Sunday, May 28, 2006 

I've been neglecting you...

I haven't posted for ages, and I'm sorry! No real reason, we're not too busy - I think I'm just lazy. I got up at 4.40am this morning - Abi woke and was not going back to sleep - until we had made our way downstairs, then she fell fast asleep on the sofa and I was left wide awake trying to find something half-decent to watch on Sky (I failed!). Why is it, when I'm on Abi watch she wakes up stupidly early, but when its her Dad's turn, she can manage a perfectly respectable 6.45am? I need to have words with my daughter!

It's half-term now so we'll be out and about I'm sure. We go on holiday as well to Jersey. Its our annual jaunt over there and we just love it, its just a great place! Josh is getting very excited about the flight! I just hope Abi behaves on the way over - one of the reasons we don't go any further away by plane!!!

Anyway, as you can see, this is a bit of a 'I've got to post something, but haven't got anything to write' post, and for that I'm sorry! I will leave you with some pics of Josh and Abi, playing Masks! The masks were left over from Halloween, but Josh and Abi both love wearing them - I worry about my children!

6:37 am | |

Friday, May 19, 2006 

New Addition!

Bet that's got you thinking! But no, the new addition to our family is Boris the hamster. We've been discussing getting Josh and Abi a pet for sometime and decided that a hamster was probably the easiest option (the cats don't know yet, but I'm sure they'll be pleased!)

Josh chose the name - I've always wanted a dog called Boris, and I think the name has caught on! Here are Josh and Abi investigating our new arrival:

Other news, well Josh had a presentation today showing all that the nursery class has learnt at school. Each child did a little bit, and Josh's contribution was showing the audience how well he could use chopsticks! They are special children's chopsticks - does anyone know where I could get some? I haven't edited the picture as you can see how the children in the background have just lost all interest in what's happening! Josh is the one holding the little blue man with his chopsticks! You can see his quiff perfectly! He looks cute now, but when he's older I'm sure he'll hate his hair!

Also, Jerry was in the Hereford Times this week - following the football win - here he is (hugging the player - pity me tomorrow - its the final!)

7:05 pm | |

Tuesday, May 16, 2006 

Football

I'm being driven mad! Hereford are playing in the Conference Play-offs on Saturday, and Jerry is getting a bit excited about it all! I used to go to matches with him, but haven't been since I had Josh. Since we moved to Wolverhampton, I have been able to watch Wolves again - we did have a season ticket the first full season we were back, but they put the prices up too much to justify going and I could always find something better to do if I could get my Mom to babysit!

Anyway, chances are whatever happens, he's going to be a nightmare to live with at the weekend, either totally overjoyed because they've gained promotion, or depressed as they haven't! Oh well!!!

10:12 pm | |

Friday, May 12, 2006 

Fun in the sun!




Jerry was away overnight as Hereford United were in the Conference play-offs and he stayed at his sisters. We picked him up from the train station after Josh had finished his morning at nursery and went to Telford Town Park. It is absolutely fantastic for children there - one playground after another.... The sun was shining and we made the most of the weather, as you can see in the photo's. As I've said, we picked Josh up straight from school, hence the fact that he bears a striking resemblance to Just William!

So far I've lost 13lbs in just 12 days! Its not as good as it sounds, as I had lost that amount already this year, but put it all back on again! I've been doing the Atkins diet - I think its fantastic, but to do it long term I think I'd have to do a mixture of that and just old fashioned calorie counting.

3:33 pm | |

Wednesday, May 10, 2006 

Is Summer here?

We seem to have had a few days of nice weather and if I whisper it I may just believe that summer is nearly here! The kids are spending more time in the garden, which means I can actually risk vacuuming up and tidying as they are not in to undo all my hard work! Mind you, I always seem to end up in the garden with them so still nothing gets done!

Josh has his speech therapy appointment on Tuesday and he does seem to be improving. The Speech therapist is lovely with him, he's been there over a year and a half now, mainly for assessment up till now. He's had just about everything tested during that time, but its only in the last 6 months that his speech has really come on. We know his hearing is OK, he's not tongue tied and his development other than his speech is better than his age. She seems to think he has a problem with his sequencing (as well as a small pronunciation problem) but we're all working on it to get better and I do start to see the end of the tunnel now. When you have a child with any sort of problem though the road is a long one. You can talk to the professionals and other people in the same situation till your blue in the face, but your head tells you one thing, your heart another.

Josh is a very special little man though and if he grows up to show half the concern for others that he does now, I will continue to be proud of him!

6:03 pm | |

Thursday, May 04, 2006 

The ‘Carol Vorderman Please Stop Doing Secured Loans’ Appeal

I've asked for this to be sent to a few people, so if you've had the link then I'm to blame, but for anyone in the UK that reads this, Martin Lewis from MoneySavingExpert.com has started a petition to get Carol Vorderman to stop advertising for these loans as they are 'normalizing' this form of borrowing. Here is the link to Money Saving Expert to explain more and the link to the petition is here. I hate this advert, especially that someone with the supposed intelligence of Carol encourages people to borrow with such bad repayment terms.

(From MSE) The British public now collectively owe a massive £1,100,000,000,000. The secured loan market has increased five times over the last five years and the growing normalization of these loans is a time bomb waiting to go off. Sold as a ‘cure all’ where people bung all their debts together, they’re often, actually, potentially expensive debts, which trap people in for an extended period and if you can’t repay you can lose your home. Adverts for these are now constantly sprayed across our TV sets:

Carol Vorderman Please Stop Doing Secured Loan Adverts!

8:33 pm | |

Tuesday, May 02, 2006 

Bank Holiday Fun!


We went out with my best friend Esther and her husband John on Saturday night. We have been out many times with the children, but it was the first 'grown-up' evening out we've had together in the four or so years we've known each other! We had a great time, went into Stone for an Italian so I ate and drank far too much. Sunday was spent recovering and we just pottered about with the kids.

(Josh in discussions with Grandad Ben!)

On Monday my FIL Ben, SIL Helen and her husband Richard came over. We ended up going to a local market/car boot and got drenched. Why does it always seem to rain on bank holidays? You can see that Abi was ready for every eventuality, Nappy, Sun Hat and Wellies!

Josh decided to get in on the multi-tasking too, so went for a Policeman/Bob the Builder look!

10:02 am | |

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