthwhile (and Mr D obviously!) Today had been the crappiest of crap days and I had driven home mainly having a phone rant at Mr D about how crap it was. I have a right mard on about it all and cannot go into the crap I have had to deal with or I may get sacked!!!!!!.

However I arrived at the childminders to find Miss D covered in Chocolate cake proudly proclaiming "I delicious mummy" how could I disagree after all she is! A glimmer of a smile maybe appeared.  All the way home she was delightful,  chatting, naming colours, singing songs, talking about bathing Nora (her dolly) and letting mummy brush her hair (a major issue in this house!) By the time I tucked her into her bed and she had smothered my face in kisses, the crap of the day had paled into significance.

For someone so small, Miss D is pretty amazing!

(loved up mummy moment over!)

3 things!

1. Getting my observation over and done with
2. Finding a lovely new eye shadow in the perfect colour I have been looking for for ages 
3. Being able to share the news that I am going to be an auntie again! 

I've been done!

A think I thought today was that I HATE observations!

In my job we have to be observed at least once in each academic year and as soon as we are given notice all hell breaks loose! We are given a week when we can observed in any session we teach.  Panic sets in  - you start to analyse the students, the room, the subjects and on and on.........

I am mostly cool calm and collected at work but in this situation become a headless chicken! I do the same job 3 times, I read and change my session plans at least 5 times and twiddle with activities over and over again.

Last night, after a lovely weekend,  I was up til the wee hours of the morning stressing about everything.  I  couldn't sleep as my mind was whirring with what ifs and what have I forgotten?  This morning was a panic to get to work to print off power points, check and double check the work and finally go to teach!

Lesson one, nothing, lesson two nothing, lesson three, still nothing! Everytime you enter the staffroom the question is "have you been done yet?" Lunchtime was spent bemoaning the waste of resources for the additional paperwork printed off just in case.  Off to lesson 4, the person in the class before me is late out, half my students are missing and yep you guessed it the observer arrives! Except in this case I get 2!! the Head of Department and the Head of Quality assurance! Holy Mackerel! My mouth is dry, I need the toilet and I cannot string a sentence together how will I survive the next hour?

Well I did survive (as usual) and nothing major went wrong except for some inexplicable reason I thought that it would be a good idea not to use the computers in the computer room  - DOH!

Suddenly a calm  has descended over me - it is over - I am free for another year!

Now I just have to wait and see what grade I get but really I don't care - I did my best and the students learnt - what more can they ask for???????

What's all tat?

Another week of rummaging and some lovely finds. 

First up a lovely cut glass tray in an unusual diamond shape £3.00

Then this lovely square floral cake plate a steal at 75p 

Next up a lovely hand painted teacup saucer and side plate £2.50

A pink butter dish £6.00 

and this old fashioned sewing box  for £15.00 it is in need of some TLC but lovely none the less! I have big plans for restoring this but Mr D may need to assist! 

My favourite find of the week and a bit on the pricey side but I couldn't resist as I just loved it so much this retro pattern tea cup,  saucer and side plate £8.00. My MIL insists this is a bargain! 

Not quite a second hand buy but a bargain none the less was this lovely cake stand and box of sweeties that Mrs B kindly purchased as a Gift for me at the bargain price of 79p!!!! 

As the sweeties were in individual wrappers the box can be recycled too! 

Pop on over to me and my shadow to see what other Magpies have been buying this week! And PLEASE if you like what you see follow my blog for all the latest news! 

Magpie Monday

Button Envy

A think I thought today was that I have button envy!

I have a button box full of lovely buttons but they are all thrown in together and there is no order! This is not good for my OCD!!!! 

