About Me

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I'm 57 years old, working full time, wife, mother and grand mother, wishing that I wasn't working full time! I love and enjoy our children and grandchildren, our dogs and cat, our garden and allotment. I love crafts - knitting, sewing, crocheting, patchwork and restoring old furniture. I love to go to country auctions and love thinking that I've got my self a bargain!

Saturday 31 December 2011

Happy New Year

Afternoon All,

Miss Piggy Bank - Nice to hear from you - I agree, can't wait for the next series of Downton.

Jane and Chris - I agree with you completely - I look at what other people are putting through the check-out when I go shopping and think why are you paying that much for that rubbish! It's far better to cook from scratch and tastes far better.

Anne - Glad you think that it's a good idea -I've already done my 4 quarterly lists and have been and brought my birthday and anniversary cards for the next 3 months  - it's not that I'm that organised - it's just that by writing my lists I stand a reasonable chance of remembering everyone's birthday. (Couldn't live without my lists now- at a funny age and all that!!!)

Kath - Thanks, good idea - I will one day

How are you all - all ready to welcome in the new year? I think I'm as ready as I can be - we shall just have a quiet night here and tomorrow will be spent cleaning the house through and taking the Xmas trees down. I know that they should be left up till twelfth night but I start back on the treadmill (back to work and the commuting) on Tuesday and as with all holidays I like to go back to work knowing that I've left the house all clean and tidy.

Have you made any New Year Resolutions? I haven't - I think that the word 'resolution' just sets me up to fail (it's a strong word isn't it?) so I shall 'endeavour' to make a few changes - then if I fail I can always start endeavouring again can't I?! I won't have broke or failed a 'resolution'!

One endeavour that is always ongoing is to get the garden and allotment  'just right' - will it ever happen - I don't know - I just know that I do enjoy trying each year. Let's hope that the weather is kinder to us in 2012 and I can grow all the vegetables that we and the family need.

I do want to get the conservatory decorated and the summer house painted inside and all the decking re stained. The stain is so expensive isn't it? (That's another endeavour, just shot down in flames - I was going to say, try to not spend so much!)

Finally as per usual - loose some weight!! I know that all I've got to do is eat less and move more -  just easier said than done in my case!

I hope 2012 is a better year for everyone and that we all have a happy, healthy, (especially my Mom and Daughter in Law after all the problems they've both had recently)  and comfortable 2012

Best Wishes to All

Byeee

Tuesday 27 December 2011

Catching Up............

Afternoon All,

I hope that you've all had a Happy Christmas and are ready to welcome in the new year in a few days time.

Anne and Jill - thank you for your messages and I hope that you both had a good Christmas too.

We had  a lovely time -  if what a little busy, I raced over to see my 2 young Granddaughters on Xmas morning and then raced back (literally - I was driving my son's car - I don't think he realised that it could go that fast!) to get the roasters in for lunch, we had 7 to dinner and everyone said that they enjoyed the meal.

My Dad enjoyed it, as this is the first meal that he hasn't had to cook since my Mom broke her wrist and he didn't have to wash up afterwards! I also managed to make a Dundee Cake for the first time, on Xmas Eve,  which also got the seal of approval from my Dad.

My Daughter in Law managed to eat her dinner as well. (we didn't realise that the ear operation would affect how she could eat - all the side of her face and jaw have been painful plus the dizziness made her feel sick - poor girl) But she managed to sit with us and had a good lunch and she said she felt much better for having something good to eat. I'm a big believer in that, after any sort of illness or operation - that you need good wholesome food to sustain your recovery, so I was pleased to see her managing to eat.

(I'm afraid that I don't really 'do' or believe in all these 'convienience' foods - it never tastes like a proper meal and it worries me what chemicals they have put in it, to make it so easy to cook and to make it last so long.)

Did you have any gifts that you've thought "what on earth do I do with that" - I've been very lucky and everything we're received has been perfect and will be put to good use. But I have felt a little disappointed with a few friends who I've sent gifts and presents for, but haven't even received a card back from them. I can appreciate that times are hard and it has been difficult for some families, but a thought and message in a card doesn't cost that much. It will be interesting to see whether these same people will be sending thank you cards - I doubt it - but there, you live and learn.

We went to my Daughter's for tea yesterday which was nice and then I have spent today doing the bills for this month and setting all my folders up ready for the next 12 months - so that I know what has got to be paid each month and when.

I suppose if I was a whizz with the computer I could set it all out on a data base but I know my limitations and I much prefer to put it all down on paper and know what I'm doing! I now know what bills I'm going to be paying and when along with what I'm going to be overpaying on and how much I can save each month. It's a nice way to start the year - with a clean slate and knowing where you stand.

My son tells me that the town was very busy today with people out shopping in the sales, I won't be bothering - this little old house has too much in it as it is and is bursting at the seams and there's nothing I can think of that I want - so can't see the point in going out- I would rather stay here in the warmth!!

Tomorrow is my day for the diaries and calendars -  birthdays, special occasions, anniversaries etc., all get transferred from last years diary to this years. I try to buy the birthday and anniversary cards for each 3 months in advance and put the money away for any gifts at the same time. I find that it's a good system for when I'm really busy at work and don't have a lot of time to spare.

What about Downton Abbey ladies? A happy ending at last but poor Mr Bates is still in prison - lets hope that they get him out in the next series!

That's about all for now - have a good evening

Byeee

Saturday 24 December 2011

Merry Christmas Everyone

Merry Christmas to All


Well, the 3 Christmas trees and the house have been decorated, ready for Christmas, the cards written and posted, the presents brought wrapped and distributed, the food shopping done and the house cleaned from top to bottom, the pantomime was brilliant oh and we've had 2 members of the family in hospital,  my Daughter in Law for an operation on her ear, (only a few days ago so balance is not good!) and my Mom,  courtesy of Mr Marks and Mr Spencers for leaving boxes out for her to fall over and break her wrist. (Shrewsbury branch so be careful if out shopping there, in the sales - they appear to have very little regard for their customers safety!).

No wonder I haven't had time to post, service will be resumed in a few days time (she says hopefully!)

That just leaves me to just say Merry Christmas everyone - I hope it's a good,  peaceful and happy one for you

Best Wishes xxx