I'm baaaaacccckkkkk

....and almost as crazy as the guy that said that in Independence Day! 



So so much has happened since I last posted and life has been far busier than I would like it to be.  For a while work took over my life - turns out that 16 hours a day, 5 days a week does make you almost as crazy as the guy from Independence Day that flew the plane into the alien ship.

I should go and look at when I last posted to see where we were up to but I really can't be bothered. 

Instead a quick run down of where we are: 

Beautiful B moved in with her boyfriend and bought 2 Labradors because she is as mental as me - one of which is so big her boyfriend has to walk it as it drags Beautiful B down the street;

Beautiful B's boyfriend proposed to her on their 5th anniversary together as a couple - soppy so and so;

Clearly they love Starbucks a little too much!

I cried, she cried and her ring was too big for her finger now she has lost so much weight!

Hubby and I quite enjoyed the lack of arguments with Beautiful B about leaving the dinner pots for hours before washing them for a while.....;

Hubby's mum has moved in with us - dementia results in the same conversation numerous times but I love her to bits and pieces;

Fredster died.....we all broke our hearts,

Charlie her Lab couldn't cope on his own so they bought Coco who is the maddest and heaviest Lab I know - she has lovely eyes but they do make her look dopey...;

Coco's head accidently hit my nose and nearly broke it - she was aiming to put her head under my chin - I think she may need glasses; 

Lily sheep developed a cancerous tumour on her foot - unfortunately one of the most aggressive forms - an operation to remove the tumour and a claw and then Chemo was never going to save her but did give her a better quality of life in her last 6 months; 

Prior to that we adopted a Bichon called Pip from an old couple who were ill - she is mental! Just mental!  Such a character - 25% annoying, 25% loud, 25% loving and 25% showing everyone that she is now top dog;

Nope, Pip isn't weird at all! 

We have quickly understood that we must change the channel if the Meerkat advert comes on TV as Pip goes mad.  As she does with the BT advert and the Royal London advert - those appear to be due to a hatred of the colour purple. She cannot stand the dog on the G Tech advert and any captions result in her going mad.  Mind you she also goes mental at.....horses, dogs, footballs (I can join her for that one), cats, any animated character on TV and the seagulls outside our house if they dare to come too close to the garden....

She throws herself at the TV - if that falls over it had better fall on her head to break the fall....only joking! 

I spent about 5 months travelling and staying weeknights in Leeds while supporting the financial evaluations for a contract and found a truly remarkable friend.  We are so alike it is scary.  I now consider her one of my best friends and we visit each other frequently.  Both of us would say that there is nothing better than sitting at home in PJ's doing cross stitching - now that is showing our age!

All of my best friends are supporting me through a very difficult time at the moment.  R works on the same project as me and so understands the workload - at least I am not talking a different language when we twitter on about work. J visits and I visit her.  N, my oldest and dearest best friend visits me when I cannot face leaving the house.  K and little E make me laugh when the little one visits to play with the dogs.  I would publically like to thank all of them eternally for their love, support, acceptance and understanding - I love you all.

As you can see I still juggle all sorts of balls in the air at any one time despite my mind slowly catching up, on occasion, with my age.....

Right I am off - door fitters are here to fit a new front door.  Large selection of colours - I picked the one colour that Hubby didn't want - shame that because I am going to love directing people to the house with the red front door!

Bye for now....

A little bit of everything

A nice warm lie-in would have been lovely this morning but it doesn't happen with an Abi sheep in the house!  So awake at 5 meant catching up on 24 Hours in A&E before braving the chill. 

A bit of pottering about because that's what you are supposed to do as you age before tackling the what was dining room which is slowly becoming my mum-in-laws living room. Today was a replacement fire after I hastily moved everything around so the gas engineer didn't have to play mountaineer to get to it. 

Tomorrow will be a quote for decorating the room. I say decorate instead of paint because it would appear that one wall still has a life of its own and is already messing up the new plaster despite numerous professionals assuring g us it isn't damp. I see a feature wallpaper coming on....

Then I had a sit down with the iPad and POOF two hours disappeared. I'm now sat in the garage while people look at my car to find out why the button for the electric windows is sticking - though of course not right now because my car is alive and laughing its head off at working them intermittently and yes you guessed it they are working fine right now. 

After this back home to potentially clean up after the fluffs who may protest at me leaving them, a bit of dinner and then to the snooker accounts I go. If I get those done early enough I might be able to sit down and finish the cross stitch I'm doing for my mum-in-law!  

