Shivvers

Well xmas brought a few extras we werent antisipating..lol flue

We were going to a party last night, instead both me and my fella were wrapped up in fleeces sharing the sneezing time again, hehe

Ive now had this dreaded thing 3 times so know what to expect, my fella hasnt had it before so already is on the sofa sounding half dead... it is man flue after all...lol

No seriously its not nice, everyone we know is either suffering or had it and unlike other forms this one comes back ! i havent eaten properly for weeks now so im praying the kids will eat the fridge this week, i bought so many goodies i just cant face eating....

Tuesday Dayles coming to do my hair ready for new years eve ! so its fingers crossed we can both get back on our feet and get to this party..

We were having Creane and dad up for a huge dinner today but Creanes feeling the same as we are, so im sending her my best wishes and will save the beef for next week...


I think ill get the brandy out today... for medicinal purposes of course..lol

Family Festives

Good morning everyone ! I hope everyone had a good christmas...

Its been a lovely few days, no work, just play and a great time spent with my family..

Xmas morning was wonderful the kids were so excited, this year we did things a little differently..

Instead of the expensive xbox or playstation stuff we decided we would get the kids everything that gets their mind and bodies working .. it worked, not once has someone moaned that they are bored...lol

Sometimes taking it back to basics can bring many surprises, this year it brought loads..

My kids were thrilled with the bits we got them, have managed to give me one of the best christmas's ive had and everyones managed to think of each other here.. especially dad with Callums electric shock game, the loser gets a lovely surprise running down their arm....lol

Brandon asked santa for a skateboard & has been in his element, But everyone else didnt ask for anything so on our day out together me and my fella managed to find an assortment of all those things we wanted as kids to see how the kids would react, why did i not do this before......lol

All day i played with the kids, i managed to cook a brilliant dinner in between and thoroughly enjoyed the day..

Boxing days much more chilled here so is my favourite, i get to make bubble and squeak and put my feet up a bit, my fella met up with dayle and took all the kids down to the cinema ! I couldnt believe he offered, so i got to spend an enjoyable hour in the bath and prepare a feast for when everyone arrived back, Estelle came to spend some time with me, so we caught up on all the gossip and had a real giggle, as soon as the kids were back it was mad !

They managed to eat just about everything that was laid out and did me proud ..

The late evening was spent with just me, my fella and Dayle and what better way to finish off two lovely days..

This lad is so creative and tallented when i get together with him i cant stop talking, he reminds me so much of Gok (how to look good naked) he has the same brilliant sense of humour and makes you feel so incredible... everyone who knows him loves him, so to have him as part of our family is a gift in itself......

He has a little surprise in the new year for me, i know what hes doing and cant wait !! so next year will bring some interesting changes.....lol

Ive thoroughly enjoyed christmas and a much needed rest away from the work...

Today im taking the kids down to the beach to test out those little metal detectors so will pack some flasks and blow away those xmas cobwebs..

Im really looking forward to a new year......

The last one wasnt so kind to us so heres hoping the new one will bring some good stuff, i know im already lucky with my family here so heres hoping it will bring many smiles..

In the Bag

Well i have to admit its been a brilliant day....

Im not stressed at all, in fact im very happy and feeling totally festive tonight, ive spent a great day with my fella and managed to do everything I didnt think we could in a day...............lol

This morning started with sandra doing me breakfast (Nothing posh here just toast) but its more than what i normally eat so already we were off to a good start..

We started at a little butchers miles from anywhere out in the country and picked up our beautiful turkey, they had horses next door in the fields so i spent most of the time wandering round talking to them, leaving my fella to sort the meat out ..lol well, hes always going on about that word and how a certain type of meat makes everything better for us women, so i left him to it......hehe

Then onto Sainsburys, managing to fill up two trolleys with so many lovelies, im ashamed to say i was actually hiding things i wouldnt normally buy under the crisps..lol the funny part was when we got to the checkout my fella had done exactly the same thing.......... but of course they will blame us women, ive never seen so much cheese and chocolate.......lol

Ive tried the other supermarkets over the years and sainsburys is the only one i can get my fella to go to without him getting stressed, it really was chilled out, there was even a chap helping you by keeping a car parking space ready and clear !! how good was that !

