Hello everyone,
I seem to disappear for a long while and then when I try to come back I have to fiddle around trying to get my password back - ho hum.
Matthew has now left school and will be starting College in September. He will be one of the youngest there as he only turns 16 a few days before. He is getting a bit bored at home and surprisingly doesn't seem keen to fill his time with any of the jobs I can find for him! He has had his first date with a very pretty girl from his old school called Daisy. They went to the pictures the other evening with his older brother being their chauffeur for the night. He hasn't really said much about it or whether he will be going out with her again, so watch this space for the wedding.
Talking about weddings, my dear niece Lisa got married in June. I was a sort of honorary mother of the bride and even wore a hat! We had a really wonderful time planning it over the last few months and I still find myself looking at wedding things, aw. I have attached a photo of the girls the evening before the wedding and also the photo and candle we placed near the cake in memory of their dear mum, my dear sister, Barb. The bride, Lisa, is on the right and her twin, Claire on the left and then Rosie in the middle. Isn't it a lovely picture of the bride and groom. Daniel is a lovely young man and they make a great couple. Lisa, Rosie and I stayed at the hotel where she got married the night before and the photo of the girls was taken at a Chinese restaurant which is a favourite of ours. We had a great evening and it was so relaxing being in the right place for the wedding the next day. Now I have got the hang of the photos I'll try and post a few more.
Rosie is having an impacted tooth out on Tuesday and we are all feeling nervous about it. We know its for the best as if its done now it will be better for her as she gets older and the roots form properly but its hard putting your baby in the doctor's hands! She is still a tiny girl. She is loving having her guitar lessons and is in a concert next weekend playing "Sweet Child of Mine".
We're off to Butlins again on the 8th of August. The kids are excited and I am looking forward to the rest. Its a shame my sister can't come this time but she has a very bad knee and is waiting for an operation and feels she cannot manage the journey. This is the first time she will not be with us for many years and I know we are missing her coming already. We always have a great time, always have a couple of rows and enjoy making up.
I have moved to a new office. Its called the Broadgate Tower and I am on the 29th floor - eeek. Its so nice though after our old building and its nice to work in lovely, clean surroundings.
My dear friend Audrey is getting more confused, if that is possible. Her husband is a difficult man but I don't think he has bad dementia but he does have prostrate problems. You won't believe that he has recently been rowing with her because she won't have sex with him .... yes - my god - he is 78! I couldn't believe what he was saying and in front of my Rosie too! I think the time has come really though that they should both have more help and maybe by going into a home where they can have more care.
Anyway, I don't know if this will save but I hope so. Lisa Jo, I am missing you and don't seem to be able to get to your blog at all, I think I need permissions. I hope you are well.
Lots of hugs to all my dear friends x hug for Gerry, hug for Yasmin x
Tells x
PS: This is how bad I am - I seem to have another blog here exactly the same name and posted this on there instead of here - oooooh.

Here I am again

Well, I have not been around for a while have I?

I hope everyone is well. I am feeling good at the moment but as usual my life has been really busy, particularly with work. The new job has proved to be pretty tough and I feel I am being mangled at times. I have now been doing it for almost 4 months and have good days and bad days. I still wonder whether I have done the right thing but in some ways perhaps it is doing my brain some good and making it work harder. Physically though I am very tired and putting even more hours into it.

I am sorry to say that my friend, Audrey, is really quite lost to me now with her Alzheimers. I am having a lot of problems now in trying to focus on helping her and her husband. There have been confrontations with one of her carers and her family have also been rather high handed, even though they do practically nothing for her. I am so glad though that I got the care plan going for her where they get visits 3 times a day and but there have been problems about shopping not being got and making myself unpopular to achieve it. Too many cooks, eh? Anyway, I am trying to step back a bit and leave them all to it with myself just visiting at weekends now as I am satisfied that the careplan is working well at the moment.

Not much time for much at the moment as I am home late most nights but we did manage to get out for a nice meal last weekend with some old friends. I say old because we are all getting blooming old now!

I am looking forward to going to a friend's party in London on the 7th and Martin will be coming with me, to escort his old auntie safely round the tube system. Its being held in Kensington at a posh pub, so I am hoping for some posh nosh too.

Yasmin, you prompted me to write on here again. I hope you are well my dear and I will try to catch up a bit with everyone once I find out where they are on this system.

Take care everyone.

Tells x

This n' that

Well hello there!  Here I am again.  I did try to put an entry on since going private but it seemed to get lost, so I hope you'll be able to read this one.  The reason I went private really was for Matthew and Rosie's privacy but also because I was slightly worried who might be reading me, especially if it was anyone I didn't want to know our business.  I know I have not added everyone but hope to sort this out soon and do apologise if you have initially been left off my update list.

I also apologise for not commenting much but all will be explained below.

We have had a really busy Summer, we went away to Butlins in Skegness in early August and then at the end of the month we stayed in a lovely beach house at Caister on Sea.  Butlins was great but very cramped in a very small caravan really for 7 people.  My niece and her boyfriend's feet were hanging outside their door every morning as their beds were so small, tee hee!  It was great though, my sister, Christine, joined us and we left the caravan early every morning on little expeditions whilst the drinkers slept the morning away.  Hmmm, Matthew and Rosie also slept late too but mainly from exhaustion and not from the drink!  Chris and I felt very virtuous as we are now old we mainly drink diet coke, are both on blood pressure pills, which make us get up early every day anyway because we need a pee! 

Paul came with us to Caister and it was nice to spend a holiday as a family together.  Matthew and Rosie enjoyed lots of lay ins there too and Paul and  were up with the lark, sitting on the balcony with our coffees and admiring our sea view.  The cottage was perfect and felt quite luxurious after our caravan trip.  I even had a washing machine there, so it was like heaven not having to take all the dirty washing home again.

