...Would I Do It All Again...?

outside temp: 20c
lubberly & sunny

On Tuesday 5 July 2011

it'll be our 31st wedding anniversary

...unbelievable how quick it's got here...

________________________

I remember it vividly - taking Dylan (cat) to the vet in the morning - getting ready with all the hustle & bustle of family around - in the old Ford car with dad on the way to the church, constantly asking: 'Are you sure you want to do this?' and he really liked Dave from the start

(the same can't be said for the other boyfriends that I brought home - but that's another story for another day)

_________________________

Walking down the aisle nervously, holding tightly onto dad's arm and seeing Dave at the altar shaking like a leaf  -  the reception - the good wishes - the cake - lovely, lovely memories.

______________

Knowing What I Know Of The Previous 31 Years

-- the million dollar question??  --

would I do it exactly the same again?

YEP! In A Heartbeat 

...I Have A Great Life...

ouside temp:  25c
hot hot hot

...I've just come in from sitting in the garden in the glorious sunshine thinking about how great my life is...

I have a job that I really love, working with people I really get along with - there are bad days of course, sometimes M E G A bad days but we get through them by working together

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

I have two loving boys - who are both in their twenties - who phone, text, facebook every week & keep me involved in their lives

...I suspect there are a lot of mums out there who can't say that...

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

A N D, most importantly of all I have a husband of more than thirty years who loves the bones of me

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

YEP!  I Have A Great Life 

--  A Great Life Indeed  --

...Happy Father's Day, Dad...

outside temp:  17c
wet-wet-wet

It's Father's Day here in the UK & I've just tried to phone my dad to say: 

 'Hi & Happy Father's Day, Dad'

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

but he didn't answer his phone again today - he rarely does these days, to be honest - he's in a home as he has Alzheimer's and has lost touch with reality 

--  I know this, but I keep trying to convince myself that I'm wrong  --

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

When we were kids, Father's Day use to pass pretty much unnoticed - some of us would make or buy a card but there wasn't any celebration to speak of...mum & dad didn't do that sort of thing...they barely acknowledged their own birthdays & wedding anniversaries, let alone Father Day.

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

But today, I just wanted him to answer the phone so that I could say.

 'Hi & Happy Father's Day, Dad'

_______________________________

...10 Things I Really H A T E...

outside temp:  21c
sunny but breezy

...10 Things I Really H A T E...

SPORT: 
--  all things sporty or remotely connected with sport  -- 
bats - balls - sport tv - clothing & don't even get me started on award shows - all that false praise -


RATS:
--  this includes anything that I consider to be rat-like --
mice - hamsters - guinea pigs  -  they are all ratty things to me


ASPARAGUS & AVOCADO:
-- PUKE PUKE PUKE -- 
just thinking about eating these makes me want to heave


BT:
--  now that REALLY is a huge hate  --
I could go on & on about how crap their 'customer service' is  - but I'll just say it again
I  H A T E  BT


RIPE BANANAS:
--  just can't stand the smell & taste of ripe bananas  --
but give me a really firm almost green one & I'll happily munch (or should that be crunch) away


NOISY KIDS:
--  don't you just hate other peoples noisy, unruly kids when you're out & about?  --
...especially if you are trying to have a pleasant meal...  I just want to go over and tell them to behave  -  perhaps more of us should do just that


LICKING:
--  I absolutely, blooming hate licking, drooling and spitting  (I know that's really three hates but they all involve the mouth, don't they?)  --
makes no difference to me whether it's human or animal  -  it's all under the cringe banner for me


GARDENING:
--  don't get me wrong - I L O V E a well-kept bright garden  --
I just don't want to be personally involved in creating it  -  just as well Dave R E A L L Y loves it, then :D


TEA:
-- yep, the great English cuppa!  --
I stopped drinking it when I was fourteen and have drunk black coffee without sugar ever since -  mind you it has got stronger & stronger over the years
...but hey!  a girl's got to have a vice or two, hasn't she?...


