Hurrah, work commenced on our verandah yesterday and should be completed by Sunday (weather permitting).  I am so excited and will post photos as soon as it's finished!!

 

I decided to be impulsive today and take the girls through to York.  This might not sound like a big deal to anyone, but usually I have to plan, ponder, plan, ponder.... every road trip a number of days in advance.  This was a big step on the road to recovery today.  Tomorrow I have an appointment at a chiropractor's.  I made the appointment myself as they sound exactly like what I need and am fed up with being told it'll take time - I just feel that there's something not right.

 

I am very excited about Friday.  My longest friend, Natasha, and I are meeting in Harrogate.  I haven't seen her since a week before Lauren was born and she's only seen Lauren in photographs.  I have a day of fun planned with her and the girls.  Can't wait!!! 

Last night, Peter found a very funny video of Lauren on the PC.  She'd just woken up from her nap and her hair was mad!  She looks like a mini rocker.

Last night my friend Penny & I went to a psychic fair in Harrogate.  We were both looking forward to it so were very disappointed when we arrived to see only 2 people sat behind 2 desks in a room.  I decided to get a "reading" anyway as I didn't want the evening to be a waste as I'd never had one done before.  I wasn't very keen on the gentleman who seemed to talk very loudly and could be heard complaining about the lack of heating (eh? it was very warm last night) whilst his paying customer was sat opposite.  I waited my turn to see the lady who charged £30 for a palm reading and tarot.  She said some things which I thought were very rude and a lot of things which were not psychic but  common sense or knowledge!  She did say a couple of things that were interesting though, from my hand she said I had very strong communication and was involved in teaching.  She also said that I should set my own training business up, which is something I've thought about for the last year and only discussed with a couple of people.  I would say that 95% was rubbish and 5% interesting.  I wasn't very impressed with her but have been told that there are some very good mediums and the very good ones only seem to charge a small fee which is even better!  If anyone reading this has a recommendation, please let me know.

 

I have raised my concerns about the indoor play centre with the H&S Team of Leeds Environmental Health who will be reporting back their findings to me.

 

We were hoping to spend some time with Peter today as he's been working away all week and only returned last night, but sadly he was called out this morning and is working in Derby on Sunday late afternoon until the early hours.  It's rotten on the Bank Holiday.

 

I'm hoping to get outside for most of the long weekend and make a start on my vegetable garden.  You never know this might turn into my own business if it's successful!!

 

 

 

I took the girls into Otley today to meet my old work colleague Natalie and her 9 month son, Zak.  It was lovely to see her as I've not seen her for nearly a year.  Martha was immediately taken with Zak and spent a long time stroking his head and touching his nose - it was very sweet.

 

Neither of us knows Otley very well so we didn't know what coffee shops to go to that were good for both our pushchairs so we were pleased to discover next to the carpark a children's indoor centre and coffee shop.  Our excitement soon turned to disappointment when I took a look at the play equipment.  It was all broken, dirty and loose.  There was a Little Tykes plastic cube house thing with a tunnel connected the two cuboids together, the top of the tunnel was all smashed with bits of plastic sticking down into the tunnel.  The equipment was the SGI - Play type which is very expensive however I have suspect that it was probably bought second hand as the place itself is quite new.  The soft play things, like a semi circle see-saw was all ripped and the stuffing exposed - perfect for a adventurous baby to pull out and eat.  I will never go back and am not sure how/if I should complain to someone (is it the council?) about the safety aspect - or am I being melodramatic?!

 

We went across the lane to see Peter's mum last night and she was looking at some old photos that Auntie Joyce had sorted out for her.  There is one of Lauren's Great Nana (Peter's Mum's Mother) and I wonder if I'm the only one to see the remarkable resemblance - see for yourself (Photo 10 in the May Album)!!

 

It gave me chills when I first saw it!

 

 

I feel very positive today.  I had a pleasant CBT session and we talked about lots of things that weren't crash related specifically but just talking about plans and the future feels so good.

 

I have decided my new and long term project is to create and maintain a vegetable garden.  Thanks to a wonderful book that Mum bought me for my birthday, I now have a bed plan and planting chart.  I've secured my piece of land which is about 60ft by 20ft and will be heading off to the hardware store for some string, pegs and line spray ready to mark out.  I have the grand plan of selling the produce (if it's any good and I have plenty of it) at the lane end - it seems to be quite popular around here, with people selling veg, plants and eggs.

 

I got a wonderful surprise yesterday when I went to put the electric fire in the shed for storage.  I tried to grow some mushrooms from a pack I bought a year or so ago.  I didn't hold out much hope with it being left for so long and after a couple of months of nothing, and searching around the compost for any signs of life I gave it up and left it in-situ in the shed.  Yesterday whilst in there, I decided to take it out with the idea of using the compost in my tubs and to my amazement I have mushrooms!!  There were only 2 full size ones but loads that are going to be coming out in time - I couldn't believe it and decided to give my first fruits of vegetable gardening to Peter's mum & dad who loved them!  Hurrah!!

