Blogging Baggins!

Baby and not just wind!

2010-10-09T10:50:00.001Z

I felt my baby move properly for the very first time today. I was laying in bed this morning on my side. As I went to turn over onto the other side I felt a movement in my tummy and the a little section to the right below my bell button went rock hard. It felt so strange but I was able to get S to feel it! It only lasted for about 15 seconds but it was definitely baby movement! I think it may have got stuck mid-roll. People keep asking me if I can feel movement but I keep having to reply that I think I do, but I’m not sure if it is baby or just wind. Now I can say I have properly felt it!

The big freeze

2010-01-06T11:27:00.000Z

Well we didn't have a white Christmas, but we certainly had some new year snow. Sussex was well and truly hit by the wintry weather and Worthing got a good smattering of snow. So when snow stops you from going to work, what else is there to do but build a snowman?

What a way to start the new year!

2010-01-01T11:15:00.003Z

Despite feeling awful on New Years Day having come down with the dreaded cold that everyone had over Christmas, we still made it out for a walk on the seafront!

It was rather cold, but a hot chocolate in Costa soon warmed us up again!

2009 - the highlights!

2009-12-31T09:57:00.000Z

Sophie and Dave's wedding in April ...

My 30th in May ...

The birth of my niece Kaylee in June ...

My hen do in September ...

Our Wedding and Honeymoon to Egypt in October ...

A new house in October (yes it was a busy month!) complete with terrible décor and curtains ...

A new hamster, Honey, in November ...

And of course Christmas ...

All in all, a very good but a very busy 2009!

Foot Spa Time

2008-03-08T10:07:00.003Z

Nice to see the modern man embracing the concept of unisex pampering ...

Compliments all round!

2008-01-19T13:22:00.000Z

Am well chuffed. We were down at the allotment today and one of the more seasoned Allotment-ers said our patch wasn't look too bad! Brilliant, all that hard work is paying off!

Varekai

2008-01-18T13:05:00.001Z

Today I was lucky enough to go and see Cirque du Soleil perform Varekai at the Albert Hall in London. It was totally amazing and would heartily recommend seeing them. I spent the whole performance on the edge of my seat as their performers swung from the rafters, bent themselves into all kinds of positions, threw each other around and generally looked brilliant in their costumes.

Thanks so much to Helen for talking me as her 'plus one', Helen's Aunt and Uncle for buying her the tickets for Christmas, and also to her whole family who I spent a lovely day with!

Give us a frown Freddie?

2007-12-24T20:45:00.000Z

Over the festive period we had the chance to catch up with little Freddie. He has changed so much in 4 months and is looking like a proper little boy now. He has certainly become more aware of the people around him and has slipped into that shy stage which all kiddies seem to go through. He didn't seem too sure about me and when i tried to play with him, he looked as if he wasn't sure whether he should join in or cry at me. This is way different to how he was when I last saw him! I guess that is one of the problems with not seeing your family that often what with distance and all.

Something that did make me laugh was the fact that when anyone is taking a photo of him now, his new 'pose' is to strike a frown! As you can see, Freddie is frowning and Jenny is demonstrating!

He did lose the frown when Auntie Jane fed his chocolate from the Christmas Tree. We are soooo related!!!!

Shooting for all the family

2007-12-23T20:36:00.000Z

Something else which seems to have the makings of a family Christmas tradition is Clay Pigeon Shooting. This year we managed to get Helen and Mum along with us.

And with a bit of persuasion we managed to get Mum gun toting as well as the rest of us!

It was cold, icy and foggy, but we had a fab morning, great bacon sarnie and even hit a few clays!

The Vox go a busking

2007-12-19T20:20:00.000Z

Tonight was the traditional Brighton Vox Christmas busk and meal. It was a most special evening as this was the last time we would be singing and conducted by Anna - blub.

We started outside the Fisherman's Rest in Brighton with a drink in hand and great resolve ...

however we soon got a little nippy and persuaded the landlord to let us sing inside, which was much better!

We then had an amazing Xmas dinner and got all teary as Anna gave us medals and a little speech about each individual member of the choir. She did look fab in the new hat we bought her!

Thanks Anna for all the hard work you have put in to the choir over the last five years!

We're all booked!

2007-11-30T13:17:00.000Z

Well, we have finally done it, we have booked our wedding venue. We will be wed at Rushton Hall on 10th October 2009! Hoorah!

Xmas Cake 2007

2007-11-18T20:50:00.000Z

I decided it was time to embark on making this years Christmas cake.

There were a few little mishaps along the way, like breaking the first egg. I somehow managed to break the egg but ended up with the shell in the cup Iwas trying to break it in to, and the actual egg, despite my best efforts to catch it, slipped through my fingers and onto the floor. Not quite where I wanted it!

