"I've stopped crying now..."

"Can I have a cuddle?" Thanks, make me feel like the worst mother in the world! Mind you I have always been a believer in if they are crying about nothing (in this case going to bed) then let them get on with it. They soon get bored and 5 minutes later are all smiles again. Doing that kept me sane when she was a baby. It's the best advice I can give any new parent, if there is nothing wrong, they are clean, fed, winded and watered and are incessantly crying walk out of the room, shut the door and go back in a couple of minutes, when you have both calmed down. Repeat cycle until you have both stopped crying. I can't believe how it was 4 years ago since I was in that hell, I mean when I was going through those blissful baby months. Even since the beginning of this year she is a proper little madam now, in a good way of course. She is such a little character and now having a conversation with her is like talking to my little best mate. I am so happy that at the beginning of the year I finally had the guts to stand up for her and we have built the bridges with her Daddy's side. We still have our ups and downs but I have never seen Scarlett happier or more content (apart from the crying episode tonight.) So with the last day of 2013 looming it's time to look back at what we have done this year: Started a blog Published my stories and poems Been on holiday a few times, St Lucia, Butlins (it is a holiday!) Majorcia, Berlin and Malta Swan in a waterfall in St Lucia Joined the gym (then quit, then joined again, then quit again.) Lost some weight (and put twice as much back on again.) Got a job Been on a dating website Met a new relative Made new friends (got rid of some useless ones) Moved back in with my rents Helped write a magazine Probably a few other things but my diary has pages and pages of blankness where I have lost it so many times, but I am happy again. It's amazing how much changes in a year (I say that every year) I wonder what next year will bring..... Learnt today: Claudius was a Roman Emperor and was married 4 times. His second marriage ended when his wife died on their wedding day. Oh I do pick the cheery ones. Night night, sleep tight x

Get off the road!

Everyone needs to get off the road because I am getting back on it! I am starting my New Years resolutions early. I am a bit scared after the last time I learnt to drive, I screamed practically the whole way through my 3 lessons, stalled 3 times on a roundabout, cried and begged my instructor to take me home. This time it will be different as I am learning in an automatic. Well I think I am, I forgot to check with the man and now need to phone him back. Another New Years resolution I am starting early is to get smarterer. I am going to learn something new everyday. It has come to my attention that I am not as smart as I like to think I am, or I give myself credit for. It was a resolution for 2013 and I did it on and off until the 6th January. The last thing I learnt was "A lot about Billy Connelly" because I had just read a book about him. (I'm not sure if that is how Connelly is spelt, will Google.) So I am going to be a little more ambitious in my learning this year and as I found out I don't know a lot about the people/places/things in articulate, I am going to pick a card everyday and Google the things I don't know. Todays card has Hercule Poirot as a person to describe. Give me half an hour........................ Oh now I feel stupid, he is the fictional Poirot detective man created by Agatha Christie. Oh I was thinking he was like some kind of Roman who died hundreds of years ago like Hercules. Oh well I have learnt something. Ok back to today, so we have been to see Frozen, been swimming and I thought it would be a good idea to make Sunday nights game night. So out comes Ludo, no one is in the mood, we are all tired and Scarlett throws a hissy fit. Well she had been up half the night busy pushing me around her bed after I had gone in there to comfort her when she had been crying. So she eventually went to bed and I thought, ahh yes I feel like watching an oldie, Rebecca by Alfred Hitchcock. I eventually got to watch it after throwing a hissy fit at the TV for 20 minutes screaming "WHY WON'T YOU WORK?!" turns out it helps if the scart lead for the DVD player is in the TV. I swear my brain has melted since having a child and I have got more stress. Rightly so when a new pub in town put a status up on Facebook saying no children under 12 allowed ever and no dogs. I don't care as much about the dog bit but with children bit riled me. What happened to all of the child friendly pubs, Charlie Chalk and random ball pits at the back of pubs? I think people that don't have kids forget that they were once snotty nose children and children will keep coming whether they like it or not because if they didn't, the world would be in a lot of trouble. I would like to say well done to that pub and many others for alienating families, I was under the impression pubs were struggling but I guess if you can pick and choose your customers and be quite cocky about it, you don't need my money. Surely that is discrimination to both Dog owners and parents? Hmm I feel a nice little email being sent their way..... How could you refuse her? Butter wouldn't melt!

Eat your Christmas tree, it's good for you!

I have been doing a lot of Googling in between this boring part between Christmas and New year.

Well it's not boring, but this time is always a bit blah while we wait for the new year to start so we can inevitably break our new year resolutions by the end of the first week of January. (Yes I have used the collective of we, you know you do too.)

So in my blah-ness I have been trying to keep one of my old resolutions....learning something new everyday.

I have Googled:

Things to pounder and the page it took me to asked...If a cow sneezes does milk come out of it's nose?

Shortest horror story.....called knock.The last man on earth sat in a room. There was a knock on the door.
By Fredric Brown.
That freaked me out a bit.

Old wives pregnancy tales (no I am not trying!) They were just the usual how to tell if you're having a boy/girl....pregnant women should stay away from polished furniture (false) I stayed away from polish and anything to do with cleaning while pregnant actully I still stay away from cleaning products, safety first.

Christmas facts.....

If you run out of food or fancy being a bit healthier, look no further than your Christmas Tree.  Parts of it can be eaten and the needles are a source of vitamin C.

And lastly I learnt I won't be visiting the Czech Republic without a partner....At christmas the czech's enjoy a dinner of fish soup. The number of people must be even or the person without a partner will die next year.

How superstitious are you? I'm not testing that one out.

Actually just re-googled to find my source and on
www.myczechrepublic.com it says...the first person to get up from the dinner table after dinner will die. Everyone must get up together.

I don't know if thats better or worse? 

Back to Google.

Christmas splits

I don't know where my Christmas cheer was this year, I just wasn't really feeling it. The most Christmasy I was, was probably today singing Christmas songs at work.

I was one of the mad people dashing around the shops on Christmas eve. I was surprised to see so many women out, I thought I would be surrounded by panicked looking men, turns out us girls weren't as organised this year. Ha who am I kidding?! I always leave my shopping until Christmas eve. I did make a record breaking time of completing my shopping and got all of my presents in an hour and a half though!

Annoyingly with presents people expect them to be wrapped. I can't stand wrapping, so I persuaded a couple of people to wrap up Scarletts prezzies, I'm not that mean to her. My friends and family had to unwrap their presents from plastic bags they were bought in.

On Christmas day once we had opened stockings and a couple of big presents we thought it would be nice to go for a walk....

Scarlett was carried for most of it but then she ran off onto a wooden part of the beach, I ran to grab her and slipped, did the splits, fell on my butt, legs in the air and caught Scarlett with my arm, taking her down with me. Well, she was less than impressed and after a brief cry, refused to talk to me the whole way home. Oops. She was glad to get away from me and go to her Dad's!

Maybe that is why I wasn't feeling it because children make Christmas and without them, it's just another day with an extra large lunch. Or maybe I wasn't feeling it because I had too much lunch and was feeling a bit sick!

Well thank goodness it's over for another year (bah humbug.) Can't complain too much, I did get some wicked things in the Boxing day sales. Roll on next year!

Christmas testing 1, 2, 3.

Christmas is a time for testing how well you really know your friends and family and their test to see how well they know you.

It's a time to rack your brain to see if you can remember anything they have said they have liked, and for you to hope your little hints got through.

It's a time to support local businesses, like the gorgeous little wine shop I fell into and almost had to get a bank loan to get back out of it.

