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

Back from hols

Well here I am on a wet Saturday morning.  Everyone in the house is asleep, apart from myself and Billy the dog.  We have just returned from his morning constitutional.

Paul was not impressed at all with his helicopter lesson as a birthday present, in fact he told me it was about the worst thing I could have got him for the fear factor.  Despite all this, he agreed to do it but I must say I felt really deflated after all the excitement of booking it and thinking he would love it.  He did enjoy it but it will be the last time I try to surprise him.  Hmmmm

The kids on the other hand were thrilled to hear that we were off to the seaside and would be staying in a caravan.  We had a great time down in Walton on the Naze and also visited Clacton a couple of times so they could ride on the fairground there and go to the beach too.  I really liked Clacton town as it had loads of charity shops, so I took an hour or so looking round and getting lots of new books.  I am also lucky that I go brown very quickly without sunbathing and everyone at work thought I had been abroad when I got back in on Wednesday this week.

Work has been hectic especially because I am taking so much leave at the moment and trying to catch my tail every time I go in.  Next week I only work three days and then am off until the 6th of September when the children go back to school.

My sister, Chris, leaves my firm this coming Friday.  In the end her redundancy package is not bad but not as good as we had hoped.  She is thinking of perhaps doing some home typing if she can get it as she thinks she'll get terribly bored at home after working all this time.  She is also trying to negotiate some more health cover with our firm which will at least last until next year when she should have retired because she is still under the care of her cancer specialist and needs at least one more mamogram with him.  I think she will probably be able to see him on the NHS but will not have the luxury of appointments as and when it suits her. 

She is coming to Hemsby with us next week but will be joining us on the Sunday after spending a few days in a hotel in a nearby seaside resort with her husband.  They could come and stay at Pontins with us as I have enough room but I don't think her husband likes Pontins that much and it will be nice for her to have a few days with him before she is away for the week.  I have barely finished doing the washing from our last trip and unpacking the bags ... I think that is the worst thing about holidays the blimming washing and ironing before you go and then having to do such a big pile when you get back again.

I am looking at the biggest pile of washing at the moment despite doing loads before I went back to work this week.  I seriously need an industrial washing plant here.  The kids being at home on their school holidays seem to create more washing than ever.

Martin seems to be doing ok with his new job but has to do very early starts to get up to London.  I had to take him up the station in my pjs yesterday so he could manage to get a train in time.

So, I am now off for my morning coffee as my dear Paul has just risen from our bed and is moving towards the kitchen (which has still not been painted - I thought he might have done it whilst we were away, still he has next week when we are away again to do it before I start raging about it).

Hugs to all

Tells x

 

Long time no see

Its been a little while since I was on here to make an entry.  Things have calmed down on the dog front and both Paul and Billy have recovered from all the trauma but we have had a lot going on and that is why I have not been on a lot and so very behind in commenting in your journals.

Its been really sad but Spotty our cat is not with us any more.  He was 16 years old and in the last week or so became very thin.  Paul took him to the vet last week expecting to have to put him to sleep but they said they thought the problem may have been one of his teeth, so we decided to go with that and have it taken out.  They kept him in the vets for 3 days and when he came home he was still poorly.  We made the decision on Thursday that he could no go on especially as since he had been home he had hardly eaten or drunk anything and spent most of the time behind a chair in the living room.  So the end of an era and very sad.  Paul is broken hearted but we both know we could not let it go on.

But we have got cheerful things coming up.  Paul's birthday is on Monday and I have resisted telling him about his surprise helicopter lesson.  Yesterday evening the children and I went to Tescos and bought him a toy helicopter which makes a lot of different noises.  He is going to be a bit shocked to get that wrapped up!  Then we will hand him the voucher for his lesson .... so I can't wait for that.  He has the lesson on Thursday and after that whilst we have lunch I will tell the children that we are going on holiday the next day!!  I was looking at the brochure this morning and I hope the weather keeps fine for it all.

Matthew has just come back from Scout camp and has had a wonderful time.  I am now washing all the smelly clothes.  They went to the world jamboree get together at Chelmsford to celebrate the 100 year centenary on Monday and on Tuesday they took them to Alton Towers. 

Rosie and I went to Thorpe Park, another theme park, on Monday with my friend and her young son.  We had a wonderful time and I even rode the log flume .... it was so funny because my friend's little boy had an ear infection, so she insisted he wore a plastic cape.  As we came down for the photo the plastic cape flew over his head, mine and Rosie's heads too.  The photo was great.  The chap at the front of the ride was all smiles and behind him and blue flash of plastic!  We did giggle when we saw the photo when we came off.  Remind me not to do anymore fairground or theme park rides, I must have been so tense that I hurt my leg and limped for 2 days afterwards.