On the night we got back from Caister I took a call from my niece to tell me that my sister, Chris, had been taken to hospital and feeling very poorly.  I literally started shaking all over and got myself straight to the hospital.  She had been fine in Skegness 2 weeks before and we had had such fun.  Apparently, whilst Paul and I were away Chris had been having a pain in her side all week and was feeling really bad.  Her blood pressure was over 200 and her diabetes was madly over the limit.  Thank god that after 5 days, they managed to sort her out, she was on morphine for most of the time and has now started injecting herself with her diabetes drugs.  She hadn't been getting on with her tablets before and I think she had been missing them out because they made her feel ill, in the end though it made her even worse.  The pain in the side may be diverticulitis but they are still not sure if that is what it is.  She still has the pain but has been xrayed and tested and it is not sinister.  I still don't think I have got over the shock of her being so ill and it certainly pulls you up and makes you think how much you take for granted.  She had a scare earlier again this year with her breast cancer and is such a trooper about all her ills.  I don't know what I would do without her.

When we got back we attended the wedding of my goddaughter, Jodie.  We had a fantastic day although it was sad that my dear friend, Mary and her husband, Ron, were not there to share that special day. 

Work, as you know, has been manic but I have just got a promotion and will not be a secretary any longer.  My new job starts on Monday and I have got a massive pay rise although this job deserves danger money as I am working almost directly for a crazy fella, who is very volotile.  I am going to be like the departmental co-ordinator, she who is supposed to have the answer for everything at her fingertips and I'll also still be supervising the secretaries too.  It was a hard decision to make because I know I am laying myself open to some big stress but it is nice to know that I don't have to print out my bosses in-boxes any more and do filing and heavy lifting.  I'll let you know how I get on.

I am trying again to attach some photos, they are of our hols in Caister.

Hugs to you all, dear friends.

Tells x

oh no. not her!

I have been a terrible journaller but here I am again.  I do apologise for not commenting and once again, think I will have to start again and clear the lots of alerts I have.  I did see that Chuck has passed away, which saddened me as he was always so upbeat and alert.  His daughter's entry was very uplifting.

Things have been manic as usual here but we are all ok.  The children are on holiday and enjoying lazy days.  Matthew has been going fishing with Martin, getting up at the crack of dawn and really enjoying time spent with his big brother.  Martin still hasn't got himself a job but is doing private work which is helping out until he does get settled again.

Rosie is fine.  She has started learning the guitar and is making terrific progress.  She has learned quite a few chords and can knock out a tune from song books now which is great fun, imagine if you can her playing and me singing (wailing, more like) achey breakey heart!  I keep teasing her that we can be a double act.

Work is fine.  I have news.  I am not going to be a secretary any longer, they have offered me a more managerial role with a massive rise within our Group and I will be starting it mid Sept/beginning October.  It will be marvellous for me, no more blimming filing and although it will be a challenge it will be good for my brain.  Basically its doing a lot of things I do already which have been extra to my job and it will be great getting paid for it!  It will be strange though not being a secretary after all these years.  Its obviously given my confidence a real boost and its at times like this you wish you could tell your mum and dad that something good has happened.

Today its 6 years since I lost my precious Barbara.  I had a few tears yesterday remembering our last days together at the hospital.    The children don't realise what day it is and I won't remind them, why make them feel bad too?

Rosie is coming to work with me today as the boys have gone fishing.  She is really excited as she is very fond of some of the people I work with having got to know them socially.  I will take her to lunch and for a walk down the famous "Petticoat Lane" market which is near my work.

We are off to Butlins at Skegness next weekend.  It should be manic, 8 of us in an 8 berth caravan!  I have heard that some acts from Britain's got talent will be performing, so that should be fun.  I know they have a health spa thing there and hope to get a massage in if I can.  My sister, Chris, is coming with us and she is always good company, it will be nice to share some time with her.  I do miss her at work, it has been a year now since she was made redundant but she is enjoying her retirement more than she thought she would.

Has anyone been to see Mama Mia?  Oh what a fantastic film, I couldn't believe it, I sat with a cheshire cat grin on my face through it all and then at the end everyone in the cinema clapped before they left.  I have never seen that happen before at the cinema, it was as if we had been at a live show.  I plan to buy it on DVD when it comes out and I know it will be a great film for my collection.

Eeek, I lost a very big filling the other week and had to brave going back to the dentist.  Imagine my horror when they knew my name on the reception, this can only mean (a) I must be known well there as the No.1 coward in this village or (b) I must have the worst teeth in this village.  Hmmm, can't think of a (c).  Anyway, I went for the appointment and had it done but managed to escape without having the teeth cleaning done .... I have another appointment on 2nd Sept but may chicken out.  We'll see.

All my dear friends, thanks for being patient until I catch up.  I am so fond of you all.

Hugs, Tells x

 

Popping up for air!

Hello everyone and apologies for not making an entry for so long.  I couldn't believe it when I saw my last entry was in April.  I do hope everyone is well.

I seem to have got so embroiled in work and spend a lot of time from home online to work and although I have a little time to comment here and there, so more apologies if I have not been and visited you.

Billy, my yorkie, was very poorly during April.  He woke one day literally seized up and had to have quite a few anti inflamatory injections and pills to get him thru it.  It was quite pitiful as he was crying, couldn't bark and kept falling over.  I was crying too.  I spent three weeks sleeping on the settee downstairs with him and thank goodness he is almost back to normal.  He made my heart stop the other day jumping off the back of the settee (about 3 feet) and landing heavily ... he thinks he is a cat.  Ooooh.

I had a trip to Geneva again the other week with work and stayed in a a beautiful boutique hotel.  Shame I didn't get longer than one night in the 6ft bed!  I must tell you there are a lot of cobbles and hills in Geneva and after walking on them and then standing at a reception type do, my feet felt like they had been put through a mangle!  Heres a link to the hotel I stayed at, it was in the old town of Geneva and its a very hilly area as I said.  It was the first time I had flown from London City Airport and it was all very smooth.  Its a while since I flew on a chartered flight rather than a cheapie, so was thrilled to get given a free roll and drink and then some chocolate to follow on Swissair.

http://www.hotel-les-armures.ch/

I am at home today because Rosie has to go to hospital this afternoon for that tooth that is growing in a strange position.  We went about 2 years ago but are getting a second opinion because our dentist wants the tooth above out and the orthodontist wants it built up and we are stuck in the middle, so will be getting this expert advice hopefully today.  We are wary of taking it out because previously we were told that the operation could affect her lips because of nerves near the area.  We will see but we are very against an operation inany event.

