Get me off this speeding train.....................................called life!!

This week has passed with the blink of an eye!! Really I feel as though I stepped on a speeding train and forgot to get off. Lets face it life has been a bit of a whirlwind since the kids have gone back to school.

It started with Friday 23rd being my youngest sons 11th birthday. bless him he had done the 11+ test that week and was so glad to get it all over that he really couldn't wait for his big day!

Yes shock of all shocks he had to go to school on his birthday! Life is so hard.

Now for some reason he though we might let him have the day off........but we are bad parents and made him go to school anyway! But he had a great day there and had some lovely pressies from his good friends. That night he was going to milk it for all he was worth so we had present opening....

Followed by dinner out..............TGI's being his choice...............

Followed by cake..................................yum!!

Who doesn't love chocolate caterpillar cake!!

Before all this we had a discussion on what he wanted to do for his birthday. A disco, cinema with some friends, a sleepover, Quasar, all the usual stuff. But although he loves to go to a party and is extremely sociable he wanted a day with the family.................FISHING!!!!

one of his catches!

But the week didn't stop there...........oh no. We had 2 secondary school visits, a doctors appointment, a dreded dentist appointment, all afterschool classes ( scouts, boys football/youth club, dance class, drama class) amongst all the usual shopping, washing, ironing...................yes I know a familiar story to you all!!

Then came a last minute audition for my youngest up at Covent Garden which then re arranged all our plans to meet up with friends to take the kids all swimming ( while we catch up on the gossip!). So OH went one way and me and my youngest went another. Then on to friends for dinner, drinking, gossiping and far too late a night ( which was fab!) and then a hideouslyearly morning to get both boys to Scouts for a day Power Boating activity at Whitstable!!
It was the hottest day of the so called summer! The boys were away. We had the day to ourselves...........so what did we do.....................................FISHING!!!

Now this is where I know I am being mentally affected by the pace of life!! I have the choice of what to do, a day out without kids, a whole day to do what we wanted...............and i chose fishing!!!!

RIGHT, SOMETHING MENTALLY WRONG.................................you agree?

Most people get a misd life crisis, indulge in implants,face lifts, radical hair do's, wearing skirts that are too short or tops that are too low.....................................................Oh no not me..................I go fishing!!!!!

Someone save me from this insanity!!!!!!!
I need to get out more.................or drink more......................or both!!!!

That was the week that was...........

............exhausting but brilliant.

From last Saturday I feel as though I haven't stopped. Don't get me wrong most of you will read this and think 'Man Up ' however as an M.E sufferer it's been a long haul ( like running the marathon).

It started Saturday with a trip up London with 5 other girls to celebrate a friends 40th birthday. We had decided to keep what we were doing a secret from her so that she had no idea on the day. For a few months before lots of emails had been flung around wondering what we could do. It all started with a spa weekend or Glamping which we couldn't get organised ( dates/ childcare/ travel etc). Then we decided to go up town so our options were open............theatre show, dinner, London Eye, boat trip, etc etc.

In the end we went with a Rib Ride along the Thames and then a posh lunch! A Rib ride for those of you that don't know is a speedboat ride that starts of quite leisurely as all the touristy bits are pointed out to you, then turns into something from the latest James Bond film!! Actually as you pass Tower Bridge the speed increases and the James Bond music is played as you are thrown around the Thames as though some terrorist is in hot pursuit!!!

My friend loving it and her friend (nearest) not!!

Being 'Ladies that lunch' we had gone fairly dressed for the restaurant and so took the easy option of huge coats to keep us from getting wet and preserve the hairdo's!

I'm taking the pic and being the shortest the coat looked like a dress on me!!

NOTE TO SELF: having long curly hair on a speedboat ride does not bode well. GHD's could not have done a better job straightening it!!!!

Anyway, moving on. Then we popped to Covent garden for a wander and a beer, stalling before we went to the restaurant. Then we went the Christopher's where we were treated to champer's ( lots of it) and had a table arranged for lunch.

That's where it got messy!!!!!
3 bottles of champers............................check
2 bottles of rose......................................check
something containing tequila.................check ( not sure what it was called but bloody lovely!!!)