There's no relaxing when on a day off work these days.... 

Alternating

Today has been a day of two halves; the first being so busy I forgot time and it rushed by and the other realising time has flown by because I'm dancing around in my chair desperate for a pee and thinking 'I just want to finish this calculation'.  

It's been a day of feeling bone tired yet also a day where work has energised me to get through the day quickly. 

It's been a day of wanting to go back to bed to one of wanting another hour at work to finish the job I had to leave unfinished until tomorrow morning. 

It's been a day of desperately wanting to clean the house but also a day of being too busy to do so. 

It's a day where I want fresh linen on my bed but equally I'm led on it half finished because I'm shattered. 

It's a day of feeling so tired I am packing myself off to bed early while equally wanting to spend quality time with Hubby. 

It's not a day where I promise myself that I'm going to spend quality time with Hubby tomorrow but know it's unlikely because I will make that happen no matter what!  

Such a long day

I've been away for a while and can't get used to this new Blogger app- there's evidence that some 40 something year olds struggle with social media!

I'm sat in the car park at work after a long drive which was preceded by watching Revenant on ultra HD which was amazing and, as much as I love Christmas, far far too long packing all the decorations away. 

Sat in a traffic jam makes me tired and I already feel exhausted and so a long day at work and the drive home is totally uninspiring. So I thought I would just talk to you guys instead (have a moan......).

Tonight I have snooker accounts and invoicing to do which is easy enough but after a full day of balancing accounts at work I would rather stick toothpicks under my fingernails. 

I saw my wonderful friend, Rachel, yesterday afternoon and loved it. Work has gotten in the way this last year, I say work I mean my work not Rachel's as she is so much more organised than me. Add to that how much fitter she is than me at the moment and as more energy and last year was a recipe for disaster. I mean honestly, picture the  energy levels of a sloth merged with a tortoise and that's me. In fact if you pit me against that combination in a race I would't recommend betting on me. I mean who drives from Bury to Blackpool and calls in at Tesco for a couple of things and nods off in the car?! I do apparently.... 

Sitting in the car watching the rain fall before work is oddly soothing. On second thoughts I'd best get out of the car before it sends me to sleep....

Sympathetic Mother

After a long drive home in the wind and rain I checked my phone to see this message from Beautiful B in relation to an engineer visit for her broken fire in the lounge:  

'Someone's been round to look at my fire. He pulled it out an there was a pigeon skeleton in it!!!!!! A pigeon skeleton!!!!!! In my house. Behind my fire. The poor thing has obviously fallen down the chimney and then got stuff and died. And now it's remains are in my house. I feel sick.'

I texted back: 'Was it well done?'

Another week, another set of bids and Invitation to Tenders

We aren't busy this week. Not at all. There are 4 of us and we have 87 bids to evaluate and another 11 Invitation to Tenders to publish this week. Then someone says I hadn't made clear how busy we were. 

I'm not sure what the following meant:

- hi boss, I have 120 hours in credit;

- do you need anything in particular because we are mad busy;

- I don't have time to write my end of year report examples or draft report;

- I have no idea where I will get the time to write competency examples for a promotion exercise; 

- No you can't have bridging analysis reports to look at because I don't have time to do them while I manage compliance on the 87 bids and put 11 Invitation to Tenders together; 

- no I don't have time to take a week of on annual leave, let alone flexi leave between tender rounds because there is no time between tender rounds; 

- I need more staff or the timetable will have to move to the right. 

It is such a good job that I am enjoying the job so much because otherwise when he said 'You didn't make it clear to me how much work you had. You have to manage me as much as the team.' You might have heard my scream in Australia. 

Eyes open and Wide awake

It is 4.23 am. I haven't slept yet. My eyes are tired but my brain is wide awake. I've watched 8 episodes of From Dusk til Dawn on Netflix back to back. I'm still wide awake. I've ordered a repeat prescription from the GP, ordered dog food and ordered simmering crystal granules for the oil burners at home. I'm still wide awake. 

Someone told me that the office is open 24 hours a day. I'm tempted to just get dressed and go to work. I have to buy Mothers Day cards and Birthday cards later today so an early finish at work is needed so an early start would be benefical. 

I'm just grateful Hubby doesn't know I've been awake all night. He would only worry more than he already does. 

And do you want to know what my main worry is now?  That it catches up on me tonight and I sleep through Supernatural. I KNOW - priorities......

