Friday 27 September 2013

No Autumn Blues Here.

I love Autumn, there's something about the leaves going those gorgeous shades of yellows
and coppers before we are plunged into the bareness of winter. I love the nights drawing in on us and I adore putting on the lamps and lighting the candles whilst the smell of beef stew wafts through the house.
I cant wait to get into bed where I will open the window a little and let the cool air roll over me before I pull the duvet up around my ears and smile to myself.

I cannot imagine not having Autumn, what an awful thought. Just think...Spring to Summer then straight to Winter.......YUCK!!!!

I love to see the kids faces when they walk through the front door all cold and damp from playing various sports outside at school and realise they can smell cakes baking in the oven.

The downside is that my poor Hubby has to go to work in the dark and come home in the dark too. The kids will now have to be picked up from after school clubs as I don't want them walking home as it starts to get darker earlier. The dog will now need regular baths after walking due to the amount of mud and dirt that sticks to him and suddenly the porch goes from being a haven for flip flops to a smelly pit of wellies hanging off of wooden wellie stands dripping water all over my floor.

Sunday afternoons are my favourite with a good old roast dinner and an afternoon film whilst snuggled up under our blankets.

I think secretly the real reason I love Autumn is that the kids stay home a little bit more, choosing to hang out around the house rather than getting wet and cold outside. They tend to come in and stick their PJ's on early and chill out downstairs with me. We used to play board games but this novelty is wearing thin now days, so instead we will sit and chat and laugh at the days events.

As for The Teenager it's all about the Autumn fashions. Trench coats, boots and high top hair buns. The Whirlwind couldn't really give a monkeys about fashion and would happily go without a coat right up until he goes blue with the cold.

As I have said before, I cherish the times we all spend together as a family and I am well aware that in the not so distant future it will just be me, The Husband and Baxter the dog. We will however try to keep the tradition of Sunday lunches and film afternoons and I am quite sure they will be back for those........Even if its just to get their washing done.

Lots of Love
Me
xxxx

I've linked up with the fabulous linkys over at Olivers Madhouse Magic Moments and PODcast What's The Story. Pop on over and read some amazing blogs.

Thursday 19 September 2013

DIY Sos......

Are you lucky enough to have a husband that can turn his hands to anything and everything DIY related.....I wish I could say that I do but unfortunately this is not the case. Now don't get me wrong there isn't much Mr DG isn't good at but DIY is just not one of them. He has all the gear but no idea, I wonder if every man has a stash of electrical equipment hidden away just ready and waiting for that special home décor job to pop up. Mr DG has an extensive array of gadgets including a drill (which he never has the right bit for), a work bench (which is still in the box) and a Sander (that has never sanded so much as a toe nail)...................

As you will all know we recently had a new shower room fitted and the bathroom company took care of absolutely everything..............There really was nothing for Mr DG to do but he just cant leave it alone.............Last Sunday morning just as it was about to be finished the following day he decided to give the 3 little holes that had been filled a bit of a sanding down just to "give them a hand" he informed me. Unbeknown to me he had gone into the loft and retrieved the sander machine that he had insisted on buying during a DIY store trip. Suddenly our peaceful Sunday was shattered as the sounds of the sander rang out throughout the house..................................................................

Then as quick as it started....................It stopped.......................I gingerly walked to the bottom of the stairs almost not daring to look up..........................Then in a cloud of smoke resembling Stars In Their Eyes Mr DG appeared....."Tonight Matthew I'm going to be Shirley Bassey" he joked as he coughed and spluttered. What had taken 3 minutes had created more dust than the builders had in a week.

I cant repeat the words that left my mouth but needless to say he packed up pretty quickly and shoved the sander back in the loft...................................

The week before this little episode he managed to cut straight through the wire of our hedge trimmers and nearly killed himself. And don't talk to me about the mirror over the fireplace (Just for the record, its not bloody straight).

Why oh why does he think he can do it....................................He cant.....................But I don't hold it against him. I'm no good at cooking but nobody dislikes me for it (unless I have given you food poisoning then in that case I'm sorry). I keep telling him that we have reached a certain point in our lives where we can get someone in to do all the decorating and little DIY jobs around the house but Oh no.....................He just has to have a go.

Help me people of the world..........................How do I get him to stop making my walls look like a dart board with his hammer and nails. I've asked kindly but he looks so hurt and kind of wounded.

Any advice would be greatly accepted.