HEIGHTS:
--I don't do heights  - never, ever even been in a loft, let alone a tree house --
I once got as high as the third rung on a ladder though  :0)

_____________________________

...I Love It Here...

outside temp:  19c
sunny but breezy

I've just been 'miracle growing' the pots outside and while I was waiting for the watering can to fill from the water-butt in the back garden - I looked across the field to the rear of us
- the famer is growing peas this year -
and I smiled at the scarecrow waving his carrier bag at the birds

....mind you, he's doing absolutely nothing to stop them eating the lovely young pods!...

_______________________

I closed my eyes and stood still for a moment and listened 

--  and all I heard were birds twittering,

chickens and the distance rumble of a tractor  --

____________________

...I Tell You Something, I Love It Here...

...It's Just Not Fair...

outside temp:  14c
sunny & blooming windy

Dave already has a tan! 

...he has that tell-tell white ring around his wrist where his watch sits and his arms and face have a lovely golden glow.... and summer hasn't even started yet, has it?

He says it's because he works outside everyday and is always in the sunshine

- which is true of course -

and if I got out of the office and into the  sun then I'd get a tan as well.

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

But I Told Him  --  I couldn't see why I can't get a tan inside  --

....After All, I Sit By An Open Window....

...Very Clever...

outside temp:  18c
bright & breezy

CLICK ON THE PICTURE



...I'm So Excited...

outside temp:  21c
sunny & warm

Just booked the overnight hotel for our youngest, Tom & Danielle's wedding in August and OH MY I'm getting so excited, I can hardly wait for the celebations as I know it's gonna be just awesome to see him getting married to his childhood sweetheart, Danielle

_______________________________

 

_______________________________

It'll be a grand celebration

- a grand celebration indeed -

...Now, That Must Have Hurt...

Ever bitten your finger while eating??

OUCH!  That Must Have Hurt

outside temp:  19c

lovely & sunny

...Classified Ads...

outside temp:  10c
feels SoO much colder!


These are classified ads, which were actually placed in a U.K. newspaper:

FREE YORKSHIRE TERRIER.

8 years old.

Hateful little bastard.

Bites!

FREE PUPPIES.

1/2 Cocker Spaniel, 1/2 sneaky neighbour's dog.

FREE PUPPIES.

Mother is a Kennel Club registered German Shepherd.

Father is a Super Dog, able to leap tall fences in a single bound.

COWS, CALVES: NEVER BRED..

Also 1 gay bull for sale.

JOINING NUDIST COLONY!

Must sell washer and dryer £100.

WEDDING DRESS FOR SALE .

Worn once by mistake.

Call Stephanie.

 

______________________________________

...This Is So Strange..

outside temp:  12c

brrh - cooling off

Did you know that the word

race car

spelled backward still spells

race car?

_________________________

see, I'm just full of useful information :D

...The Effects Of Alcohol...

outside temp:  20c

glorious sunshine  --  AGAIN  --



...10 Things I’ve Learnt About Living In The Countryside...

outside temp:  17c
WOW! almost feels like summer

______________________________________________________

10 Things I’ve Learnt About Living In The Countryside



1 Pig & Chicken farms smell


2 Bird song is glorious but doesn’t always seem so at dawn!


3 Carrots straight out of the cottage garden are delicious


4 Tractors are MUCH bigger than the ones seen in Postman Pat


5 Life really is gentler & slower


6 People that you meet in the countryside are friendly


7 You are a long way from Pizza Hut or McDonalds – not a bad thing, you might say?

8 Hares frolicking in the nearby field are fun to watch

9 The skies seem huge

10 I never ever want to live in a town again

...OOPS! Nearly Forgot Dave's Birthday...

outside temp:  9c
sunny, hunny - sunny

Oops, it's Dave's 55th birthday tomorrow and I almost forgot! 