However, after a lot of stirring and getting my hands messy, i got the cake into the oven and cooked!

Now I just need to feed it with alcohol and decorate it. Nigella ... eat your heart out! I AM a domestic Goddess!

What a pile of sh**

2007-11-18T20:45:00.000Z

A very nice local farmer delivered a little something to our allotment which was surplus to his requirement. What a big pile we have!!!!

Remember, remember the 29th of September?

2007-09-29T20:26:00.000Z

Well this is the night of Burgess Hill Bonfire Society parade and display!

A little early I grant you, but perfectly normal for the way in which the Sussex bonfire societies work. Each society has its own parade night in their own town, and they all converge on Lewes for the huge celebration on the 5th of November. As bonfire night is on a school night this year, I was glad that Burgess Hill Society put on such a good show - meant I didn't feel that I was missing out on some good bangers!

After the spectacular fireworks (which were free I might add) Simon and Helen persuaded me to go on one of the funfair rides which I screamed my way around, but thoroughly enjoyed! The perfect way to relax after a manic day spent in London at the National Wedding Show!

Finally we have one ...

2007-09-02T14:37:00.000Z

An allotment that is. We have been on the waiting list for about 18 months and now we have one of our very own. Will take a bit of work to get it up and running, but hopefully we will be reaping the rewards this time next year!

Happy Birthday Lellie!

2007-08-27T09:35:00.000Z

Well today was Helen's 20th birthday. Officially out of her teens and into her 20s! As we had her birthday party the day before, she was lucky enough to be able to tuck into a large chunk of chocolate cake for her birthday breakfast! A perfect way to start a birthday if you ask me!

Cops that Drop

2007-08-27T09:05:00.000Z

Congratulations to the mad, mad people I work with for completing their tandem parachute jump! Following the struggle one of our female DC's had against breast cancer, a number of people on the Major Crime Branch wanted to raise money for a worthwhile cause. Tina, the DC in question, suggested they raise money for the Royal Marsden which they have done so. They have set a target of £25,000 to be raised for the charity.

So their first fund raising event was their parachute jump. 8 brave members of staff volunteered to throw themselves out of a plane in order to raise loads of money as the Cops That Drop! As it was in Northamptonshire, the same weekend of the party, I went along to watch.

They all did it, however my boss had a near death experience when his first parachute failed and they had to use the reserve chute. Despite this he has said that he would do it all again!

So what's next the for the fund raising group? Well they are now turning into Cops That Trot and a group of people are doing the Great South Run in Portsmouth 28/10/2007. If you would like to sponsor them for this event, just click the hyperlink above!

Post-Script: Unfortunately Tina lost her brave fight against Breast Cancer in September 2007. The group carry on raising money in her memory.

A proper little man

2007-08-26T18:30:00.000Z

I got to see Freddie this weekend also. He is now happily toddling around and is turning into a proper little chappie. Jenny and Gary brought him up to Mum and Dad's house and he was quite happy trying to get up and down the steps of their new pergola in the garden. To him, I think it felt like a huge climbing frame!

Party, Party, Party

2007-08-26T14:10:00.000Z

To celebrate our engagement and Helen's 20th birthday we had a big family party at Mum and Dad's.

I made Helen a lovely chocolate cake. When it came to decorating it Dad insisted that he did the writing icing. I'm so glad he did because how else would Helen have ended up with a Happy Birtday! Fortunately we were able to rectify the mistake!

After a fair amount of food and drink, Helen blew her candles out ...

And we cut our cake ...

Then after we were treated to some live music by Uncle Paul and Tom ...

And then when it got really cold the entertainment moved inside and everyone joined in!

It really was a fantastic evening which was enjoyed by all and made our engagement a very special memory.

I have news ... Hell is in fact Beige

2007-08-19T08:57:00.000Z

It has finally started ... we are getting rid of the bathroom from hell!

Our bathroom has to be one of the worst in the world. It was beige and I mean beige; beige suite, beige walls, beige tiles, beige toilet roll holder, beige mirror ... you get the picture. We decided it all needed to come out and that we needed to go for a white suite. So this weekend, Mum and Dad came down and Dad helped Simon to get rid of the old suite and plumb in a new one.

It took them all weekend, and Mum and Dad finally left about 1030pm on the Sunday thoroughly knackered. However, even though it looks like a war zone, there is no beige anywhere. It's going to be quite a task, but we'll get there in the end.

Thanks for the help Dad!

When does something become an obsession ...

2007-07-15T11:49:00.000Z

More gillying, although this time we found a Spinkles to join us!

Hoorah ducks!