It's a time for panic, it creeps up then you realise it's Christmas eve and you haven't bought any presents. (Did all my shopping in an hour and a half, ahhh yeah!)

It's a time for love.....I love that little fluffy thing and that walking unicorn, therefore I will buy it and Scarlett will (have to) love it.

It's a time for reflection....I shouldn't have eaten all of that chocolate and cake this year.

It's a time for giving, like giving up 6 hours of your life to wrap presents, which is what I have to do now at 10.30pm on Christmas Eve....ha no they are all going in gift bags with tissue paper stuffed in.

Happy Christmas! Don't stress tomorrow, Keep calm....drink wine! X

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

Last day of holiday :( but :)

Always one to cause a kerfuffle Scarlett wasn't going to go un-noticed on the last day. She had tried to do her own packing and put everything she could into a brown paper bag which she dragged down to breakfast. Well of course the bag ripped and everything spilled out on the floor in the dining room. More looks from everyone, I politely said we were leaving today and got out of there. it is sad how quick it has gone, although the last day always goes the slowest. I hate it, just waiting around to leave. I want to be transported back home in my sleep. In fact I did dream I was home last night and woke up this morning and was like ahhh damn. Well I say this morning, it was 3am when I was woken by the banshee that has been shouting and screaming waking me every night. I am looking forward to not hearing her, although it is annoying as it would be more interesting if I could work out who she was shouting at and why, it was just loud muffled screams and moans and actually..... oh no. In the last taxi journey back to the airport a young couple got in, the gild beside me and the guy in the front. They hadn't really said anything to eachother then all of a sudden the guy said sternly "It's 4 'o' clock" The girl said "Oh, OK" I then watched her and she went into her bag and popped her contraceptive pill in her mouth. Now that is not getting pregnant team work! Not all down to the woman to remember, what a good guy! Oh you may have notice that Barry/Harry the bear has been absent the last few days, don't worry he has been safe and sound in the hotel. I took a couple of snaps of him by the pool for the nursery to prove he had had a good time and thought this morning that I wouldn't pack him, as if I did Scarlett would be bound to ask for him. So we were just about to board the plane after a last toilet stop, I was laden down with my bag, Scarlett's bag, my coat, her coat, my scarf, Scarlett's bubba and not Barry the bear. I ran back to the shop we had just been in panicking and asking if anyone had seen a big brown bear, the women looked at me like I was mad and told me to go to security. I ran to them shouting about a bear "I've lost a bear! I need to get back through!" They looked at me oddly and let me go back through to the play area "A bear, a bear! Has anyone seen a bear?!" Nothing I ran to the last shop I had been in and found him. I have never been so happy to see a cuddly toy in my life! I thought I was going to have to go back and explain to all the children and staff at the nursery that Barry/Harry liked Malta so much he decided to stay. So Bear safe and sound, we were bumped to the front of the boarding queue (having a child is so handy!) I couldn't wait to get back to the airport, get in the taxi and get home. Of course it didn't work out like that. First we landed at the South terminal and the taxi was waiting at the North terminal. I rushed down to get the luggage so I could get the shuttle back to the North terminal. I phoned my Dad to confirm everything was just going through the 'Nothing to Declare' point when I realised I did have something to declare. I AM AN IDIOT! I had forgotten to book the taxi to pick me up. Apparently I was supposed to organise it with the taxi man on the way there, but at 4am it slipped my mind. I just presumed that it was all sorted as he didn't ask me about how I was getting back. So I had to wait 20 minutes for a train which luckily went back to Worthing. Then when I finally got back to Worthing train station the last 2 taxis were taken by clubbers going into town. I was just about to cry as I had been phoning taxi ranks for half an hour and couldn't get through. So there I was stuck in the freezing cold, with a grouchy child and a crumpled face. Thank goodness there are still nice people in the world. A taxi pulled up and a young couple were just about to get in it, they looked back at me and the woman said "No, let this lady get in she has a child. We can wait." I felt like kissing her. The bloke got my suitcase for me and put it in the taxi and they both waved me off and wished me a merry Christmas. I am eternally grateful to them and am so happy to know that there are still genuinely lovely people in the world. So 6 days, 1 Adult, 1 Child, 1 Teddy Bear and we are all back in one piece. We made it!

Malta day 5 Going to Gozo!

Scarlett knows when I am in a hurry, so this morning she decided to have the biggest breakfast she has had all week. We're running late already after I forgot to set the 2nd alarm (always need at least 2 alarms in the morning. I find 5 in ten minute intervals usually works in getting me up.) 2 bits of toast, ham and eggs and eventually we were back outside waiting for our taxi. Scarlett was throwing her poor bubba and cuddly horsey in the air, I was waiting for the inevitable donk on the head of a person walking past but thank goodness it never happened! Instead Scarlett slipped over, laughed, then farted while trying to get back up and said "Wait, let me do it again!" We got the ferry across to Gozo, which is a sleepy little town. It was so relaxing going around on the open top bus and taking in the scenery especially the Azure Window which is just a wonder of the world. I could have just sat and looked through it pondering all day, I got to look at it for about 2 minutes before being dragged away to find ice cream. luckily I got some photos so I can pretend to be back there. The day went far too quick, we literally just had time to stop for a quick bite at an café and look round the shops. We went to one little shop and the lady which had really cute had knitted cardigans for children. The lady was pointing them out and saying to Scarlett "You like this one?" Scarlett shook her head and flatly said "No." After the lady had pointed out about 5 different cardis and Scarlett had said no to all of them, I apologised profusely and got out of there as fast as I could. She was starting to look quite offended (Both Scarlett and the lady.) We then went for a wonder down the little side streets, where we nearly got run over by a moped, and were called over by another lady to watch her making little lace bookmarks. Again Scarlett was un-amused and we swiftly paid for a bookmark and left. We got back onto the ferry to come home, rushing as usual. We got to the taxi on the other side and Scarlett said "I need a wee wee!" I dashed back into the ferry terminal after begging someone to tell the taxi not to leave without us (there were other people coming back with us in the taxi) the ran back out, got to the taxi and Scarlett said "My Shoe!" Her little ballet pump was lying in the middle of the road waiting to be ran over. Ballet pump rescued, wee wee stop completed and I collapsed into the taxi.....ahh it's all fun and games! Back in the hotel and Scarlett did the funniest thing. I was in the bath and she came in as asked if I could open one of her toys, I said "Yes, of course, please can you hold my book for me? Don't drop it." She Said "ok." Then went "Oooh" and pretended to drop it. It was soooo funny, I couldn't stop laughing! She never ceases to amaze me with everything she does. She is so perfect, although the little perfect angel did cause a drama at dinner. It's inevitable....plastic cup, straw, child playing at dinner time = juice all over child + chair + floor. Cue me running around grabbing all of the napkins I could find while the whole dining room stared. Don't worry, we're leaving tomorrow!

What to do when your child farts at a stranger?...Malta day 4!

