Party Night then Dressage Event

Oh my word isn't it hot today!

Ive just got back from the dressage event to say I'm hot is an understatement, i have 3 pairs of socks on ! i got my boots secondhand and had to get a bigger pair ..lol

The morning started out a bit nervously, we decided to go along to the party last night and celebrate our anniversary with everyone there, so my fella was rather worse for wear.. He got me an olive tree as a gift which i thought was rather amusing as i don't really like olives (he does) lol

I didn't drink as i knew what i had to do today, but managed to have a brilliant night, all my sisters were there which was a real giggle, especially as they were all looking rather happy...lol we went late afternoon so started the afternoon thrashing each other at badminton (i haven't played that for years) talk about a giggle, even my fella had a go, but as the night unfolded it was a really good night, we all managed not to fall into Julies pond, although there was a few near misses :) there were people there we hadn't seen in years so it was great to catch up, i wouldn't want to live on that street though, 3 houses all were throwing parties on the same night! one of my sisters was hungry so took it in turns to go eat all the food from the other 2 then come back..lol

Although a didgeridoo isn't the normal thing you find at a party Damien who had lots of fun with it decided to get it out.. lol hes a personal fitness trainer (who shaves his egg rolls for customers to look at while they work out...lol he was telling us all about it too) its true !! hes also a very gorgeous bloke so can get away with it..

I came home giggling my head off and that was just on tea ! but a big thank you goes to Julie this morning for really making it a brilliant party, her gardens like something out of china with little raised levels and hideways pretty lights, it was amazing to see..

My sister had taken down her fences so the guests could all use her garden too, so between us we made the most of the space...

There was one lady there that cracked everyone up all night, talk about drunk, every time she went near the pond we were all on standby, that's the lady in this picture, which says it all really..lol I bet shes got a hangover from hell today..she was so funny and chased Damien about for most of the night..

Anyway back to today..

I was really nervous about not learning what i was supposed to memorize..oops it was a bit nerve wracking as everyone was busy doing their own thing outside in the arenas practising so i just resigned to the fact i was going to put this one down as an experience, i kept looking at the sheet but couldn't get my head round the course, i was thinking about the other stuff on there and what they were looking for, if i messed up the course that's one thing, but at least i could work on the other bits.

We were sent in the arena in two's, after being able to practise outside first, me and the another girl who's been riding for years were next in , she told me she wasn't worried as she knew the course inside out, she was riding Dolly, so i whispered to pip to help me out .. he must have heard me bless..



Thankfully they allowed my teacher to call out the course, which really helped, I'm sure the judges could hear my tummy going over, but it all went well although they didnt warn me there would also be spectators! it was my first attempt at dressage but WONT be my last now (I'm already entered into the next level) so i will make sure i practise, get it memorized and not leave it until the week of the event before i join, its all good acting spontaneously sometimes but NOT for dressage events (that was a nuts thing to do) the amazing news is i got scored higher marks than the other more experienced rider i was in with (which she didn't look very pleased about), but i did mess up on one of the circles (it was more egg shaped !) we were told they were marking low today but anything up from a 5 upwards from these ladies was good.. I got all 5s and 6s except on my egg impression where i got a 3...lol
I'm really pleased i had a go, even though Ive been worrying about it, now Ive done it once ill drop the nerves next time and up the practise.

Lauren came to watch so all the photos are thanks to her bless, i would have given Pip a mint when we finished but as i asked Lauren to hold them for me, there wasn't any left .. she ate the lot ! so ill take a few extra tomorrow.... at my jumping lesson......

Its been a really good weekend, I'm knackered, my house looks like a bombs hit it and I'm now going to start on my mum duties..

Ive had a couple of hours out today to be Jo...now i need to get this lot on track and ready for the new week !

I dont need to look at that on paper, though, i have memorized that lot through experience....hehe

Double Celebration

Its been a beautiful couple of days, the weathers been amazing !

Yesterday i spent the afternoon chilling out in the garden, people call it weeding, i call it clearing up behind the messy blackbird who empties my bird tables as soon as i fill them..lol Ive been watching her every morning and couldnt work out why she did it, but yesterday we found out.

She pops back after spraying all the food everywhere with so many little ones, my garden was alive with little happy visitors singing away beautifully.

Its amazing how much those simple things can lift your spirits, i ended up out there til gone 9pm and walking out there this morning with my cuppa was an absolute pleasure, it looks really beautiful.