I have a financial evaluation report to write today and send to my boss. I've a feeling that some of what I write in it will make less sense than it usually would. The only problem is that my sense isn't great to start with.  

I have a choice - start work now or watch another programme on my iPad. Decisions decisions. 

Packing two suitcases

So having had another really good sleep (categorised by falling asleep at 10pm and waking at 3am) and feeling rested I'm packing....one suitcase to take home with clothes to wash and another to take to the next hotel with all my 'other' stuff in it. 

Some might say I don't travel lightly....geeez! 

It's becoming a habit

Says she who is not being forced to work from home late into the night and weekends.  Though to be fair I have only done a hour or so this weekend but it has put me on the back foot for tomorrow. 

Why am I on the back foot? Well, because I still need to finish a revised Pricing Proposal excel spreadsheet off ready for QA and 2 bridging tools, the latter of which, for those uninitiated of you, is a tool that drops a load of data from a load of spreadsheets into one spreadsheet and populates a ton of tables and graphs that said spreadsheet already holds as blank templates.  Which, of course, saves a ton of time than collating it all inidividually but I still don't have time for the fiddliness of repeatedly telling it 9 times which spreadsheets I want it to drop into the file and then rename all the columns and then do that twice.....breathe.

And I would be at that all day, without the 2-3 hour planning session I have tomorrow for the next 3 cohorts of bids (32 contracts in total over the next 4 months....because we don't do anything simply).

So on a train tomorrow at 6am I will start my first bridging tool and then I can get those over to my boss so he can be analysing them while I hold the planning meeting, then I will update the Pricing Proposal and then have everyone urgently QA it....wait, that means I will be updating that on the train too....so I can finalise the document and get it out to the bidders.

Can you see me drawing up the project plan late into tomorrow night?  Yes, me too.  Oh well, it keeps me out of mischief.

Have a great week everyone.

 

Orange is the new black

So I didn't have Netflix.  I didn't want Netflix. I didn't want to have to pay more money to watch films and programmes I don't really have the time to watch.  I heard about Orange Is The New Black was brilliant many times.  I still wasn't getting Netflix.

Then I started working on a major procurement at work, delivering 34 contracts in 6 months. I am working away from home more than I am at home.  Freeview is rubbish and the only thing most hotels offer as daily viewing. 

I figured I get a month free with Netflix.  I did a advantage / disadvantage list in my head and figured I could watch Orange Is The New Black on my tablet in a month sat in a hotel room most of the time.

I watched 2 episodes and I was hooked.  I laughed at the prisoners antics, I sat in shock at some of them.  I loved every minute of every episode.  I watched episodes regularly until 2 - 3 am in the morning every night. 

I even managed to go over my data allowance last month because I was insistent I wanted to watch it in a hotel without great reception so used my phone as a mini hot spot - don't do that, it eats the data allowance like you would not believe!

I quickly whizzed through series 1 and 2.  I loved series 3.  I was ready to watch series 4 and there isn't one.  I was gutted.  I am hoping they do more episodes.

So I had to watch something else.  I'm half way through Making A Murderer.  I'm guessing some people are seeing a theme....

Anyhoo, get Netflix for a month free of charge and watch Orange is the New Black - you will love it!

 

Ribenaisms - May 2013

I have been told on more than many an occasion that I use the silliest phrases ever and randomly spout what is in my head at the time and honestly if you could see all the tiny aliens bouncing around my head then you would realise just how much rubbish I can spout and why.

I thought it might be an idea to try and log at least some of my Ribenaisms over the past few months, hopefully what will be, your entertainment.