We dropped off what looks like a years shopping with 30 mins to unpack then moved onto the city centre........omg i was dreading this part..

Ideas of wandering round aimlessly were going through my head, but weve managed to get everyone we wanted a lovely gift that we really enjoyed choosing together, i totally loved it..

Usually its me getting the gifts and my fella indoors not even knowing what we gave people... how many of you guys are guilty of that one? lol

The days ended so well, ive still got the wrapping to do tonight now the kids are in bed, but after all the packing ive done in the last few months this should be a doddle...............lol

I couldnt believe how many sales there were up there today, we were getting things at prices i couldnt believe, sale after sale it never stopped !!

Hats off to my fella tonight, i said if we got this lot done in a day it would be a miracle, by the time xmas gets here im usually in and out of the festive spirit by now..

I have to admit im not doing that anymore, im doing this again next year, not only did we have a great day together, we both felt really festive and really got into the spirit of things, the lights were beautiful out there tonight..

Right its time for the mulled wine and some homemade sausage rolls, my daughter had fun making those with sandra today and boy they've turned out great...

Mums now going back into the packing room again tonight to wrap the things that hopefully will bring a few smiles to some great kids, i cant wait to see their faces when they see what we've got them....lol

Its not about how much weve spent, ive kept to a tight budget and stuck to it like glue, but i know they are gonna love what weve got them........

Lets hope they are very much like their mum and dad like we hope....

We were playing with them for hours in that shop .........lol

Have a great xmas eve tomorrow everyone ........

Bareback Riding

Oh what a night i had......................lol

Last night was my last riding lesson before Xmas so the guys up the stables decided to give us a night to remember ! bareback riding...................

Ive only ever done it once before and nothing like last night, there were 6 of us each partnering up with someone standing by to stop the horse in case we fell off ..(don't tell my fella that part though, i didn't ! ) lol

It was totally brilliant and Ive got to say easily as exciting as jumping, you feel at one completely with the horse..

I rode a few of the horses to get the feeling of each style and the last but not the least was to go off on my own into trot (i honestly think it was near canter) as they were shouting to my partner to slow him down....hehe

Ive discovered that i can ride really well without the saddle, so my dream of riding a horse up that beach now has slightly changed, i still want to ride that horse through the surf but as nature intended, both of us free as birds without that saddle...

We finished what was a wonderful night racing up to the top of the arena still bareback acting like total children having to stick our heads in plates of icing sugar trying to find prizes that were right at the bottom of course... and i loved every minute of it........

red halls given me so much this year, its the best school ive ever been to i feel like part of the furniture now and cant wait to start the new year with the two best things ive discovered in 2008 and made part of my life.. salsa and horseriding.......

And don't worry someone sat talking photos and a video in between her hysterics so no doubt they will follow in here very shortly..........lol

Happy Christmas everyone,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Dance Cuban Xmas Party

What a night we all had ! ive got a mojito hangover............lol

Last night was the http://www.dancecuban.net/ Christmas party.... Oh what a night !

The mojitos were flowing, everyone was dancing the night away in true cuban style with the best bunch of people you could ask for...

Sharon and Richard thanks to all their hard work really gave us all a chistmas party to remember...

We did everything from the conga.... not the type you typically do at weddings, this is far more sexier and so much fun to do everyone in that place was up and shaking the dancefloor, it really was such a brilliant night..

I havent danced for a couple of weeks so was a little stiff to start but with Richard dancing son and Ralph grabbing me for my first cuban salsa dances it soon made me realise what ive been missing.. My fella was on fire last night and completely wore me out, its a good job i had extra iron this week i will say, how many spins was he throwing me into............lol

Ive woke up for work today feeling like ive been on holiday, my energy levels are up my smile is fixed to permanent today and thanks to everyone at dance cuban im going to be smiling all the way through xmas..

I also want to thank Sharon and Richard for my beautiful flowers and my fellas gifts, You guys are so thoughtful and kind. you havent just taught us dancing, youve also made us part of a community that is very special to us and everyone in it..