Today got off to a good start. I have booked a trip to Gozo tomorrow which is Malta's sister island. It does mean another trip on a ferry so I hope Scarlett is ok with that as when I booked it she said she didn't want to go on another boat. So we were waiting for our transport to pick us up from the hotel, Scarlett was running up and down a ramp, one of the workers from the hotel crept up behind her to make her jump but before he had a chance to do anything she did the loudest fart practically in his face! He bust out laughing and went running inside, I apologised profusely while Scarlett is rolled over in absolute fits of giggles. The guy went inside and I saw him talking to someone pointing at Scarlett and laughing, cue me with a tomato red face again. Thankfully our transport arrived shortly after, although 20 minutes late and grumpy I didn't care, I just wanted to be away from the hotel. Turned out the taxi man was more thank grumpy, he stopped at another hotel and had a go at someone on his mobile in the middle of the street. Another older gentleman got in the taxi mini bus and I felt thankful he was there. We got to Popeye Village and my eyes Popeyed out of my head, the location was absolutely breath-taking. I huge steep hill take you down to the village but I just stood transfixed by the turquoise sea, well for all of about a minute as Scarlett was off running down the hill. We were exploring all of the cute little wooden houses, quietly moseying along, then we went down to play crazy golf having the place practically to ourselves when.....dun dun dunnnnn a heard of chimpanzees came careering down the hill. AHHHH School children! I knew the place was too blissful and good to be true. No sooner had they arrived Olive Oil had kicked us off the mini golf so the kids could get on it. How rude! she is not my favourite cartoon character anymore, not that she was anyway, I don't even have one, but that's now the point. It wasn't all bad though, as it gave us a change to explore the silversmiths quaint shop and go to the Christmas wonderland when they had all vacated. I also got yet more free stuff! A free glass of wine, a free postcard, a balloon butterfly (Which popped and ended up looking rather rude!) and Father Christmas gave Scarlett a Doctors set. The magic show needs a bit of work, 3 tricks and a diabolical silence where the audience claps should have been (3 adults and 3 kids) 6 hours there was a bit too long, although I met Popeye (Who turned out to be from Birmingham!) I felt like time was standing still when we were in the indoor play area. I kept looking at my watch and it said half 3, I was like arrrrgghhh I want time to hurry up and the taxi to come so we can get back to the hotel. I looked at my watch again and realised the pin had come out, I rushed over to my phone and it was quarter to 4! I was sooo happy! I have realised why people have more than one child though, so they can keep each other entertained. I was absolutely exhausted running around an indoor play area, in tunnels, down slides, it was like a mini gym session! I found the man we had arrived with and had a nice chat with him while Scarlett followed his every move and chatted away with him. I have a picture of him randomly so he will forever be in my holiday photos, it's sad that I will never see him again as he was so sweet, but that's life. I got so distracted talking to an old man in the lift who said he had been staying at the hotel for a few weeks and was staying until February as it was cheaper than living in England (£17.00 per day all inclusive! I don't know if that's a good deal?) so I was like wow and got out of the lift and got to the door and was like erm this looks different.... turns out I had got off a floor too early! When I finally got back to my room something was different, the door wasn't locked properly, the balcony door was open and on the inside of the main door there was like a double bolt thing where the key went. There is clearly a sign on the door which states please lock your doors properly when you leave, you think the cleaners would abide! At least nothing was stolen. actually tell a lie my money was stolen...by Scarlett. She went into my purse took out all of the coins without me noticing and then said "Look at all my money!" Cheeky monkey! She is definitely getting special treatment here though. On of the waiters, who looks like a friendly Uncle Fester from The Adams Family gave Scarlett a cute Doggy keyring this morning and at dinner he got her chicken nuggets and chips cooked for her by the chefs which wasn't even on the menu. He also got her a special ice cream which was not available to guests. Lucky little girl, everyone is besotted with her. Why wouldn't they be? She is just like her mother! Ha Ha just kidding! Below...is that not the most beautiful setting for a park? Oh and the random nice man!

Malta day 3!

Day 2 on the top deck of the blowy bus. I thought Malta was really child friendly, ever since we arrive everyone has been cooing over Scarlett totally forgot yesterday we did a bit of exploring around the streets by the hotel and found a brilliant toy, the one we got was a Toy Story book, with a huge poster of Andy's bedroom and 12 little Toy Story figures to go with it all for 10 euro 99c. Which will keep Scarlett entertained all holiday. Oh right yes about Maltese and children....this morning we were driving around and I looked into a café and read a sign which said: PLEASE KEEP CHILDREN SEATED AT ALL TIMES. Erm yea ok because they have the ability to just sit in one chair. Oh and Scarlett felt it was necessary to tell our rep this Morning that we got on the wrong bus last night, which they both found hilarious. Ha Ha wouldn't have been funny if we were sleeping under the stars Scarlett! Anyway today went on a harbour boat cruise, but first stop full English Breakfast! I found a gorgeous little café and it had to be done and the weather was beautiful, just like the start of summer in England. The cruise was even better than I imagined, not just because of the beautiful scenery around the 2 harbours but because it was free! As I had booked the bus trip I got an hour and a half out on the beautiful blue sea. Can't say Scarlett saw much of it as she fell asleep (She was so angry when she went through my photos later she said in a very stern voice "Mummy! Why did you take a picture of me like that?!" it was brilliant!) We jumped off the boat and hopped into a souvenir shop where I bought my best buy of the trip, a gorgeous Christmas scarf cream and green with snowflakes all over it and little houses down the bottom. Well actually for the rest of the afternoon and holiday, it was Scarlett's blanket for when we were on the top deck of the bus. We went along the coast to the Blue Lagoon, unfortunately we didn't have enough time to get off and look around as we were on the last bus but it was stunning all the same. When we got back to the hotel (Which at one point I didn't think we would, the drivers in Malta are nutty)I had a long hot soak in the bath until I was lobster red and hanging arms and legs out of the bath because it was too hot. There is something about going on holiday and having baths, it's much more relaxing not worrying about having a proper deep bath and thinking about how much money it will cost at the end of the month,as all the water is paid for in the hotel bill! At dinner I overheard a family from Burnley which had me giggling through my dinner Dad: "Do you want Whaaa Ice Cream?" Kid: "Huh?" Dad: "Whaa ice cream?" Kid: "WHA?" 5 minutes later the Dad come back with all 3 colours of ice cream including Whaa (White) I couldn't help but think of Benidorm with their accents. They were a lovely family though, just need to make their T's more pronounced, poor kid was very confused. We made it to the kids club tonight, I was the only adult to stay with my child while the other children's parents sat in the bar upstairs, not judging....just saying (Well it was Bingo time) I didn't know how long I could last, I managed to entertain 3 of them playing what's the time Mr Wolf? for about 5 minutes. 2 of the kids didn't even know how to play it, I was like WHAT?! Everyone know how to play that game! We went outside the little room to the patio area where a few other children were playing and being told off by the hotel Manager for climbing into the flower beds, he then looked at me like all of the little rugrats were mine! When he had left I had to tell the kids off for climbing in them again 5 minutes later. Is it acceptable to tell off other peoples children? By that point I had had enough and exactly an hour after we arrived we were snuggled back into our hotel room eating Pringles and chocolate and I was watching Scarlett writing in her books I had bought her from a charity shop. She said she wanted to do writing like me so I didn't want to crush her artistic talent. Tomorrow we are off to the Popeye Village Disney film set, I am so excited!

Malta day 2!

After a rested nights sleep (I did catch 10 minutes on the plane, while holding onto Scarlett's Belt loops to make sure she didn't go walkies. - I'm not a bad mother, I spoke to the mother of the girl Scarlett had made friends with and said she did the same thing.) What's the best way to get around in a new country? A sightseeing bus! I booked a 2 day pass for us to explore Malta and today we were going to the capital Valletta! It took over an hour to get to but along the way we had views of the beautiful blue sea and old building, most of which look one Jenga block tug away from crashing to the ground. But that is Malta's charm, not the modern glass monstrosities which we chuck up in England but places which have real character, places that could tell a million stories. I was surprised at how hilly the place was, little ups and downs and cobbles. I admired (ok stalked a little bit) a woman with thigh high Louboutin's until I got distracted by a little train which toured around the town. Oh and we also went to a 5D theatre which Scarlett didn't like, the chairs moved, we got sprayed with water, and things jumped out of the screen-I thought it was brilliant but Scarlett just wanted to get out of there and get some lunch. So I thought a nice little restaurant with some traditional Maltese food would be lovely, unfortunately the golden arches won and a Maltese Maccy's d's it was. We carried on exploring before I realised we had to run and catch the last bus, unfortunately I jumped on the wrong line and frantically ran down the stairs yelling I needed to get off, the bus driver simply smiled and said "it's ok your bus is waiting for you, I am taking you to it." Oh oops, luckily the bus wasn't completely full, there was only about 10 other people on it. (Cue red face and windswept hair.)