• "When Hubby's hair grows it resembles a furry golf ball."
• Hubby: Really, a furry golf ball?  So pray tell me, what does a furry golf ball look like and what would it's use be?
• "Oh look!  C has a fridge exactly the same as ours!"
• Hubby: Really?  Not a freezer then?
• Me: No a freezer!  Oh, did I say fridge?
• Hubby: Yes 
• Me: Well, it began with an F.
• Hubby: (Walks away shaking his head)
• "Dada da dada PUPPY POWER!" (anytime I manage to solve a problem I have been trying to solve)
• "I didn't forget the handwash when I came upstairs!  I have remembered it but just left it on the table downstairs."
• "I may have to investigate prices for garden sliders at lunch time."
• Hubby: For what?
• Me: Price and delivery time of course!
• Hubby: Nooooooooooooo, you barm pot!  I mean what are they and why do we need them?
• Me (thinking he was being forgetful as I clearly told him about them at the weekend when sat in the sun in C's garden): They are a garden swing but not on a swing, they are a rocker. Oh wait, I meant glider not slider.
• Hubby: (No response, just a knowing look) 
• While watching a game show:
• Me: The young bloke may well be quite intelligent but sitting with his mouth open catching fish through most of it sure makes him look the opposite
• Hubby: Do you mean 'with his mouth open catching flies' by any chance?
• Me: Oh yes.....
• While driving and discussing why Beautiful B when out a different security gate on the left rather than the one nearest our front door (on the right):
• Me: I guess it makes sense for her to go out the left one as it is nearest to Preston Old Road which will get her to the hospital quicker than going out the right one nearest the front gate.
• Hubby (when we got to the end of the road):  Why are you turning left when we need to turn right to get to work?
• Me:  Oh, it is because I was talking about Beautiful B going out of the gate on the left.
• Hubby:  That makes sense then.....(while rolling his eyes)
• While replacing the sheets and duvet cover on our bed after coming upstairs and putting a brand new sheet down ready for use:
• Me: Now where have I put that sheet?!  I only put it down 1 minute ago.
• Hubby:  You mean this one? (as he reaches for the sheet I had balance on the fan no more than a minute before).
• On answering an email to one of my work colleagues on Friday and then receiving another email from him:
• Colleague: Aren't you supposed to be off work today?
• Me: (Having furiously checked the team's work calendar on line and realising I had booked the day off 2 weeks ago......) Yes, but I needed to make sure that I did not have to re-allocate a tele-conference next week for my project.
• Colleague: You are too dedicated.
• Me: Nooooooo.  Just didn't want to have to sort it out on Tuesday and risk people's calendars getting booked up by then.  Now I am going to QA my daughter's latest assignment.

There are more.....and there are bound to be even more by the end of the day....

It's been such a long time

So hi there!

It's been so long.  I'm not the only one that wanders around busy as a bee thinking I must find time to do a,b,c am I?  I know I'm not - stupid question.  Anyway that's what happened.

Work got busy, not as busy as it is now - it's none stop with 12 hours days at least and I am away from home more than I am at home.  Hubby is living a student life while I am away. 

You know when you call your Hubby from a hotel room and have a conversation about the day and you get to....

Me:      What did you have for dinner?
Hubby: Nuggets.
Me:      What did you have with the nuggets?
Hubby: More nuggets.
Me:      Please tell me you didn't just eat nuggets. (incredulous)
Hubby: Yep.  I couldn't be bothered making anything to go with them.

Now, at Christmas we always buy some party food and we had bought a huge bag of chicken nuggets and by huge I mean huge and we had about half of the bag left. So the rest of the conversation went like this:

Me:      You ate the whole bag of the popcorn chicken nuggets in one go?!!!!1
Hubby: No (laughing) I had the bag of turkey nuggets.  I was duped.
Me:      Please explain....
Hubby: There were only 22 and there should have been 24.
Me:      Seriously you ate 22 nuggets in one go....

Apparently they were tasty.

So this week I was away with work again and he had more nuggets, a different brand and chicken this time not turkey.  The packet said there were 25 nuggets and there were actually 26 nuggets so now he says he is just owed 1 nugget.

At least shopping will be easy this week - 2 bags of nuggets, 1 chicken, 1 turkey and 2 pizzas.  The man is going to have a heart attack by the time he is 50.
 

21 years went by in a flash

So.....Beautiful B's 21st was yesterday but we have had 2 days of celebration and today is the first chance to post before we have another day of celebrations on Monday. 

When I first found out I was pregnant, initially I did not know what to feel. It was only 2 months after I finished contraception to try for a baby and I hadn't expected it to be so quick....you know, being 20 and naïve.  That soon changed though when I thought about how much love I was going to shower her with. And yes, I said boy because I only ever wanted a girl and if she had been born a boy I may have asked them to put her back. 

Beautiful B was incredibly easy to carry, at least until the heartburn started with a vengeance. I can thank Beautiful B for teaching me how to sleep sitting up as a result of the heartburn.  Thanks to worry that she may have a blockage in her oesophagus I was scanned monthly up to 32 weeks pregnant and had some lovely scan photos as a result. 