Rosie has started to learn to play the guitar and has had two lessons now.  She can play some of the chords to wonderwall, few more and I'll be singing along and appearing in Britain's got Talent!

I have managed to get my living room decorated (almost ....) and also some new curtains up, four more poles to go up, watch this space, Paul is being difficult!

As I said, work is crazy and seems to be taking over my life at the moment which isn't really the balance I want.  There are lots of ego's going crazy too and its sooooo nice to be at home today enjoying a bit of a break from it.  I am determined not to go on line and get involved.

Wishing you all well my dear friends.

Hugs, Tells x

 

 

Where the heck has she been?

Ok, its been a while!  I have had the worst lurgy ever and have been feeling rotten for the last 2 weeks.  It all started when I was away in sunny Yarmouth in the freezing cold caravan with 2 inches of snow outside.  I struggled on until the Thursday but by then the children and I had had enough, so we came home and I continued being ill here.  I had all last week off and managed eventually to get a doctor's appointment.  Do you know it really gets me mad that its so difficult to manage to see a doctor .... Anyway, I got my antibiotics and they did help but I am still not right and have lost my wonderful singing voice.  I think Matthew is glad I cannot shout at the moment though!

We did have a nice time in the caravan but it was so cold that Matthew slept in the lounge area every night and Rosie and I huddled together in the bedroom.  I suppose I was living in cloud cuckoo land hoping for good weather in March but I certainly didn't expect the snow.  Rosie enjoyed her 13th birthday though as I booked a cab to take us into town and we had a slap up meal and managed to get her a friends poster in a frame that she has been looking for for a long time and Matthew was very happy as he got a Spurs framed poster too.

I was manic in the caravan telling them to be careful and who caused the most damage?  Yes, me!  I tripped and sent a cup of black coffee all over the yellow cotton curtains in the lounge and for good measure broke the cup at the same time.  So, I had to sponge the curtain off and dry it with the hair drier, you'd never have known I had done it by the time I finished.  Then, the search for the tea cup began.  I spent 4 days scouring Yarmouth, all the department stores, charity shops, anywhere that sold crockery!  Did I find it, no.  I did own up before I left and they were ok about it.  Good job I never told them what I had done to their curtains, eh?

I must mention the medal I won for disco dancing.  We went to the club house on the first night and at that point we had Martin and also Lisa and Daniel with us too (they only stayed for the night).  It was a big hall with loads of tables and a disco playing.  There were about 20 people there, including the bar staff.  It was freezing there too, so we all started dancing and I was then presented with my medal.  I shall always wear it with pride.

We came back to the camp by bus one day and goodness knows why we walked off in the wrong direction.  After about 20 minutes I realised that I didn't recognise anything and when we walked back I realised we had got off at the right place but just walked the wrong way, duh.  Anyway, we then were waiting to cross the road and where the snow had melted there were big puddles and a car went by and literally soaked Matthew from head to foot.  That was it, I nearly fell on the floor laughing and when Rosie heard me she was screaming with laughter too.  A small smile played on Matthew's face, he really took it in good part.  Both Rosie and I actually wet ourselves as we laughed so much and we had to waddle back to the caravan to get showered.  I was laughing even more as I told Rosie that it was all downhill now she was a teenager and we had both done waht old ladies do.

We had some bad news last week when Martin was laid off from Tescos.  They have cut 800 jobs in the local offices and as he was last in on his team, he was first out.  He has some private work he is doing at the moment but I hope he gets something else sorted out soon.  Meanwhile, he will not be bored as he will be doing some decorating here which is well overdue.  I did buy paint about 3 years ago for our living room and it has never been done .... so, off I have gone and bought some more, lets hope it gets on the walls this time.  So, it is operation clear out at the moment in readiness.

Matthew has joined a running club and is really enjoying it.  He is doing it two nights a week and still has lots of energy when he gets home.  He is growing up so quickly and I have just got back from a parents' evening about work experience for him.  It only seems yesterday that he was 8 years old and came to live with me.

I went back to work this week and as usual have an awful backlog of filing etc., but am trying not to get depressed about it and just working my way through.  I thank my lucky stars that I am a well paid filing clerk, tee hee!  It was nice to see my friends again and not so nice to see the ones I don't like there!

Such exciting news though, one of my bosses is taking Rosie and I and my friend, Alex, away to a health spa hotel in May as a treat.  Its called Cowley Manor and is in the Cotswolds.  A bit posher than the caravan, methinks I will have to get myself something nice to wear to dinner and there will be no medals for disco dancing.  Heres the link:

The contemporary country hotel in the Cotswolds

I have never had a beauty treatment in my life and am playing safe and going for a facial.  No waxing for this chick.  I'll let you know how I get on.

Once again I am very behind with all your journals and do apologise but am trying to comment here and there and catch up. 

Hugs to all my friends and wishing you all a very good week.

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oooh I have been away a while

Well here I am again, sorry its been so long.  I am now well after one of the worst lurgies I have had for a while.  I have been extremely busy at work, not getting home until late most evenings and working on the computer from home too.  We have been very short at work since one of the secretaries left and I am so glad that her replacement is coming on 31st March.  Hey, she is probably another crazy one but at least we'll have a bum on a seat!

Next week we are off to Yarmouth for our caravan hol.  I am hoping the weather is good.  If its like today, it will be fine, at least its not windy or cold.  We have lots we can do there whatever the weather, there is an indoor swimming pool at the caravan site and we are near to lots of activities in Yarmouth, crazy golf, cinema, funfairs, shops!  I plan to do a lot of sleeping and the children are getting good at sleeping late, so perhaps we will just all sleep all day and night and not move anywhere.