2007-07-14T11:42:00.000Z

Mum and Dad joined us in Wells last night and we told them the news of our engagement. I found out that Simon had asked them for permission to marry me at Jenny and Dan's wedding, the weekend before! How cute!

We went to Salthouse to feed the ducks. I spotted a lone one and pounced!

I'm Engaged!

2007-07-12T11:34:00.000Z

Well after the excitement of gillying for the first time, I didn't think the day could get any better, but how wrong was I.

In the evening we had an almighty thunder storm. It rained for ages and the thunder shook the caravan. It made our journey into the stick for dinner quite precarious as the roads were awash and like little rivers. However, we went to this lovely pub which did specialist ales and fantastic food.

I had a lovely glass of cherry beer in the hugest glass you have ever seen ...

After dinner we drove back to Wells and Simon declared he wanted to go for a walk down to the quay. We walked down and it was a beautiful calm evening, dusky and still. We tried to find somewhere to sit, but due to the almighty thunderstorm earlier everywhere was damp. I suggested we sat on the tallest wall ever because I didn't think it felt wet, and it was whilst we were sitting on the wall that Simon proposed. He gave me a present, which when I unwrapped it, contained a beautiful diamond ring! He popped the question, and after getting over the shock, I said yes! Hoorah am now fianced!

Gillying

2007-07-12T11:28:00.000Z

Now, looking back on all my holidays in Wells, I felt there was one pertinent thing missing; I had never been gillying on the quay. So, as this was going to be a last opportunity I thought we had to give it a go. It turned out we were very good at it!

Although we did put them all back again ...

Sherringham Park, Norfolk

2007-07-11T11:15:00.000Z

Today we went to Sherringham Park. We had a picnic and then went for a pretty long walk!

We found this tree which had amazing bark. You can't see it so
well in the photo, but it was beautiful.

When you walk around the park there are a number of tall look out points. This one looked out towards the sea, and you can see one of the steam trains on the railway.

In traditional Wells holiday style, we had a BBQ that night ... yummmmm!

After dinner we walked into town where Simon killed a few zombies in the arcade!

Down on the beach

2007-07-10T11:09:00.000Z

We were really lucky to be able to get down onto the beach. We had a lovely sunny day which is amazing considering we were in Norfolk!

Pasta and tomato sauce for dinner
+
a white top that I'm going out in
=
wearing Little Nanny's pinny as a bib!

Last holiday at Wells-Next-The-Sea

2007-07-09T11:02:00.000Z

So this was to be our last holiday to Wells-Next-The-Sea :-( Nan has decided not to carry on with the caravan after this year, so this was the last fling so to speak. As soon as we arrived we walked down to the beech and had an ice cream!

That's the life ...

2007-07-08T10:23:00.000Z

Tessa enjoys a little tickle on a sunny afternoon ... aah!

Smokin'

2007-07-08T10:17:00.000Z

After the hangover had subsided following the wedding the day before, we decided to have a BBQ at Mum and Dad's. So, Simon and Dad got the chimnea going to cook some spuds and then we had a full on BBQ to go with them. The chimnea is great. It kicks out heat like you wouldn't believe and kept us warm into the cool evening meaning we could sit out later than usual. Although the only downside is that it's bloody smokey and it makes you smell like a bonfire!

Dad's Produce

2007-07-08T10:07:00.000Z

This year Dad has been growing some veg on his newly established veg patch in the garden. He refers to it proudly as his 'produce', and then Mum hastens to point out that if she didn't water it every day there wouldn't be any 'produce'! However, it looks great and the veg tastes fab!

Congratulations Jenny and Dan!

2007-07-07T10:26:00.000Z

This weekend was very special as it was the wedding of Jenny and Dan. I have known Jenny for eons and her wedding day settled the age old question of who, out of the five of us friends from school would be the first to get hitched!

After what has seemed like an entire Summer of rain, they were so fortunate to have a beautiful sunny day for the wedding; so much so that Jo got sun burnt!

A good time was had by all. The wedding was beautiful, Jenny looked stunning and we had a fabulous time.

The happy couple after the ceremony ...

All girls together (oh and Dan) ...

Simon and I on the steps at Fawsley Hall. This was taken by a getting drunk Jo and after we had just had to shout at little kids who insisted that throwing stones at guests was the greatest game ever!

All through the Wedding breakfast, Jo insisted on trying to steal and wear the top hats. Every time she went to the loo another hat was stolen from the table.

All the girls together with their respective other halves ...

Towards the end of the evening we were all still looking beautiful! I managed to catch the bouquet with a little help from Jo who did a movie style jump, and batted the bouquet up my nose!

A tiring day for the Bride me thinks!