We have grapes cherries, apples, tomatoes, lettuce, god knows how many herbs and a mixture of edible things, but i really enjoy being out there so its good all round..

The weeks been pretty mad for my fella as usual, hes doing himself proud and somehow manages to keep up to date with everything, we have had some help from our friend whos managing to teach my fella so much new stuff my head spins when they talk about it, ive been taken back by kindness some people have shown, its a lovely feeling.

Last night we hit the Staithe for our Cuban salsa class, we all get hard weeks where the works endless and have had a few of those recently, the only difference is we are both working for the same thing now and know what we want to acheive, so support each other all the way, but we both feel we want to kick up the dancing a bit more again now.. it was so hot in there last night, but really added to the night, it was like being abroad..lol

Its our anniversary saturday (16 years) AND my fellas birthday on Tuesday (21 again of course) so i may book up a nice table somewhere and take him out for a meal, putting up with me deserves a medal, so tonight im staying in and getting some practise with him to try and remember all these dances moves we have forgotten, its funny really but when your heads so full of work and ideas buzzing round like mad, its hard to remember much more after that, we both felt it and thankfully were able to just giggle at each other when we stood on each other or messed up everything..

We have been invited to a party Saturday night (yes another one!) but were not sure yet if we are going or not, so playing it by ear, its an old friend of ours and i know the alcohol will come into play as her parties are always lively.. so i may not go as yet, im sitting on a bl**dy horse sunday and dont want to live that dangerously...lol

The sad news of the day of course has to be about Michael Jackson, the pop superstar died last night aged 50! it just goes to prove you never know when your times up.

He was alarming at times and seemed to have many problems in his personal life, but i tended to just enjoy the music and ignore all the other stuff, he had to be troubled to try and change the way he looked like he did, it became freakish, but i know how it feels when you dont like yourself and felt like that when i was with Geoff, so i wont be judging or answering all the wacko Jacko jokes im getting text this morning.. hopefully he will be remembered for his music gift he leaves the world with and not all the bad stuff...

Anyway have a great day everyone, that weekends fast approaching !

Im not sure yet what im going to do with it yet except for one thing..

Im gonna enjoy it regardless...hehe

Blondes have more fun

Its been a hectic couple of days, the weekend was a blur we were both snowed under with work, so didn't do anything except that, but it has to be done, so you may as well just get on with it and try to keep smiling while you work.. we had invites for two different parties Saturday night and couldn't manage to make any of them sadly, these things happen i guess, my fella was working on something important and i last minute went to spend some time with my grandad, he had another operation last week and was feeling a bit sad so my sister phoned and asked me to go see him, Im glad i did, she was right..

I took the kids back Sunday and they cleared the biscuit tin in about ten mins flat which made grandad laugh, He's feeling much brighter today thankfully and recovering well, but he's been through so much this year and is looking forward to spending some quality time with nanny, and hopefully without all his hospital visits.

Fathers day was lovely we did spoil my fella all day, the kids all did little things for him without me having to remind them, which was thoughtful, we have such good kids, probably as hes such a good dad...

Yesterday was spent packing, followed by trying to sort out a new newsletter, Ive done so much work on the website blog this week and have missed writing in here, this is the place i get to write everything i want to, its like coming to visit a friend..


Last night i went riding as usual, i went down to the stables early and spent some time just walking about by myself, it was such a beautiful night for it, unlike last week when we rode through the storm..lol


I got to ride Pip for the lesson which was really good fun, for a small horse he doesn't half move quick ! as soon as you sit on him you can feel the excitement, he loves to run and is lovely to ride.
Im not sure how i managed to do it, but Ive got myself into competing in a dressage event on Sunday (which I'm rather nervous about) it seemed a good idea at the time when Wendy was talking about it, but it wasn't until she gave me the sheet that i realised what id got myself into, I have to memorize the course and what i need to do but hopefully get the horse to act beautifully for me, anyone who knows me will know I'm far from posh, so to sit on the horse trying to look elegant, suited and booted is going to make me giggle like hell..lol
I dont even own a tie ! I'm going to have to beg and borrow just about everything to do this, so i am dressed appropriately, black jacket, white shirt, black tie and black jodhpurs...Oh my word getting dressed up to get dirty eh...lol

I met up with my friend Anita after the class who has just got back from a holiday in Egypt. talk about looking healthy.. I had just filled the kettles up with the outside tap (well i cant work without a cuppa) but missing the lid completely with the tap, so stood there giggling away to myself looking like a drowned rat, i haven't been able to go see her horse while she was away, so caught up on saying hello to all the livery ones.. I do miss them, i used to look after those horses when i worked every Friday as a volunteer up there, so have to get back as soon as i can.. ive tried for the last 2 weeks but had to work so ill try again this week..