I would love to get them organised but it is finding the time to do this.  While reading my latest book “The secret lives of dresses” by Erin McKean, I read this paragraph drooling

“ Mimi’s button box was completely extravagant.  It was the Taj Mahal, the Buckingham Palace, the Smithsonian Institute of button boxes.  It wasn’t really a button box at all, but a huge steel rolling tool chest from Sears, with a dozen drawers.  Each Drawer was partitioned  with teeny plastic dividers, gone yellow with age, and in each corral was a set of buttons, no fewer than six of the same colour and design.  The bottom two drawers were for the rogues and the strays – the light ones in the uppermost drawer, and the dark ones in the very bottom...........The Drawers were labelled........The top drawer the smallest labelled RHINESTONE, the next one down METALLIC and the one below that WOOD.  Then the drawers were in ROYGBIV order”

I want one of those!!!!!! 

3 things!

1 - Cheese and crackers!

2 - Miss D saying I love you

3 - Making a successful interactive Power point quiz for my students

What a Burka!

While out for a run this evening with Mrs J we witnessed a sight I never thought I would see!

A woman in a full Burka going for a run in flip flops!

Yes I am being serious! Flip Flops and a Burka - skirts hitched and running!

I will leave you to visualise while I stop laughing (again)

3 things!

A think I thought today was that everyday if I can I am going to find 3 things in the day that have been good or funny and blog them! I have seen this on another blog (sorry if it was yours I cannot remember who's it was but if you let me know I will link!) so my idea is not original.  But I like the thought of finding the positives in each day.  I will in future keep them short!

1 - Miss D sticking her tongue out at her Daddy and finding it really funny! I know we won't find this funny when she is older but while she doesn't know any better.......

2 - All of the cakes I made for work disappearing abating my fears they were a disaster

3 - Getting some me time and going for a run

That is all for now

What's all tat?

So I have been scouring the charity shops again this week and bagged a few more pre loved gems

First up a lovely little tea set - 4 cups,saucers and side plates all for only £3

I went for a peruse in my local shop mid week and spied a punchbowl for £3.50 and 5 mini trifle dishes for £1. foolishly I walked away but went back on Friday deciding that if they were still there I would get them.  Not only were they still there but the bowl had been reduced to £2.50 and a 6th glass had been found!!! 

£3.50 later and they were all mine! 

This post is part of Magpie Monday over on Me and My Shadow pop over and take a look

http://missielizzie-meandmyshadow.blogspot.com/

HELP!

A think I thought today is that I need some help!

I am managing to blog quite regularly.  I can post pictures and videos etc but cannot workout how to put the linkie things from other sites on.  I have tried copying and pasting the text under the picture but that is all I get (see the bottom of silent sunday) or I can copy and paste the picture and add a link (a la Charity Shopping and Magpie Monday) But ow do I get the picture to work as a link??????

Any help greatly appreciated please!!!!!!

Silent Sunday

<a href="http://www.mochabeaniemummy.com/silent-sunday/" ><img src="http://www.mochabeaniemummy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Silent-Sunday-Badge-SMALL-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Silent Sunday" /></a>

Feeling Guilty?

A think I thought today was when does mother’s guilt set in?

Is it the day you get pregnant, the day your child is born or sometime after this?

Personally for me every day is a guilt fest! The list of things I feel guilty for is endless but includes, working, using ready meals, not doing the housework as often as I should, being too tired to stay up past 10pm, Spending too much money, not spending enough time with my family  and so the list goes on.

Is it compulsory as a mother to not feel you are good enough at anything and that everything you do is not quite right? Time is of the essence and my life is now run like a military camp. We have times to do this and times to do that and if we are not on time well.............................  however, Mr D has commented that my timings are a little unusual. For example to get to work on time I have to leave the house at 07.12 exactly! Not 07.10 or 07.15. 

A recent article by Fiona Phillips in the Mirror also picked up on this theme following a study “Doing better for families”  by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development which claims that working mums are harming their children’s development.  I plead guilty to being a good mum!  

Do working mums need more guilt piled onto us? Not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to give up work when they have children and not all working mums want to be stay at home mums. 