Rosie will be 13 whilst we are away and so we will have a good day celebrating whatever the weather.

I have been out busily buying her a lot of new clothes over the last week or so as she is growing so quickly.  Today if we ever get out, we intend to get her some new trousers.

Matthew has been very busy.  He has joined an athletics club and is out running twice a week, he is due to finish at Scouts this summer, so he'll be kept busy in any event.  He had a trip to Devon last weekend to camp and meet up with his old Scout leader, who was a very kind man and we miss him very much.  It will probably be the last time Matthew ever sees him.  He came back exhausted late last Sunday night and we had to quickly repack as he had a woodland survival course with his school the next day for 2 days in Derbyshire!  Just about keeping up with the blimming washing here for him.  He continues to grow at the rate of knots and is now 6ft with size 11 shoes, arghhh, he is not 15 until the end of August.

Martin celebrated his 29th birthday last week and Rosie made him a lovely cake!  She coloured the sponge blue and it looked rather strange but she has a light touch and it tasted divine.

I am very behind with commenting and now have 781 messages to look at, please bear with me whilst I try to catch up, hmmmm!

Heres a picture of my little great great niece, Mia, aw she is so cute.

 

Hugs to you all until next time, Tells x

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Good news

Christine has just called and the news is good.  Her specialist says he is sure all is well.  She has another appointment in 4 months to check again, so is being well looked after, I feel such a relief.  I have lost two dear sisters and cannot lose another to this terrible illness.

Meanwhile, I am feeling more bunged up than yesterday, so off to bed with a nice hot water bottie.

Thank you all, dear friends, for your support.  Your kind words have brought a tear to my eye and a feeling of warmth.

Hugs, Tells x

 

 

 

 

 

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Feeling bunged up!

Dear friends,

Just a quickie as I am off to bed soon.  I do apologise for being so behind but I have been extremely busy lately.

Please keep your fingers crossed tomorrow for my lovely sister, Christine.  We have had a bit of a scare with her recent check up.  I was confident that we were out of the woods now as its been over 6 years but hell no.  Chris had a masectomy done but only on one breast.  The specialist found a lump on her other one the other week and then she had a special scan done and has to go back tomorrow.  Now she has finished at work, she paid for this otherwise she would have had to wait 6 weeks on the NHS.  The chap who did the scan said everything seemed to be ok with the lump but we need to hear that from the specialist tomorrow evening.  She is calm but I am like a crazy woman with worry.

I'll let you know whats happening.

Hugs, Tells x

 

 

 

So, so tired

Oooh I am a bit tired ... only had an hour and a half sleep last night.  My feet are killing me from a rotten journey standing all the way home on the train last night too.

Also ... I have had my hair cut today and think its a bit short.  Its still a bobby type of thing but I will have to go and have a fiddle with it, so it looks more like my own hair rather than this stunning, fuzz free style.

I have been a busy bee.  I had to go into work on Saturday, so had a short weekend.  Then on Monday, got up feeling really sick.  If it were not for the fact that I am now 52 and very well past my menopause (sorry chaps) I would definitely have thought that I was pregnant.  I ended up on the settee all day cuddled up to little Billy, who was very pleased to have me home.  I then took full advantage of Paul when he came home and allowed him to cook the dinner whilst I stayed in the same position a la settee.

I bet you are wondering where the little bit of French is coming from.  Je m'pelle Tells, deux cafe silvoo plait (hmmm, very bad French spelling here). ou et l'toilette silvoo plait.  Well, have been practising because I am off to Geneva on Tuesday for work.  Yes, I have a very important task to do upon my arrival in the land of the alps.  No, not skiing or anything fun, I am .... unpacking boxes!  Hmmm, I am sure my talents could be better used but this is what has been decided and to be quite honest it will be a lovely break as I will be there with my favourite boss who got married recently.  We plan to go for a lovely meal on Tuesday night and then I'll be flying back late Wednesday afternoon.  My firm has an office out there which has recently moved (or shoud I say, relocated, now I work for an American firm, eh?).  We also have a flat, so myself and Suzanne will stay there.  We keep giggling and saying what fun we'll have but we must try to remember that I am there to do the boxes, so will have to do some I suppose.

Rosie and I are off to see Joseph in the West End of London on Thursday evening.  I just hope the trains will be working ok as Paul will bring her up to Liverpool Street to meet me after work and then he'll go back on the train.  She is too young to travel alone with all the weird people you can come across.  We'll probably go fora meal first.  We have had the tickets for ages and the chap playing Joseph won the part through a BBC tv show on which Andrew Lloyd Webber was involved.  He is very good and I hope he is on the night we go and not a stand in.  We are really looking forward to it especially because Rosie played Joseph in her last year at primary school and we know all the songs.

So, apart from aching feet, short hair and feeling absolutely worn out, sitting here quite happy really.

Hugs to all my friends.

If you really want to see this naughty picture below of my Polish cousin, Wojtek, you'll have to turn your head sidewards"

Tells x

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Happy new year

 

Have booked the above for our Easter break for me and the children.  This is what a caravan looks like LJ!  It looks so sweet.  Its near a place called Great Yarmouth, about 3 hours drive from here. 

We had a lovely Christmas but it was over too quickly.  One sadness is that I didn't hear from my brother.  I left a message on his answerphone on Christmas day but nothing.  It hurts more that I know he visited one of our nieces this week.  He hasn't contacted my sister, Chris, either.  She is of a firmer nature than I am and says to just leave it now.  I have his presents here ... I suppose if he doesn't come by the end of January or doesn't contact me in any way, I shall just have to eat his biscuits!  So sad, when there are only 3 of us left.

Apart from that sadness, we are now looking to this New Year and hoping for good things.  The children go back to school this week, Rosie goes on Monday and Matthew on Wednesday.  I think they have had long enough off now and need to get back into a worthwhile routine of school and homework, ha ha!

Martin cooked the dinner on Christmas day, so I was thoroughly spoilt really.  I didn't have to do a thing except eat it and very nice it was too.  We got some lovely presents and I now have an ipod, so I can get my revenge on all those who have tormented me for the last year or so with their loud music.  Yey, I can play them at their own game.