I managed to get some photos last night but i cant use the flash when it gets dark (it scares the horses) so apologies for the dark pictures, they are much more beautiful in real life though..

We started the horsecare and knowledge class at 8pm and Kevin led out a big black horse and handed me a huge electric clipper !! hehe cutting peoples hair im game for, but giving a horse a haircut is totally different.. it was a hell of an experience though, although you do have to keep your wits about you at all times, they are so unpredictable.
I thought we did quite a good job, but bare in mind it was really dark by the time we finished 11.45pm and i couldn't really see..lol
Im praying that horse still looks as good when the morning comes and she gets out in the sunlight, i bet they will be wetting theirselves up there today, when they see our version of clipping in the daylight.
We finished the night cutting, pulling, plaiting and grooming manes and tails so the horses got a good pampering session and plenty of sneaky mints when Kevin wasn't looking...

I managed to get some photos of Roger last night, the big white french horse who's so very ticklish and beautiful ! so you can see just how big his head is, its nearly as big as me put together, but i really love this horse and would love to ride him.. kevin said id look like a pea sitting on him.........:) so ill keep pestering of course til he lets me..whats wrong with a pea riding a horse !
If you tickle under his main he lowers his head right down and tilts it, his top lip comes out like Elvis and quivers like mad, i cant help but fall about laughing, ive never seen anything like him..

I'm riding Pip for the dressage event so very happy about that, hes small but lovely, if it was Billy or Jack id be panicking big time and have major league sore legs as much of it is all controlled by legs, without needing the reins, its scored on points and you need so many to pass (130 which ill get nowhere near of course) but whatever the outcome, at least i had a go.
Some of the girls have been practising for months and muggins here leaves everything til last minute again. I need to set up the garden with the same layout as the arena AKEHCJHF (i hope ive got that right, if not please help!) and run around looking like a loony pretending im a horse ! lol
My fellas threatening to video it and put it on YouTube... so ill wait til every ones asleep and get up extra early. nobody gets up early here except me and the birds so 5 am ill be giving the birds a comedy show for a change...lol


My fella wanted to come along and watch (that's a first!) but i didn't really want him to..

I'm pretty nervous and will probably mess it up even worse if i know I'm being watched, especially as he hasnt seen me ride since my first lesson at Kimblewick.. lol I like putting him through the hours of conversation after each lesson to tell him all about it anyway, why spoil that fun...hehe

I'm doing this competition for me, so want to go it alone ..

Im nervous but also very excited at the same time..


Anyway its time for a bath and a cuppa, we're working tonight so its another long one ahead and i thought it may wake me up a bit more.


No rest for the wicked eh ! whatever did i do in my past life? I hope it was good ! lol


Have a great evening everyone.

Happy Birthday Sharon

Happy birthday Sharon !

May your day be full of fun, sangria and salsa.. which im sure it will be..

This special lady makes us all feel amazing, she wiggles and shimmees the night away like noone else we know, always smiling and lights the room up as some people shine from inside..

So as today is her special day, we want to wish her..

A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

Loads of Love xxx

Men !

I'm having a good old rant tonight, just to clear the air of all these blue words i keep wanting to shout at my fella....lol

Why is it men accuse us women of talking too much? its not us, its them !! he honestly doesn't stop or shut up sometimes..hehe

(its our 16th anniversary next Saturday too) aren't i that kind considerate partner sometimes..lol

Tonight i was promised a meal together, time out and off the computers and what do i get ? on my own again !!

"I'll be just ten more Min's Jo" which was only 97 Min's ago and hes still jabbering away on Skype, thank god they called him.......

The dinner (smoked haddock) is still sitting in the fridge, Ive taken the kids out to the fair he promised to do the parental duty with and attend with me at the school, I was bored silly on my own, the kids kept shouting "please come here mum, look at this" (that means i need some money) so when i ran out i decided id come back and leave them to it, i want to go throw a bucket of water over his head at the moment as im tired and hungry, so decided its better to talk to you guys instead and calm down...

is throwing things allowed if it doesn't hurt them? or shall i put it down to just being tired and go sit in the bath with my headset..

its been a busy week, neither of us has stopped and i know we both need to (ok well i need to, he has other ideas)... trouble is getting him to switch off - he really loves to work and loves what he does ! so i guess i should stop being a grump and just cook the meal for him...