I would love to be a stay at home mum and have massive admiration for those of my friends and others who do this.  Motherhood is the most rewarding job I have ever done but I could not do it full time.  Does it make me a bad mum to admit that I enjoy working, I like being Kara not just mum, and I enjoy the break away from Miss D?  I know that Miss D is happy and secure with her childminder and probably experiencing far more than she would at home with me but actually this doesn’t stop me feeling guilty and not being sure that I am doing the right thing. Am I being selfish and putting my needs before those of Miss D or does my choice make me a better mummy when I am at home?   After all a happy mum has happy children!

Every decision I have made since being pregnant has been with the best intentions and I guess I have to live with that. 

I know I am not the only mum who feels like this which helps but it doesn’t stop you constantly questioning yourself.

Creep

A think I thought today was about the laughter and tears Mrs W and I had over the song Creep.

The original song is by Radiohead and is in my humble opinion fantastic.

Now this event took place after Mrs W and I had been to a body shop party at the home of Mrs L.  Mrs W had a sniff of the wine bottle and was slightly tipsy.  I was Des and stone cold sober and returning Mrs W safely to her home! We like to have a sing song  howl, Mrs W and I so I put on the CD,  however I was having a phase in my life mental breakdown and the music of choice in my car this fine evening was none other the fine vocal group G4!

WHO? I hear you cry.

Well just in case you have forgotten they were a four piece vocal group who came runners up on X Factor in 2004!

So the CD is playing and the first song is none other than Creep! this version creased Mrs W up and I nearly crashed the car laughing! I am sure it won't be as funny to the rest of you as it was to us that night but when the song was played on the radio this morning it made me giggle and I thought I would share the story with you.
                                       
maybe you would like a listen ?

I don't want to do current affairs but................

A think I thought today was that there is something very wrong in people worldwide celebrating the death of one man.

I know this is controversial and I am not in any way condoning what Osama Bin Laden masterminded. The loss of so many innocent lives was, and still is, truly a tragic and catastrophic series of events. But I cannot join in with people celebrating the death of this evil dictator.

People directly affected by the actions of this man may feel joyful that he has finally got "what he deserves" but it is not a national celebration.

A friend, Mrs M has this as her Status on Facebook and having seen it I think it says it all

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that"

Martin Luther King Jr

I am sure there will be repercussions worldwide for the death of the Taliban leader and I for one hope that not more innocent lives are lost along the way.

Charity Shopping!

Those of you who know me will know I love to shop so the fact that this post is about shopping will come as no surprise.  However it is a different kind of shopping I have been doing this week - Charity shopping!

I love Vintage wares and invited Mrs W who shares this passion to a vintage Fayre I had seen advertised. We left our wonderful hubbies babysitting and went rummaging!

I was delighted to come across lots of "Granny Bags" as I call them and picked up this burgundy beauty for a bargain price of £6 

On our way we spotted a little charity shop and called in there after where I spied a set of 6 cut glass fruit bowls for £3 - perfect for nibbles

We then travelled home via Mrs W's local haunts where  I picked up a lovely silver oval tea tray for £3.50 and a gorgeous floral teacup, saucer and side plate for £1

 I also was delighted to find another granny bag this time in black with a lovely offset clasp for an absolute steal of £1.50!!!!

I will definitely be charity shopping again and can't wait to get some more preloved bargains!

http://missielizzie-meandmyshadow.blogspot.com/

This post is part of Magpie Monday over on Me and My Shadow pop on over and have a look  

Am I going mad?

A think I thought today was that maybe I am going a little crazy.

This morning I found myself in the shower merrily humming the tune to children's TV show Everything's Rosie.  this is not the first time recently either, Big Cook Little cook, Something Special, 3rd and Bird if it is on CBeebies I seem to know the theme tune!

Now I wouldn't mind  but we hardly have the TV on Miss D prefers stories and playing to sitting watching TV so we usually have music on for background noise. I am wondering if the BBC have magical mind powers so the music subliminally takes over your brain???

I think I need to get out more

WHY?

