Sunday, July 30, 2006 

Funday Sunday



Another day, another trip out! We try and do as much as we can during the summer, as it becomes more difficult to do anything other than soft play areas during the winter! Following on from the Monkey Forest yesterday, we went to Amerton Farm, just outside Stafford. There is loads to do there, a free farmyard, a playbarn, a train, shops and, for the summer, some fairground rides for the little ones, and a giant sandpit. Best of all though they had donkey rides! Josh has been on a couple of times before, but it was a first for Abi who was very impressed!

One of my favourite female presenters has given birth. Kirstie Allsopp who presents Location Location Location gave birth to a 'little' boy weighing in at 11lbs 11oz! And I thought Josh was on the large size at 9lbs 10oz. You can read about Kirstie here - but go girl!

8:40 pm | |

Saturday, July 29, 2006 

Little Monkeys


We visited Monkey Forest at Trentham (near Stoke-On-Trent) today. It's a fantastic place, you walk through the woods, amongst 140 free roaming Barbary macaques. Neither Abi or Josh could quite believe how close they were able to get to them. They say not to get closer than 1 metre away! To be honest, the monkeys are so used to humans they just totally ignore you and get on with their day-to-day business. However, we were warned if we opened our bags to do it quickly as they are prone to taking an interest in the contents of bags!

Jay, Josh, Abi and friend!


A mummy giving her baby a lift!

I'm the king of the castle!


Thisty work!

Well, we're off home!

12:44 pm | |

Thursday, July 27, 2006 

I will survive



J went back to work on Monday, and he's doing fine. The drive is a bit of a drag, he has to go through Spaghetti Junction - it takes him 1hr 15mins to get in but only 25 mins to get home?! What's that about eh? Thanks for your good wishes for him by the way!

Anyway, I have been having palputations about him going back to work. Honestly. Would I be able to cope with the two of them on my own? I think I had just got into a comfort zone with J being here, as I was able to count on him to take Josh to school, keep Abi occupies etc. I've lasted 4 days so far and its been fine. In fact, I've really enjoyed pottering about with the two of them on my own - although we obviously miss Daddy. My plan for surviving the school holidays is to do one thing each day to get out of the house, and to try ando one big trip out each week. We've been to the park (of course!), to Cannock Chase, shopping and today when Abi was at Nursery I took Josh to Drayton Manor. It was lovely to spend some time with him on my own. I know that once Josh is at school I'll have every afternoon to potter about with Abi so I don't eel guilty at leaving her out. Here is a pic of a monkey having a nap (I thought it was funny!).

Other news, Josh got two swimming badges yesterday, his 5 metres and 10 metres badges, so Red and Yellow! I'm so proud of him, he's not 4.5 yet!

Especially for Phil, here's Abi's new haircut - I had cut it about 2 hours before I read your comments saying her hair was getting long lol!

5:50 pm | |

Thursday, July 20, 2006 

School Hols!

Josh finished nursery on Tuesday, he's now off until he starts reception class on 18th September - how long?! I will enjoy pottering about with him and Abi, but his Dad starts his new job on Monday - how about that for timing? The first day back at work is the official first day of the school summer break?!

Abi was in nursery as usual for a Thursay so we took Josh to Alton Towers. The heatwave meant that everyone was there (or so it seemed) so we left just after lunch. We don't live far away so quite often go for a morning. There was an accident on the Runaway Train ride while we were there, and the Air Ambulance came, but no-one was seriuosly hurt, thankfully.

We went on the new Charlie and The Chocolate Factory ride - the boat trip bit was OK, but the lift ride at the end is fab!


As you can see, he was tired by the end of day!

Not to miss Abi out, here's her having her tea the other day! She's just discovered the delights of M&S childrens' Chicken and Rice!

Huge congratulations go to Kell and her familily - on their new arrival Sonny, he is a looker already!

4:25 pm | |

Saturday, July 15, 2006 

Jobs!

I have a great update, Jerry has found a job! He's been off work since the start of February and we never thought it would be this difficult for him to find something else. He's 45 and has never been unemployed since he left school at 16! The first couple of months he was just enjoying the experience of spending some quality time with the children, but as time has gone on he has got frustrated. The job agencies were (in all honesty) rubbish. If you are going to call someone back, call them back - it's just common curtesy! Anyway, it seemed that the main problem was that he was over qualified - people were suspicious of his reasons behind applying for some jobs, thinking he would leave them as soon as something better came along. Anyway, the job he has got he found himself! He wrote to someone in his industry and he's got himself a job! I'm very proud of him!

The job itself is what he's great at - he'll be reducing their prices though negotiation and re-sourcing some products to the Far East. On the downside, I think he'll be travelling over to China quite a bit again - and I'll miss him!

We get to stay here which is excellent, Josh starts Reception class in September and Abi will be at Playgroup for 3 mornings a week in the village hall. We have been here 4 years now and are very settled. I have lived in this area most of my life though, other than when I was at Uni or near Brighton.

We've bought a new car - J gets a car allowance, rather than a company car so he's bought a new Avensis with leather seats and lots of gadgets such as Sat Nav- I'll update you when we collect it on Wednesday! It also means I get the portable Sat Nav!

My job news, I haven't got a job! I think I said I wasn't doing it for the money (I wasn't - it was about a 5th of the hourly rate I was on in Brighton!) but for experience and just to get out the house. Anyway, whilst I don't mind doing that I do mind people taking the mick! It started of at 2 days according to the agency, it was one day when I went to the company for my interview. A 'day' at that company is 7.5 hours. I offered to do two have days as that was no problem. The first week I did 6.5 hours in total - and that included training! The second week, I turned up to be told the Air Con wasn't working so I could go home if I wanted - I wasn't too happy - all you Mums out there know it took a lot of time and energy to get ready and get out the house! THEN, I was there for 1.5 hours!!!! They didn't want me in for the rest of the week either as the guy was on holiday on the Friday. Whilst I was willing to be flexible I am not willing to be a mug!

Just want to wish Red and Lydia (and of course, her hubby Clive) the best on their new adventure, enjoy every moment!

7:22 am | |

Saturday, July 08, 2006 

Depeche Mode - Strangelove

The soundtrack of my youth! I just love Depeche Mode and was into them at school when no-one else was!

Dave Gahan is a sex god (forgetting his junkie period of course...)

10:17 am | |

Free Counters
007counters.com