He had a really good meeting today and landed himself a brilliant website to build so is on a high, i am really pleased for him and proud of what hes done as this beauty will also be a second income for us both as we get a percentage of anything that sells , but since he got home at 3pm i haven't managed a word yet, as i cant get him off that phone, its past 7pm .....

I love his company so even for an hour, so if hes not out of that unit by 8 I'm off ! I'll pinch the car and go off wandering somewhere in protest, probably to the nearest fish and chip shop as im starving..lol

It is a case of all work no play this week, I understand why and accepted that without complaint so buried my head into J-lou and the website blog and allowed him time, but once i get him inside the house tonight I'm hiding up those keys so he cant get in to get his laptop out, that way he will have no choice but to spend some time out with his grumpy partner ....lol

Anyway thanks for listening you guys ! i feel better already and you've just saved him from getting wet................hehe

Wet Through

Wow What a day i experienced yesterday!

Everyone was giggling here as id booked the day riding , so what do we get ..lol Yes a wonderful storm.

The afternoon started brilliantly i met up with Jean and did our jumping class, it was really exciting we had Soloman and Roger, they were both brilliant and really made the class easy as you could feel they both really wanted to jump. Solomans known to like clearing his 5 bar gate quite a lot and wander off round the school and although hes got huge feet hes lovely to jump.

Lauren really enjoyed her class as there was only 2 of them in there so they got lots of time to do all the things they enjoy, she didn't stop giggling (or talking) but when i got back last night she was snoring for England ..lol watching her sleep with a smile on her face told me how much she enjoys this.

Last night for me was the highlight of the day, it was pissing down ! my fella was convinced the evening would be cancelled and looked shocked when out i went in the middle of a storm to go horse riding....lol But its not something you do everyday is it? anyway it was amazing..

Walking across the car park i could see all the girls lined up on the horses ready, all were soaked but not one wasn't smiling!

I was put on Jack again, who's turning out to be working brilliantly with me, he does get spooked easily so we were lead down to the arena, his ears were back as usual (he doesn't like the other horses near him) but behaved so well for me.

Once we were in the arena he came to life, all night there was no stopping him and the others, it was as if the storm hyped them up, cantering round there with the rain teaming down and the thunder and lightning blasting through was totally amazing and one of those things i know will stay with me.

We spent the rest of the night outside in the storm doing bandages on Kevins racehorses legs giggling away dripping wet..

The only downside was i couldn't do any pictures as my camera phone isn't like me and doesn't like the rain much - I do..

Yesterday gave me a wonderful day, the storm added such a magical feeling to everything and the best part was my fellas face when i knocked on the door near midnight looking like a drowned rat smiling wickedly..

He just looked at me shocked then smiled and said "ill put the kettle on then shall i "

He knows me well....lol

Riding day

Woweeeeeeee Its Monday, Ive been looking forward to today..

As a treat my nan paid for me to do a hack on my b/day, sadly i wasn't capable of riding anything let alone a horse so had to cancel it :(

Today as the weathers been so lovely and I'm back to being fit Ive booked up a jumping lesson with a friend from riding so at 2pm today we are gonna be out in those fields and hopefully staying in those saddles, Jeans looking as forward to it as me and has already been texting ! yes another early bird..lol

I did ask my fella to see if he could borrow Marks car and come along to take some pictures (its a convertible so perfect that way) but hes snowed under with work.. I know he didn't come to bed til 4am so understand totally, i admire his dedication so much, there's a lot happening for him this week so ill go along today and tell him all about it when i get back tonight !! (i bet he will look forward to that one) lol

Its back with Lauren at 4 then back for me for my normal lesson at 6.30 ! followed by tea and the NVQ so its another late night but a perfect way to start the week for me. I'm so excited.

Ive got up extra early done all the emails and packing and ready to roll..

I was disappointed that i didn't get the hack and spent my b/day in bed but some things are worth waiting for... Lets hope today's one of those days..

Have a great day everyone, ill try and get some photos...

Celebrity Fashion - How to dress Free

Its been a busy week, Ive done lots of work and kept my head down, it feels like Ive got a list to get through but I'm taking it a day at a time and just keeping myself going..

My fellas been working on the website blog for me and changed it into what i wanted, so now comes the job of finding my creative head and adding some good stuff..lol that's been easier said than done.

I had such a weird call today its had my head in turmoil, in the end i called my partner and asked for some help.. lol I honestly didn't know what to think.. I'm such a mug at times..