Why is this the 3rd time i have written this?! Malta day 1

Why has technology not been clever enough to seen when you are being a dingbat and save work which you think you have published? I have just sat here for 20 minutes refreshing and reloading. I closed down the computer and waited for my post to appear on my phone app. 30 minutes later nothing! It's completely disappeared! and the stupid computer didn't even have the decency to save it for me! So here we ago again, 3rd time lucky. Right Monday morning 4am wake up was not as painful as I thought it would be. The actual challenge came at the airport. Me along with several other fellow holidaymakers were queuing politely, and were slowly, very slowly getting to the check in desk when a lady starts shouting out last calls for flights "Alicante, Barcelona come to the front. Last call!" Er excuse you? a lot of pushing and shoving and about 10 people have jumped to the front of the queue. 10 minutes later she does the same with again "Gibraltar, come to the front, last call!" Another few people push to the front. So a man behind me calls the woman over and politely says "Excuse me, but we are all waiting here. We have been queuing for over an hour and now you are letting late comers come to the front? it is not on! It's not good enough, we have children and are in the queue and you keep on calling other flights to come to the front." The lady looked shaken up (Although I don't understand why because the man was very polite and not a bit aggressive.) and just said "I'm sorry but your flight is now closing yet I will call your flight in 20 minutes." The man rightly replied and I chipped in "Well what's the point in us all queuing then if we can just arrive late and get called to the front?" With that she welled up and ran off to be replaced by a burley man. I thought one of the requirements to work in an airport was to have a thick skin....apparently not. So next was to get through security, I obviously went in the slowest queue and when I was 3 people away from handing over my passport the camera broke, meaning we came to a complete standstill. After 10 minutes I'm afraid I pulled the child card and politely explained I had to get Scarlett fed before we got on the plane (Which was true) and I pulled off a bump up to the front of the queue next to me. After 3 painful hours (More hours than I had slept) Scarlett made a little friend in the departures lounge, which was a mini rest bite for me and the other little girls mum. Thank goodness Scarlett is such a social butterfly they chatted and played all the way onto the plane but when we sat down I heard the inevitable cry of "Mummy! I need a wee wee!" I looked down at Scarlett and nearly cried (Of course she had said she didn't need to go 10 minutes before we got on) I saw the other passengers giving me sympathetic looks while I explained she would have to wait until the plane was in the air. 20 minutes later and still on the tarmac Scarlett's situation was worsening "Mummy, I REALLY need a wee wee!!" she repeated this over and over like she had for the past 20 minutes The bloke next to me gave me a pitying look, or maybe it was one of worry, as if she had wet herself, he would have been one of the first to know about it. -------------------------------------------------- 3 hours later in Malta ----------------------------------------------- We finally arrived (after visiting the toilet 4 times) got our transfer (after me walking past the person holding the sign and panicking that they weren't there) and arrived at our hotel. Now I'm not being womanist but I am not very good with technology. It took me an hour to figure out how to turn the lights on, turn on the TV and open the balcony door and I thought I was quite intelligent (Well at least a little bit smart.) You would not believe my joy when I turned on the TV and discovered we had ITV, BBC 1 and English kids TV. We just snuggled down for the rest of the night and watched Corrie and Eastenders (I know I'm such a Brit) with Barry the bear. (He could be called Harry the bear, I didn't quite catch his name when I was caught leaving the nursery with Scarlett on Friday and was asked if I wanted to take him with us on holiday. YES......of Course I want to bring it with us!) So I had the responsibility of a 4 year old and a precious nursery teddy bear. I had a feeling one of us wasn't going to get through this trip.....and I was nearly right.

Don't blog, child about!

Scarlett has just deleted part one of my holiday blog by smashing her hand down on the keyboard...... have to re-type it all now, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

Miley Cyrus, our childrens idol?

Reading an article this morning on the Daily Mail about Miley's new song, where she glorifys taking ecstasy. Think it riled me a bit....?

Someone really needs to shut this silly little girl up.
She thinks she's so cool and outrageous but all she is, is a sad, lonely, barely grown pup and I'm not shocked by her, I'm saddened.

Should she take responsibility for her actions or are we all to blame for standing by and watching her being exploited?

She's like a child who has done something naughty and we keep appluading her for her silly behaviour. 

Who allows her to be able to influence our children and glorify drugs like they are sweets?

She should be taught if you have nothing nice to say (or sing) then say nothing.

The people who should be looking out for her should be dragging her to the morgue to see how much fun the youngsters laying on slabs are having after partying with 'Molly.'

Such a shame that in order to shed her teenage skin she may well be shortening her life span and that of others.

Only time will tell if she will be another stone too early in the ground.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2527802/Beyonce-takes-aim-Miley-Cyrus-young-star-sings-Ecstasy-new-track.html

Pringles response to my email!

Dear Becky, Thank you for taking the time to contact us. Thanks for writing to us about our chips. We are absolutely delighted that you enjoy them so much – that’s what we like to hear! We are always pleased to get such positive feedback from our customers. We find it very rewarding, and we really appreciate you writing in to share this. We do find that tastes tend to vary and not all flavours are appreciated by everybody. Pringles devotes a great deal of effort to developing products which we hope our consumers will enjoy. All our products are carefully developed and researched, with very thorough consumer tests conducted. Unfortunately The White Choc Peppermint flavour is still to be released in the UK and is only available in the USA at present. Though it could well arrive to the UK next Christmas! In the mean time you may be able to find the flavour on some online stores such as Amazon and Tescos online. As a gesture of goodwill we would like to send you a complimentery voucher, we hope you will accept this voucher towards some pringles products of your choice. Please provide us with your full address so we can dispatch the voucher to you. Since consumer satisfaction is of the utmost importance to us, your comments are greatly appreciated as we endeavor to continually uphold the quality of our products and level of service to you. Kind Regards, Tom Badger Pringles consumer care YAY PRINGLES!!!

How to annoy every mother Gisele

Oh look at me I'm a nice normal mother just Breastfeeding my baby. As obviously every new mother has a hair stylist, manicurist and make up artist on hand while she proves how fabulous she is by breastfeeding at the same time. Keep it to yourself love, instead of highlighting breastfeeding and empowering women all she has done is prove what an airhead she is by pretending to be 'normal.' Congratulations, give yourself a pat on the back for giving mothers another thing to feel insecure about. Yes you're a super model, yes you are gorgeous, but why not post a realistic picture after a long night of breastfeeding, hair sticking up, remnants of yesterdays make up that you managed to put on, smeared down your face and your muffin top poking out of your dressing gown. Or was that just me? I have saved this picture as 'Smug.'