Mmmmm blue, my favourite!

2007-06-30T09:38:00.000Z

Started stripping the horrible yellow wall paper from the walls in the back bedroom today.

To my surprise there was something even worse that the yellow underneath ... blue! It sucks big time!

Rain rain go away

2007-06-28T10:42:00.000Z

What is up with the weather recently? It has been raining and miserable since about the end of April. Where has our great English Summer disappeared to? I swear that last Sunday it did nothing but rain ALL day without any let up.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr is what I say.

Don't try this at home kids ...

2007-06-17T14:44:00.000Z

Caroline wasn't sure what to do with all the bulldog clips on her desk. However being the imaginative little bunny that she is, it didn't take her long to find a use for them!

However, don't try this at home kids - Caroline discovered they are much easier to put in than to take out!!!

Juliette Bravo

2007-06-16T14:59:00.000Z

Ok, so it may be a little fuzzy, but i think i look quite fetching as a WPC!

Caroline and Rachel had their leaving do on Friday night and as Caroline is soon to become PC Caroline, Rach bought her some props to help her get used to her new role.

Maybe this pic is pointing me towards a new career path????? Hmmmmm then again, i don't like cims, so maybe not!

Moo's first bath!

2007-06-15T14:31:00.000Z

I have had my little moo-cows since just after Christmas. We have become very attached, in fact you may say inseparable. However, i noticed they were getting a little grubby to say the least, so i decided to treat them to a bath. Simon didn't think my £4 bargain slippers from Shoezone would make it through the wash, but they proved him wrong!!!!! Now they look all clean and smell as fresh as the daisies they are munching on!

Fantastic Parking!

2007-06-11T14:26:00.000Z

I guess the driver wasn't asked to demonstrate their parking skills in their driving test then?!!!

Ooooh a bit of tea and cake!

2007-06-10T14:39:00.000Z

Just recently i have been having a major problem with tea. I am going through a phase when i can make nothing but crap tea. No matter how careful i am it just ends up tasting like warm milk and water. So, Simon and i went out for a drive and ended up visiting a local garden centre where we had tea and cake among the lavender and bees in the garden centre cafe gardens. Fab tea!

My quest to find a good cuppa cha is at an end!

Bunnies-a-go-go!

2007-06-02T11:17:00.000Z

Well this weekend i went to my very first Hen night. My friend Jenny is getting married in July this year and so, in traditional stylee, she had a final fling with the girlies, some ears and a fluffy tail! We had a fab night in Covent Garden drinking, eating and of course dancing to cheese!!!!!

Cant wait for the wedding!

21 again!

2007-05-25T10:38:00.000Z

Thank you to all the cards and presents received from my family and friends, and to Emma and Helen for making the long journey to the Burg to spend my birthday weekend with me. I had a fab birthday and weekend and even had a candle to blow out on a cake made just for me!!!

Time to say goodbye

2007-05-13T10:42:00.000Z

Today came the sad news that I had been dreading. Sandra passed away this morning losing her battle against Cancer.

What can you say? She was a beautiful person with a smile that could win over a room in an instant. I have so many wonderful memories of the time we lived together, the laughter, the tears, the boys, the pants, the singing, the blog, the relentless photos!

Sadly missed but always in our hearts xxx

Bean Update

2007-03-25T09:37:00.000Z

As you can see from the pic my bean has been growing very well. I took the pic with the original pot that it was planted in by the side for comparison. I feel that having encounters with giants is now a very real possibility.

It was on the windowsill in the kitchen, but it was getting so big that it started to fall over, hence the stake which it is now winding itself around. It seems to be growing at a rate of about 1 inch every few days. Although it is difficult to tell from the photo, this baby is actually 3/4 of the way up this pole.

Not really sure what I am going to do with it. I wonder if it will produce other magic Zoe beans?

Spinkles, what did you buy me?????????

A taste of Spring

2007-03-23T09:32:00.000Z

Don't you just love daffodils?

I bought these with a left over Marks & Sparks voucher I had been given. Well, what else can you buy of use in that store? They have all opened now and look lovely. A much needed reminder that Spring is on its way, despite the very cold weather we appear to be having!

Scrapbooking - a whole new world!

2007-03-22T12:36:00.000Z

I was just spending my lunchtime, as I so often do, wading my way through a couple of card crafting websites, when I decided to look a little more into "Scrapbooking". I know this basically means people who make scrapbooks (and btw there are some beautiful creations out there) and on one of the pages there was a glossary. So today I have learned that they even have their own lingo. For example according to the Cardmaking and Papercraft website:

A "CROP" is a club or get together of scrapbookers

and

a "SCRAPPER" is someone who is addicted to scrapbooking.

