And back in the allotment...................

Its still pretty muddy down the plot. Squelchy underfoot - but I still tried to put a few more things in. Carrots and spring onions. I`m not too optimistic about them taking, but its worth a try anyway. Its not quite so wet as last week but still quite grim. A chap was telling us that the plots on our side were prone to getting waterlogged since some houses had been built nearby. Why would this be?
He gave us some cabbages to plant - good since we lost our other cabbages in the rain - and some rhubarb to take home.

My strawberry plants and gogi berry plants arrived today. We need to clear the top bit of the allotment to put them in - its drier up the top end and these plants dont like to be waterlogged. They look quite good. Must get them potted tomorrow till I get a chance to plant them properly.

Writing morning pages for therapy

Writing morning pages for therapy
Writing morning pages is a truly cathartic experience. It is supposedly a good way to release our inner artist, and is described as the key to a meaningful life. It is a way of unlocking our unconscious minds and releasing the creative side to our nature.
So what are morning pages? Firstly, we get up a half hour earlier than usual (not easy I know, but worthwhile). We then write three pages of long-hand in an A4 note pad - and it should be stream-of-consciousness writing - that is, do not thinking about what you are writing - just scribble away. Even if if seems like nonsense that you are writing, don't worry. If you don't know what to write about, just look at something in front of you and write about that. Write anything! Then - very importantly - do not read these pages or allow anyone else to do so. Put them away and leave them. Now -repeat this every morning!
This process will ignite your creative spark. We are vulnerable and exposed first thing in the morning and are in a prolonged spell of relaxation. Our inner-critic is not yet awake so ideas are able to germinate in our uncluttered mind. Morning pages allow us to get to know ourselves better and we can express hidden feelings. It is well worth a try and a good way to spring-clean our overloaded minds.
For more information visit www.psychologies.co.uk
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Still havent heard about School

Although we`ve spoken to people from the education department and the speech and language department, we still haven`t heard in black and white that Dolly has firmly been offered a place in the school that she`s apparently been pencilled in for.
I`m sure it`ll be fine, but I`ll be happier when I finally get that letter. Times running out. Its end of term in about 18 days.

COME ON EDCUATION DEPATMENT LADY!

Money saving website

Martin Lewis`s Money saving tips

Take a look at this brilliant money saving site, by TV expert Martin Lewis. This is an ad free site and offers brilliant, practical advice for getting your finances in better shape. There`s a great feature on reclaiming bank charges that I`ll be using myself.
Very useful and informative!
www.moneysavingexpert.com

Allotment Flooded!

Help! We went down to the allotment yesterday to see how things are getting on - we`ve not been able to get there for a while because of the heavy rain. And to cut a long story short - the whole plot was a lake. The cabbages we planted the other week had just been completely swept away. The water was up to the top of Elli`s little pink wellies - she nearly lost a leg in the mud. LOL! I just dont know what to do.
Is our plot prone to flooding of is it the way we`ve laid it out. We noticed that most other people seem to have raised beds - although I do recall the secretary, Rod, telling us that the plots our end sometimes got waterlogged. Perhaps we should try and move - although I`m reluctant to do this as we`ve done a lot of digging and got a nice shed set up now. Maybe I`ll wait and see for a bit................

Evie gets a school at last (I think)

We had some good news today regarding Evie`s schooling. The woman from the education department said there is a place pencilled in for Evie at a specialist speech and language unit, housed in a mainstream school. Until I see it in black and white - I wont hold my breath - but it seems like progress at last. It feels like a weight off my chest. I`ve been walking round in a fog of worry and confusion for weeks now. in fact my heads been swimming with it all.
Poor little Evie deserves it so much, progress at last!

Astonished by religious fantatics

I`ve just been watching a television programme which was astonishing. It concerned a religious cult in the USA - called God Hates Fags - or some such name. You may have heard of them, and I`ve also seen a documentary about them before. But these religious nutcases, who are mainly made up from one extended family, take each word from the bible literally. They have an extreme hatred of anyone gay and even picket the funerals of recently deceased servicemen in protest of the admittance of gay personnel to the USA services.
It seems both frightening and sad at the same time that people can be so fanatical over such a pointless cause.