After these...........

It  went from this.........

To this!!!!!

Food was yummy too.

So inevitably Sunday was spent in bed ( not hungover surprisingly - I think my Tramadol worked wonders) absolutely exhausted.

Then came Monday......................My Birthday!!!

My OH had arranged to go to Windsor for the day while the kids where at school- GENIUS!
A friend did the school run and we set off early and were able to get there for the changing of the Guards.

I'm ex RAF so love the pomp and ceremony!!

Then we popped outside for a lovely pub lunch before heading back in to wander around the chapel and the Dolls House and Staterooms.

It's truly a beautiful place to visit and wouldn't be complete before sneaking up to the Guard for a quick picture before we left!

And no they really don't talk to you!!!!

Returning home we indulged in pizza ( kids choice) and birthday cake and pressies!!

Pink festival wellies for Rewind in August- fab!
Dolly Parton cd....sad I know but secretly I love her and going to see her at the O2 in September!

Oh and did I mention..........A BLACKBERRY!!!!!!!!

This is a huge deal for me as my old phone surely has earned it's place in the Science Museum!!!!
Seriously, I am sooooo happy.............Internet at my fingertips. I feel as though I've just been invited into the 'popular gang'.

Moving on and Tuesday was spent mainly in bed recovering.

Wednesday evening I had a meal out with some friends at a local Italian restaurant. Food was lovely again, and the southern comfort and then the wine just seemed to slip down too easily! It was great to catch up although we hear more about their lives than what's happening in ours- but that's another post altogether!

Thursday was spent mostly in bed but I did manage a catch up and a cuppa with a friend before school pick up.

Friday was my youngest son's sports day! So went back to bed in the morning and the attended in the afternoon. Luckily the weather stayed quite nice and as a dutiful mum I cheered him on ( much to his embarrassment) and took lots of pictures too.

Now I feel as though no part of my body is connected to my brain.........or in fact if I have a brain as stringing words and sentences together has become a full time job!!! One I'm not doing very well at and will possibly be sacked at any given moment.


So tonight we are having a Harry Potter night watching the 1st installment of the Deathly Hallows to get into the mood for going to see part 2 tomorrow!!!

Hopefully I will manage to stay awake- although I cannot guarantee it.

FFS.....How much more??

Today I have just about had enough!

Today is not a good day!

I do not work because of illness. We have 2 weeks until my OH gets paid. To say that money is tight is an understatement of grand proportions!!!

In the last month alone we have had.........

Fathers day ( for both my OH and father in law)
Birthdays for........my mum
                           my brother
                           2 x nephews
                           Father in Law  ( yes his b'day is a week after Fathers day!!!)
                           A good friends 40th birthday

Scouts Water Weekend x 2 at £35 each
Travel cost for Above weekend x 2 £10 each.

2 x new water shoes for above weekend!!
Scout summer camp £215
Deposit for Cubs panto tickets
Yearly 'Jabs' for cat!
Day up London for above mentioned friends 40th birthday- Rib ride on Thames booked and expensive posh lunch ( I do not begrudge it in any way but it has come at a bad time)

That's over and above our normal living expenses which are already severely budgeted for........

We do not eat out
We do not buy clothes unless necessary ( my outfit- dress for friends 40th came from good old Asda!!)
We do not have take aways


It will be my birthday on Monday and have told my OH not to buy anything and that I would be happy to have the above mentioned dress as a pressie from the kids! And I mean it.....but I'm not sure he has stuck to it!!!! Which is lovely but will make me mad as we cannot spare a penny!

Now that is depressing enough, wouldn't you say? But I'm quite sure I am not the only person at the moment in that position!! I do not believe in having a credit card either as you actually have to pay it back......so whats the point!!!!

 BUT TO TOP IT ALL I GOT A F**KING FLAT TYRE TODAY!!!

When I tried to phone my OH to let him know I had trouble getting through so had to phone his work number, which I never call. The reason I couldn't contact him??? HIS F**KING PHONE HAS BROKEN!!!

So please let me know I am not the only one in dire straits!!!
I am spitting feathers, with steam coming from my ears and in need of wine.....which I do not have and haven't got the money for anyway!!!!!! No chance of becoming an alcoholic anytime soon.