Sounds like some weird cult to me.

However, I have been really impressed with some of the stuff I have seen them produce. I might give it a go!

Brighton Vox Gig

2007-03-18T20:42:00.000Z

Today was the first Brighton Vox gig of the year. We were singing at St Margaret's Church in Rottingdean in order to raise money for Macmillan, a charity chosen by one of our members who is at present battling cancer. The gig went really well and altogether we raised nearly £400 which was a staggering amount! Thanks to all who came along to support us and for giving so generously to this deserving cause.

Miow

2007-02-19T22:24:00.000Z

Simon and I were looking through the random photos he has of me on his phone and came across this one. I was soooooo chuffed with the 'cat ears avec tiara' that I tried on during a shopping trip to Crawley! Simon didnt let me buy them though unfortunately :-(

Maybe I just knew that in half ayears time I would be forced to put on bunny ears and a tail for my friends hen night. Really looking forward to that ...

Meetings in London

2007-02-07T22:35:00.000Z

Upper half of colossal statue of Ramesses II in granite
British Museum, London

Bean Update

2007-02-04T12:04:00.000Z

The Zoe bean has grown. It took a little time to get going but as you can see it's well on its way to becoming a proper big beanstalk.

If you look very carefully you can see the "ZOE" on the actual bean. I grew my own name.

I think it will soon need re-potting to ensure I get to the magic kingdom in the clouds!

Off one wagon and on to another?

2007-02-03T12:10:00.000Z

So I managed to go the full month without having a drink. I thought that was pretty good going myself! I had a beer with my dinner on the 1st of Feb which was heaven, so I don't think I am going to become a tea-totaller just yet but hey ho!

Owing to my success with the no-booze-a-thon I thought it was time to turn my attention to the really big issue in my life ... Chocolate.

Recently I have been a complete chocolate monster and just can't stop eating the stuff which is playing havoc with my waistline. So on 29th of January I decided I could give up chocolate and cakes and go right through to the end of Lent.

The 29th went well, however on the 30th I had the worst PMT (I was like a dragon at work) which almost made me cave in, but I didn't (I think my work colleagues wished I had!). However the next day I had the most God awful period pains and decided this just wasn't the time to be giving up the good stuff. So I guess I fell off the wagon. I failed.

Have decided now that I will wait until Lent and give it all up then!

Just FYI there are some very strange chocolate things out there. When I Googled 'chocolate' in images I found these:

The Consumerist blog states that:

"it turns out that chocolate is actually a depressive to boot. A team of psychiatrists just discovered that any uplifting effects of chocolate are pretty much limited to the anticipation and the taste, but the carbohydrates in chocolate actually prolong depression."

Who would write these lies?????? I felt soooooo much better after eating chocolate when I had PMT the other day! However in all fairness this Blog is ace for slating food and giving you a reason to be healthy!

And I also found these:

This is apparently an "anatomically correct human heart". When I saw the pic I thought this must be something Gillian McKeith stylee as in they produce your favourite food in the shape of something it is radically affecting in your body to make you realise what you are doing to your body by eating it. But no. I went on to read that they are "... made from premium chocolate, they make the ultimate gift for mortuary students, pathologists, embalmers, or your sweetheart. "

Interesting eh? Looking for that unique valentines gift for your sweetheart???? Noooooooo I think not! However, it doesn't stop there, you can also buy them in the shape of the human brain and a tooth. Oh goodie, something for everyone then! If you are interested these can be purchased from "PushinDasies - a mortuary novelty shop". Is the world going crazy???

Possibly more worrying than the chocolate heart is the "Do It Yourself Embalming Kit". This is apparently:

"... the items used in real embalmings! All items are new and unused. Each kit comes with 2 eye caps, a mouth former, 2 injector needles, trocar button, 1 pair latex gloves, 2 toe tags (1 printed and 1 non-printed), and an embalming report. This is a unique collectible kit to get a glimpse of the tools of the trade."

Fortunately is does come with a health warning:

"This is not a toy and is for novelty and collector purposes only. Please do not try this at home."

Now is it me or is this just freaking weird?????

Owlbeech Woods

2007-02-01T11:51:00.000Z

Simon and I both had the day off today and as the sun was kinda shining we decided to go for a little walk. We hot-footed it over to Owlbeech Woods near Horsham and had a lovely walk in the woods. I had forgotten how brown and barren our countryside looks in the Wintertime though. Roll on the spring.

First snow of 2007

2007-01-24T11:59:00.000Z

Ah the first snow of the year. Everything looks so pretty when you take that first look out of the window. Bit of a pain in the backside to drive to work in though!