 

NB:  I've posted Lauren & Martha's latest professional photo under the May photo album.

 

Woke to breakfast in bed this morning from Lauren & Peter - what a lovely treat. Thank you   Lauren got a fright as I woke up with red hair!  I decided I needed a pick-me-up in terms of appearance (which is getting me down just lately - everyone else seems so glam or stylish next to frumpy me), so last night I was brave and tried a temporary colour.  Typical me, misread the instructions and left it on for 12 minutes as opposed to the correct 5 minutes!!  Luckily I happened to re-read the instructions otherwise I would have gone for 15 minutes!!

 

Today has been a non starter with regard the veranda, our friend didn't arrive for some reason.  Perhaps we've got the date mixed up, I don't know.  I decided rather than sit in the house, to make plans to go out, so we drove over to Barnoldswick to see Peter's Great Auntie Joyce.  The girls played madly with all her brass knick knacks and generally caused havoc yet Auntie Joyce was delighted!  On the way home, I popped into Morrisons whilst Peter watched our sleeping girls in the car.  I found a lovely latern which was on a buy 2 for £3 deal so that's what I did!  I also bought a hook (79p) (that goes in the ground) and a hook (another 79p!)on a stand to use them with.  I can't wait until it gets dark to try them out!  I also bought myself some treats to have whilst Peter enjoys a night out with his friends in Harrogate.  Another good thing, I planned to clear the car out tomorrow but Peter has volunteered to be the nights' driver so cleared it out just now!!

 

I'm going to enjoy a quiet night and hopefully read some of my latest book.  Hope everyone has a good night and all are enjoying the weekend

Hurrah!  Martha has her first tooth!  She is still in pain getting the other ones through but it looks like they're not going to be far off.

 

I've been really slack recently on a lot of things, including updating my blog which seems to be happening weekly now.  During the next week, I plan to kick start my previously effective routines for getting the house organised, clean and tidy.  I can still remember how good I felt having everything sorted and some routine back in my life.

 

The rain over the past few weeks has brought everything in the garden on wonderfully however the downside is that Lauren, Martha and I are driving each other mad being cooped up inside.

 

I'm looking forward to this weekend when (weather permitting) our builder friend is coming to build our veranda which means our house will be finished and can get signed off ready to (hopefully) start getting upstairs sorted.  I feel bad about going on about upstairs getting done to Peter, but it will make all our lives so much easier, it's hard work when the girls and I are here most of the time and it's just so small.  As soon as it's done the house will be doubled, the girls can have playroom/guestroom/entertainment room, we will have a seperate dining room and I can enjoy the whole of the lounge without wondering what "zone" I'm in.  The staircase is the big issue (obviously!) but it's frustrating knowing that everything else (materials wise) is ready for us to use upstairs and not being able to get into it.  Roll on warm, dry weather so we can be outdoors!

 

 

I AM SO EXCITED!!!  I managed to get Peter & I tickets to see Prince at the O2 Arena (former Millennium Dome) in August.  It took me an hour and I didn't get the date I wanted but I've got great seats!!  Now I just have to prepare myself to leave the girls with Peter's mum overnight.

 

It has been an ok week.  I took the girls to Crazy Tykes on Wednesday - Lauren loved it (Martha's probably a bit too small but she seemed to enjoy what she could go on/in/over).  Planning to take them back next week with Peter so he could perhaps take them one day himself (another one of my targets - short times aparts from the girls).  The weather has prevented us from being outside too much which has made us stir crazy!  On Thursday the Tempest photographer was at Lauren's playgroup so I took both Lauren and Martha down to get their photos done.  I'm pleased with the end result however they aren't just as good as the first one in my opinion although they may look better once printed.

 

Also this week, we've booked our first family holiday.  We're going to a holiday cottage in Cumbria (nr Grange over Sands) for a week in June.  I'm really looking forward to it and Peter & I have already had fun planning - we're going on a steam train!!  Lauren will love it!

 

This afternoon, we have to take our library books back and around teatime, Amanda is coming over to cut all of hair.  I'm going to ask her to trim Martha's "fringe" too.  She has a very long set of about 10 strands that look mad and a bit like a combover if the wind blows!!!

 

Happy Bank Holiday everyone!  We've had a very, very lazy one and I don't feel particularly good about it.  I feel like we've wasted the time we've had together.  Today was a bit better as we left the hours early to go to a car boot sale at Pateley Bridge, there were a lot of stalls but everyone was selling the same stuff either bulk buys like batteries, gaffer tape etc or teak furniture!!  Thankfully there were a couple of plant stalls where I acquired some chives for my kitchen windowbox to fill the gap where my basil failed.

 

The weather has turned somewhat and I have been anxiously observing my sweet peas, nasturtiums, clematis and jasmine - so far so good but I don't want to tempt fate so will not comment further just now.