Settled in here for a nice quietweekend, have just made potato salad and chicken and everyone feels at peace!  Lots of jobs to do tomorrow but today is a restful day for me.

Some terrible news at work this week.  A former workmate collapsed and died last Sunday aged 36 with a brain anurysm.  He left behind two little children under 6 years old.  So tragic and I feel so sorry for his little family.

Why do I always end on a sad note? 

Wishing you all a happy weekend.

Hugs, Tells x

Am I crazy!!!

Just thought I'd put an entry in as I happen to be up, yes, since blimming 3.30 am.  I must be excited about Santa coming, ha ha.

Here are some photos of our visit to TJI Fridays with the family yesterday.  These are all my dear sister's children together plus her little grand daughter, Cheyanne, who she never saw.  We let some balloons off outside in her honour when we had finished and left to go home.  It was a really lovely afternoon and I think we'll probably do this again next year.

MY BARBARA

 

Ok, off to do some jobs as I am off to work in an hour or so.  Once again, I wish you all a really lovely Christmas and wishing hard here for good times for all.

Hugs and love, Tells x

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Well hello there!

 

Well here I am again.  I can't believe how long ago it was I made an entry! 

Thank you for your Christmas cards and ooooh Wendy, you made my day with your little parcel, thank you so much.  Its on my tree as we speak and I will post a photo on here soon of it.

Auntie Midge's funeral seems a long time ago now.  It was a very strange affair really.  Midge was very upset years ago when her sister converted into being a Jehovas witness after she emigrated to Australia.  Midge was a very forthright lady and made no secret of her views on anything.  When her sister visited, Midge was very rude about her meeting up with her church friends etc.  So, we were very surprised and a bit shocked that she had a Mormon funeral - I think Paul's brother must have converted and as he arranged the funeral, that is what it was.  I could imagine her spluttering in her coffin at not having had a Christian service but hey, Paul's brother ran the show!  We also found out that we were not being spoken to by one of Paul's cousins and her daughter .... well what a fun day it was, I can tell you!  Paul's cousin's sister died about 10 years ago and left a young son, Jake, aged 7.  She had remarried and had been with her new husband, Graham, for about 2 years by then.  This sister of Paul's cousin and her daughter have decided not to talk to us because we remained close friends with Graham after Jackie died and tried to support him as best we could.  Her sister's husband would not have the little boy stay or anything as he was a miserable old so and so.  That is why Jake was left in Graham's care.  Graham went through a lot, with the support of his lovely family, to bring up Jake and give him a good life.  I could personally never understand why her sister did not devote more time and effort to Jake.  Anyway, we kept close friends with Graham and when Jake was 15 Graham met a new lady and decided to marry her.  That is when things went badly wrong.  This was when Jake decided he did not like her (a bit of jealousy, I think) and this is when the daughter of Paul's cousin started to say to Jake that he could move in with her (this did not happen but thoroughly unsettled Jake).  The upshot was that the week before the wedding Jake signed himself into care and walked away from Graham.  This was at about the time when the children came to live with us.  What is funny is that I saw Paul's cousin about a year ago and she was very pleasant and all of a sudden we are not popular apparently because we went to Graham's wedding .  I feel very hurt because I was always so supportive with her and her family.  I was so fond of her mother and her sister and spent a lot of time with them in their times of need.  But I suppose there is no reasoning, eh?  It was a very strange day altogether.  Lots of other things happened that day but I can't go on all day about them.

I have been busy (hmm, on my broomstick).  The filing clerk at work is no more ... hoooray!  We are better off without her and I hope she has a merry Christmas too, baaah humbug.  I have to work on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve just for half a day, which is a pain because my main station is closed, so I have to get off the train halfway up and then go on the underground ... hmmm.  I have to go though as it is really my turn to go in.

The children are getting very excited about Christmas especially now that they have broken up from school.  As usual, I have spent far more than I should have done on them ... I realise this as I am wrapping things up.  Luckily I save every month into a Christmas Club, so this makes Christmas easier.  We have Lisa (one of the twins) and her boyfriend coming for Christmas Dinner and also Keith, who is Martin's dad.  Paul has already given me the speech about how many people we can cram into this little house .... yes, they are all staying!!!

Tomorrow I make the bigos.  Yes, every Christmas I keep up the tradition of making this Polish Hunter's Stew.  Paul is my main peeler and chopper!  Here is a recipe I got off the net (there are so many variations) if you are interested!  Christmas is not the same unless the house smells of bigos!  I add all different meats to mine, including pork and beef.  I also add tomato sauce, carrots, cooking apples etc etc.  I intend making a couple of big pots, so you can imagine this is not a cheap dish to make.  I must say that it also gives you really good clear out, better than colonic irrigation. all that sauerkraut, hey!  This dish is so good, even the Engish like it, my old neighbour drives here every Christmas Eve to pick up her portion, tee hee!!  Martin gets territorial about it and glares at everyone who has a portion, ahhh.  I am also being taken out to lunch tomorrow by Martin.  Just the family, which will be lovely.

HUNTERS STEW (Bigos) 

50g butter
2 onions, peeled and chopped
1 jar sauerkraut
1 can tomatoes, peeled
1 small white cabbage
300 ml strong beef stock
250g smoked sausage
5 to 6 pork ribs
salt and pepper

Melt butter in a saucepan and fry the onions until golden. Rinse the sauerkraut in cold water, drain thoroughly and mix with the onions. Add the tomatoes. Chop the cabbage finely and mix in. Add the stock, stirring well, and then the pork ribs. Slice the sausage and add into the stew. Allow to simmer on low heat for one hour. Season to taste. Remove from heat and leave covered for 24 hours. Refrigerate and reheat before serving. Serves 8.
Note: If you prefer the dish to be more sour, add more sauerkraut

I went to my friend at work's wedding in Darlington recently.  It was so lovely to be there with her for her day.  The wedding was held at Guisborough Hall, which was a wonderful place and very atmospheric.  Here are a couple of photos from the weekend.  You'll see that Rosie is standing by a really old fashioned coach.  These were used to take us from Guisborough Hall to the Church (took about an hour) and was great fun.  We had a wonderful day and it was a great wedding.  It was nice to have a lot of friends there too.  I won't even tell you about the journey home though, suffice to say that I will travel lighter next time.

