toadflax

... although I really need lots of stuff and/or friends in common!

I've decided to cut back a little on my online time. It's gone really quiet on here lately, so I'm letting this lapse.

I'm at LJ if anyone wants me.

http://toadflax234.livejournal.com/

Cheers. *hugs*

I'm having a pretty quiet week so far. I did a little work on Monday morning, but that's it. I have a little more to do by next Monday, and I should learn about the new system that one of my publishers is using, but nothing else yet. I'm rather enjoying my free time at the moment.

I went training on Monday evening, and it was good. The warm-up was really tough though, and I felt a bit sick and light-headed for a while. I felt better after a little rest though, so carried on. We did some set sparring and fun stuff, including take-downs. Always fun, learning to floor and disable your opponent!

Sam was up in the night, being sick. I don't know if it was something he ate, but he felt better by yesterday morning, so we went and walked the dogs and then went into Oxford, shopping.

He wanted a few things, and I wanted a new pair of jeans. He was so patient, as we went from shop to shop, me trying on jeans. I must have tried on a dozen pairs, in lots of shops. I bought one pair in the end, from Per Una in Marks & Spencer. It's so frustrating - incredibly difficult to find jeans to fit me. I am slim around the waist and hips, have very short, stocky legs. So if things fit around the waist and hips, they're tight around the legs. If they fit around the legs, they're too big around the waist and hips. Gah! I'd asked around at a women's comm on here though, and found some new shops in which to try, so that was good. I got a nice stripy cardigan too.

I got Sam a couple of pairs of jeans, T-shirts, a hoodie and two pairs of shoes. He's a happy bunny now. He's such good company to shop with though - we had fun!

Hannah had a sleepover last night, so I went to Lace on my own. I started a new piece - with lots of textured, coloured threads. Something I've been meaning to do for a while. I thoroughly enjoyed it too - I'll do some more of it today, I think.

I need to do some more washing and tidying up today. I'm having coffee and lunch over at Sue's office tomorrow. Down to Mum's for the weekend. I think Phil has the week off next week - he's planning on doing some decorating. We usually fight when we do that together, so I'll probably just stay out of his way and provide tea and food. Lol.

Anyway, I have to get moving! Those dogs won't walk themselves. Well... they will, but they probably won't come back!......

If it's not one child it's the other.

While we were talking to Sam's teachers on Wednesday, Hannah and a friend were caught writing on the walls in the girls' bathroom. Her tutor (and deputy head) rang us today and told us. I'm horrified, and incredibly disappointed in her. And why didn't she tell us herself?! What was she thinking?

She says she's sorry, and she'll never do it again. I wonder why she did it at all? She just says she wasn't thinking, she made a mistake... Hmmm. I don't know this friend of hers. But I can't believe Hannah would be easily led by anyone either.

It's so out of character, I'm baffled.

Anyway, she's grounded, and her tutor says she's lost all her free time at school for a week - no breaktimes or play time at lunch. He also said that the incident will go on her permanent record. Nice.

So that was my afternoon... after I got up early to take her into school, since she had a special music lesson and wanted to show off her double bass, and after I picked her up from school again.

Hmph.

I'm glad I went training. I needed the break. And it was good - I was helping to teach some newbies. There was one really little boy who was hopeless. Lol. He wasn't really listening (too young, to be honest), and swinging his arms about. But then he'd look at us and grin, and get away with murder! Gorgeous! Hehe.

No definite plans for the weekend. Hannah's obviously going to be doing ALL my housework, so I envisage some shopping. I got paid again today.

What are you going to do?

Ok.... I was overly pessimistic, I admit it. Sam's parents' evening went reasonably well. There are things to work on, but the teachers said some positive things about him. It could have been a LOT worse.

He's in the dining room now, catching up on some homework that he hadn't done. Shame it's his turn for the washing up too - I'm reluctant to make him stop doing his homework now!

I have a rotten headache now, so I think I'll go to bed early. G'night all!

Inexplicably Grumpy this morning.

Tired.

