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Computer jargon

Monday, June 20th, 2011

OH is in the process of sorting out the office…again!

The office or junk room as it’s affectionately known, very quickly becomes a dumping ground for stuff that can’t find a home anywhere else in the house.

But this time, it will be different because he’s installing a monitor for his laptop. This monitor is huge and so needs a nice tidy space in which to live. It also cost as much as a short break to spain, so I’m really hoping that it’s going to get used.

‘I’m going to need some surge protectors‘ He shouted at me from underneath his office desk.

I have no idea what that means but it appears that great big monitors and expensive laptops need them and so off he goes to spend more money on things I don’t understand?

Surviving the credit crunch

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

OH and I were chatting last night about the impact of the credit crunch, in particular on families.

We were laughing about the different strategies we have used of the last 18months to see ourselves through the tough times. We are grateful for agencies such as the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) who have given amazing advice and even thankful for payday advance companies who loan money out before payday.

But my big shout out goes to FLM loans who must be the most user friendly, helpful, genuine, funny, real and down to earth loan company I have ever come across.

Loans, and advancements on your pay cheque are not ideal, and I’m certainly not advocating them, but we’ve all been there when times are tough. If used correctly and sensibly they can be a life saver…they were for us.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

When I was a kid I wanted to be a fashion designer! I went to an all girls Catholic school and our careers advisor was a nun, (honest) and it was a standing joke that we were expected to become either homemakers, nurses or nuns!

I can still see her face to this day as I took my seat opposite her and announced that I would be applying for a fashion degree so that I could live in Paris and work for Jean Paul Gaultier! Needless to say she wasn’t impressed and handed me a leaflet about a careers day at the local hospital.

As it happened, I did go on and fulfill my dream. Ok so it wasn’t Paris, but I got as far as working as a buyers assistant in London, until I realised it wasn’t as glamorous as I had imagined and finally turned my back on the world of fashion and retrained as a therapist. After eleven years of that I finally settled on making cupcakes for a living!

So, it just goes to show that your life can take various unexpected twists and turns until you find yourself settled in a job that’s right for you.

Which brings me to eldest who next year will take GCSE’s, followed by  A’ levels and ultimately go on to University….to do what? Well I don’t know and neither does he?

My son surprised us all when he won an English scholarship which enabled him to attend a fee paying school. There is an expectation that he and his fellow pupils will go to University and with that in mind we have been looking  at potential careers for him.

We’ve had great fun looking for unusual courses and he found himself quite taken with moving to the States and attending medical assistant school! Then he changed his mind and decided that when my brother emigrates in July, he could stay with him in Australia for and study at the University of Sydney, certainly a cheaper option than UK Universities!

It’s an exciting and nerve wracking time for him, certainly harder than when I was at school. And if he can’t get a job? I wholly recommend becoming an entrepreneur like his old mum!

Is anyone happy with their weight?

Monday, May 23rd, 2011

I often find myself wondering if there is anyone out there who is actually happy with their weight? I think I can safely say I have not met anybody who has said, ‘I’m happy with what I weigh.’

Personally, I always think that I can do with losing a couple of pounds and have even felt inspired to write about dieting over at Suite 101.

My OH won’t mind me telling you but he was so concerned about his weight that in January this year he took the plunge and joined Slimming World.

I won’t go into detail about the eating plan here, but it’s basically food combining. I’ve obviously had to follow it with him as I’m responsible for the weekly shop and do the majority of the cooking.

And do you know what? It’s actually worked! He’s lost almost 3st and has reached his personal target. As a result of following the same eating plan, I’ve also lost 10lbs and am determined to lose another 7!

It’s easy and it enables you to easily incorporate a few treats without jepordising the whole thing.

There are an incredible amount of weight loss products out there, from drinking green tea through to taking african mango supplements! (yes really!) But it seems to me, that the only way to achieve a sustained weight loss is through healthy eating and changing your eating habits for life!

Treasure hunt

Monday, May 23rd, 2011

My parents in-law to be, live in Horsham which is a good couple of hours drive for us, so we only get to see them occasionally.

At the weekend OH’s brother and his wife were at a wedding in Scotland and mum and dad-in-law were babysitting for them in Birmingham. As we live in Coventry, we got an invite for lunch on Saturday.

OH’s brother has three kids and we took three of ours, making a total of six kids aged from 1 through to 9. Fortunately they have a nice big house which the kids successfully managed to trash ready for their return!