Well dear friends, I am sorry I am so far behind with everything.  I have 691 alerts showing up.  I have got to tell you all that I do appreciate your friendship and do so enjoy each and every one of you all as well.  I wish each all of you the best of times this Christmas and send all my wishes for a healthy and happy new year.  PS:  If him upstairs is listening, please give my friend L-J a break will ya? 

What a rambling entry this is ...

Hugs, Tells x

 

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This and that

Well, here I am, sorry for the absence again but have been running round in my usual headless chicken style.

We are off today to Auntie Midge's funeral in Margate.  She is Paul's mum's sister.  We lost Paul's mum at the age of 53, so young.  Midge was a very forthright lady.  Stood about 5ft 4ins tall and quite pretty.  She was single for many years and then married a Polish man, John.  He was a great fellow, of course we had a lot in common with me being Polish as well.  Midge liked the Polish slant and used to speak in Polish, well sort of a Polish to English people!!  John unfortunately died after they had been married for about 10 years and Midge really found it hard to adjust without him.  She eventually moved to Harlow as she had a cousin living nearby but with Midge's nature they had a big falling out and never spoke again.  When Paul's brother remarried he got very close to Midge and encouraged her to sell her house and give him £100,000 to put into a bed and breakfast venture he was starting in Margate.  We all tried to talk to her about it but she was having none of it.  She was lonely and couldn't wait to live with her favourite nephew.  Well, within a year she had been committed by him to a mental health unit!  She had thought she was going into respite care whilst they went away on holiday.  She never returned to the bed and breakfast, which I believe was sold because it wasn't making any money.  She then went into an old folks' home and passed away peacefully after morning tea the other week.  God knows, its going to be difficult to see Paul's brother today if he is there, Paul hasn't got a lot of time for him anyway and I hope he doesn't end up punching him on the nose.

Matthew went away to a scout camp this weekend, it was nice because one of his original leaders was there with his troop.  He moved to Cornwall the other year and I know Matthew was really pleased to see him again as he was so kind to him when he joined up and very understanding of his special needs.  I am not too sure that the leaders now appreciate that Matthew has no regard for personal safety, especially when he came home the other week after going to Scouts and they had been running around the field next to the scout hut and he tore his legs to shreds on the brambles!  It was terrible on this camp because one of the girls in his troop broke her leg ..... that could so easily have been Matthew with his gung ho style.  Matthew finishes at Scouts this year because he is too old.  I don't think he'll be going to Explorers though.  I am looking into getting him into a running club, that boy can run like a gazelle and I am sure he'd really do well.  He goes out jogging with Martin and Martin is amazed at his energy. Matthew now aged 14 and 3 months is 5ft 11ins with a size blimming 10 shoe!

Rosie is doing fine.  We met up with her older sisters this weekend and had a lovely time going round all the charity shops and having a slap up lunch.  I got Rosie an Adrian Mole book and she is really enjoying reading it. 

We took Rosie to see an ELO tribute band on Friday night.  Oooh was she bored ... I must admit that although the sound was good, the lead singer was like an old bloke you'd see strutting around at a disco ... he really got on my nerves.

On Saturday we also went to our local theatre and saw a play called "Communicating Doors".  It was really funny, it was about a hotel room with a cupboard, which people went into and went backwards and forwards in time and all their lives were interconnected.  It was a scream and I thoroughly recommend it if you see it playing anywhere.

My new filing clerk is a great disappointment.  I knew within 2 days but they say that I have to give her a chance ....  what??? Anyway, apparently I have to give them specifics, so am making up a daily list.  Its so frustrating and such a waste of my valuable time with her but if thats what I have to do .. She is a lovely lady but I might as well just do everything myself.

Tomorrow night we are having a get together for my 30 years at the firm.  I am sharing the occasion with my dear friend and boss who is getting married in 3 weeks time.  Its just our department and is going to be in the local Slug and Lettuce.  The partners in my group are paying for it as the firm was too stingy do do anything to mark the momentous occasion!  I really like the people I work with and only hoping the fee earners will stop fee earning and get there at a reasonable time.  Last year, when we had our Christmas dinner evening, we secretaries sat and waited and waited and got more and more merry until they eventually arrived at 8.30 pm when we were supposed to eat at 7pm!  I shall pace myself tomorrow night as I haven't done a lot of drinking since then!

I can't believe that Christmas is so close ... hmmm, got a couple of scarves for the twins on Saturday and have bought a few books for Rosie but that is it so far.  Perhaps I'll get a move on this weekend.

Next weekend will be a busy one.  I am planning to go to Walthamstow market.  Its a wonderful street market in East London, about 2 miles long and full of stalls selling this, that and the other.  Its a wonderful ethnic mix too.  It is also full of charity shops, lots of new books for me, ooooh.  The fruit stalls are to die for and plenty of bargains to be had.  They have a Pie and Mash shop, which we will be visiting too. 

I am still dreaming about a caravan but no luck with the lottery tickets yet.  I would like a lovely caravan and they cost so much and then with site fees etc., I think its beyond my financial limits until I do win the lottery.  Paul is fed up with me going on about it, so keeping quieter about it until I win the lottery, ha!

Rosie has a new bed coming this weekend.  She has been sleeping in my old one!  My old one is now 32 years old, can you believe.  I remember going with my mum up to Angel Road in Edmonton to a big warehouse to get it and choosing very carefully a nice big single bed with a very comfortable mattress.  I have loved it ever since.  I used to go and sleep in it if I was ill and didn't want to disturb Paul with my coughing, I would banish him there if he was ill too.  Everyone has slept in that bed, my dear sisters Andrea and Barb, my mum, Uncle Bob, Auntie Midge, Paul's sister, Pat, all my students who used to stay with us, the Queen (only joking) and many others until Rosie came to live here.  It has certainly had plenty of use and I am very sad to see it go but the mattress has had it and also the base unit is very sad.  End of an era.  I may cry as it is taken out.  Farewell my dear old bed, happy memories.

