...24 Days To Moving Day...

Dave caught this Rudd earlier in the year

...Big Isn't It...??

Dave's coarse fishing this morning - he's trying to get a few sessions in before we move - ONLY 24 days to go - then AT LAST we'll be on our way!! This move has been the worse one we've ever had (& we move a LOT, so we know!) - It'll be 44 weeks from putting the place on the market to actually moving out - that's unbelievably long - don't you think??

But at least it'll soon be behind us (in 24 days!!) and we can get on with the next stage of our lives - starting a Self Catering Holiday Cottage Business in the Lincolnshire Wolds (Bumble Bee Country Holidays) - we've already got an eye on a couple of 'cottage possibilities' to view as soon as we get there and we're hoping to have the business up and running by summer '08.

It's so exciting (something we're talked about for years!), but if I'm honest I'm pretty scared about it as well because not only are we leaving an area where we've always lived and going to a completely different one that we don't know that well, we're also leaving all our friends and family behind and going to set up a brand new idea!!

Still if all else fails - we can always come back and think of something else to do -

...We Can Come Back, Can't We...?

...Anyone For Champers...?

...Great Fun at Tony's (my brother) last night, playing on the Wii with the rest of the family - there were 10 of us - the youngest, Krystal (7) was so good at all the games she wiped the floor with us all...

Tony cooked four different concoctions for us all to enjoy and opened plenty of wine - he's a bit of a connoisseur when it comes to red wine - I'm not 'into' red at all, even though he's always trying to convert me. I must admit that it's all 'plonk' to me & this SO annoys him every time I say it - which is the reason for saying it, of course ;0)

I am starting to develop a taste for champagne though (only the 'good' stuff, of course) - this is also due to Tony. He gave Dave & I a bottle for Christmas '06 and OMG it was delicious...I can remember it floated & danced (see I've been reading 'How To Describe' it) down the throat and there was none of that burning sensation or shuddering as you swallowed it - Yeah! we've all been to 'that' wedding, haven't we???

So we took a bottle of the bubbly stuff to Tony's yesterday and sampled it - it was OK but not that great so I've told Dave

..."That we'll just have to keep buying it until we find 'The Perfect One' again"...

...Tom's Back - YIPPEE...!

Tom (youngest son) is here for a few days - he arrived Christmas Eve and is going back to London tomorrow - not that we've seen that much of him as he's been running around catching up with old friends - he did pop back for 10 minutes yesterday though - for a guzzle of milk and change of clothes (he'd been living in the same ones for a couple of days - typical of Tom!) & then he was gone again.

He did spend all of Christmas Day & Boxing Day with us though so we can't really complain - it's just difficult, isn't it? - when you don't see the kids for ages and then they seem to want to spend it with friends rather than you :(

All's not lost though, because he's meeting us this evening at Tonys (my brother) for a family Wii party - and afterwards we're dropping him off at yet another friend for the night...

...Oh Well, There's Always The Next Visit...

...What Gets Your Giggle Going...?

Alan, Doris & Dave

Christmas Day 2007

Doris & Alan (Dave's mum & brother) came over for the evening yesterday - I cooked salmon (not fresh, you understand - didn't want to go too mad!!) & Dave prepared a fresh fruit salad - something quite light after all the over indulgence of the last couple of days - we did however flood the fruit with yummy full-fat cream and Haggen Dazs ice cream - so it wasn't a complete success unless of course you love these things - like me - then it was like Christmas all over again ;-)

...we had a good 'chinwag' & watched re-runs of the Vicar of Dibley - again!! - and giggled all the way through - it always gets my giggle going...

...It Was Nice Family Time...

...Cancel Christmas, Don't You Dare...

Well, that's it then - done and dusted - all sorted for another year - all that build up and poof! it's over - and all that's left are dirty dishes and mountains of wrapping paper - but would I change it - absolutely NOT - I love every over-spending, sprout peeling moment of it.

We ate too much, complained about what was on the television, played silly party games & laughed and laughed until our sides ached.

...Cancel Christmas, Don't You Dare...

...Santa Filled My Stocking...