Salsa really has changed everything, ive gone from someone who felt like she was falling to bits last week, to a girl who wants to take on the world today, and its all thanks to you both..

Im sure im not alone here when i send you all my love and wish you both a wonderful, magical xmas..

Last night was made magical because of you guys and a great bunch of people we now call our friends..............thanks guys for such a memorable night..

Cuban salsa is the best thing weve done in 2008 so heres to many more salsa parties in 2009 and sore feet (cuban style of course).. hehe

Happy christmas ..........rompe! rompe! rompe!.................

Winters chills

Its been a while since i posted on here, things have been pretty manic to say the least (nothing new there then !) lol

Ive been struggling with a few health problems which im trying to sort out and then went and got this dreaded man flue thing to top the biscuit.. so its not been the easiest on months, in fact its probably been the hardest ive had this year but im still going..

Ive been packing orders for England and making sure all the customers are looked after well its just myself i havent had much time for and boy is it showing now.. I looked a wreck !

So this week my fella made me an appointment to go see my dr, im glad i went as there are a few things that i needed some help on, i got lectured about taking time out for me and needing a break (which cracks me up as i have no hope there) so with me promising to do as im told, knowing as soon as im out of that surgery things have to carry on regardless.. its part of modern life now and with 4 kids and a business to run i can hardly put my feet up now can i..

yes i could quit work and cook cakes all day but thats not the way ive brought my kids up, ive always installed if they want something then they have to work hard to get it..

Ive managed to make sandra really ill this week, who is the only help i have here, she was trying to ease some of the pressure last week when i was really poorly and write all the addresses in my mailing books but working with me in a small office managed to give her flue so shes now tucked up in bed (hopefully) and getting herself well ready for next weeks onslaught of last minute orders..

Ive had the moany callers who blame me for ruining their parties as i didnt get their dress there on time, even though one lady ordered at midnight they expected it there by 9am the next morning so im taking it with a pinch of salt and managing to get that post out every morning, sometimes twice a day like yesterday.. i wanted it to be busy so im counting down the days til i can have a couple of days off and hopefully find my christmas spirit, it comes in a bottle and will be vodka shaped............hehe

I hurt my arm a few weeks ago moving some stock but kept putting off going for an xray, instead i did a jos version of DIY and have managed to use my other arm a lot more, i did finally get round to getting it looked at this week 4 weeks after first hurting it to find it was fractured ! boy did i get a telling off...lol But i must have done a half decent job as its mending nicely now (it itches like mad) so although its not reccomended i was swamped under with work and kids and grandad and couldnt face another hospital visit.

The good news is grandads doing ok, hes still very weak and thin but the heart surgery gave him new hope, he has a few cysts on his kidneys now that they are dealing with but we are all hopefull that he will get back to strength, i havent been allowed down my nans house now for 3 weeks as i didnt want to take any bugs down there but if hes up to it they have promised to come to mine for xmas dinner, every year we celebrate with them so im extremely grateful that we get to spend another year with him..

My mum flew back to tobago alot happier than she flew here and got to spend some precious time with her parents so although its not been easy we are still here and getting through whatever is being chucked at us all.

Tuesday i started to feel a little better, my fella took me to salsa so we could see some of our friends there and the night was lovely it just didnt stay like that, i got home to my eldest boy then being very sick and its kinda gone downhill from there again..lol

Today i have half my siblings home in bed all calling for mum every 2 mins for a hug paracetamol and water, ive had to so far change 2 beds this morning so no doubt it wont be the last, they have closed my eldest sons school as 40% of the kids are all suffereing from the same thing so whether the other 2 can manage to avoid this nasty bug remains to be seen..

I was looking so forward to salsa tonight but the kids being ill have changed my plans , ill be here and looking after them so my fellas going along and teaching me the moves when he gets back !

All those parties start next week so im determined to get everyone well here so we can celebrate our way and salsa the nights away..

I have a 2 hour gymkana at riding on monday night , which im really looking forward to, so im going to behave myself this week and get myself and everyone else well.......

So if any of you ladies out there see my fella out tonight grab him !! dont give him an easy night make him dance his socks off, i am so gonna miss you all tonight........