My lovely birthday…

Started early, being awoken by the three boys with flowers, chocs and small gifts and a rendition of Happy Birthday! Thanks Guys!

It was a lovely birthday, with a promised shopping spree and dosh from my beloved.

A visit from my sister brought a most yearned for book and music cd from my sister (thanks sis! x)

A visit to my parents and a meal with some friends along with all the lovely messages made a rather lovely end to my birthday.

30 next year! gah!

The kids are now back at school after a rather hectic fortnight which consisted of swimming, family/friend visits/lots of mess…and wow, for the first time in nine years – no visits to the soft play centre which is now SUCH a bore…!

Back to work now, with SO much to do with my shop as it has now changed design and I am now only just managing to find the time to upload all the product images once again, along with new items as well, which is exciting for me to see. Alongside that I have now given myself the responsibility of Steve’s business paperwork alongside my own, which resulted in me installing a program called ‘Complete Cashbooks’ on his computer yesterday and now I am awaiting his next business statements so from there on I can then input all incomings/outgoings into this new program and make it so much easier for the VAT returns etc etc blah de blah….I can see it all going over your head. Okay, no more business stuff!!!

As some of you may know, it is downshifting week (19th-25th April 2008). We are taking part! Update on that later this week…

I am really looking forward to getting this promised house – then I will be able to recycle much more easily, compost all my food wastes (you should see the pulp i get from my juicer – such a waste!! if only i knew someone who made Jam…and no I’m not doing that!!) and have much more room for all of us to be that bit more creative….

Roll on July!!!!

 

 

Gorgeousness…

Selling plants outside a lovely old house by the stream.

 

 A private allotment.

 

The Tribe with the Tom & Jerry Figure.

We went to Lacock on Tuesday, a beautiful village in Wiltshire, a village frequently used by films and television programmes….mostly famous though, is for it’s connections to the Harry Potter films and it’s quaint houses, streams and barns.

Lacock holds an annual Scarecrow trail for the kids, and this was the second year running that my sister and me took our tribe to search for famous character figures.

It was a lovely day, warm enough to brave the outside without coats, and I had a whale of a time snapping the buildings, allotments, bridges, the old post office, and of course the kids…the best subjects for my photos =)

We stopped for a coffee in the Red Lion Inn and let them run riot in the village park on the way back to the car.

A wonderful day!
 

 

stressy bird alert

Today was going to be one of those days, I just knew it, felt in in my bones when  I awoke at 6am by the early delivery lorry reversing in the car park and the extreme volume that the birds seemed to be singing at today.

I was worrying about my little car’s mot and service today so could not get back to sleep and just tossed and turned until I gave up….and alas, on getting into my darling of a machine –  found it had been driven into and left with a huge dent in my passenger side and my wing mirror hanging off!! I really wanted to cry and wring the neck of the person who dared to just leave it in such a state. =(

How dare they!

Trying not to stress about work (moving site to a new shop provider, gah!), Steve’s work (lots of quotes and admin to be done), The impending school hols (a whole fortnight of demanding and argumentative children…) and the thought of moving, even though it’s a good thing…moving to a HOUSE (joy of joys) but its the moving, packing, unpacking thats making me sweat. But fingers crossed though that it all goes ahead. We want this house, It’s perfect for us.

May this day,  NAY week get better!

xx

 

Simple things…yet again!

Last night we took the boys up to the Westbury White Horse (some big hills with a chalk horse from anglo saxon times carved into the side of the hill)

We got some fish and chips from the local chip shop and sat and ate them in the warmth of the car and then proceeded to battle the howling wind on the hills to walk across them. The boys loved it! Afterwards they got out their football and had a kick about until quarter to eight where we bundled 3 little muddy boys into the car and got them to their beds!

 

 

Another good note! I got my mini moo cards today, i love them!

 

the simple things in life WILL do…

“

In an age where it seems that all kids want to do is play with their gadgets and consoles and what nots…It surprised me yesterday when I put my foot down and said “come, we’re going to feed the ducks!” and lo and behold….all three boys cheered!

We had a spare loaf going in the kitchen and not wanting it to go to waste I made my decision to get the kids out into the fresh air. Not an easy thing to do where we live. It’s not a case of letting them go and ride their bikes/call for their mates around here.

Even more amazing was that Steve decided to come with us. Steve who is allergic to fresh air and using his legs for any kind of exercise!

So we strolled around our local lakes and found a few footpaths to explore.

They all grappled each other to get to me first for the bread and had a whale of a time chucking the bread at the most deservedly (if thats a word?) looking ducks!

So much for ‘acting cool’ as my nine year old son attempts frequently – there wasn’t a sonic, beckham or rapper in sight!

The earth we live upon and its habitat is the best a child could ever play with!

Rest assured upon getting home and after their bedtime, they fell asleep in no time, having wore themselves out running and hiding that evening! =)

 

To Be Frank…

Fingers in ears – This is a RANT post….LOL. 