Just wanted to say that the fat man remembered where I lived, squeezed himself through the chimney and eat all the mince pies!! He left well and truly stuffed but not before he'd found my stocking & filled it with lovely things large and small INCLUDING my 'Oh is that for me' - Ruby ring :0)

...Boy I'm so L U C K Y - I hope you were too...

...I'm So Excited...

Well, it's almost here, it's so close I can smell it! - I'm so excited - only a few more hours until the fat man comes and leaves something nice and small and shiny in my stocking. I do hope that all the hints and Santa notes worked and he was paying attention :0)

But whatever he leaves and he will leave something - won't he?? - I'll be happy just because he called and remembered me - I will, really I will

...Merry Christmas, Everyone & I hope Santa brings everything you wish for too...

...Let's Raise A Toast...

Dave took his mum, Doris to the crematorium this morning to lay a wreath for his dad, Pip (Percy Stenbridge Humphrey, to be exact). I didn't go as I think this is a mother & son thing, but it has got me thinking about the people that will be 'missing from the table' this Christmas.

We have this sort of family tradition that just before we tuck into the Christmas turkey, we toast the people that are 'missing from the table', like Dave's dad Pip, my mum Bobby, my lovely Auntie Joyce and Steve (our eldest) - not that he's dead of course - very far from it - he's absolutely alive and living in Sydney, Oz and is in that 'pinch me if I'm dreaming' stage - but nevertheless, he will be missing from the table again - for the second year - and I'll be toasting him along with the rest.

...so if you have someone that's 'missing from your table' this year - try to think of them (as I do), not so much as missing because they are there, deep within your heart..

Merry Christmas Everyone

ME ;0)

...Is This Chocolate Heaven? - Oh Yes...

The first time I came across a Chocolate Fountain was earlier in the year at a friends 50th birthday bash - it was a huge commercial affair that took centre stage on its own table - I was first in the queue with my marshmallow I can tell you.

So we have bought one (on a much smaller scale) to take to Doris' (Dave's mum) for Christmas treats, with lots of dippy things of course. We went to our local deli and bought the suggested Belgian chocolate buttons suitable for the operation - Dave said that we'll need a lot so we purchased a 3kg bag - that's a lot of buttons, I can tell you - and I said that we'd better try it after tea last night just to check it worked OK. We don't want to get it to mum's at Christmas and find that the thing doesn't work, do we??

So I followed the instructions and - WOW - it actually cascaded over the fountain (as it should) and looked pretty impressive. I then proceeded to dip and dip and dip - until I was stuffed with all things sticky & chocolaty - I'd recommend it to anyone.

However, half an hour later I got the most god-damn awful headache (that'll be my glucose intolerance kicking in) and felt so bad I had to go to bed

...But Was It Worth It? - You'd Better Believe It...!

...We've Sold The Mattress Topper...

For those of you that have been paying attention, you'll remember that we bought a mattress topper to help Dave's backache! (9 Nov. entry - if you can be bothered!) but I couldn't get on with it - so we put it on eBay and yesterday it sold - Great News -

Only problem was how to pack it for the courier to pick up today - Dave found an old Sony CTV box that seemed study enough and we set about trying to get 'The Thing' into a plastic bag and then into the box - well talk about a side-splitting laugh...I tell you Laurel & Hardy have nothing on us... I would like to point out at this stage that it does weigh 12.5kg (that's 27.5lbs in real money) is made of high density foam and has a mind of its own... Finally after a lot of huffing and puffing (on Dave's part, I'll add) we got 'The Thing' into the plastic bag and managed to fold it in half - by sitting on it - and then carried on struggling again for what seemed like a very long time and finally 'We Did It' it was in - YiPPee!!

We then proceeded to tape it in - it isn't going to escape from the plastic bag, study box and a reel of tape - I can tell you

...I do hope that the courier man has help to carry it or at least one of those trolley things...

...I've Got Such A Sore Throat ...

My throat's been niggling for a couple of days and I've been gargling with Doris' (Dave's mum) old remedy of aspirin (dissolved of course, not whole!!) & sucking Lockets (what a waste of money they are) and guess what - it hasn't worked because today I feel as if someones left sandpaper down there & I've constantly trying to clear my throat - such an annoying noise, I know

I've been up since 4am as it was so much worse laying down and I knew that I was rocking the bed with the constant coughing - Who said that I didn't care about Dave's beauty sleep?