On the plus side I can totally vouch for the ' bowl of cereal and beans on toast' diet!! It works wonders LOL

Guilty as charged ....with Blog neglect!

This week has just flown past in the blink of an eye, or so it seemed.

Without real intention I haven't paid much attention to my blog this week, which I promised myself when I started it wouldn't happen.

However life this week has just completely taken over.

It all started when my eldest son turned 13!!! on Saturday. We had a day that consisted of a  birthday breakfast, golf, a trip to Bluewater laptop shopping, dinner out at Ed's Diner and then home for cake! To be honest with you I haven't really got over the shock of it yet. My little baby a teenager already.

Then on Monday he had a friend come round to play and they all went swimming including my youngest and his friend, with pick ups and drop offs then the above mentioned friend ended up back at ours for tea before dropping him home on my way to play rehearsals with my youngest.

Tuesday was spend initially with a trip to a dance studio in Fulham for an audition for a part in Matilda ( that was for A not me!) Where he managed to leave his bag on the tube and we listened intently to the news for any bomb disposal alerts. He was there for 3 hours but unfortunately was not what they were looking for. A trip home then packed him up for a sleepover at a friends house before picking up C's friend who was sleeping over at ours. Not before taking the 2 older ones to Bluewater for an organised Warhammer game ( don't ask).

Wednesday C's friend stayed all day so popped them down to swimming pool, picking up another on the way before collecting my youngest and delivering home. Pick up at swimming pool and dropping all friends home. Tea then straight over to play rehearsals again!

Thursday had C going to a friends for the day whilst my youngest helped with the tedious job of food shopping!! Then picked up C and when straight to shops to replace the PE kit he had lost a few weeks before at school........................including trainers...........Aaaaarrrrrgggghhhhh!

And today we have spent a fab day in Whitstable for a picnic lunch on the beach and a mooch around the great little shops there. Then on to Herne Bay for a walk along the pier with an ice cream, a play on the beach and then fish and chips before coming home!!!!!

Kids are now in bed and my sunburn is now a fantastic glowing red!! But well worth it.

But where are the pics of all this???????????
They are still on my new camera that for some reason will not load onto my very, very old computer.............so frustrating, bloody thing.

So for now you will have to take my word for it

And I promise not to neglect my blog for so long next time  xx

Boys and their toys!

This week is the countdown to my eldest son's 13th birthday ( Saturday). It started with a Quasar party with his friends. Unfortunately one of the boys couldn't make it in the end so he kindly asked his Dad to fill in.

At first Dad was happy to oblige until he got there and saw that they were against a bunch of 10 year olds ( and he probably didn't want to look a bit sad). Luckily for him another independent group turned up, much larger boys around the 15/16 age group.Another dad was also taking part we then found out. The game was on!!!

In they went and I sat watching the scores fluctuate hoping that they were on the winning team, as my eldest doesn't tend to deal with losing very well!

When the time ticked over to zero they piled out checking their scores and a huge cheer erupted as they realised they had won. However they then get a rundown of the scores with a little 10 year old being 1st and my OH coming 3rd!! He was disgusted.................beaten by a 10 year old. Then the competitive streak kicked in and he was going to take no prisoners on the second game.

I did try to remind him that we were there for C's party and it shouldn't matter who wins as long as everyone has fun. That fell on deaf ears.

In they went, second game discussing tactics as they went. The clock ticked over to zero and once again they all piled out with a momentous cheer as the score ended up 790- -30!!! With sounds of disgruntled 10 year old shouting CHEAT CHEAT CHEAT!!

Oh God what had he done was my instant thought. But thankfully they were just too good for the younger group. Although there were stories of kids running into his gun, and him picking off the weakest as they went past- much to my son's delight as his team of mates had won both games.

I really don't know who's worse ( actually I do but don't want to admit it). And he showed no remorse as we went to the car passing one of the boys who had started crying with stories of cheating!!! I couldn't get into the car quick enough and the look I gave to my OH said it all.

Did he feel bad?  Did he hell!
Character building he called it.

I think there must be counselling for that sort of thing.