Kids! Tell me why I should have to get my sewing machine out at 7:30 in the morning, to mend trousers, when they were broken when he got home from school yesterday?

And print off some pictures for him?

When he's 10 weeks late doing a piece of homework?

10 weeks! And the teacher only sees fit to tell us now? I think that's hopeless.

And my back hurts - it woke me up in the night. I foresee a day of painkillers.

There's a coloured-belt grading on Friday, and I'm missing it. Phil's booked us out to dinner with friends. It'll be OK I know, but I think I'd rather be at the grading.

*grumble grumble*

I'm having my hair cut and coloured this morning, and I know it'll be fun. But I have lots of work on and can't afford the time really. *sigh*

And sighing makes my back hurt.

Grrr! First person who says I'm cute when I'm grumpy gets a slap. ;-)

My sister has been asked to perform one of her songs for the BBC2 programme The Culture Show tonight. I think it's going to broadcast next week. How exciting is that?!

The song she's doing is a duet with Richard Dawson, called Stalemate. You can listen to it on her myspace... http://www.myspace.com/beccyowen

Squeeee!

Busy day yesterday. Hannah and I went over the dollshouse fair in Thame. We didn't buy a lot, but made lots of notes. There was LOADS of stuff being sold that we can make ourselves, especially for the haberdashery shop that Hannah wants to make. She's going to be busy. Lol.

We nipped into KFC for a quick lunch on the way home - scrummy. :-)

Then I took Sam into town - he'd fancied a leather jacket he'd seen online. We bought it too, in Top Man. He looks fab in it - so grown up. He bought lots of other things too, with his Christmas and birthday money. Made a change spending HIS money. Lol! He was careful with it too. My boy is a young man. *sigh*

We had a lovely afternoon though. I love taking either of my children out - it's having them both together is the problem!

Quiet night in last night - we watched Mamma Mia on DVD - what a fun film that is. Hannah and I had seen it at the cinema, and Phil enjoyed it too. Sam hid in his room. Hehe!

Plans for today? Cleaning, tidying, the Sky engineer is coming (hopefully), my grocery shopping is being delivered, and I think Sam wants to go out and get something for his girlfriend. Either that or make something - we'll see.

Right. Have to get on - haven't had breakfast yet!

My mum has shingles. She's rung me two days in a row, for sympathy really. She got it. It sounds so painful - she says that clothes hurt when they rub, and that she can't sleep at all. The doc has given her some tablets, but they've not helped. And apparently it's best for the rash to dry out, so no cream.

How long does it last? Anybody know? She's miserable. :-(

No other news, really. Finished those scummy engineering papers, but I'm waiting for a response from one of the authors, so I haven't returned them yet. I hate having things hanging about.

Hannah and I went out grocery shopping today - went to Aldi for a change. I like some of their stuff - it's a bit more foreign and exotic than Tesco, and sometimes a LOT cheaper for some things! I bought a new leather belt at Next too - my jeans are falling down. Nice losing weight, isn't it? Anyhoo, dinner's almost ready, so I'd better get on.

Well I still haven't finished the washing and the ironing. We went out instead. Left the kids at home and took a drive. We ended up at the Hellfire Caves in West Wycombe. It was quite interesting - would have been better without the touristy naff music and waxwork figures, but ah well.

http://www.hellfirecaves.co.uk/

And here are some (not very good, but it was dark!) pics:
( Read more... )

We had a wander round John Lewis at High Wycombe too. Didn't buy anything, but always nice to go shopping without the leeches. :-)

And just to prove we did really have snow a while back:
( Read more... )

I see Tony Hart has died. I loved him when I was a child - I used to watch Vision On and Take Hart, and copy all the arty stuff he did. He was lovely! I feel really sad now.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7836112.stm

Have a great holiday, everyone!

Didn't sleep too well - my chest feels really tight and I'm coughing.

Bum.

I've just taken stacks of vitamin C and echinacea. And I'm going to have a bath with some essential oils in it.

But...