...Oh No! The nose is now dripping - where's a hankie?

...sorry to leave you with that visual effect...

...Who's Taken The Scissors...?

I've been wrapping presents for most of the day today and the floor is now covered in tinsel, sticky tape and bits of paper - I only vacuumed this morning - I knew it was a bad idea!! - to vacuum that is not wrap presents.

I love the build up to Christmas and always have. When I was small it was so exciting in our house waiting for Santa and never quite knowing what he'd bring - there was eight of us (including mum and dad) and it was always a big thing in our house. Christmas Eve was 'adults' night when the extended family and close friends would gather in our tiny lounge and exchange gifts - we'd start at around 5pm with a great buffet (dad always bought a whole ham on the bone - yummy!) and most years didn't finish unwrapping gifts until midnight - Yes, Really :0)

My granddad (Papa Jim) always drunk too much whisky and Nanna always moaned at him and it ended in 'words' between them - mum was pretty chilled out & enjoyed the atmosphere and dad was the one who got 'over excited' and ended up shouting at everyone - it was always the same routine - but I absolutely loved it and have such great memories of us all being a family...

..Oh Well! enough reminiscing - back to the wrapping...

...Am I Just Too Sad...?

Saw Doris (Dave's mum) yesterday - we had to find some paperwork that we have stored in her attic...Can you believe that she's lived in the same house for 39 years and she NEVER had anything in her attic - not a bean...?

When we decided to start refurbishing property and knew that we'd be moving 'every' year (EEK - Are We Mad?) we asked if we could use it to store all our treasures and 'rubbish' of course - so as not to have to move it around with us all the time. You know what I mean by treasures - the boys first playgroup creations, their cub scout uniforms, precious photos and the like... things that we'll probably never use or look at again but I just couldn't bear to part with...

...Am I Just Too Sad...?

...Pain, What Pain...?

Weather is dry but mighty cold today - mind you it is December and only 8 days until the fat guy brings me pressies :0)

I'm pleased to report that Dave's back to normal self today - the last four days have been a round of pooing and puking - took me back to the days of when the boys were young and ill. Tom was just like Dave - just can't handle it - moaning and groaning about how bad they feel....

...Get over it - try giving birth - then you'll know what pain is...Right Girls...??

...Welcome To The Real World...

Thomas William Humphrey
DOB: 24.09.84
WEIGHT: 6lb 12oz
5 weeks premature

Spoke to Tom (youngest son) this morning - he's fine but skint!! He and Danielle took on a 'huge' mortgage in June and then changed his job in August for less money than he was earning before and is now feeling the strain of it all - I told him 'Welcome to the real world'.

Dave & I lived from week to week for nearly 20 years while the boys were growing up - borrowing from Peter to pay Paul (and paying the 'important' bills first) - it was hard I can tell you - and there were many weeks when I only bought the essential 'cheap and cheerful' shopping. But we all survived it and I think the boys grew up appreciating the value of things more and didn't expect the latest fashions or toys just because their friends had them - even though it sometimes broke my heart to have to say again and again 'No, sorry we just can't afford it'

...If I Had To Do It Again, Would I? - Bet Your Life I Would...

...Don't Panic, Mr Mannering...

Dave's much better today - Thank Goodness - he was still pooing well into the evening yesterday - where does it all come from?? and the scariest part for me was him passing out....last night, while on the loo (again!). He just sort of lent forward and folded in half (just like a rag doll) and I called his name and shook him and he almost fell onto the floor - B U T I didn't panic - Mr Mannering!!

My first thought was to get him on the floor and then if he was still out cold I'd made up my mind to call an ambulance - but lucky his eyes flicked open and he was OK - I must admit to being very relieve when that happened. He says that he doesn't remember it happening at all and I'm making it up...

..I Can Promise You I'm Not...

...What A God Damn Awful Night...

...That Was...

Dave (Nov '07)

Dave started puking and pooing at 2.30am and didn't stop until nearly 6.30am. The amount of fluids that he emitted from his body parts was really quite frightening and the smell - well I won't go into detail about that!! I apologise if anyone is eating while reading this... He was so hot at first and then so cold he was shivering and just couldn't get warm even with a nightshirt, heavy dressing gown and an extra quilt on the bed - his legs couldn't support his weight properly and then they started to tingle and cramp up - it really wasn't nice - not nice at all....