30 hours of pain and I had a baby girl, who clearly wondered what all the fuss was about and I was lucky enough to share the moment with her dad and my mum.  She defied so many expectations, needing baby rice at 4 weeks because she wasn't big enough for all the milk she needed, to being in 18month old clothes until she was 3 1/2 years old. 

Since then she has been so incredibly strong. Yes, she's had moments where I wondered if I could put up with another tantrum and she was more stubborn that me and her dad put together but we loved her for her independence and we couldn't have the best of both worlds. 

Like all of us Beautiful B has had her struggles but thanks to the help of some incredibly talented people she learned to cope with her feelings and to verbalise them in a grown up and adult way and she was able to see both sides of a discussion, something few people her age could. 

It helped her to deal with the loss of her father and 3 year old sister at the young age of 17, well as best she could and though she still struggles with missing them she can verbalise it and get the support she needs.  I felt guilty for not being able to help her through it better at the time but looking back I know I did all I can and Beautiful B would tell me she couldn't have gone through it without me. 

Beautiful B has had a lovely boyfriend for over 3 years who was amazingly supportive through the grieving process and he continues to support her in so many things. Secretly I hope they get married just not for a good few years and babies even later because hello I'm grey enough as it is! 

It hard to look at Beautiful B and know what she has gone through to make her who she is today and while I wish she hadn't had to go through all those things they have helped to shape her into an incredible young woman. Like all of us at her age, she doesn't know what career she wants to do for the rest of her life but whatever she eventually settles on I know that she will enrich it with her empathy, compassion, and love.

Beautiful B's ability to smile at the worst of times, and on those bad days gives others a reason to do the same; she is an example for us all to follow.  Yes, she has her bad days and like me she constantly doubts herself and her abilities and I wish I had a magic mirror that I could hold up to her so she could see what others see in her.  It's a pity that, for us women, that sort of confidence comes with age and so she is a few years off yet.  In the meantime, it's my role to remind her often.  

I look at Beautiful B and struggle to see how 21 years has gone by. It doesn't seem like 18 years ago she was toddling around with bright blonde pigtails and posing for photos with one hand behind her head, striking a model pose.  Or 18 years ago that she had us in stitches at Busch Gardens in Florida playing in the water fountains.  Or 16 years ago that her first ever uniform was the smallest size but still far too big for her and Nanny had to take in a tiny little school skirt so that it would fit. Or 5 years ago that she took our breath away in her school prom dress. 

I hope that I did what I set out to do and tell her often that I love her so much so that the times I did discipline her she still knew I worshipped her. In fact, I know she did because she tells me often that she knew and knows I love her so much and has thanked me for being strict with her, to have taught her respect and manners.  

I smile now, to see her in her own home, keeping it clean and although the constant reminding to be tidy and clean up after herself drove me mad when she lived her obviously was worthwhile. 

This last week we have both been on annual leave and have had the chance to spend time together on days out, stay home and watch films and laugh. One of the best things about Beautiful B having her own home is that there is no discipline now, just the laughter side of the relationship, the best parts; those that the relationship building over 21 years has achieved. 

Hubby and I cannot express just how much love and pride we feel for Beautiful B, for everything she has worked hard to achieve and for how incredibly strong she is to get through what she has. Somehow, Hubby, me and my mum and dad have managed to instill some wonderful values in her and I feel such love and pride every time someone tells me how lovely my daughter is. 

One day, she will make an amazing wife and mother. Just as much as she is a wonderful daughter. Never do I doubt her love for me because, just as I tell her often she also tells me how much she loves me. 

I know that I have struggled to articulate my love for her on this post but I do know that it is endless and will continue to grow. I used to think that I needed and wanted a successful career but you know what I worked out a couple of years ago?  That Beautiful B was my career, that my biggest goal in life was to fetch her up, her knowing that I loved her, to teach her to show love herself, for her to be a productive member of society and to forever strive to help her to become who she wants to be.  That became what is important to me.  No, it won't make me rich in monetary value and it doesn't pay the bills.  I do worry that she is a worrier and I blame myself for that and yet that is something we can work on together because becoming successful in that is better than any promotion I could get at work. 

My legacy will be Beautiful B and do you know what, if she didn't grow emotionally any more than she is at this exact moment in time I have achieved that legacy and I'm very very proud of that because she is beautiful, caring, loving, sweet, empathetic, gorgeous, respectful, giving, hard-working, and a proud young woman and has so much to give to society. While she may currently be questioning whether she wants to be a nurse all her life I know that whatever she decides on it will be something where she can give back to those who need help.  