I am enjoying all this part time working apart from having to try to keep up with all the filing at work, which is manic at the best of times.   I have gone into work the last 2 Sundays but have now found a way that I can manage my work emails from home, so that should make it a bit easier.

Something awful too has happened at work.  They are making my sister's department redundant.  In one way though it is good that it has happened now because she will be 64 in December and that is when no redundancy package is available, apparently you get nothing then.  She will be leaving on the 24th August just a couple of days before we go away together to Hemsby.  Aw, I am going to miss seeing her every day.

By the way, I was at my firm 30 years last week.  Hmmm, I did get a bonus in my pay packet but no note from the Managing Partner to say thank you, kiss my ass or nothing.  I could understand it more if I wasn't a good worker or reliable but I am and have been!  I felt very disappointed that there was no official acknowledgment, all day I was waiting for it or my flowers to arrive at my desk.  I went to lunch with my friends and took cakes in, I thought of it as a milestone even if my company didn't.  My department though are celebrating it and they are arranging a lunch for me when one of our chaps gets back from being away on sabattical as he wants to be there too.  We are doing it in September.

I am determined to take the children to see Harry Potter this weekend - tomorrow is the plan.  I can't believe we haven't got there yet but with working some weekends I have not had the time.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend.

Hugs, Terry x

Fingers Crossed

Thank you all so much for your comforting messages about what happened here yesterday

Here I am on this Thursday night after all the trauma of yesterday.  Billy seems a lot better today but still a bit sore I think but tail wagging more and all is calm in our household.  Paul and I are keeping a close eye to him but Billy seems to be getting over what happened and although I think he got hurt in the fracas I think a few days rest and quiet will get rid of his stiffness.  We slept downstairs last night and amazingly I got a good night's sleep ... I was exhausted I think.  I haven't cried for a long time and had several wailing sessions yesterday.

Work was nice today.  We had a departmental lunch to welcome someone back from secondment and to say goodbye to another who will be leaving tomorrow.  It was all very nice with jolly good company.  We sat outside in the garden of a local pub near our office and they do say theres no such thing as a free lunch ... hmmm, well I got one today and a nice long lunch hour.

Yesterday was also grotty at work because our supervisor called me in and said other girls had complained about the loudness of one of the new girls in our group.  Honestly, she is only asking questions etc., and she is actually a really nice person and works hard and has really got her head around the job very quickly.  I said to the supervisor that I thought the other girls were being bitchy ... and thats what I truly believe.

Anyway, Friday tomorrow and the last day at school for both Matthew and Rosie.  I can't believe the school year has gone by so quickly.  We now have a lovely summer holiday to look forward to and lots of fun .... hopefully things can only improve, eh?

This weekend I intend to get some of this stuff out of the house ... lots of clothes that the kids don't need any more will be going to the charity shop toot sweet!  I need all the room I can get with Martin back.  Martin has two interviews tomorrow, so keep your fingers crossed that he finds something that suits him soon.  He seems to be on more of an up now. 

Audrey over the road is not too good.  I am very worried about her and will try to spend a bit of time with her this weekend.  I took her to the local nursery the other weekend and it cheered her up no end.

Hugs to you all and thanks again for being there for me.

Terry x

Horrid day

Something awful happened here last night.  My dog (yorkie) Billy, went crazy last night as Paul came to bed.  I was fast asleep and apparently Billy just launched himself at Paul's feet and started really biting him as he tried to come into the bedroom.  I had been in bed for about an hour and woke to it.  Paul was laying down in the hall with the dog going crazy.  Paul's foot was badly bitten and he had to kick Billy off from him.  It was just like a nightmare.  Paul's foot bleeding badly and Billy injured too.  This all happened at about 1 in the morning.  Paul was very upset and Billy crying.  Ohmigod.  I stayed downstairs with Billy whilst Paul went up to bed and eventually fell asleep about 3.  Billy went to sleep too.  This morning he was very stiff but managed his walk and when Paul came down he started growling again and I thought it was all going to start again.  Paul had calmed down by the time he got up and was upset that Billy had been injured.  I think Paul must have crushed him when he fell to floor trying to get him off his foot.  Billy seems better this evening and is eating and jumping up and down off the furniture but is very subdued.  We will see how he is going tomorrow but I think he needs to get over the shock.  Paul has been stroking him and bonding again.  We all feel so awful.

Hugs, Terry x