He finally fell asleep around 7.30 and is still in bed - he has been to the loo again this morning - but nothing like as bad during the night - but found that he was very unsteady on his feet and says that he feels so dizzy.

I've left him with a warm drink and Beattie (the cat) on the bed & I'm going to the chemist to speak to the Pharmacist about him - in case there's anything he can take that'll help but I expect he'll just have to fight it off ......

...Is Everyone Having A Good Time...?

My Dad - Oct. '88

Dave & I went to see my dad yesterday (he's in a home because he has Alzheimer's) and it was the homes Christmas Party, we arrived around 4.30 and it was packed - it was nice to see it so well attended.

Dad was in his room (again!) and didn't want to come down at first - but as soon as we told him there was food and 'possible' drink down there he changed his mind and almost jumped out of bed and got dressed (unaided), brushed his hair and off we went. He had a great time and it was so nice to see him laughing and joking with the other residents and guests & having a good time - I'm so annoyed with myself for not taking the camera....

...we won a bottle of champagne & wine, biscuits & a t-shirt on the raffle - so it was worth buying a tenner worth of tickets...

...I Like Snuggling - Who Knows Where It Can Lead...

Another busy day ahead for Dave & I today. My uncle Eric surprised us this morning with an unannounced visit - it was lovely to see him.

And after lunch we're going into town (More Christmas Shopping - EEK!) there's a new precinct opened so we're going to check it out - I don't expect it'll be that exciting but we live in hope.... :0)

Then we're going to visit dad at Admiral House, we haven't seen him for nearly a fortnight - where has the time gone?? The home are having their Christmas Fayre this afternoon/evening so we're going to support it and no doubt get roped into buying raffle tickets and crafts..

By the time we get back it'll be early evening and we'll have a late meal and snuggle up in front of the television together

...I Like Snuggling - Who Knows Where It Can Lead... :0)

...44 Days Until We Move...

Dave & I were woken up at 6.30am this morning by next door barking dog (again!) - it was obviously outside and barking to get back in - if I'd had a gun I'd have shot the bloody thing!!

This is the third morning running this has happened & what with the slamming of doors all day long, every day and now their dog... the 25th January can't come quick enough I can tell you.

...to move to the country and be woken by the dawn chorus will be bliss

BOY! I can't wait... :0)

...It's Nearly Christmas - YiPPee...!!

Well, The Tree's Up - The Bubbles Are On - Bing's Playing -

- And I'm Just Waiting For Santa -

I feel really Chrismassy today - only another 16 - that's sixteen days - days to go until that fat man known as Santa comes and fills my stocking. I'm hoping for a ruby ring this year & I've dropped loads and loads of hints, left little Santa notes around and made my screen saver a glorious ring - just in case he gets confused and brings me something else that's much more useful but not as stunning as a single gemstone set in 18ct gold in size M

...You Know...Just In Case... :0)

...How Are You Today...?

It's been so wet and windy again today - it was raining when we got up and hasn't eased all day.

We went to visit a good friend in hospital this afternoon - he was rushed there on Thursday because of breathing problems and a x-ray has revealed that he had two blood clots forming - in the leg and on one of his lungs - this is not good news and is very worrying...

Bert is 83 and has been a heavy smoker all his life - so no doubt this is also causing concern but he was very upbeat when we saw him today and was breathing unaided, except for the occasional blast from the oxygen mask - he's definitely lost some weight (he wasn't big to begin with) but said that he felt so much better than he did a few days ago

...it was great to see him looking so much better than we thought we'd find him...

...Thirty Years Together And It's Still Exciting...

Dave & I have had a fabulous day out today in Tenterden, Kent ~ it's so lovely to have been together for 30 years (married for 27 of them) and still find it exciting to spend time walking around shops and just enjoying each others company...How many couples can say that...?