Dear Mr Pringle

Dear Mr Pringle, Your tag line (or slur or whatever ever fancy word is appropriate) has now been well and truly tested 'Once you pop, you can't stop.' True for many flavours of Pringles, so imagine my excitement when I walked into my supermarket and saw MINT CHOC flavoured Pringles! I couldn't wait to get them home and try them. Pop, crunch....hmmmm, crunch, crunch... they are so weird! Yes they taste of chocolate, yes they taste of mint and yes they taste like crisps! (oh are they potato chips or is the debate still on-going?) I didn't know whether to dunk them in my tea or dunk them in a dollop of ketchup (which is what I do with most crisps/potato chips/ savoury crunchy snack not allowed to be called a chip.) So I brought them into my work who were bemused, but I can't say any of them will rush to the shops to buy a packet. I will again though, as my taste buds like being confused. While searching for a contact email for you sir, I discovered you do WHITE CHOC PEPPERMINT FLAVOUR! Where can I buy these? And when did you employ Willy Wonka? (Who has recently come out with a new range of chocolates, including millionaires shortbread, mmm. If he is there say hello and good job from me. Anyway just wanted to say thank you for brightening up my day, I will let you crack on with making tomato ketchup flavoured Pringles for me (please.) I have sent a tube of your mint choc snack (political correctness ay) to my brother in Afghanistan, he is in the RAF and loves all the weird and wonderful things I send (vomit flavoured jelly beans are not high on his please send again list.) So I will let you know what they think. Thanks again! Becky. X

Advent is over

I have just consumed all of the chocolates in my advent calendar.  To be fair I have done quite well, it's the twelth so I've lasted 11 days longer than usual :/

A mothers constant competition

Sleep, wake, shower, wake child  get child washed and dressed, put a load of washing on, was up dishes, make child look immaculate,  meke self look immaculate,  drop child off at school, carry on the rest of day bring perfect.....thats not me.

Wake, shower,  sort through clothes on the floor I haven't worn but are clean, rely heavily on Grandma to sort child out so I can slap on some make up and run out of the door with still wet hair.

Mothering is a competition I don't always win, in fact most days, I'm just glad we're still alive at the end!

Recently, Scarlett has tested my mothering skills with things I didn't think I would have to worry about until shes a teenager. She is going through a pulling down trousers at inappropriate times stage.

If she was a boy, I would be like 'Oh, it's just boys being boys' but now I'm screaming 'I don't want her to be a teenage mother!!'

Reading this book 'The child, The family and the outside world by D. W. Winnicott has reminded me Scarlett is just a little girl growing up and we are both learning together. Of course it's not easy but nothing worth doing ever is, I'm glad I've got my little angel (little exhibitionist) to stumble down with road with.

Oh seriously?! While writing this I just walked in dog poo......

Ballet dancer's lost dreams

And point and lift and pirouette and thats all I know (ok I Googled the last one) but I was a ballet dancer once....sort of.

Well every 6 year old girl was weren't they? I had the pink knitted cardi, purple leotard and pink ballet shoes. I couldn't wait to learn to use the shoes where you went on your tippy toes.

I danced for a few years then one girl made a comment about wanting to dance next to my best friend because i always did and I got in a strop and quit.

Dreams of the tippy toe shoes gone in a flash, I could have been there tonight dancing in the pretty dresses.

Ok I wasn't that good but the Russian ballet performing The Nutcracker tonight were phenomenal. 

So flawless, their feet barely made a sound when they landed. Some of the girls looked like they hadn't met a decent dinner plate in a while and made me feel guilty for eating a bag of chocolate while watching but hey they like dancing,  I like eating chocolate.

Usually anything where in the end its 'all a dream' really winds me up, but this was so magical I was totally transported. I believed it, it was real, in front of my eyes, The Nutcracker came alive.

I forgot all of my worries, I was transfixed and didn't want it to end but obviously like all good things inevitably it is now just a memory.

Scarlett absolutely loved it 'I like the pretty boys!' And now as expected she wants to become a ballet dancer. Best look into how much thats going to cost me then! Oh and the picture is of her being as sophisticated as usual.

So from dreams and memories to reality....The only way is Essexmas is on....

When you feel like your clothes are eating you...

Maybe it's time to put down that chocolate bar. I feel like I'm going to have a hulk moment and burst out of my clothes at any minute.
Damn whoever invented sweet sugary bars of fattyness.

Ok all this talk of food is making me hungry, thaink I may greggs it at lunch, what?! I am going to the gym tonight.

Right proper catch up later, I running (well walking) late.....

Lost my baby

Tomorrow is the beginning of scarletts real life...the applications for schools open and I will be the sad mother on there first thing.

Not because I'm dying to get rid of her but because if I don't do it tomorrow, I will most likely forget until it's too late and she's sent to a school 20 miles away. 

These last few months are the last of the baby years. When did that tiny little bundle turn into my amazing, H drawing (she randomly did it today- child prodigy) bossy boots I have today?

Don't get me wrong those first few days, weeks, months and even years were a struggle and I am glad I will never be doing it again - but it flew. I barely remember her being a baby. Ok thats a lie, I remember the puke, the screaming (me) the crying (me and her) my ears are still ringing but how was that all nearly 4 years ago?
She's a total character now, a real little person with her own thoughts and feelings to express, which believe me she does. I'm still scared every day that something is going to happen to her, I still check shes breathing in the night sometimes, not ten times a night like I used to, or when she was in her pushchair (I hardly ever put the rain cover over as I was scared she would suffocate.) Before I know it she will be an independant woman, which is what scares me the most.

So I have to enjoy every single moment and count my blessings every day, that she is here, healthy and happy even if she does boss me around like earlier....

"You have to tidy up because I made a mess. I'm going for a bath."

Thats my girl
Xxxxx

Not so clever now am i?!

So I got an email back from my gas and electric company responding to my email and what a plank I am. "We couldn't find the account you were referring to as there is no reference number." Honestly! So now I have to go back and swallow my pride a little bit. Actually no, they had my full name I'm sure they could have searched by that or called me on the number I left for them- they are trying to make me look like a fool! (Shame I'm the one coughing on my words now- oops!) Yesterday I felt the blood supply was going to be cut off my lower half, size 8 trousers were not a good idea but they fitted better than my size 10's, how does that work?! so I went fat pant shopping and today I was sucked to within an inch of my life. I could barely breathe and I got stuck trying to take them off to go to the bathroom (which was ok because I must have sweated off like 10 pounds getting them off and on again) but at least I had a flat stomach in my skirt. on the note of letting it all hang out - I may have mentioned this before but whoever brought leggings back into fashion has a lot to answer for. The sun + cheap black leggings and a top that does not cover enough = everyone can see your pants. come on girls, sort it out. That includes the gym, there were a few sights in there. I mean I look like a hot mess, bright red, sweaty and disgusting but at least my top covers up everything it needs to. I was blissfully going through my day in the bath when there was a little tap on the door "I need to come in." In Scarlett comes and starts trying to read my book to me. No it's not the Hunger Games, I have all but given up on that. I'm going to read the last couple of chapters of the last book and failing getting the jist of that, I will just watch the film when it comes out. when Scarlett got bored of trying to read the book she proceeded to poke me in the eye and scratch my eyebrow while pointing and asking what colour my eyes were. Cheers babe. Bless her lil cottons x

Sad Sum Tum

Reality hit today I have gained a Sum Tum (Summer Tummy.) I already knew it, but trying to squeeze into my size ten work trousers this morning, I have to face the next few weeks without chocolate. (not wine, wine is good for you.) So for the next few weeks I'm pretty much going to be alternating between 2 skirts, a black and a purple. Do you think anyone will notice? they are both pencil skirts so one day I can tuck a top in and use a belt to accessorise, then then next day I can get away with wearing the same skirt and wear a long top. Being able to dress down all summer has been great, but my jeans are forgiving and have stretched somewhat and dresses are always easy to hide weight gain in the summer. So tomorrow it's back to the gym. I am going to un-cancel my cancellation from last month and work my arse off. I cant wear a skirt all winter because I was absolutely freezing today! No stupid 900 calorie diets, just stop opening mouth and start moving arse. just watching the Real Housewives of Vancouver, some of the women are absolutely vile and are like "if I want to buy a pair of $1,000 shoes, I can buy them" and the best one yet "I don't have a lot of stress. I get irritated if my latte's gross, but that's about it." some people really need a reality check. I'm like totally going to throw up in my imaginary Jimmy Choo's now Tarrah!