 

So, to my Beautiful B, you are my world, always will be and you are my legacy.  Nothing else I ever achieve in my life will be better than what I have achieved with you. You are the best daughter I could ever wish for.  

With all my love and heart, until all the stars fall out of the sky. Xxxxx ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ xxxxx

3 days and counting

3 days and my baby is 21 years old. 21!! Still not sure where the time has gone. 

We had a lovely day in Bury on Saturday and today we are out with my Mum and Dad at somewhere called Bygone Times. 

It is like an indoor antiques market but it also has things collected from house sales so there are some good deals to be had. 

I love a good mooch around as long as it isn't clothes shopping; unfortunately my bank balance doesn't so today is likely to be window shopping. 

Beautiful B is an old soul in a young body and so also loves this sort of thing so is tagging along with the 'old folk'. 

This week is time to spend with my baby as she is on leave from work too. Tomorrow is a film day where we intend to watch all 3 Jurassic Park films in preparation for the new film released on the 11th. 

Thursday she is out with her Dad's family for her birthday which will be bitter sweet as her Dad won't be there. A huge cake has been bought. 

Friday is her actual 21st and thank goodness I reserved her cake for Monday when she is at mine for a family meal. It gives her chance to eat / share one cake before she gets another! Friday will be a day of visiting relatives. 

Saturday Beautiful B, being an old soul, didn't want a huge party. Instead she wants to visit York to go to the museum and the old prison. Sadly I can't be with her because Abi fluff is due to have babies that day so I am on birthing duty. 

Monday Beautiful B is at our house for a family meal. The birthday cake is far to big for the number coming but I figured she would want to share it with her Dads family, friends, nursing colleagues and her patients. Yes, I did order it before I knew her Dads family had also ordered her a huge cake and yes, I am either mad or too kind hearted to think about her work colleagues and patients. But hey ho,  who doesn't like cake?! 

Is it selfish of me to hope for this so called Spanish heatwave to hit the UK on the weekend and Monday so we can have a BBQ on the Monday?  Not least because Hubby can be responsible for making sure no-one is poisoned being the better cook of the two of us? 

On 'holiday'

Today I am in Sheffield for a team event. Driving instead of going in the train costs less for work with the added bonus of allowing me to listen to an audio book while driving. 

A night away from home has given me a good nights sleep without the need to share a bed with a Hubby that is currently coughing all night (bless him) and 4 dogs: 2 of which seem to be battling to either sleep attached by my side or round the top of my head on the pillow. 

I have had some breakfast, something I rarely do when staying in a hotel. That must be the nagging I get every 2 weeks at my health meeting to eat breakfast. At least subconsciously I am listening. 

My attempt to complete some training courses last night in preparation for the Negotiation Skills course on Thursday resulted in failure. I suspect my laptop is finally giving up the ghost but it is a great excuse. Pity I will have to do it at home tonight in my desktop to have any idea what they are talking about on Thursdays course. 

Finally; the vanilla Danish is staring at me and speaking! -  'it's okay I'm on a small and concise perfectly formed specimen. I don't contain many calories....well, okay but I don't contain as many as a full size vanilla Danish.  Go on, you know you want to.'

Princess who?.....

Does this slightly blurred photo of Lily remind you of a doggy version of Princess Leia or is it just me and Hubby? 

One day it's February and the next it's April!

My excuse - busy and tired. 

I've travelled all over the country and worked all hours.  I'm past the first week of a two week break from work and all I did the first week was sleep. Pesky brain shutting me down to rest. 

Finally I'm happy my house is clean again after having to rely on Hubby doing a bit here and there which never includes hoovering or polishing. Apparently it 'will only need doing again' for which we could use as an excuse to do nothing surely? I've given up trying to explain with a woman's reasoning. 

So much has happened that I don't feel I can talk about yet as I'm still trying to process and I'm trying to do one thing at a time rather than jump around numerous jobs at the same time. 

The dogs are looking very cute after a cut yesterday though I can see Cala's Puss in Boots begging eyes at me now all her hair has been cut off. I'm being very strong and not giving into her seem as she has to drop some weight on vets orders. 

We have Hubby's mum over for the weekend which means Easter eggs we would never normally buy each other and boxes of chocolates my hips (and everywhere else) doesn't need though I have to admit the Lindor Strawberry and Cream truffles are divine. 