Aqua Fit

Its been a quiet day today. I went to a Health Day in the local community centre, which was ok - the best bit being the free buffet. Very tasty. Anyway - I put my name down for a few treatments - reiki - Indian head massage - eyebrow shaping - but they were so slow I had to leave before my turn came. Oh well!
Tonight it was Aqua Fit again. I think I`m getting less fit rather than more - ooooo - I`m going to be stiff tomorrow. Still - I find aqua fit a good way to exercise cos theres no strain on the joints. Apparently, many aerobics fanatics from the 80`s are now suffering from arthritis - brought on by the repeated strain on the joints.
Another good thing. You dont get too hot!

Simon Cowell or Piers Morgan?

Who is more attractive - Simon Cowell or Piers Morgan?

Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan Who is more attractive?
If you've been watching Britain's got talent or America's got talent, you may, like me have been exposed nightly to the faces of Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan. And it set me wondering who would people consider more attractive? Simon or Piers?
Simon Cowell is extremely confident, and dare I say a touch smarmy, but he is an attractive man, always flashing those brilliant white knashers. He knows what he wants and how to get it and he is funny and has a concise, pithy intelligence.
Piers Morgan isn't good looking in such an obvious way as Simon, but he does have a certain appeal. A few years younger than Simon, he is well groomed and well educated and intelligent. Definitely more the quintessential English Gentleman than Cowell. Although Piers can be bit smug and is a ruthless self-promoter, he also has a self-depreciating sense of humour at times and can be strangely sweet.
So who would I choose out of these two very different English men as the most attractive? It has to be Piers for me.

Chicken Pox

Evie is getting over an exceptionally nasty case of chicken pox. Ellie had it first, and of course, it was unpleasant, but ran its usual course without any major problems. We thought Evie had escaped or perhaps had an extra inoculation for it with her having immunity problems - but no such luck. Two weeks to the day that Ellie developed it,Evie started feeling a bit unwell after coming back from her weekly swimming lesson so I put her to bed with some calpol.

The next day, the spots began to develop - still not too bad. But the day after - the spots began to blister and turn into horrible open sores, which were very painful and started to quickly look infected. As it was a bank holiday the next day we couldn't see our local GP but we opted instead for the walk-in centre, which I must say was excellent. We saw a nurse and a doctor promptly, and the doctor gave us antibiotics, dressings, piriton for the itching, antibiotic cream (fucidin) and paracetamol. The doctor and nurses said it was the worst case of chicken pox they had ever seen.
That`s the trouble with Di George Syndrome, the immune system can be affected, and has been in Evie`s case, and ordinary illnesses can be much more severe. She has also had meningitis, pneumonia and every other illness under the sun.

Gradually the sores are starting to dry up - but Evie is still sore and a 
little disgruntled (understandably). At least I`m glad she`s got chicken pox over and done with. Thank God!

Steady progress at the slimming club

Yey! I lost 4 lbs this week. That brings the total up to 8 lbs altogether. I`ve still got loads to go, but am getting there slowly.
I went to Aqua-aerobics tonight for the first time, but it proved a bit of a disaster.
We paid, got changed and got in the pool along with about 50 other women - and guess what? The instructor never turned up!! We all bobbed around in the pool in a confused fashion for about 15 minutes, until a Lifestyle Employee bravely came over to inform us that the Instructor hadn't arrived and no-one knew where she was.
Oh well, they said we could have a free swim and a voucher for next weeks lesson, so there you go! A quick shower and hair wash and then home in time for the Big Brother Debut show. And it turned out to be all women. What a turn up for the books.

Goji Berries

So what do you know about Goji berries? I know that they`re supposed to be the new super food of the moment, packed with anti-oxidants and what have you.

I`ve decided to have a go at growing some of them, cos apparently they are very easy to grow and don't need a lot of special care. I`ve ordered some seeds on Ebay tonight and am going to give it a bash.

We`ve got an allotment!

Not been feeling too well this week. Coughing and aching arms and legs etc.
Felt better today and while flicking through a magazine, I chanced upon an article about allotments. I `ve been pondering about getting an allotment for ages now, so I had a quick look on the net about allotments in Liverpool. With the feature about allotments there was a phone number, so I gave them a quick call expecting them to say I could go on the waiting list for a plot. But when I spoke to the guy in charge of the allotments, he told me there were some available plots and would I like to go and see one. Taking the bull by the horns, I went right out to meet him - and I picked a plot there and then. its a bit rough, but in a nice position.
I cant wait to get going on it now and start growing some nice fruit and veggies.