 

Martha seems to have grown even more in the last few days, she is shouting "hiya" and "daddy" on a regular basis but the funniest has to be when she whines - she sounds just like the ending of the Dukes of Hazzard (James Best) "gudya gudya gudya".

 

I'm planning to take the girls to a indoor play centre this week.  It will be another positive step as it involves me driving on a horrid stretch of the A1 on my own.  The prize at the end will be the girls having a great time and me getting a nice coffee!  

 

Made a lovely fruit salad this week with mango, apple, grapes, pineapple, banana and melon - it's lovely, took a while to prepare but makes me feel healthy whilst eating it (doesn't make me feel guilty about the cream on top!!!)  Off to have some now before the bananas turn brown!  Yummy!

 

Stop Press: Forgot to say that Peter met Robbie Coltrane whilst he was at Jason's garage getting his Parrot Bluetooth fitted.  He's (Robbie not Peter!) is making a documentary in the area and stopped.  Jason had his photo taken with him but Peter isn't starstruck with people unlike Jason and I.  I found out too late and set off on a mission through the dales looking for him but sadly he evaded capture!!  Lucky him!

 

I can't believe it's May already !!!!  In less than 2 months time, Martha will be celebrating her 1st birthday - she doesn't appear to have been here that long!!!  Today the girls and I went into Ripon to buy some toddler toilet seats for Playgroup (£1.99 - Home Bargains) as Lauren is too scared to use the big toilets there (it's a village hall) and the potty is very small.  It makes the work I'm doing at home toilet training a bit pointless when she wants to wear a nappy for playgroup.  Anyway, whilst in Ripon, we bought some new socks for Lauren which is such a nice experience as she's been in tights nearly all her life due to her exzema and it's a sign that things are getting better for her.  Whilst in Woolies, I spotted some beautiful "princess/fairy" dresses that were reduced from £28 to £14 to £8!  I managed to find one 12-18m and 3-4y so snapped them up and hope the girls will get a lot of wear out of them during the Summer - they can wear them for Martha's birthday party.  While I was queuing to pay, Lauren was fiddling with the displays that surround the checkout queue (really annoying place I think!) and I asked her to put down some Top Trump cards.  We got to the car 1 minute over the parking ticket, emptied the pushchair and I placed the girls in the car when I discovered a pack of Bratz Top Trumps in the folded up pushchair hood!   Yet again, lightfingered Lauren had taken something without paying!  I was so embarrassed, I drove to Woolies, parked up outside with hazards going and sheepishly handed them back in muttering "sorry my daughter took these".  They said it happens all the time and not to worry, but from now on, I'm going to pat down Lauren before we leave every shop!!!

 

Got a wonderful surprise this afternoon, ANC delivered a parcel to me and I knew I hadn't ordered anything so I opened it while the driver was there as he was intrigued because it was a massive box and felt incredibly light.  To my surprise, I had won a Radio Controlled Ford Focus WRC 2006 car!  I must have entered a competition via BP but I can't remember!  I need to start keeping a log of entries but then I suppose I wouldn't get a surprise!  I've ordered my batteries from Tesco.com with our grocery order and when it arrives tomorrow, Lauren, Martha & I will be outside having fun with it!!

 

Touch the screen  HERE and I'll try to pass on some of the good luck dust!!!! 

 

We had a BBQ yesterday to celebrate the warm weather (feeble excuse I know!!), we had a lovely time outside.  Lauren loved playing with my gym ball and Martha enjoyed the freedom of the top field to crawl to her hearts content.

 

Today we've pottered around the house and outside trying to get things tidied and washing mountain tackled.  Peter unearthed a great number of massive rocks that are suitable to make some beautiful walls, each one must weigh at least 2 tons so we need the tractor to move them.

 

Martha is still struggling with her teeth but I think I can yet again see a little bit of white at the bottom.  I was reminded today of something Lauren said earlier in the week. Peter staying in Reading one night last week and Lauren, Martha & I were up on our "viewing platform" watching for his van coming up the lane.  We saw the van and Lauren started waving and shouting excitedly.  When Peter pulled up, Lauren went bounding down the steps shouting "treat from Daddy, treat from Daddy!",  I asked her, "what do you think Daddy's got for you?"  Reply "Kisses!" my heart melted as did Peter's.

 

On the gardening update, my sweetpeas and nasturtiums have survived their first few nights outdoors.  I was worried about them getting shock and have been checking them first thing in the morning.  The fuschias in my original windowbox and growing rapidly but are still too early to produce the flower.  The citronella in the bathroom windowbox has exploded with beautiful tiny pink flowers and my pink Cape Daisies in our bedroom windowbox has so many flowers it's breathtaking.  My trailing Sweet Peas in a hanging basket are coming on a treat and I today spotted the start of the flowers - I can't wait!!!  My Night Scented Stock seeds are still far beneath the surface but I am hopeful that these will be a success too.  Lauren & Martha's seeds in the troughs are also getting bigger and bigger and Lauren is taking such good care of them - we are very proud of her responsible attitude at such a young age.