Hubby has cooked a Sunday roast dinner so I am guessing it will be time for an afternoon nap soon. 

How have you all spent Easter? 

Abi sitting still for more than her usual 10 seconds. 

Cala - clearly her mum has been cleaning her eyes far more than is required! 

Wish me luck update

3 pairs of jeans now have patched right side front pockets. 

It only took 5 1/2 hrs of my life and they are not the tidiest pockets sewn by any stretch of the imagination but I have made sure the stitching is study if nothing else. 

Hubby is happy and that is all that matters. 

That and I do feel a little proud of myself for persevering with something I was scared of. 

Next steps: save up for a sewing machine and take lessons from my mum on how to use it..... 

Wish me luck!

First of all I would like the manufacturers of Clonodine for making the smallest pills imaginable and the hardest blister pack to go with them. My bloodied thumb would like to thank you also.

Today is my first attempt to put a patch on my husband's pockets. His keys and coins wear the inside of his pockets away. Up until now I have relied on my mum and his mum to sew them up. Yes, I know I'm 42 and I should be able to do it myself but I am useless at sewing. 

I am old enough to have had home economics classes in school which included cooking and sewing classes. I was that useless at sewing, so useless that the teacher separated me from the rest of the class thinking I was just messing around. That was around the time I was attempting to hem a square and I finished the class 6 months later still trying to hem a piece of square material properly. Everyone else was making peg bags. My teacher told my mum and dad she despaired of me. Needless to say I have remained useless. 

I can just about sew on a button and hem a pair of trousers with the stuff you iron into the hem (badly). 

I have decided I would quite like to make a patchwork quilt. Which requires the ability to.....yes, you guessed it, hem and join pieces of square material together. So I need to practice. Yes, I am aware that really I should desire to be able to patch my husbands jeans pockets more than make a quilt but I am more scared of putting a patch on a piece of existing material than attempt to hem a square. 

So this morning I am going to attempt my first patch. Wish me luck. 

What I learned this week

Firstly, life gets in the way - of blogging. And work gets in the way of life. 

It has been another busy week with overnight stays in Leeds & Sheffield. Thankfully, the overnight stays are almost over with only day visits to offices - albeit long days but I can cope with that. 

Lessons learned this week. 

1.     According to the Myers Briggs Personality Indicator I have a an introvert, intuition, feeling, judgement personality. 

2.     An introvert isn't necessarily a quiet person (trust me I am evidence of that) but instead gets their energy from doing things alone - that is true - I get my energy from reading or watching TV alone. Working out or walking the dogs also works. 

3.     Introverts don't get their energy from social occasions and like a small amount of time alone after a social situation to re-energise - again true for me (unless with my 4 best friends who I could spend ages with). 

4. You can move along the indicators with time. True for me - I am not as much of an introvert as I was 10 years ago. Something I have learned to change to to help my career. I also use intuition rather than base my decisions on solid fact - a serious move over 10 years. Learning to use my 'guy' in work decisions as I do in my personal life. 

3.     I am proud to be a feeling rather than thinking person. It means I put my colleagues and staff feelings before the tangible business decisions. It doesn't mean those feelings override business decisions just that I find a way to do it while keeping people's feeling forefront and centre. 

4.     Judging rather than perception - use facts and detail to back up the big picture. Makes sense lol. 

5.     Finding out what the whole teams personalities are can be great fun. 

6.     Charlie, Beautiful B's 6 month old black Labrador settles down quicker than Fredster fluff dies when he comes visiting. 

7.     Mini Toblerones are a much friendlier eating size than a normal size Toblerone. I suspect the manufacturer is missing a trick in not selling them this way regularly. 

8.     Hubby's mum talks her way through TV programmes and shouts at the TV when watching football matches  her son does the latter too. 

9.     Hubby's mum has moments when she gets confused which worries me. 

10.     Cala fluff will sit in her daughter in order to stay comfortable. 

So what have you learned this week? 

Usual rules apply - see below. I would love to hear from you if you also leave comments on my blog.To join in Julie's What I Learned This Week carnival, simply follow these steps: 

1. Any time this week, publish your What I Learned This Week post on your blog and comment on my blog hyper linking to your blog.

 

2. Then go and visit Julie’s blog at From Inmates to Playdates, find her latest “What I learned this week” and link up with the Mr. Linky form at the bottom of the post. Please put the link to your POST, not the front page of your blog.

 

3. Then visit the other participants and see what they learned this week.