It didn't last long though; I think the majority of it was gone by lunch time. The question is ... will we see any more before Spring springs?

Pineapple a go-go

2007-01-23T21:06:00.000Z

For Christmas my sister bought me the present I have been waiting for, for ages. It has been on my "Birthday and Christmas List" for some time now and finally I have one.

Pineapple has to be one of, if not the most favourite fruit of mine. However the darn things take forever and a day to chop up. That is why I wanted one of these little gadgets to save me time and effort!

Basically you cut the top off of the pineapple, twist it all down all the way to the bottom, and then pull the pineapple out.

But the most ingenious thing is that you are left with the pineapple shell which you can then fill with cocktails! Ok so I haven't tried putting a cocktail in it yet, but give me time!

Darth-Tater strikes back

2007-01-20T20:50:00.000Z

On the wagon

2007-01-19T20:28:00.000Z

At the beginning of the month I made a decision that I would stay off the booze for the whole of January. I suppose you could say it was a kind of New Years Resolution, however I'm not sure if it really counts because there was no intent that it would last for the year or would be a decision to radically change my life for good (can't do without a good old gin now and then!). Then again, most peoples NY Resolutions don't survive past the 1st of January anyway!

I have not been doing this because I am in fear that I am an alcoholic and this is the only way to test my dependency, I just figured that after the excesses of the festive season where drink was flowing a-plenty for most of December, my liver could do with a break.

So here I am at day 19 and not a drop of alcohol has passed my lips for 18 whole days. Not bad - I'm surviving. Just 13 more days to go!

The magic bean

2006-12-29T20:54:00.000Z

For Christmas my friend Spinkles bought me a magic bean! The bean is very special because it has my name on it and if I plant it the box promises me I will be able to grow my own name. How exciting is that??????

So, I put my bean in the cutest mini plant pot that came with it which also had my name on it:

and then covered it with the special stuff you plant it in.

Now all I have to do is wait for my magic Zoe bean to grow. Apparently it should grow within about 10-14 days. Fingers crossed x

Darth-tater would like to say ...

2006-12-27T20:19:00.000Z

Merry Crimble

2006-12-25T20:22:00.000Z

I love Christmas morning, especially when HE has been! How exciting!

This was the first Christmas Simon and I have spent together. We opened all of our lovely presents whilst eating a breakfast of pineapple and cheese and listening to cheesy Christmas tunes. Bliss!

An audience with Freddie

2006-12-24T20:23:00.000Z

When Simon and I went home this Christmas we managed to catch up with the newest addition to the family - baby Freddie. I could believe how much he had grown since we last saw him. As you can see he is an exceptionally smiley baby who seems so contented ...

... and here he is looking very cute ... just before he decided to throw up on Simon!

... and like most babies, Freddie seems to like things that make a big noise when you wallop them!

Christmas Day Number 1

2006-12-23T20:49:00.000Z

So as I was saying, although I wasn't going to be at home this Christmas, we did have a Christmas day dinner with all the trimmings which was lovely. It was one of the best Christmas dinners I have ever had!

Here is the traditional photo of Dad cutting the turkey. I seem to take one of these every single year. Usually he manages a pose for the camera - I think this year he just went for the cool, sophisticated catalogue pose!

I got to see both of my Nans and even my sister found time in her busy social calendar to make an appearance (quite a rare thing for this 19 year old!)

To top it all off we had a fab pudding made as always by my Nan. I was in charge of the brandy pouring hence the raging inferno we got when we set it alight!! Tasted great though!

And here is a silly pic of Mum and Dad!!!!

Shootin' with the boyz

2006-12-23T20:34:00.000Z

This Christmas was the first Christmas I have ever spent away from home. Due to various work committments, Simon and I decided to go to his parents for Christmas Day, and so we spent some time with my family just before the big day. The 23rd was a sort of Christmas day at home, but with a difference. This Christmas morning I went clay pigeon shooting with the boys!

I even had a go and I managed to get a rabbit (not a real one - it's a target that spins across the ground rather than flies up in the air!) And here I am trying to look kinda cool after snapping open the gun western stylee!

The whole idea of this photo was to get the smoke coming out of the gun, however, it's close up, i have developed a double chin (I swear its because i was so wrapped up!) and it looks as if the smoke is coming out of my ears! Ah well, never mind - you get the idea!

Deck the halls ... well the tree at least

2006-12-11T18:51:00.000Z

The great flood of Burgess Hill

2006-12-07T19:02:00.000Z

Christmas in the office

2006-12-05T17:15:00.000Z

I made Xmas cookies last night and took them in to work to be decorated ...