Mum-in-law is very ingenious and talented when it comes to keeping kids engaged and she had a treasure hunt ready and prepared.

The kids were given a clue to start them off and then they had to hunt through wellies, pots, ornaments and plants for other clues until finally they came across their treasure.

Each of them found a fabulous gift each. My youngest had a plastic warbling birdwhistle and my middle son got a torch. Step-daughter found a bag of mixed beads which I just couldn’t keep my hands off!

The pair of us then spent the rest of the afternoon, bonding over necklaces, rings and bracelets while sitting out in the sunshine drinking coffee and eating home-made victoria sponge cake.

It was such a lovely day, but sadly we had to leave early as we had my middle son’s football presentation to attend. But that was worth it, because not only did his team win the league but my little David Beckham was awarded Club Man of the year.

I was so proud of him and shed a little tear.

Shopping for boys

Thursday, May 19th, 2011

I’m not sure whether it’s easier or harder to go shopping with boys than girls.

When I take my boys out clothes shopping the most I get in response to anything is a shrug. A sneer is good because that means they REALLY don’t like what I’m showing them. Occasionally I get a comment. For example I went shopping for summer shoes with eldest This was always destined to be difficult because he hates exposing any part of his body, including his feet.

I picked up some very trendy (at least I thought they were trendy) shoes.

‘Urgh….mum! They look like womens sandals!’

The only shoe my son will wear!

Hmmmm. We came home with the usual converse style trainer for him to sweat in during the hot weather.

Obviously my experience of shopping with girls is limited as I rarely go shopping with my step-daughter. On the few occasions that I have been with her it’s very different. She knows exactly what she wants and is very vocal about it. I have no sway at all!

Last time we went shopping she almost convinced me to buy her heels (she was eight years old at the time) and get her ears pierced (her mum has forbidden this until she’s 13).

But I guess that is how it is when we get older. I shop in a very focused way, will go in every shop and have a quick browse and if I see nothing I like within the first few minutes, I ‘m out again!

OH has no idea what he’s looking for, doesn’t really care and if I said a giant, old sack looked good, he’d buy it.

My conclusion is, it’s a male/female thing and probably nothing to do with age, though for a teenage boy, shopping with his mum is probably not top of his favourite pastimes list!

Spending the evening in the garden

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

I love my garden, though I’m somewhat of a fair weather gardener.

It’s a fairly simple garden, nothing too fancy but somewhere pretty to sit in during the summer months. It’s a shame that the evenings are so cold! As a kid I remember being roasting hot during the summer evenings. Going to bed with just a sheet to cover me and still being hot. Maybe it’s my age but I’m often freezing cold for around 90% of the year!

I WANT ONE OF THESE!

One thing that I have been desperate for is a chiminea or even a fire pit? A few of my friends have one or the other of these and it means we can extend our BBQ’s or simply sit outside and chat over a glass of wine or three.

The other bonus is that we could get rid of the wood from some of our trees that we’ve cut back.

Last week OH cut down a rogue sycamore in the front garden and chopped all the branches up ready to put in our currently non-existent chiminea.

In the meantime, we’ll have to come in when the sun comes down or warm our hands on our solar-powered lights!

Time for bed!

Thursday, May 5th, 2011

Almost 20 years ago my Grandad gave me £250  to buy some new furniture for my first flat.

I decided to go with a bed. To be exact, it was a lovely, traditional style, white metal bed frame and comfy matress from habitat. Ever since it’s been a permanent bedroom fixture in all the various places that I’ve lived over the years.

Soon after he gave me the money, he passed away, but I often reflect back on how he gifted me money for my favourite piece of furntiture, my lovely bed.

Trouble is, 20 years later, my lovely bed is very old and very creaky. It’s had several new matresses but to be fair, it’s on it’s last legs. Whenever I turn over in bed it squeaks…loudly! I know it’s time to get a new one but it reminds me of my grandad…weird I know…but it does!

Also….I hate buying beds. Being a sufferer of a sore back and neck, it’s extra important that I get this absolutely right and I’ve been putting it off and off and off.

But no more! It’s time to start looking seriously at beds and more importantly budget!

After doing some searching I keep coming back to good old Tesco, mainly because of the price. I also think it’s time to get practical and buy a drawer divan, somewhere to shove all the junk that piles up in my bedroom. My only concern is that buying online means I can’t try the mattress!