--------

 I remembered to remind the boys a couple of weeks ago 

- which as good sons should, already knew -

and then it just went right out of my head .........until the middle of last night  

--  when in it popped again!!  --

so now I have to rush into town and get a present/card sorted, which is a pain as I had other plans for today!

___________________

Mind you, perhaps I could just make a card and find a discarded 'something or other' that is suitable?

-------------------

YEA!  that's definitely a plan - I'll go and look for something now!

......Happy Saturday - Hope You Enjoy It...

outside temp:  12c
dull - no wind

Another Saturday all ready - boy, where do the weeks go? 

Dave's fishing this morning and I'm sitting here psyching myself up to go and have a shower :) 

 I don't know why it always takes me a while to 'get in the mood' to have one and then once I'm in I just don't want to leave the comfort of that lovely warm water.

...is it just me or is everyone like that...??? 

(just me, I suspect!)

_________________

While I've been sitting here though I've been watching the birds in the garden, Spring really must be here because there's a lot of activity going on - I've seen a blackbird in and out of the tree with all sorts of nest building materials.

There's a couple of jackdaws on the bird house - I like jackdaws but they are bullies! The green finches have been on the feeders - they seem to like the niger seeds best - and a male  pheasant has just strided into the garden making calling sounds 

- he's obviously 'on the pull' -

 typical man just thinks he's got to turn up and the ladies will come running :D

...Happy Saturday - Hope You Enjoy It...

...I Love A Wedding...

outside temp:  7c
dry but dull

I love a wedding - all that dressing up is such fun - and this year we have two to look forward to.  Our baby boy, Tom is getting hitched to his long-term girlfriend, Danielle (they've been together nearly 11 years) - in August - 

I'm SoO looking forward to it and have already bought my dress, shoes & bag

...I'm still looking for my Audrey Hepburn hat though... :(  

but there's still plenty of time.

______________________

And we've had a phone call from....sorry I can't tell you yet... it's all very hush hush and not for publication just yet :)

However I can say that it's happening this month!

which R E A L L Y  doesn't leave me very long

 to get another outfit sorted now does it??

...Yummy Pancakes...

outside temp:  11c
sunshine again!

...have you gorged on your pancakes yet...??

We are just about to make ours - once Dave comes in from the garage, that is -  I love pancakes best, when they are hot and covered in lemon juice & caster sugar 

-  Y U M M Y  - 

I can taste them already

_________________

I've always made the batter up and Dave's always cooked them 

- I don't know why really - but ever since the boys were little it was always Dave that cooked them - and then once they are all gobbled up and we have finished scraping our plates

  --  we'll tidy everything away until next year  --

_______________________

...because even though we love them we never, ever think about having them at any other time except Pancake Day - I Wonder Why...

...No Free Prescriptions, Then...???

outside temp:  7c
lovely & sunny all day

I've been told this morning,  after having three more blood tests, that they were all inconclusive and I'm still not a 'full blown' diabetic  

--  A G A I N  --

this has happened every year for the past 12 years or so. The first one is always high but the next couple are way down so I'm still being classed as 'borderline'

_____________________

I really shouldn't be surprised but I was really hoping for 

FREE PRESCRIPTIONS 

this year :)

...Happy Birthday, Home...

outside temp:  6c
tiny, tiny bit of sun

It's three years to the day that we moved here and to be honest it wasn't suppose to be a permanent arrangement 

--  the idea was get in - do it up - move onto the next 'project'  --

but then the 'housing thing' arrived and we felt stuck, so we both got jobs to 'tied us over' and here we are three years on and still here

-and to be honest it was one of the best decision we've made-

people say that things happen for a reason & in this case they were right

...ABSO-BLOOMING-LUTELY...

...Now That's What I Call Snow...

I'll never complain about having to clear

the snow from the path again!

outside temp: 6c

Mister Murky's About

...Are You Back...??

outside temp:  2c

SoOo blooming cold

...161 Days...

xxx 161 days before I can hold

my first born in my arms again xxx

...A Paddy Joke...

outside temp:  12c

dampness

Paddy shouts frantically into the phone "My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart!"