Slimming World

Called in at the docs to see if my blood test result was ready yet. Yes! My ESR is back to normal. Good news.
Joined Slimming World yesterday. Been meaning to do it for ages and I really thing losing some weight will make me feel a bit better. Anyway, I`ve been busy working out the slimming world system and I think it`ll be ok. I did it ages ago and managed to stay slim for years - but my metabolism has kind of slowed down since then.
If I can lose weight it`ll be great to wear nicer clothes again.

The Grand National

A bit late with this entry, but we had a brilliant day going to the Grand National last Saturday. The girls went up to Skipton to stay with K and C for a few days (we took them there last night). So, T, Teenage son and I went along to make the most of the day. We only went in then paddock - but it was such a beautiful, hot sunny day. You really wouldn`t believe it was spring - everyone was in a good mood enjoying the sun and the fantastic National Day Atmosphere.

We had a few drinks and a bet on every race, but most of my races the horses ran the other way. LOL! One even got withdrawn with heat exhaustion. T and Sonny didnt do too bad and I got 4th or 5th in the National with Philson Run.  At 100 - 1 odds, I got about £26 pound back on my £1 each way bet - not too bad!
The final races were a bit of a disappointment cos they were very delayed and the final one got cancelled due to the horses getting to hot.
Lots of laughing though, as some of the racegoers took to the course after the National and had races of their own. A chubby girl and a thin girl took their high heels off and raced between two of the jumps while the crowd went mad cheering things like - "Go on the Biggie!" The biggie didnt win, by the way.

Evie`s hospital appointments

That`s all it seems to have been lately. Various appointments for Dolly. We`ve had ENT, Speech therapy, two different dental appointments - next week - plastic surgeon etc. Poor Dolly. We have the re-sceduled statementing meeting on the 2nd May and I`m dreading it. I`ve got a feeling we`re going to get fobbed off.

We need a new tenent for my house that I rent off in two weeks. The estate agent who is supposed too be promoting it seems to be doing bugger all. He promised all kinds - but has done zilch - apart from putting it on Fish 4 Homes. Not too happy with this. Think I`ll have to get a new agent if he doesnt pull his finger out.

The kids are back at school now. The house seems pretty quiet without the squabbling and mound of toys everywhere. Time for me to get on with stuff I think.
Theres lots of sorting out to be done and I definitely need to start getting rid of a lot of stuff. Best get Ebaying I think.

What`s he done to Salad Fingers

JK films himself everyday for 8 years - even better than Noah!

Life on Mars

Life on Mars - the series

Have you been watching? Its the last one tonight, and supposedly we`ll find out all the answers - or perhaps some of them. Will Sam Tyler turn out to be in a coma, or will he be a time traveller - dead - or mad? Cant wait to find out. I love the sound track to this series - well I suppose its from my era, and I did llluuurrrrvvvve David Bowie. What a great song Life On Mars is.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/lifeonmars/






We went to speech therapy today as usual for a Tuesday. It went quite well apart from Dolly having a big strop cos Molly won the game Helen (the speech therapist) set up to help Dolly to learn. Called briefly to see Mum`s friend R on the way home.
A mass trip to the dentist was planned for the afternoon - me, Sonny, Molly and Dolly. We all seem to be ok, although Molly had a quick filling and I had something sprayed on my teeth to help with sensitivity.
Mum is in terrible pain lately with sciatica so I dug the TENS machine out and set it up tonight to try to combat the pain. Hope it does the trick!

Last day of term

It was the last day of term for the girls at yesterday. I had to send the girls easter bonnets into school again - but our hats looked a bit sparse compared with some of the fabulous concoctions bobbing around on sweet, 6 year old heads. Anyway, I missed the parade that was held in the school yard at 11.00 am - I didnt even realise that parents were invited - so that was a bit sad. But, I picked them up at 1.oopm, along with their little friend S, whose mum had to work. After a quick play back in our house, we ran them along too the Salvation Army to watch a film- The chronicles of Narnia. It was a family day, but I left them to it and went and did some shopping. 


Bought some nice tops in Asda as extra presents for son`s birthday on Saturday.
Picked the girls up about 4.15 and felt a bit bad cos Dolly was a bit frightened of the Lion in Narnia even though she`s seen it before. She sat on my my clinging to my neck in such a sweet way. Poor Dolly. Molly and S sat watching seeming so grown up.
Today, the girls have gone to town with K and C to pick some shoes for their wedding next month. Dolly and Molly are going to be bridesmaids.