Silly Bridget

Never get bored of a bit of Bridget Jones. I swear ITV 2 has a contract to play the films at least 30 times a year but if one of the films is on, I'm watching my heroine.

Though I am thoroughly annoyed at the papers for giving away part of the new book, I won't spoil it for everyone else but she seems to have joined the yummy mummy club...everyone knows that right?

That is not the big bombshell before you moan at me...ohh got to go it's at the part where she tells Daniel Cleaver to stuff his job.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

Scottish Power's customer service (Cough)

My response to Scottish Powers 2 letters they sent me and 15 minutes on the phone without speaking to a human being. To whom it may or may not concern, How diabolical is your customer service when I phone and in 15 minutes I didn’t get to speak to anyone. I called at 5.15pm and stayed on the phone for exactly 15 minutes. I know you will have the excuse that I called at a busy time, but that is when I finish work and when I wanted to call. If you know that is a busy time then I suggest you hire more staff, as you know people are begging for jobs and I’m sure they would jump at the chance to work for a company such as yours. So as no one bothered to pick up the phone I now have to waste more of my time emailing you. i couldn’t stay on the phone any longer as you are aware I am already in debt with yourselves and don’t intend to be in debt with my phone company. Thank you for adding to my troubles. I have a full time job and a child and like pretty much everyone else in this country I am struggling, so I don’t appreciate being sent an amended bill dated 24th September 2013 then a threatening final demand dated 25th September 2013, which both arrived on the same day. I am not psychic (if I was then I probably wouldn’t be in debt.) How was I to know what the amended amount on my bill was? I suggest you check your system and amend your computer generated letters to give people a chance to respond before demanding I “pay straight away to avoid collection charges being added...” on the same day. Please could you explain my bill to me as there is an account adjustment and it states my account balance on the 30th August 2013 is £120.16 for charges for last period then, on charges this period the account balance total is £192.71. The bill period is from 14th June 2013 to the 31st August 2013. How have I incurred a charge of £72.55 on one day (31st August 2013) when I was not even living at the property at that time? I will not be wasting any more of my time trying to call so I suggest you call me on 01903 ****** after 6pm or email me back to this address. Please note that I have made the effort in trying to contact you and any more threatening letters will be looked at as harassment and dealt with accordingly. I will be waiting for your ever swift response.

Dilemma day.

I was totally freaking out earlier, I had a huge worry on my hands....what do you buy a 4 year old for their birthday???!

Scarlett went to her first official friends birthday party today. Yes she does have friends and has been invited before, but we have never been able to make it (I may have faked illness a couple of times) - but I was worried about being thrown to the perfect mother wolves!

Perfect little families, with their perfect husbands and perfect lives and then theres me, with my chaotic mess of a life.

Ok it's not that bad but I was worried about the little mother clicks and that I would be sat on my tiny childs chair in the corner, begging the legs not to break.

But the biggest childrens party dilemma of all.....the present. How big do you go? How much money do you spend? What happens if they don't like what I bought? Simple you may think, just put the reciept in the bag (yes I bought a gift bag and tissue paper as I can't wrap for toffee.) Well I can't put a reciept in that says I bought the present ten minutes before the party started. Yes I am unorganised- thank you.

Then to add to my panic, my little darling Scarlett broke a very expensive tinkerbell figurine.  Thankfully when I offered to pay, the kind lady told me not to worry- otherwise that would have had to been the birthday present- Oh what was I doing not keeping an eye on my child for every second of the day...? Well I was sniffing a candle.

It wasn't even worth it, I couldn't smell it because of this cold. Think I may have overdosed on vicks and olbas oil though....ahh feels good.

Turns out the party was fine, we were just about on time, I spoke briefly to the other parents, who were all nice. I panicked when I thought I had written the wrong name in the card, thankfully I had the invite in my bag and checked it or else I would have been rifiling through the presents until I found it. My only mess up, I did leave the price tag on the present I bought, it was only £8.00 but I felt it was fair.

I settled on a puzzle in the end, well I was running out of time but if she doesn't like it then, well hopefully they won't tell me!

I thought before we arrived that maybe I shouldn't be so mean and I should throw Scarlett a party this year as I haven't for the last two, but after 2 hours and a burst ear drum later, I'm sticking with no. She can have one next year.

So the life of childrens parties begins...we have another in two weeks....a boys! Ahh better start looking for a present now. Oh and next time I must figure out who the childs mother is and introduce myself properly as it was a bit awkward while I spent the first hour trying to figure it out. There were a lot of people and it was all a bit confusing.

Right, time for my next dose of vicks, albas oil and buttercup. Night night sleep tight x

Barg of the day...

New look coat £8.00 new look shoes brand new £ 10.00 and new look suit £4.00. Cats protection league charity shop. Happy days!

Ever feel like an ogar?

Trying to relax but then just saw this face in the mirror. After just reading a scary story I practically had a heart attack!

Ok so the 2nd Hunger Games book is not really scary, but I am questioning it's suitability for children.

When I was a Teaching Assistant (for all of 5 minutes) all of the kids were reading the first one. I read the blurb and didn't think it was appropriate for me, let alone a ten year old. So I started reading the books and am onto the second to see what all of the hype is about.

Me and my mum had a debate about it as i stood by my first belief that it's not child appropriate. she said that it's about choosing right over wrong.

Really? with murder? I wouldn't let Scarlett read it when she's ten. What happened to the Biff and Chip books, with the magic key and Floppy the dog? Those stories have morals with talking spoons not bloody hands. What next? Stephen king's IT for Saturday morning pictures?

Why can't we leave them to be innocent and oblivious to the horrors of this world They are forced to grow up and face reality. Why should they? Let them believe in The Tooth Fairy and Father Christmas for as long as possible, let's not shatter their illusions there's time for that in the real world and they should not be in it yet.

Time for me to take my ogar face off and watch Sabrina the teenage Witch online.

Love x

I've cracked

Was writing a note earlier to myself and put PTO on the page before carrying on. I had to stop and laugh - "please turn over" oh well seeing as I asked myself so nicely I think I will. Weird thing is I was writing about a clown- don't ask. I felt guilty walking home from town, I passed a man squirreling seeds into his mouth while I was eating mini chedders and had been eating chocolate all morning. I've got to the point where I feel chunky again so will be trying to diet next week and exercise more. Yes I say it all the time but maybe this will be the time I actually do it (no I wouldn't hold your breath.) It is wine time on Friday so Monday it is then. For Pete's sake why does everything bad taste soo good? For Pete's sake, Who's Pete? Who is he? Answers on a postcard I'm too tired to Google it. So is Scarlett bless her, she just woke up and was so dazed she nearly walked into a wall, poor muffin. First time I have seen her since first thing Monday and she has changed so much. She kept whispering in my ear earlier "you're my best friend" so bless, I'm sure it wont be long until that changes! I cracked the last egg and the yolk went into the pan I could have cried! But I got over it by well, eating it. Right need to stop as the TV is on some weird prison show and I have no hands free to save it- what? I mean AHH! I have no idea, none of this post makes sense- it's bed time night! Night Pete. PTO. X Just because it was actually bugging me.... www.phrases.org.uk : What is the origin/menaing For Pete's Sake? : From the archives: : Biblical origins. Think of St Peter. Think of the omnipresent medieval church and think of hitting your thumb with a hammer. You can't swear, else the local priests will have you up before the Bishop and the Lord alone knows what the outcome of that will be, so you exclaim, in appropriate tone of voice, "For Saint Peter's sake" and carry on erecting the shelves. This phrase was amended to "For Pete's Sake" in later, less religiously oppressive, times. : This is called a "Minced oath," a substitution of a less offensive word. FOR PETE'S SAKE - The phrase is simply a polite version of a common and profane expression involving the name of Christ. We'd surmise that the original 'Pete' was St. Peter." From "Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins" by William and Mary Morris. Substituting less offensive words - like Godfrey Daniel for the other GD - is called a minced oath. Well there you go, I'm going to start a new one "Oh for Becky's sake" yea I like it! For Becky's sake, shut up and go to bed.- oh ok. X

Am I going to move from here?