"Is this her first child?" asks the Doctor.

"No", shouts Paddy, "this is her husband!"

_______________________

...Poncey Sandwiches...

outside temp:  9c
dull & then sunny!

?? --  I was just making a sandwich for lunch

and got to thinking -- ??

'How do you cut your sandwiches?'

I always cut mine in half - even if the slice of bread is small - and often, I have to admit to having triangles... I do however stop at removing the crusts

....unless....

 it's horrid crusty bread then they just have to go!

_________________

Dave on the other hand - just stuffs them in regardless - with no consideration to bread size or variety and just shakes his head with a small sigh when he sees mine all cut up and uniformed.

_____________________

So next time you make a 'quick' sandwich for yourself

Give It Some Thought  :D

...But, I Don't Do Politics...

outside temp:  9c
damp & dreary

I've always thought that 'I don't do politics' and for years have let issues go 'over my head' and never participated in heated discussions, but as I've got older & maybe a bit wiser I find that these days I always seem to have an opinion.

  I often surprise Dave & even myself, about how hot under the collar I get about things that as I see as 'cut & dried' but of course, they rarely are that black and white.

Mind You - wouldn't life be so much easier if they were?

...I Hate Sport...

outside temp:  6c
wet-wet rain :(


Dave's watching yet another football match on tv & it made me realise that

I R E A L L Y don't like:

sport - ANY SPORT - I've never liked it and never will. 

I use to dread PE at school and always bunked off at every possible opportunity and in all my 53 years have never once entered into the world of the so-called sporty enjoyment  - just ask Dave!

I don't - play it- watch it - indulge in it -

Do You Think Maybe

I Just Don't Like Sport??

...How Cute Are Hedgehogs...?

outside temp:  2c
blooming hell, it's getting colder around here!

When I was flicking through our local paper yesterday, I read an article on a Hedgehog Hospital in the area that are holding open days next weekend to raise money & awareness so I said to Dave.

'Shall we go?'

To which he replied.

'If you like - we can take grapes to cheer them up'

I had to laugh as I had this vision of rows of hedgehogs in beds with their arms in slings and bandaged heads looking all forlorn.

________________

...I tell you, it's all in the imagination...

...I Think I'm Gonna Puke...

outside temp:  3c
cold-COLD-C O L D

We had roast chicken for dinner this evening (and very nice it was too) but I forgot to put the Yorkshire puddings in the oven on time 

- yes, I know tradition says that you're suppose to serve them with beef-

so we ate the chicken dinner first and for dessert Dave ate them with
--  wait for it --
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Caster Sugar & Butter all OVER them
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

PUKE _ PUKE _ PUKE

...Just Booked A Little Piggie Holiday...

outside temp:  3c
been raining ALL day :(

I've just booked a little B+B holiday in Cheshire for Dave's birthday treat in March

- I'm already looking forward to it - 

which always helps when you go on holiday, doesn't it? 

 I mean, what's the point of going away if you don't look forward to it, Right?

-------------------------

It's on a piggie farm - I like Pigs - I've told Dave that when we get our 'proper' house and settle down for good! that I'm gonna have a couple & some hens - the ones with the furry feet - they are just too cute for their own good - might even add a cow to the menagerie

--  what do you think  --?

See I've got it all planned but Dave says.

 'NO, who'll look after the animals when we go away?'

____________________

....Maybe he's got a point...

after all I don't want to give up my little holidays  :)

...Bloody Typical...

outside temp:  6c
cold & damp

I was so tired last night that I was in bed by half past nine & I don't remember laying awake so I must have gone straight off to sleep. 

But by midnight I was wide awake, so of course had to get up to go to the loo 

--  like you do - well, like I do!  --

so after getting back into bed, I just lay there and you know what it's like, I'm sure - the mind starts to wander & you think about all sorts of stupid stuff that's of no importance but nevertheless you can't shake it from your mind.