Making Crimble Cake

2006-12-03T18:40:00.000Z

Potent fruit

2006-12-02T17:25:00.000Z

So we decided to make a start on the Christmas cake. First things first, soak the fruit in a whole lot of alcohol!!!!!

Congratulations Pete and Sandra!!!

2006-12-01T17:38:00.000Z

Cooler than the red dress ...

2006-11-30T17:12:00.000Z

Another masterpiece

2006-11-22T11:37:00.000Z

A portrait

2006-11-21T12:57:00.000Z

Artist: Caroline INGOLD

Commissions available at a very reasonable price!

Robin the model

2006-11-05T18:33:00.000Z

We found this little Robin in Bedelands Nature reserve. He was quite a photogenic little chappie!!!

Lewes 2006

2006-11-04T11:43:00.000Z

This year my parents came down for bonfire night in Lewes.

We had a few pre-firework snacks ...

Found somewhere to park in Lewes ...

Found a pub to have some pre-banger drinkies ...

Went to see Simon's Dad on the Lewes Rotary burger stand ...

And then watched the crazyness of Lewes parade ...

Redbull Art?

2006-11-03T11:40:00.000Z

Now I'm not saying my Dad is obsessed or anything but ...

Pumpkin-ana Jones!

2006-10-31T11:37:00.000Z

Tasted great in a soup!

Another pre-birthday celebration

2006-09-10T11:28:00.000Z

As we were going to be in Turkey for Simon's actual 30th birthday, we had yet another pre birthday celebration with a cake the night before we flew!!!

Papas got a brand new bag!

2006-09-06T20:01:00.000Z

Claire had this fettish a few years ago with buying magazines because they had free bags with them, and it looks as if it may be creeping back! Keep taking the pills - nice bag though!

and Rach can't resist a quick pose!

Happy early 30th!

2006-09-06T19:44:00.000Z

For the first of Simon's 30th birthday celebrations we all went out for dinner at the Bolney Stage. Excellent food and door frames made for mini people!

See http://www.blubeckers.co.uk/blubeckers/restaurants2/bolney.html

Foxy locksey!!!

2006-09-03T20:10:00.000Z

You know when you have just one of those days?

Well we certainly did. We had a lot of things we wanted to get done with it being a Sunday and all, so we went to B&Q to get some more paint and decided to call into Sainsbury's on London Road, Brighton to get, amongest other things, Paprika which I needed for dinner. So we went shopping, got back to the car, Simon went to drive off and this happened ...

The key got stuck in the ignition. It got stuck half way in, and thus would not go in any further or come out again either. So, we had to call the AA who took forever to come. Simon had no signal on his mobile and so had to wait outside the underground car park and I had to stay with the car inside. Fortunately Lisa came down to keep me company for the 2 hours I was sitting in the car.

However the awful experience was made slightly better when a little fox turned up and began to have a wash in the space next to me. Is one of the only times I have been glad to have a camera phone!!!

Daz does Meatloaf!!!

2006-09-01T19:50:00.000Z

There is life in the old rocker yet!!!
Caroline assured me that he also knew all the words!

The train to nowhere ...

2006-08-29T19:59:00.000Z

Pukker up pussy!

2006-08-25T19:41:00.000Z

Office Wars

2006-08-16T18:48:00.000Z

In every office across the country I’m sure there are mini office wars going on. They may be subtle, but they happen. It could be a vendetta against the person who never seems to make the tea but always says ‘Yes’ when asked if they would like one. It could be the older generations within the office giving the newer staff members the crap work to do. It could be the non-smokers resenting all the breaks the smokers get to steadily kill themselves on work time. However in our office its all about the air con.

Now, the blokes love it but the girls, on the whole, hate it. I think the blokes must have extra thick padding to stop the freezing icy blasts of cold air penetrating their skin and chilling them to the bone. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not totally against air con in the right situations. When it is roasting hot I do agree with having it on to keep the temperature ambient and comfortable. However when the day is overcast as it is today, I don’t see the reason why open windows wont do the job.

What I do hate about air con is how it blows on you. It’s like being under a very cold fan and on top of that I generally hate feeling air blowing on my skin. It also blows my hair which tickles my face, and my paper which makes working a pain in the arse.

On top of that it’s bad for the environment.

Thanks very much Mr Willis Haviland Carrier, your invention is a constant plague in my working life :-(

Willis Haviland Carrier
(inventor of Air Con)

M25 rant

2006-08-13T20:32:00.000Z

I hate the M25 and this weekend I had to spend a whole lot of time on the UK's biggest car park getting back to my parents for the weekend. However what made the journey back even worse was the unbelievable downpour which meant at times I couldnt actually see where the hell I was going. It did make it a little more entertaining if not a little hairy!

We meet at last!