Frankly I’m getting quite peed off with living in a flat now. Whilst waiting for Steve’s divorce and settlements to be finalised (Over 2 years) we have been living in the flat he intended just to rent out. In March 2006 after giving notice to his tenant, he moved in himself and not that long after (November) I moved in.

There is us two, Steve and Me and every half a week we have our 3 boys, aged 5, 9 & 9 with us.

We also have my shop stock, paperwork. His paperwork and THREE computers also residing with us.

By the way, we live in a first floor, small two bedroom flat.

I’ve had it up to here *points upwards towards head*

I feel like I don’t want to invite people around because it’s so untidy, cluttered and disorganised.

I have spent the last 4 days ’spring cleaning’ ‘decluttering’ and does it look any different? Does it ‘eck.

One, Two, Three……………….

*screams*

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

There isn’t much longer to go now (i hope) but really……….it’s doing my head in!!!

 

Di,  I don’t know if you’ve visited this site – http://www.allotments-uk.com/. I spotted this site linked on Justfortheloveofit.org and thought of you.

Speaking of the last site I mentioned – what a great idea! JustForTheLoveOfIt is a freeconomy site which I joined a couple of months ago.  This is their introduction:

“Freeconomy is about sharing the skills you’ve learnt throughout your life and learning those you haven’t. It’s about helping others and providing an opportunity for others to help you. Freeconomy allows people to make the transition from a money based communityless society to more of a community based moneyless society, and to share the land they don’t need or can’t use to facilitate a local food community.”

And today I recieved an email from a lady called Tasha asking for help to move a shed from one allotment to another, offering a beer and possibly a cooked meal for our time! How great!! I haven’t the strength to move a shed so I don’t think I’ll be responding to that one. But I just can’t stop thinking what a great idea freeconomy is and what our local communities would be like If we all took part in this.

 Go visit and join!

 

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day everyone =)

Hope you all had a big squeeze and a kiss from your loved ones today xxx

As much as I am against commercial days such as these, I do enjoy receiving a card and something to show someone cares for me.  Its the only day my OH thinks about doing something sweet anyway, so make the most of it I will!

I got a box of heart shaped chocolates and a…Brand new camera to replace my broken one (which i was miserable about) I didn’t expect him to do this, but I’m very happy about it obviously!

Anyway, I should give a reason as to why I’m against days like Valentines, Christmas etc -

I should give a reason otherwise I’ll just end up sounding like a big Scrooge!

I just happen to think we should give little gifts/notes/cards , small sentiments – throughout the year, without having an excuse like “its valentines day, I’d better get something…”  I think it should come from the heart, when it feels right. The same with Christmas, I’m not religious so christmas isn’t a hugely important and significant day for me as it is for many others. Many people end up with huge amounts of debts after the christmas period because they feel they must buy many expensive gifts for their family. For me, the thought really does count and if someone stitched me a purse or created something for me personally, that would go further than any shop purchased gift.

I’m always leaving notes, and buying Steve gifts. It comes natural to me. Unlucky for me though is that Steve isn’t quite as thoughtful so Valentines Day is a blessing in that respect!

Basically all I’m saying is, follow your heart, love your family, that special someone and show them you love them not just on special occasions but every day – leave a little note on the fridge, cuddle them that little bit longer or knit them that special something. Happy Valentines Day xxxxx

 

New Blog For My Shop

It was my desire at first to have wordpress as my shop blog but alas it has turned into something more personal.

Hence the introduction to my ‘official’ PTB Blog!

I will start posting here a little more often soon I promise, just a bit busy with work at the moment.

See you soon xxx

 

The joys of kids parties!

I thought I had it all worked out yesterday. Callum had a 6th birthday party to go to, and as I knew some of the kids and their parents, I offered to take Callum (and pick friend and her daughter up on the way) instead of Steve, figuring that having Callum and letting him dance, play party games etc would be far more easier than looking after two 9 year olds who tend to bicker quite a lot.

Wrong.

The party was set in a bar (yes, an adults bar)…and the theme was High School Musical.

Have I ever watched said film? No. And will I ever? judging from the birthday disco? Another big fat no. Get me away. Please.

The kids were crazy and most parents were sensible and left their kids and ran very fast out of the door. And so the mayhem began. By 6pm, Lucy (my friend) and myself were drooling and rocking in the corner, well, nearly.

Half of the children were crying because they’d fallen off the stage/didn’t like the balloon popping game/thought the music was too loud. And half the kids recognised me from school and proceeded to come to me to have a good old cry about everything.

We came out of the party with our ears ringing and a thumping head and a little girl revved up and growling on all the sugar she had consumed and was not used to. So we dropped them off. Callum was very happy rifling through the party bag and I was happy to go home. I opened the door and there was slience…both of the remaining boys had played happily and quietly whilst we were consumed in High School Hell. Just typical!

So we got the boys to finish their homework, got them showered and off to bed and I crashed out in bed to watch telly for oh, 5 minutes, until when I couldn’t give in to the big Zzzzzz’s within me any longer =)

Callum @ Treacle’s Party