A think I thought today was how much money is wasted by the government

Ok I know this is not an original or unique thought but driving to work this morning I heard a news bulletin on Radio 2 which said

 

“a Cambridge researcher has found that viewers of Dr Who, who find the Daleks scary has nothing to do with the cries of “exterminate” but because they might become like them”

Errrrrrrr Hello? Was there the need for this piece of research to take place? Seriously?

How much did this very important rubbish piece of research cost? Would the money not be  better spent paying off some of the debt this country seems to be in?

No wonder the country is in the mess it is in! 

Shopaholic in the making?

A think I thought today was that maybe my friends are right

Since Sophie Kinsella first published “ The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic”  my friends have likened me to the main character Becky Bloomwood.   When the latest in the series of books was published “mini shopaholic” Laughing to themselves these friends said “that will be you!” “no no no” I protested.

Well  it seems the friends are right and I was wrong. 

Miss D loves to shop!!! She has very definite opinions about what she likes and dislikes and asks to go to the shops even naming her favourites (currently Asda and Mark Spencer). While going into town with Mr D to get a secret present for moi she said in the car “oooooo this is where I come with my mummy” While out as a family Miss D will ask to get a coffee in Costa “we go coffee in Costa mummy?”

I think I have created a monster! We don’t even go shopping that often as I try to avoid taking the buggy into the city centre although I admit we often pop to Costa for a coffee with friends but surely this is learning social skills?????

I used to laugh that the first numbers Miss D would learn would be Daddy’s PIN number  but I am now getting worried this is going to be true. I don’t think Mr D could handle two shopaholics in the family (well his bank account couldn't!).

As long as her tastes stay reasonable i.e. high street I think we can work with this although I think lessons in you can’t always get what you want are next on the agenda!  

I've finally Cracked it!

A think I thought today was that I love the sweet smell of success and today the smell has certainly been just that!

I had decided to make some chocolate nest cupcakes for the girls I work with for Easter, however my icing expertise was limited to various flavours of buttercream.  I love buttercream and with a bit of lemon, orange, lime, vanilla, mint it is extra yummy. I have however yet to master the chocolate flavour! Many disasters have befallen my chocolate icing attempts in the past and I had given up on making any form of chocolate topping,  that is until today!

After an extensive internet search I found a hummingbird bakery  recipe for chocolate buttercream! Having a sticky and battered copy of the hummingbird book at home I thought all my Christmases had come at once! I love hummingbird bakery recipes.  Apart from the sometimes excessive amounts of ingredients, I have yet to make a recipe that is not delicious. This recipe however was surprisingly simple.

So after a stressful day in work I headed off to the local supermarket to gather the missing stock cupboard ingredients ingredient! Dark chocolate! 

My car flew me home as fast as could be and much to the amusement of Mr and Miss D I breezed in the house, flung on my apron and said “lets bake!”  An unusual occurrence as I usually flop on the sofa declaring myself “knackered”

Baking done, I started on the icing, I was slightly worried about adding warm chocolate to butter icing but it worked. After some fast beating I had a glossy chocolately icing that looked (and tasted) delicious! Better still it was simple to make.  My nemesis has been beaten.

Chocolate icing is the new vanilla (well for now at least) anyhow just in  case there are any cupcakers out there like me who cannot produce a decent chocolate icing here is the recipe

350g dark chocolate

225g butter @ room temperature

2 tsp milk

I tsp vanilla essence

250g icing sugar

Melt the chocolate and leave to cool

Beat the butter, sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth

Add the melted chocolate and beat until the right consistency

*top tip* just keep beating it does thicken up!

Lightweight!

A think I thought today was that I am a lightweight!

Having gone out to a local restaurant for my bestest friends Exclusive (for this read small as in 3 of us!) hen do, I had a couple (and only a couple) of glasses of wine - it would have been rude not to after all. 