She started by saying she had found my shop http://www.j-lou.com/ and loved the gear, she told me her name (which ill withhold) and said, she was in charge of a big company who deals with celebs, i listened patiently even though my mobile was ringing, the kids were all appearing home from school hungry and the house had started to become its usual chaotic self..

Anyway the story went on, did i watch TV? "No" i answered honestly "I only watch a couple of programmes or an occasional movie when I'm too tired to think or need to unwind"..

She went on about a programme that had previously run, called 'Last choir Standing' I remember my daughter watching that, so told her i had been aware of it but that was it ! she explained that one of the groups who were on the show were now setting up as a four man group, (the name ill withhold too) but that EMI were going to sign them who also had Leona Lewis and El Divo on their books, wow I love all of them and their music.

She said that she wanted to help me get j-lou on the celebrity map and that they had a photo shoot booked Saturday with this new group and thats where i came in...lol (heres the good part)

Would i give her 2 dresses each for the two ladies who both looked and had figures like Beyonce's of course... OMG... id go and measure them up if they look half as good as that lady does, shes so beautiful and talented and one of my heros (sorry getting carried away ) hehe

I didn't know what to make of this woman, she may/may not be genuine, who could tell. How the hell do you know who you are talking to on the phone and that you are not going to get stung again ? I had this happen years ago by an actress Annika Svenska who was presenting channel 4s 'Out There' a similar call saying she would get my label noticed and help, i stupidly got talked into making her 17 outfits to wear on her show with so many promises, never to hear from her again.... at a time when my kids were all tiny and i was battling to start my business, when you start out in this business you don't know how ruthless people can be do you , i learnt that one the expensive and hard way..

After about 30 Min's on the phone with this lady today telling me all she would do to 'help me' i explained that i run J-lou on my own... I'm not some big company that could afford to do this and lose money to sponsor some up and coming celebrities.

I couldn't have been more honest and made it clear that i am full time working mum to 5 kids and that i work hours most people wouldn't believe, but she carried on...

It went from , she would only need 2 dresses for these two Beyonce look alike ladies and she would do this that and everything else in between to help me and link to the website, by now i was totally lost as i kept asking where these photos would be put that the photo shoot was for? Surely if EMI or Mr sex on legs Simon Cowell was working with this group they could come up with funds to dress them for a photo shoot? but she wanted me and my look, i was getting pretty flustered by now at being treated like a mushroom so asked for her details so i could think about it and get back to her, she did give me her address and details... but she needed to know now, as if i didnt want to take this huge opportunity she was offering she would find another sponsor that would, Debenhams was mentioned as apparently they would jump at the chance... Yes they also have pot loads of money at their disposal for advertising, i don't ! i probably could come up with the pot !!

She then started to go through my site giving me code numbers of what she liked and asking me to write it down, i thought she said 2 dresses each? perhaps my ears werent hearing right ! at one point there were 13 on the list and some of them she wanted 2 each of, by now i'm wanting to get off the phone !

Thankfully i told her i couldn't make any decisions, id look into her company and talk to my fella, that she should call back and talk to him, which she did....... Thankfully he did get a word in and stuck up for me.......

What do you do when situations arise like this? it doesn't happen often but it does happen, they pick out your website and fill you so full of their celebrity jargon, you don't know what to believe.

My fella told her that i couldn't send out £600 worth of dresses to help this new pop group but that if EMI would like to purchase them we could offer a discount to help, her response wasn't so polite of course....lol

I didnt know what to think, or if indeed this was a ' huge missed opportunity' , but the truth is i couldn't afford to do it.. are people not aware that we are all trying to stay in business and having to work our bums off in the middle of a recession?

I have 4 lots of school uniforms to buy, endless bills (like the rest of us normal people) and cant work any more hours if i tried, so if the lovely Mr Cowell one day stumbles across my blog and frowns at the mad woman who turned down his amazing offer of giving away her kids school uniform money and next weeks shopping allowance to dress star studded celebrities, i hope he'll understand why..lol

Perhaps we should all ring up the big companies and see if we can get any free clothes?

I may have a big heart and want to help people, but sadly i don't have a wallet like Mr Cowell does.... (or even his high waisted trousers) but i do have some rather nice low rise jeans....lol

Anyway...................

If all else fails she can always try those helpful politicians.....lol

I hear they can put anything down as expenses and not be answerable, so reaching out to the stars probably hasn't been claimed for yet !!

I did say probably...............hehe