Oh well, wittering on now.  I shall bid adieu and catch up with you again soon.  Very behind on my alerts again but will get there in the end.

Hugs to you all.

Terry x

Reposting as I think AOL was playing up

I have been reading a journal that has really touched and humbled me.  Heres the link, go along and encourage this wonderful woman.  http://journals.aol.co.uk/spriteverdixx/a-journey-of-another-kind..../entries/2007/11/06/like-buses...../912  I have read it from the beginning and have started commenting.  If ever I moan about anything mundane, please slap me! 

Things here all calm and quiet!  It seems though that things are livening up and there is trouble coming at work, I can feel it in my bones and by the very atmosphere of the place.  I fear my new colleague will be leaving and it will cause us chaos but hey, its only a little thing in the grand scheme of life.  I shall keep you posted.

Martin started his new job on Monday and says he feels like he has gone home.  I really hope this works out for him as I know he has been so bored at home and needs to work to get his finances sorted out.

The children are back at school now after half term and we are all feeling pretty tired.  Not long though and it will be the Christmas hols and the merry go round of finding all the presents.  I just can't believe how quickly the year goes by.

I have just read the book "Abandoned" by Anya Peters.  She wrote an online blog whilst homeless.  This girl had a cruel, abusive and loveless childhood, I had to keep closing the book and it took me a while to get through it.  Heres an adddress for her journal, its wanderingscribe.blogspot.com

Well, on that cheerful note off I go!

Hugs, Tells xx

 

Humbled

I have been reading a journal that has really touched and humbled me.  Heres the link, go along and encourage this wonderful woman.  http://journals.aol.co.uk/spriteverdixx/a-journey-of-another-kind..../entries/2007/11/06/like-buses...../912  I have read it from the beginning and have started commenting.  If ever I moan about anything mundane, please slap me! 

Things here all calm and quiet!  It seems though that things are livening up and there is trouble coming at work, I can feel it in my bones and by the very atmosphere of the place.  I fear my new colleague will be leaving and it will cause us chaos but hey, its only a little thing in the grand scheme of life.  I shall keep you posted.

Martin started his new job on Monday and says he feels like he has gone home.  I really hope this works out for him as I know he has been so bored at home and needs to work to get his finances sorted out.

The children are back at school now after half term and we are all feeling pretty tired.  Not long though and it will be the Christmas hols and the merry go round of finding all the presents.  I just can't believe how quickly the year goes by.

I have just read the book "Abandoned" by Anya Peters.  She wrote an online blog whilst homeless.  This girl had a cruel, abusive and loveless childhood, I had to keep closing the book and it took me a while to get through it.  Heres the link to her blog wanderingscribe.blogspot.com

Well, on that cheerful note off I go!

Hugs, Tells xx

 

 

Kicking up the leaves

 

We had a nice time this week.  I decided to take Rosie to Hampton Court Palace in Surrey on Friday.  Matthew didn't fancy going round a historic palace, so he stayed at home with Martin.  It was quite a long journey from here as Paul wasn't keen that I should drive, hmmm.  It took about 2 hours by train and tube but we eventually made it there.  Words cannot describe the wonderful aura of the place and knowing we were walking down corridors that Henry XIII had actually walked down with his entourage was mind blowing.  Hampton Court has a very famous maze but we were very disappointed with it as it was rather small.  The photos above were taken in the wonderful grounds and we had a lot of fun messing around with the leaves!  It was a thoroughly enjoyable day but so tiring.  I thought I was going to drop off on the way home on the train, so best I didn't drive.  Rosie was complaining at how worn out she was and I pointed out to her that I had 40 years on her and to imagine how I was feeling.  I think you need to spend a couple of days at this wonderful palace to see everything.  Rosie was enthralled and kept asking, do you think the King touched this door, etc, etc.  She loves history and makes me realise how uneducated I am!  Perhaps I may learn something through her now.   We sat near the fountain and had a chat about how Queen Victoria opened this Palace to the public and there were photos around of the visitors at that time.  We discussed how we would be long gone and that the public would still visit the Palace ... quite a weird feeling but hey, thats history!

I feel I should get a blimming medal for the ironing I have done today, just thought I'd mention it.

At work things seems to have improved.  My new colleague came back during the week and has seemed to get to grips with not only her illness but also with her heart.  One of our chaps left on Wednesday and after I had finished my overtime I took her down to the bar and got the dj to play "Things can only get better" and he started his smoke machine and I got her to bop around.  She did smile and I think she is well on the mend now.  They have had a major swap around with who works for who (not me, ha ha) and hopefully all will be happier for everyone.  Joy of joy, we have our new filing clerk starting on Tuesday ... I sat in with the interviews and she appears to be a really nice lady, who has been looking for a job for a while.  I know she will be very excited and I am pleased for her.

I must tell you about one of the interviews I sat in on.  As soon as I entered the room my eyes were drawn to it.  What could it have been???  I have never seen such a lot of green on anyone's nose bits on their glasses before!  It was a vivid green and I just could not take my eyes off it.  Maybe she was so shortsighted that she couldn't see the green on her glasses when she put them on.  Made me feel rather queezy and put me right off.  Moral of the story, if you are going on an interview get your greens sorted! Oooh.

Hey, the sun hasn't come out but Martin has just gone in the kitchen and says he will make the dinner.  Oh yes!  I am now going to sit down and read my book and be a lady of leisure.

Hugs to all.

Tells x

 

 

Here I am!

Hmmm, I have been so busy lately I just can't keep up, at the moment looking at 835 alerts and so am slow on commenting!