Anyway, finally I dropped back off to sleep but only 'cat napped' and was awake again & again - tossing & turning  --  thinking to myself.

'Any minute now, Dave's going to start moaning about the bed moving all the time'

But no not him, he slept soundly, of course!!

_____________________________

And then just when I was finally back in the land of nod

the miggin, piggin alarm goes off

....Bloody Typical...

...Whew! It Was Only A Dream...

outside temp:  6c
sunny - still chilly

I had this dream last night

 - it only lasted a minute or two -

at least that's what it felt like.

__________________

I was at work organising a cruise holiday and was standing in a room surrounded by piles & piles of paperwork all at various 'tower' height and to the side of me was a huge bundle of bed sheets tied up & I had to find the piece of paper that related to the sheets....it was a massive job & I was just standing there not knowing where to start....

Then I woke up.

_________________

I told my boss about the dream this morning and he smiled and said.

'Don't worry, Jan we don't do cruises'

______________________

He's definitely a man to state the obvious :)

...I Want This Hat...

outside temp:  9c

cold but bright

I  L o V E  this hat

This Is The One I want For Tom's Wedding

...just gotta find it now...

...Warning, Warning - Mouse Alert...

outside temp:  9c
damp & dull

I love Tom & Jerry - the way that mouse darts around makes me howl - but NOT in the real live flesh and today in the office

...WE HAD A MOUSE... 

EEK!  I was out of there in a flash I can tell you.

___________________

I blame my mum, as she wasn't afraid of anything -- except mice --  my childhood memory is of mum standing on a chair - Tom & Jerry style as it happens - screaming at the top of her voice.

 'Dennis, there's a mouse, kill it, kill it.' 
To which dad always answered.
'It's more scared of you, than you are of it.'

...Yeah Right!...

..What A Job...

outside temp:  13c
another mega windy day

...anyone got a torch...??

...Who Am I...?

outside temp:  12c
windy mighty windy

My name is Janet Humphrey.

I work at Lawton's Executive Coaches.

My favourite household chore is making the bed - yeh I know - sad!

My biggest accomplishment is having two wonderful sons.

My best decision - made thirty years ago - was marrying my soul-mate, Dave.
This year I will work toward losing weight!

My dream holiday location is the North Yorkshire Moors.

My dream job is the one I'm currently doing, actually!

My all time favourite movie is Gone with the Wind.

I love to listen to music.

My favourite website is eBay!

I'd most like to meet - Tom & Jerry :)
I love to shop at Phase Eight.

My favourite TV show - at the moment - is Glee.

My favourite possession is my i-pod.

I never leave home without my credit card.

A random fact about me is......

I love to laugh  :D

...I Wanna Go Home Now...

outside temp:  9c
bright & breezy

You know there are days when you really wished that you'd rolled over when the alarm goes off and stayed in bed calling in sick
- well believe me, today was one of those days -

come to think of it - yesterday was one too :(

I said to Dave yesterday when I awoke.

'I don't want to go to The Madhouse today.'

But like a fool off I went & it was mega busy, the phone never stopped ringing, the damn website just WOULDN'T do what I wanted and there were drivers in and out saying.

'Can you just....?'

_________________

But, it was NOTHING compared to today.  On arriving I said to everyone.

'I'm only doing quick, easy jobs today.' 

What A Joke?

It was the worse morning I've had by far - off the stress scale - the boss & I were on the phone the whole time, checking websites & sending emails trying to organise a 'gone wrong' booking....which on the face of it looked like it was totally my fault - EEK! - I don't make many mistakes but boy, when I do they are Humongous...

In the end I said.

'It's my fault I'll phone the client and tell her'

So taking a deep breathe & expecting an argument I phoned her and started to explain and her first sentence was

'That's fine Janet, I'll just change the days.'

____________________

I tell you I almost climbed down the phone line and hugged her!