We started off at the doctors this morning - my appointment this time - just a weigh-in (I've lost 18lbs so far) as I'm losing weight because of being a borderline diabetic and having a glucose intolerance - which certainly doesn't help!! I'm only managing about a 1lb a month but have also got the 'excuse' of being menopausal! But what keeps me going is the fact that it's coming off, be it ever so slowly, and NOT going on - which is what usually happens...

And when Steve (eldest son) comes back from OZ for a holiday next summer - I want him to see the difference in me - silly, I know but it's giving me an aim...

...Which Pedal's The Brake...?

Weather is absolutely awful today - so windy and lashing rain - EEK!

I had to go to the Post Office this morning (eBay things!!) and got soaked just running from the car which was parked directly outside it.

Dave drove me, even though it's only just down the road. This is because even though I can drive I really don't enjoy it one little bit and a few weeks when Dave had a small procedure carried out on his toe and he wasn't allowed to drive back - I had to drive home and at the bottom of Hospital Hill (it's really called this) I just forgot for a split second which pedal was the brake and panicked (as anyone would) & just touched the accelerator instead and Dave started shouted, 'What the f**k are you doing?' I found the right pedal pretty quickly I can tell you and you're be pleased to hear stopped the car in plenty of time before the oncoming traffic passed...

However, as you can imagine he now doesn't want me to drive anymore, whether or not he's in the car - so he chauffeurs me everywhere - which suits me just fine :0)

...Shall I Ask Him Or Will You...?

...Guess What...I remembered To Blog Today...Good, Ain't I...?

Not a lot's happened so far today, the removal-man called this morning to confirm the price for moving us in January, from here (Dymchurch, Kent) to East Kirkby, Lincolnshire, I liked him, he was very professional but also good fun to talk to. Dave's working again today (he'll have to be careful in case he gets use to it... :0) and my eldest brother, Paul phoned at lunchtime. He needed to know exactly what was written on mum's death certificate...I told him I had no idea - it was 27 years ago and dad had it at the time. Since then dad's moved, got involved in 'the church', remarried, moved again, become a widower (again!), moved again and now has Alzheimer's. I said to him....

...Shall I Ask Him Or Will You...?

...Hi, All You Bloggers Out There...!!

How Are You Today?

First an apology - I completely forgot to blog yesterday - slap my wrists!! - I don't know how - it's not like I was mega busy or had more pressing things to do - the day consisted of a couple of phone calls to friends and the removal man to confirm the date for moving (AT LAST!!) & food shopping at Sainsbury's (it's not cheap there, is it?), as normal, we only went shopping for a couple of essential things and came out with a trolley full and £75 lighter in the purse area :0(

We also bought a couple of DVD's as stocking fillers for Alan (Dave's brother) & my niece, Krystal - so that's more pressies crossed of the 'stocking wish list'...

Dave's working again this morning at Marys, another friend, she lives on her own and has a long list of 'odd' jobs for Dave to do - I think the list is getting longer by the minute.

...still it keeps Dave busy - he hates sitting still - can't see why, it suits me just fine...

...Why Him, Why Him, Why Him...?

I've just spoken to my dad - he's in a care home because he has Alzheimer's - on the phone and he sounded really good - he knew who I was straight away and asked after the family - again and again and again!! I always try to answer him each time as if it was the first time I've heard it that day - but BOY! it's so hard to keep my voice cheerful and calm each time I say the same thing over and over.... and not to show my frustration and anger at this god awful condition and ask over and over and over

...'Why Him, Why Him, Why Him...?'

- I Love You, Dad -

- I Love You, Dad -

- I Love You, Dad -

...Ever Wonder What The Speed Of Lightning Would Be If It Didn't Zigzag...?

Dave & I have been Christmas shopping again today - there was a couple of local fairs going on, so we went to see what we could find and we did managed to pick up a few bits and pieces for our three nieces - so that's good news! We also popped in to see Doris (Dave's Mum) on the way back as we haven't seen her for a couple of weeks (she only lives about 5 miles from us). We'd bought a loaf from our local bakery (it really is bread to die for!!) - some gorgeous 'on the bone' ham from the local farmer's market for our lunch & it was lovely but boy it wasn't cheap at £1.80 for only TWO slices!!

................................................................................

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

...Ever Wonder What The Speed Of Lightning Would Be If It Didn't Zigzag...?