All is ok here but since I was ill I have been running around catching my tail.  I also got it into my head that I'd maybe like to get a caravan for us for our hols.  There was an absolute bargain - or so I was told - that got my juices going and I was bitterly disappointed when I saw it and it was really awful.  I drove the length and breadth of Essex a couple of Saturdays ago looking at caravans and caravan sites.  Since then, I have also been scouring adverts and realise that I probably can't afford one anyway which is sad.  I had visions of a little home from home that I could disappear to.  Some of them are on sites that cost over £3,000 site fees a year.  I just don't know how people can afford that plus the council tax, insurance etc.  So, at the moment although I am enjoying looking I know I can't touch!   We'll just have to rent a caravan again next time. 

Work has been manic.  The new lady who joined us is having terrible problems as she has just split up from her partner, who she was looking forward to retiring with next year.  She has also got the virus I had and collapsed in tears last week and couldn't cope with all the pressure.  Luckily her doctor has given her 2 weeks off and I hope she'll be able to get herself calmer and make some decisions about her future with the space away from work.  However, this leaves us all in the pooh as we have to cover her job, which she was quite behind on too.  One of her bosses is leaving  and her room needs sorting, files putting away etc.  Oh well!  I went into work yesterday and did 10 hrs overtime clearing it but still a lot to do but can't bear the thought of going in today while the sun is shining.  Also, I have tomorrow off with the children as its half term, so my poor friends have to cover me too.

I am a great great auntie.  Mia was born this week but I am not sure if I can get a photo on.  My great niece had to have a caesarian in the end and we are looking forward to meeting the newest member of our family tomorrow when she gets home.  She was born the same day as Connie's little grandson, Milo, ahhhhh.

Martin starts back at Tescos on Nov 5th.  I hope it works out for him.  He didn't go back to the other job .... he hatedit there.  He was supposed to get up and do a car boot today to get rid of some of his stuff but hmmm its nearly quarter to two and he is still asleep.  Rosie and I were up with the lark and I was sad to just miss a bargain bike up the car boot by half an hour!  I have decided that I need some exercise, so my next project now that the caravan buying has come to an abrupt end is that I will get myself a bike.  I will leave no stone unturned until I get myself back on wheels.  I can see myself sylph like already.

Meanwhile, most exciting event of the weekend is that I have got a new iron.  I have just had a quick go but am not that impressed, the ironing is no more fun with it! 

So, dear friends wishing you all a lovely sunny Sunday as it is here!

Hugs, Tells x

 

Getting overthe lurgy

Hello, I am back!  I have not been well at all over the last week or so and had to go to the doctor the other day and luckily after having some antibiotics, I now feel like myself again.  We have all been ill except Matthew ....

I am sooooo far behind at work, having had a lot of time off in August and now having only done a few days in September.  Goodness knows how I'll ever catch up but hey, I will have fun trying.

Had a busy morning tidying up because Lisa, my niece, is coming down for the afternoon.  I know she is hoping to go bowling but I don't think Rosie or I are up to that yet.  Oh well, we'll see.

Martin is not that happy with his new job and I hope that he'll start looking around for something else.  He took that one quite quickly and apart from the long journey he has, it sounds as if he works with some really rude people.  You'd think with all the employment laws and man management courses things would be different but it seems its the norm for the management there to go round shouting.  Hmmm.

Matthew and Rosie are doing fine.  Both back at school now and busy with homework etc.  Matthew has quite a lot coming up with Scouts.  I got a letter from the Scouts the other day for a trip next year to Scotland for 10 days - only £450!  I don't know if we'll let him go or not.  We have booked a beach house at Caister for a week at the end of August next year.  We came across it this year when we were at Hemsby.  Its an old fisherman's cottage with a balcony looking over the dunes to the sea.  Luckily the owners were about and gave us a tour, I am really looking forward to a quiet break there.  Paul will be coming with us - he can't stand holiday camps - and I hope he may get a bit of fishing in.

He is very down at the moment because his shop made a loss this year.  Its really difficult because a lot of people also use the internet to buy plumbing supplies now and he just can't compete.

Anyway, hope you are all ok.  I am still trying to catch up with alerts - only 255 to go. 

Hugs, Terry x

 

Back from holiday

Here I am on a lovely and sunny Sunday and back from my hols.  No, I am not even going to mention the washing today, tee hee. 

We had a wonderful time on this break away to Hemsby in Norfolk.  It didn't start so well well I picked up the keys to our apartment (or compartment as Matthew kept calling it).  When I opened the door it stank of damp.  Even worse, there was no carpet on the floor just filthy looking floorboards and when I went into the bedrooms it had black patches on the wall and when I touched the walls they felt wet.  I couldn't believe it.  I went stomping back to the reception and asked to see the manager.  She told me that there was nothing else!  What, I had driven 3 and a half hours and I felt myself getting very angry.  Eventually, after half an hour, she came up with another apartment and thankfully this one was perfect.  I intend to write to them and make a complaint.  It completely ruined the beginning of the holiday.  I was just so glad my sister wasn't with us as she joined us on Sunday.  Our car was already packed out ... imagine if she had been dropped with all her stuff and was waiting for us and then we had to drive home ... Ooooh.

We had a very busy time, visiting lots of beaches and lots of fun fairs.  We even managed to find a car boot.  The only day that was miserable was Friday and then we amused ourselves by going round a caravan park and looking at the ones for sale.  I would like to buy one but I know I'd never have time to go there and also the drive would be too much.

Chris was wonderful company and it was nice for her as she finished work on Friday and it took her mind off it all.  She ended up quite happy with her package from work and I think in a way it is relief for her not to have to get up early in the morning and struggle with the blimming trains any more.

I won the bingo twice, almost £85, which we shared and it paid for a lot of treats.

Matthew was hard work at times and didn't want to smile for the camera much, hmmmmm, age related or what?  He was 14 on Friday and you can see his little cake. 

I haven't got much time to write much today as so much to do but thought I'd share some photos with you.  I have 665 alerts, eeek.  I promise I will catch up with all soon.

Hugs and kisses to you all.

Tells x