I was going to be good and get up at 6am tomorrow to cycle to from West Worthing to East worthing then back to town. Suddenly this doesn't seem so appealing, although it does look like there is something in the bed and there is a spider downstairs. Is it mean to wake up Scarlett and get her to put it outside, then check my bedroom for monsters?!

Insert embarrasment here.........

Well hello there, it’s been a while and I do apologise for that. After moving, starting a new full time job and me and my parents trying not to rip out each other hair, writing, trying not to consume all of the cake in the world, you can see my balls have well and truly dropped. (You know the juggling balls I was talking about previously) but one by one I am getting the up again and it feels good especially with 2 holidays on the horizon. Sooo I have started something new.....again. if everything in my chaotic life worked out I would be a, piano playing, horse riding, craft amazing, cocky cooker, novel smashing, violin plucking and the newest.....screenwriter. Today I am starting to write two scripts and I am looking into screenwriting courses to squeeze in somewhere, I have no idea where! Well we all have to have dreams, I asked Scarlett what she wanted to be when she grows us and she said “A kitty cat” what a dreamer- bless her. I would have preferred if she had said Doctor or psychologist but whatever. I watched the 3 day Nanny yesterday to see where I am going wrong (in their opinion I might add and we never see them with their own children do we?) turns out I have made a rod for my own back by carrying Scarlett everywhere, more than ten steps up the road and she’s had enough, so I give in as it’s quicker than arguing with her. Besides it’s not like I will still be carrying her around in ten years time and I have amazing biceps and no bingo wings. If anything she is doing me a favour. So to reward her earlier I cycled to Asda to get us some treats and to have a look around, I walked over to the bras and Scarlett shouted out as loud as she could “Oh hello boobies!” Insert embarrassment here...... Right must get on, I have a book of poems to finish, a interview to complete (after ages and I do apologise to the lady in question, it will be up asap!) I am starting my script called “Assistants” (that’s all you’re getting, no nicking my ideas!) and I am also watching pushy and proud- disco diva mums. Yes it is a ridiculous as it sounds.

How to → Be happy :-)

The top how to search on Google is How to be happy, so here is my take in no particular order...

♥ Be positive - See the best in everything. Live by the mantra 'Everything happens for a reason.' Find the positive reason.

♥ Do something new everyday - Even if it's just taking a different route home or reading a different magazine to your normal one. We tend to live our lives in a lull, in robot mode not thinking. Shake it up a bit.

♥ Learn something new everyday - What's the Finnish word for sunshine? Ask yourself a question you don't know and search for the answer.

♥ Do something just for you everyday- Take a long hot soak, paint your nails, have a glass of your favourite wine, enjoy being you.

♥ Be in the moment - For a moment. Turn off the tv, sit in a quiet room, close your eyes and just listen. Life rushes by and we are either thinking about the past or future, rarely what's going on around us now. Don't let your mind wonder, pull it back and listen to the birds, the leaves on the trees, just be.

♥ Speak to at least one friend or family member everyday - Keep in touch with your loved ones, they are special, so make sure you appreciate them.

♥ Be thankful - Think about all of the good things you have in your life. No matter how bad your day was, there is usually someone in the world worse off than you are.

♥ Be compassionate- Have a clear out and take it down the charity shop if it's still good quality. Or sign up to volunteer, help others just by being you.

♥ Keep a journal - Write down your favourite memories, holidays, moments, funny stories, maybe call who you were with to reminisce.

♥ Champagne bubbles diary - I started doing this after it was suggested at a mindfulness course. At the end of the day just before you go to sleep, write down 3 positive things you have done for example, 1. Resolved an issue at work. 2. Started a new book. 3. Cooked a new recipe. 

♥ Smile more - Walk down the street and just smile to yourself, often when I do this I feel a bit silly, but that makes me smile more!

DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY! XXX

My minions!

Going to get some material and have a bash at making a cushion next!

Homemade scotch eggs

Homemade scotch eggs for dinner, mmm! From Lorraine Pascale's recipie book 'Home cooking made easy.' If you want the recipie let me know, they are delish!

I may make mistakes, but I get there eventually!

Take this pasta for example.... not cooked spaghetti before and it burnt as it was hanging over the edge of the pan. Oooopppss!

We had a lovely day today, we went to the giant sand pit in town and played and listened to Dave Benson Phillips singing and playing the guitar. I am hoping to interview him for this blog and my Facebook page, probably won't come off but if it does, it will be amazing!

We also went to picnic in the park in Tarring. It was so good to see so many people in one place enjoying the fun and games.

Well I'm off to bug people for interviews and watch some random tv for research for articles. I am currently watching extreme couponing and a woman spent $776.52 then with coupons she only had to pay $19.20, thats a 97% saving! I am going to research couponing on this side of the pond. Maybe we could take a leaf (or coupon) out of their book!

Make for free - Scrapbook

Easy and simple. Perfect to fill in on a rainy day. Decorate, add photos, fill with memories. I have put in things I like, whats happened in the world, favourite music, movies to watch and a wish list of holidays, hot tubs, things to do when she's older.

Finger fun

The most fun I have had with minimal mess. Just need some ink pads, paper and away you go! See how many animals you can make, my next challenge is a butterfly

Beer bread

Mmm lovely easy peasy beer bread. The quickest bread I have ever made. Recipe on my Facebook page Worthing yummy's.

I hope my balls don't drop.

Getting really busy at the moment, started a new page on Facebook which I am making a sort of online magazine. I have shelved the idea of printing one as I don't really have the money at the moment to put into making a really great magazine. There is a lot to juggle at the moment and I am so happy with where I am now, I feel like a new woman! I'm writing more, looking into writing children's novels, finishing my adult novel, blogging, Facebooking and researching new projects all of the time. I have signed up to do another abseil next year down the Spinniker Tower in Portsmouth, I am trying new things like art classes, I am going to try the meditation class, crochet classes, you name it, I have my name down for it. I also feel better since I have thrown my vitamins away, I read an article in the paper about them http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2376893/Multivitamin-studies-supplements-harm-good.html it's basically about them doing more harm than good. It made me realise that I am putting things into my body and I'm not sure what they are and why. So it has prompted me to be a bit healthier, I have eaten at least one piece of fruit today! Oh and eaten 4 chocolate biscuits, I guess I will have to work on that balance. I have been cycling a lot though and I am determined to cycle to Brighton from Worthing next weekend. I am also looking at doing a charity bike ride next year from Brighton to Paris, so I better get my butt moving and training! I haven't forgotten my quest to make myself smarter so my thing from yesterday is... The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing. So it's useful being a lefty then And todays sentence of wisdom.... No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple. Not useful for poetry then, maybe we should make up new words that rhyme with them? Probably not going to make me that much smarter, but I bet they will come up in a pub quiz one day!