2006-08-13T20:24:00.000Z

I got to meet my very new cousin this weekend, little Freddie. Not sure if he liked me too much because he did cry when I held him, but that was soon sorted out with a dummy!

What a cutie!

Happy 50th

2006-08-12T20:21:00.000Z

Fab surprise party organised for my Auntie Alison's 50th! She had no idea so well done to my Uncle who had been plotting and scheming for months ;-)

Aaaah pretty Liney!

2006-08-09T20:10:00.000Z

I have discovered a new game for those tedious hours at work ... it's called "Decorating the Indexers" - hoorah!!! Well, what else are you supposed to do with those useless stickers which come with the annual office wall planner?

Meeting Reuben

2006-08-05T17:02:00.000Z

Ok, so it has taken me six months to do, but today I met baby Reuben. Despite being sleep deprived Lauren and John seemed exceptionally happy and Reuben is absolutely adorable!

A noisy summer evening walk!

2006-07-11T13:21:00.000Z

Simon and I went for a walk this evening to the pond which is in the nature reserve close to our house. However walking through the fields was deafening as the grass seemed to be crawling with crickets who were intent on leeting us know they were there in rather large numbers! They were hopping and bouncing all over the paths.

We did eventually make it to the more tranquil setting of the pond, where Simon managed to pull a bird (despite it being male!!!)

Smoothie-tastic

2006-06-24T18:13:00.000Z

Stick the fruit in a blender, whizz it up and what do you get ...

yes a luminous purple hit of fruit!

Making Monsters

2006-06-16T18:11:00.000Z

More food for Darren's sophisticated 40th birthday BBQ!!!

World Cup Fever - well kind of

2006-06-15T18:17:00.000Z

This is about as excitied as you are gonna get me about the World Cup. I entered the work's sweepstake in the hope I may win some dosh and showed my support for my team - the USA (how ironic!) by proudly displaying my flat in the office! Wonder how long they will last before catching a plane home????

Making a new dish

2006-06-14T18:03:00.000Z

Ok so maybe cheesecake isn't the most difficult desert to make from scratch, but I was making it for Darren's BBQ so it had to be good. This is the practise run for the "American chocolate swirl cheesecake". I found this was the easiest way to soften up the mountain of cream cheese required for the dish ...

and this is how it looked fresh out of the oven.

It was great - and it was all devoured before I remembered to take a finished photo!!! Take my word for it, it was mighty fine!

Lillies from my lover

2006-06-09T18:15:00.000Z

which were beautiful and muchly appreciated until Simon decided they were the cause of his intensified hayfever! Oh well!

Bees and Bluebells

2006-05-28T18:17:00.000Z

Flowers at Leonardslea Gardens, Sussex

Country Covers

2006-05-27T18:11:00.000Z

A stall ...

with a great sign ...

Happy Birthday to me!

2006-05-25T18:31:00.000Z

Decorating ... again ...

2006-05-23T09:25:00.000Z

Wanting to hurry the decorating on to the horrible living room because the only things now left to do in the hall are Simon only tasks, I decided to make a start on the living room ceiling. I knew that it was in a bad way, but didn't realise quite how bad until I started to put the bright white paint on ...

It was soooooo bright I didn't have any problems in seeing where I had been! We have come to the conclusion that previous owners must have been heavy smokers and probably not decorated since the 1970s!

It has all had one coat now so looks much better however there is still a circle of the old 'colour' around the light until we change it to remind us of the horrors which lie beneath!

Long time no hear!

2006-05-21T16:51:00.000Z

Well it has been a while since my last blog. Not a lot happening I guess, just life plodding on as usual.

Saw Eurovision in its entirety for the first time last night. Love Terry - had me in stiches with a side helping of giggles from the acts themselves. And of course not forgetting Maria the hostess who was simple "amazing"!

Congratulations to the Finnish winners. Hard Rock Hallelujah indeed!

Lordi - Eurovision winners 2006
Photo from http://www.eurovision.tv/english/index.htm

Easter Bunnies

2006-04-07T12:07:00.000Z

This made me titter this morning when it arrived in my inbox from one of my colleagues!

More UGLI info

2006-04-04T12:45:00.000Z

According to the UGLI website (http://www.ugli.com/home.htm)

"The Affliction is only Skin Deep so the Beauty is in the Eating "

The fruit is in fact a tangelo and is a variety of citrus fruit grown exclusively in Jamaica. It was discovered growing wild in Jamaica over 70 years ago and its parentage combines the best characteristics of the tangerine, grapefruit and seville orange.

Who knew fruit could be so interesting!

You sure is UGLI ...

2006-04-03T20:01:00.000Z

... but you sure tasted good!!!