Day 9: I'm thankful that I still have my grandad, well in his eighties, ringing to wish us a Happy Christmas. Bless him. :-) It's his birthday on Christmas Day too - his middle name is Noel...

Have a good day, everyone.

Day 8: I'm thankful I got off my arse and washed the cars. Had some fun with the pressure washer too. Felt like a Ghostbuster, wielding that thing. Lol.

Still have a sore throat and a bit of a cough. But I REFUSE to be ill for Christmas. It's just not happening, you hear me?!

Phil is singing in a carol service tonight. I was going to go, but I'm going to stay in the warm instead. I can't sing at the moment anyway. My voice sounds like nothing on earth. I'd be fine if they were singing Boris the Spider.... :-P

I'm going to make some cupcakes and ice a fruitcake in a minute.

Have a good evening, everyone.

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers
till after they give birth in the spring.

Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl.

We should've known... ONLY women would be able to drag a fat-ass man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.

Forgot to cross-post this yesterday!

***
Not a lot going on over here, compared with last week. Lol.

Sunday was uneventful - Phil went up and met his brother for the day. The kids and I pootled around the house, doing cleaning and stuff.

I still need to write the Christmas cards. I wasn't in the right mood on Sunday and I ran out of time yesterday.

I got loads of work done yesterday, which I was relieved about. I have a book to edit this week and next, then I'm done for the year. Unfortunately, it has to be done on a template. Easy on Word 2003, not so easy on Word 2007. Why is this stuff so hidden away? I found it in the end, with a Google search, then things went a lot more quickly. I have all the chapters formatted and in the template now - all I have to do is read it all.

Went training last night, and it was good. There was a competition on Saturday that our club entered - the Southeast Championships. Seven members entered, and they came home with nine medals! The best result for a long time. Apparently we were only 3 points short of coming home with the club trophy! (Wish I'd been able to go.) We'll have to get more people going to competitions now. Our assistant instructor came home with gold too - and he was in a really good mood. He even told me I was good! He NEVER does that. Lol.

And I came home to the sound of the vacuum cleaner - yay! Someone else doing housework is always a good thing.

Anyway. Must get on.
Have a good day, my lovelies.

***
(Today)
Had a lovely lunch out today, with a friend. Thanks, Mo. I needed the break....

The more work I did on that book, the more I found that I need to do. I'm supposed to get it finished by the 19th, but now it's looking unlikely. But even if I get an extension on the date, I really don't want it hanging over my Christmas break. I'm just going to have to try and get as much done as I can and hope for the best. The person I'm doing it for wasn't in the office today either, so I couldn't talk to her. I'm going to be feeling a bit stressed until I do. *sigh*

And I'm not going to write a to-do list. They make me more stressed. Needless to say I have lots.

Not such a happy bunny tonight.

None of my user pics is showing up. Anybody else got this?

Frank and I had a major falling out this morning.

He woke me up at 7:30 - I really needed a lie-in.

Then he peed on our Turkish rug. No excuse for it - he'd just been out.

I was so cross! If it was possible, I'd probably have taken him back to the re-homing place. Lucky for him they're not open on Saturdays....

Hmph.

Then I sat and cried. Did I do the right thing in having him? Is Merlin ever going to like him? Do I have the patience for another dog?

I still don't have the answers to this.

Phil was out at a choir do. He's out tomorrow too.

I did some housework, and the kids cleared up the lawn of leaves.

We bathed Frank - he really needed it. He's all fluffy now. And he's been quite good the rest of the day.

I've been feeling so out-of-sorts today though. Got lots done, but not enough. Thing is, I don't know what I want to do, even if I had time to do it...

Hmm. One of those days, I suppose.

Ignore me. I'm not good company today. Just ask the kids.

For almost 2 minutes, this afternoon, both dogs laid on the sofa next me, touching each other.

Until Merlin gave Frank a filthy look and jumped down.

Progress?

I've just been stung by a wasp. First time ever.

Bastard thing!

Had enough now. I want them all to DIE. Grrrr.