Oh what to do!!!

But what I do know is this….I’ll be buying one of these leather sofas as I’m sick of trying to get snot, chocolate, yoghurt and at times, sick out of my lovely chenille sofa! Not mine, you understand, the kids who think nothing of wiping their faces and hands on MY SOFA!!!!

…..is like nailing jelly to a tree!

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011

Having kids that is! It’s also like being pecked to death by chickens!

Especially teenagers…well actually…I am very lucky as my teen is, on the whole, responsible, intelligent, good company and extremely funny. When he’s on a roll he has me doubled up with laughter.

He can also be a great big pain in the behind!

From 8:30 am until 4:30pm Mon-Fri our house is a place of tranquility. Somewhere I can get on with my work in peace.

At 4:30pm teen arrives home and it all kicks off.

I have a theory that because he can watch the TV, update Facebook, listen to his i-pod and do his work ALL at the same time, he thinks I can too!

He comes home and talks at me regardless of whether I’m working, reading, typing or pretending to be asleep. And he talks in my face….and fast!

He also likes to be in control and he likes things a certain way, you could even go so far as to say that he has slight OCD. He was the first born after all and had it all his own way for almost six years. For him, having a nine year old brother is an inconvinience and always has been.

Last night, teen asked if he could make himself a sandwich. I agreed but said he had to make his brother one too, left them to it and joined OH in the office to choose some wedding music.

The office is adjacent to the kitchen and through the open door I could see and more significantly, hear the bickering start.

Toddler then took it upon himself to wander into the office and settled himself on my knee, all the while the bickering was getting louder and more pointless and was starting to encroach on what we were doing.

I could feel my stomach knotting, and the anxiety bubbled in my throat as their voices rose to a crescendo…..and then I exploded!

I stood up and shouted as loud as I could through the open door using old classics such as ‘You drive me insane’ and ‘I’ll give you something to shout about’.

I rarely shout like that and their faces were a picture. As they stood their opened mouthed I ordered middle son into the lounge and told teen to make the sandwich WITHOUT creating world war III.

It was only then that I remembered toddler had been sitting on my knee when I leapt to my feet in a rage! Where was he?

I looked down to my side and saw I was holding him against my left hip in a vice like grip just under his armpits. His arms were straight up in the air and his feet were dangling a few inches from the floor. No mean feat I can tell you as he’s not small for his age!  He looked up at me wide eyed as if to say ‘Who are you crazy lady and what have you done with my Mummy?’

I plonked myself back down on the chair, dragged toddler onto my knee and looked at OH. We tried to keep straight faces for as long as possible but it was no good. We both burst out laughing, and laughed and laughed until our sides ached and tears were rolling down our cheeks.

Toddler laughed too…but he didn’t know why?

Last night in bed, the lights off and OH snoring next to me, I thought back to the incident and burst out laughing again!

I guess you really had to be there!

Happy New Year!

Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

Happy New Year!

OK so it is the 5th January and a little belated but we have been so busy eating, chilling, spending time with the kids and just enjoying all that the holiday festivities had to offer.

We were also locked away in two separate Under the Thatch cottages, one at Christmas and the other over New Year. Both OH and I made a decision NOT to take computers (though I did have my Blackberry with me….shhhh!)

So, here we are, back to the land of the living and reconnected with the world once again.

2011 looks like it’s going to be a pretty busy year for us. My cousin and the other half of ‘Two Cousins Bakery‘  is expecting her first baby in March and I intend to be on hand offering all the support I can.

And then of course, there is the wedding of the year! No…not Prince William and Kate, but the official Daly-Dickson collaboration. After all we have a child together, a business and a kitchen extension so it seemed the obvious thing to do!

Also, talking about eating, I managed to gain half a stone of unwanted blubber over Christmas. As I intend to be ultra skinny for the wedding, I’ve decided to go about things the right way and follow the Slimming World plan. I’m also getting lots of support through British Mummy Bloggers and their #newyearnewbody campaign. Tweet it and join in!

On top of all this, BeingaMillionaire.com will NOT be increasing it’s prices despite the raise in VAT !

Thanks for all the support you’ve shown this humble little blog and this year you can look forward to reading lots of exciting diet and wedding posts!!!

Have a wonderful 2011 and stay in touch as we always enjoy hearing how you’ve used your £1Million notes.