Therefore currently I feel 3 sheets to the wind having had half a bottle of vino! Cheap date Lightweight! LOL

I am thinking that amybe to increase my alcoholic consumption abilities I need to partake of the juice of the grape far more often.

Any takers to join me?

cheers

Makes Me Mad

A think I thought today was why do people without children insist on using the parent and child spaces?

This makes me mad! As I finished my weekly shop and walked back to the car today, we were nearly run over by a crazy loon in his Suzuki Swift. he had his wife in the front, granny in the back and an empty child seat! There were empty disabled spaces so if they had any disabilities between them they could have used one of those spaces but NO they use the parent and child space!

Well I couldn't help myself! "excuse me" I said " you do realise these spaces are for people with children?" Blank looks followed by " we have the car seat" "yes but no child"  I replied. The answer to this is too impolite to repeat but frankly Mr "We have a car seat" park somewhere else!!!!!! 

People like me with little ones need the extra space to open our doors so we don't bash other peoples cars, it is not the convenience of being close to the store that is necessary.  People who use the spaces  unnecessarily are selfish arrogant oafs (in my humble opinion!)

I think Mr supermarket needs to rethink parent parking and maybe issue some kind of sticker you can put in your car  - I know this costs money and man power to Police it but maybe it would help???? then again maybe I live in a little fantasy land of my own????

Lucky

A think I thought today was how lucky I am! 

Recent events worldwide and closer to home have made me realise that I should count my blessings everyday.  I have my health, a lovely husband and a beautiful daughter.  My job is secure as is my home and although at times we may have to be a little frugal really there is not much we want for. 

I shall try to remember this when having a whinge in future! 

A tweet that made me LOL

"GreySkyThinking Gwyn Grey 

Nothing hurts as much as being rejected by the love of your life. Apart from standing on lego in your bare feet"

Made me Chuckle!

Words

A think I thought today was that I like Words.

Some words just sound lovely! “Gastronomic” “Amazing” "Sparkly" "Sale!"

I love the words seriously and actually and use them all the time.  I find it amazing that people have words or phrases they use as part of their everyday conversation.  My friend Mrs S uses “Divine” to describe things, my ex boss, Dr F “Hey Ho”, my mum, Mrs B “really?” my husband, Mr D “how much?”

Words are a powerful thing.  Little words can mean a lot and big words can mean nothing. 

Take the biggest little word there is “Sorry” fits the above perfectly can mean a lot said in the right way but without feeling, compassion or truth means nothing! Every day I experience the latter, sorry used to appease but not meant and it infuriates me. 

A wise student once said to me “I will not say sorry because I don’t mean it, if you say something you should mean it and I won’t so I can’t”.  I had to admire the honesty!!!! Although it didn’t help her cause!

Enough of sorry for now though............. .....

I  also like phrases or bites of wisdom:

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift that is why it is the present”

“Dream, Believe, Achieve”

“To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world”

“ que sera sera”

“carpe diem”

“onwards and upwards”

 “reach for the stars and even if you fail you’ll reach the moon”

Sometimes it is hard to find the right words and no words are better than insincere platitudes.  Don’t say what you think someone wants to hear, be honest and even if they don’t like it eventually they will thank you for it.  If you can’t think of what to say a hug goes a long way!

Words mean a lot to me and if you want to make me happy send me a card with a saying on that made you think of me, send me a text to tell me you are thinking of me, email me a joke that you think I’ll like or ring me for a chat just because!

And one final thing if you are ever bored see how many words you can make from “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” 474 was my record!!!!

Not that one!

A think I thought today was that I am going to have a devils own job to persuade my daughter that sometimes mummy knows best.

Last night Miss D and I ventured into the depths of a local retail emporium. Now Miss D usually has a small massive hissy fit at any kind of retail therapy involving clothing, which is a great shame as I love it, however tonight she decided she has an opinion and it should count!!!!