A tampon box is holding my new best friend

After vigorous over plucking as a teen, my eyebrows are now thin pathetic little lines. I was considering getting them tattooed on but I have found my new best friend.....ta dah to the eyebrow pencil. Many of you may think er they have been around forever, but I am a bit slow on the up take. I can now see my brows in photos and in the mirror at a distance. I feel like they have been born again! I'm so happy!...Right off to get a life now, I have a tampon box full of make up to decorate. (It's empty of tampons and has proved to be a very useful lil box.)

Valuable lesson for the day

If you have an appointment with someone (a removal company for example) don't wait for half an hour to contact them to check if they are still coming. If they have not arrived after ten minutes call them, otherwise you may be stuck outside laying on half a sofa, contemplating how weird it would look to lay down on a bed which is waiting to be moved, in the front garden with a main road. I'm just praying it doesn't rain.

I have just seen a rainbow,  so its not all bad.

Can I make myself smarter?

I'm getting very frustrated watching countdown and only being able to make words up with 5 letters or less (Mostly less are 2 letters allowed?) Well technically it's 8 out of 10 cat's does Countdown, but even they well, the one in the cardigan is getting 7's and 8's! I am so jealous! So I am pondering the question 'Can I make myself smarter?' I will point out that in the ad breaks I am reading 'Being Jordan' by Katie Price, I can't find a dictionary. I did get the conundrum at the end of Countdown once, it was the highlight of my year when I was about 12, hell it's a highlight of my life. I can't remember what it was, I think it was detective but I'm not so sure.   

So starting tomorrow I'm going to learn something new everyday and document it for a week, i would do longer but like everything on here i start something and never finish it. I'm hoping with a short end date i will stick to it! 

I had every parents worst nightmare on Saturday when I lost Scarlett's Mickey mouse stuffed toy. Well actually she abandoned it in the toilet, I will have to tell her that is not acceptable parenting, no matter how much our children annoy us, we do have to take them home with us. As you can see by the picture we are making use of our new bike, I am thoroughly enjoying riding at the moment although I am sure the novelty will ware off! But seeing as I can't afford the gym and being back at home with access to food 24/7, it will be the only thing to keep the fat at bay. Well on that note I have an early morning bike ride to drop Scarlett off to her other Grandma's at 9am so best get to beddy bye's. Also I am writing an article on Debt distress for my Worthing Yummy's Facebook page which I have created as a sort of online magazine. Only been up a day so tomorrow I will be putting it out there to the world. Cream cracker knackered. x

Psyco cats tv show

Just watching a programme called 'my cat from hell' on animal planet. It's brilliant, cats hissing, biting and scratching their owners. It's psycho in kitty form.
A big bald bearded tattooed guy who is an animal behavioural goes to owners houses to calm the cats. He also has guitar case with him all the time for some reason (the man not the cat) I'm watching an episode with a huge cat called Mr Fluff, even I'm scared of this cat and it's on tv. Oh the guitar case has toys in it, ok...

Just a quickie

Poor boo  boo isn't very well, think she's worn out after our canal boat trip today and exciting bike ride.
We saw Rosie and Jim from the tv show years ago, will have to show Scarlett some episodes even though they freak me out a bit.

Picked up our bike this morning,  it's read and Scarlett has her own seat on the back. We went out this afternoon and I had forgotten how much I love riding.

Talking of riding (ahem, just your mind) we cycled up to the riding stables and I have enquired about horse riding again and about gettibg Scarlett started. I rode years ago for years, I grew out of it then went on my friends horse in high school....big mistake. She threw me off and I lost my confidence, but I think I'm ready to get back in the saddle again. I will have to sacrifice learning how to drive but I think this will be more worthwhile.  Stop me from putting on weight anyway.

Well I hope baby muffin feels better tomorrow, I have a busy day planned! No time for illness (can't stand ill people-but obv its different with my baby anyone else....don't come to me GOI- get over it)

TTFN

Sort your life out love

To do list * Have a hot stone massage * Have a facial * Start driving again AUTOMATIC (I cannot drive a manual- fact) * Fill in Scarlett's memory diary/ scrapbook * Get bike with child seat on the back (Paid deposit, pick it up tomorrow) * Cycle to Brighton * Get a kite * Get a job (Check start full time in a couple of weeks) * Book Butlins for Xmas break * Keep blog updated! (should be at the top!) * Finish Novel Blackmail and Betrayal * See Woman in Black on stage * Go to Tower of London * Organise a charity event * Get a hair cut (Getting it today) * Go to Saturday morning pictures with Scarlett more * Lose weight (Because that's on everyone's to do list)

Bit the bullett- Yellow brick road

This is not a decision which I have taken lightly, giving up my freedom, the life that I have know for 6 years to move back in with my parents. It was either this or have a nervous breakdown, but I have to say that Scarlett and I have adapted surprising well. She is happier than ever with me not shouting at her and I am less stressed and believe it or not more tidy (Well I couldn't be less tidy!) I have even cooked, dusted, hovered and I have been back less than two weeks. Obviously things are different from when I was 18, I have a lot more respect for my parents and everything they do and have done for me. Truth is being a single parent is not as easy as I thought it was. I had my head in the sand and pretended that everything was ok, when in reality everything was falling apart. luckily I recognised what I was feeling was not right and turned to my parents. I am incredibly lucky that I can come back and they will help me with whatever I need, I know not everyone is so fortunate. Going from 2 adults and one child to one adult and one child doesn't sound like a big adjustment but to suddenly have all of the responsibility is a big take on. It's been nearly a year since I became a single Mum again and I realised that I haven't dealt with everything from all of those months ago, emotionally or financially. So it's finally time to let go of the past and look to the future, I am going to get back on track and start paving my own yellow brick road. I thought 2013 would be my year, but I have realised life is about taking things one day at a time.

Take note- online dating tips!

10 Online dating tips (that obviously as i have made them up i have adhered to....)  Don’t say the usual blah blah crap like ‘I like music, dogs and chocolate.’ Or ‘I'm just a normal girl/guy (Normal people do not exist.) give a little bit more about yourself away what music do you like, if you have been to any gigs recently, give them something to go on.  Try and stalk him, if you can get his full name and see if you can find him on social networking sites, it also helps to verify he/she is who they say they are. Google is also a good one, you just have to hope they don’t have a very common name.  Don’t put up too many selfies! Yes we all love to do it but don’t be too snap happy, put things up of you doing what you enjoy, not just poses.  If someone messages you, take the time to go through their profile. If you like what you see message back, if not don’t reply.  Don’t respond to all of the messages you get if you’re not interested! You will soon be having conversations with 20 people half of which you don’t even particularly like.  Be honest. You will soon be caught out if you say in your profile that you are a non smoking 25 year old model, when in reality fag and food breaks take up the majority of your day.  If there is no photo, there is a reason why and it usually starts with girl and ends with friend.  If they haven’t responded in a couple of days then they are not interested. Don’t bombard them with messages, if someone like you they will soon let you know.  In your profile be short and sweet, don’t ramble on forever. Don’t put lots of dislikes be positive no one likes a pessimist.  Enjoy the attention, even if they are not for you, just smile to yourself and appreciate that someone has made the effort to contact you! Right well I’m off to go through my new matches, fingers crossed for Johnny Depp. ;)