As she has had a growth spurt she needs lots of new things (any excuse) I was wandering around looking at things with a little voice beside me going " not that one mummy" she self selected a small selection of pretty flowery dresses and presented them with "this one please"

The ensuing argument over the practical clothes I had chosen and the pretty frocks she wanted was hilarious after all you can't compromise with a 2 year old,  can you? Obviously I won putting the dresses back and buying the things I had chosen and then when we arrived at Nana's she was proudly saying " look what me got" guess her memory is still short!

I am now imagining the years to come and the arguments over clothes. Bring it on LOL

It's all about me Don't-cha know

A think I thought today was that you all ought to get to know me better.  To help you achieve this I have created a list of facts about me 1 for every year of my life! Enjoy :o)

1.    I was born on Christmas eve

2.    My favourite colour is pink

3.    I teach childcare

4.    I love roller coasters

5.    I would rather be by the sea

6.    My favourite food is mashed potato

7.    My eyes are blue

8.    I like straight lines and order

9.    I like to doodle while listening

10. I love music of any kind

11. I have several nicknames : Mary, Boo, Kazbar, Bowling Ball, Stern Durn

12. I am overweight and under tall

13. I have 3 younger sisters, a brother, 3 nieces and 2 nephews

14. My favourite films are Mary Poppins (hence the nickname!) and Father of the Bride

15. I cry at everything

16. I love to laugh

17. I lack confidence in myself although this is not apparent

18. I dream of owning a Mulberry Bayswater handbag

19. I am addicted to Neighbours

20. I bite my fingernails

21. I would like to wear PJ’s all the time

22. I wanted to be an Air Hostess

23. My favourite perfume is Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker

24. My favourite smell is fresh cut grass

25. I love champagne truffles

26. I don’t like Glitter

27. I sleep talk

28. I hate long toenails and feet

29. I would like to meet Richard Branson, Alan Sugar and Duncan Bannatyne

30. I have no religion

31. I am allergic to dust

32. I like to sleep (not that miss D allows much of that!)

33. I sucked my thumb until I was 25

34. I am a shopaholic

35. I love my family and friends and would do anything for them!

Books, books, books

A think I thought today was that I love books!

I could spend hours in a bookshop or a library just looking at the books and flicking through.  I love the feel of them, the smell of them and just everything about them! I got excited recently when we were visited by a photographer who is going to do portraits of Miss D later this year.  He produced the most amazing photographic coffee table book with metallic pages and an acrylic photo cover - just gorgeous - but way out of my price league so I shall keep dreaming of it!

I cannot sleep at night if I do not read at least a couple of pages before settling down, this is regardless of how tired I am or what time it is when I crawl into bed.

A perfect day for me would be spent  in my bed, in PJ's reading.  I currently have 12 books beside my bed ready to read! I cannot leave the supermarket each week without checking out the book section much to the frustration of Mr D. I panic if there are only 1 or 2 books beside my bed waiting. I have eclectic tastes and will give anything a try.

I have favourite books, those that I can read time after time and not get bored of and those that I have read once and have stuck in my mind. In no particular order here is my top 10:

1. Love you, Mean it - Patricia Carrington, Julia Collins, Claudia Gerbasi and Ann Haynes
2. By the time you read this - Lola Jaye
3. My Sisters Keeper - Jodi Piccoult
4. PS I Love you - Cecelia Ahern
5. Long walk to Freedom - Nelson Mandela
6. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
7. Charlottes Web - E. B. White
8. The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopoholic - Sophie Kinsella (written about me!!!)
9. Rebecca  - Daphne Du Maurier
10. Losing My Virginity - Richard Branson

Random selection I know but they are my favourites.  Try them and let me know what you think! 

Laughing out loud

 A think I thought today was that There is something about a man who makes you laugh and Michael McIntyre does it for me every time! I had his autobiography for Christmas and after 2 nights of bed shaking and laughter Mr D banned me from reading it in bed!

I think this is one of his funniest sketches, every time I watch it I cry with laughter and my face aches. I can't wait for his tour next year although I may need to break out the Tena Lady!!!!!