Love Me
xxxxxxx

I've linked this post up with....
PoCoLo

Sunday 15 September 2013

Silent Sunday


      
Silent Sunday 15.9.13






                                           
 

Tuesday 10 September 2013

A Wicked Adventure.

One of the things on my Summer Bucket List was to go up to London and see a West End Show..........................................On Saturday this became a reality as myself The Northern Mother, The Teenager and her Bestie travelled up to see the show Wicked.

The journey there wasn't that smooth as our train was cancelled due to a signal failure which caused The Northern Mother to exclaim in a very loud voice that Public Transport was "CRAP" this in turn made several people smile. The rail personnel looked less than impressed.....................................................

Once at Victoria Station we made our way out into the immense station that was more like a huge shopping mall rather than a train station. The tickets clearly said "Apollo Theatre is right opposite Victoria Station"................................................What it didn't tell us was which bloody exit to take and we ended up almost at Buckingham Palace, after a quick cuppa with Queenie and Phil we headed back somewhat flustered and hot back into the station. Then Mum needed the loos so off we went only to find you had to pay 30p to have a wee, this resulted in Mum once again stating in an extraordinarily loud voice that no where else in the world would you have to pay money to meet natures call and "There wasn't even any soap or loo roll......and I bet that attendant just steals all the money and does nothing all day"....................................I have never hurried a wee as much as I did on that day and bundled her out as quick as I could.......................This could be a long day!!!!

The fun and games continued when Mum asked a policeman how to get to the theatre and he very stupidly missing the signs that we were stressed out, late and hot told us to follow the yellow brick road (Big Mistake Mr Policeman)....................Mum gave him that look that only a 67 year old stressed out annoyed woman can give and he in turn very sheepishly said "Sorry....Ermmmm....Just over that way ladies".

Finally we were in our seats and the show began much to the delight of The Teenager and her best friend who sang along to every song and knew all the words. The first half was amazing and I almost welled up at the Defying Gravity song. As the interval began I took a deep breath and looked at Mum who had this sort of strange look on her face "Well, what did you think...Wasn't it amazing" I asked..............."To be honest" she began "I didn't get it".........................................................I thought The Teen was going to leap out of her chair "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DIDN'T GET IT......HOW CAN YOU NOT OF GOT IT.....................HAVEN'T YOU SEEN THE WIZARD OF OZ"???.....................................Mums reply was short and sweet "Nope".........................................Oh dear, oh dear..................Its hard work sometimes I can tell you.


Anyway, the rest of the show was brilliant and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who likes musicals..................................................Just don't take a 67 year old woman who has never seen The Wizard Of Oz, it takes a really long time to explain it all I can tell you................................

Monday 9 September 2013

What's The Story...

I've linked up with the gorgeous Charly over on the POD Cast What's The Story Link Up. Pop on over and have a look at some of the beautiful photos and stories.


I took this picture when we went to the Olympics, it had always been a dream of mine to go to these amazing games and I wasn't disappointed. I used to watch them as a little girl with my dad and even though he would stay up really late and I would have to go to bed I used to sneak down and sit by the door watching them in secret.
To be able to take my children was such a fantastic experience and as Mr DG used to play Water Polo for GB he was able to meet up with lots of his old team mates too. All in all it was one of the most brilliant days of my life.




Wednesday 4 September 2013

Adios Summer.....

Well that's it then..................The summer hols are well and truly over, finished, caput, no more and gone. The Teenager has been off for a total of 12 weeks due to finishing year 11 and The Whirlwind has been off for the standard issue amount of time. I am not even sure where the heck time has gone but it definitely has, we have had the best holidays ever I think.

As well as trying to complete my Summer Bucket List we have had a new bathroom fitted, been to Centre Parcs, Champneys, met up with some Australian family, eaten and drunk far too much and embarked on an emotional journey whilst waiting for The Teen to get her GCSE results ( which I am pleased to say were amazing) as well as celebrating her 16th birthday.

We are now embarking on the scary adventure which is 6th Form and Year 8, I don't even know how we have got here in what seems such a small space of time. The Teen is all kitted out with new everything and I am now looking forward to the daily "I've got nothing to wear" fiasco NOT!!! The Whirlwind will return to his usual "I hate wearing this uniform" and "I hate Tuesdays" routine as I try to keep calm while the morning descend into chaos.

Mr DG will return to his early morning dog walking and we will all roll our eyes as he hunts for his keys, work pass and wallet before heading off to work. The kids will eat breakfast leaving their bowls for the magic fairy to clean up and then in a haze of hair gel, perfume and goodbyes they will all be gone.............................Gone..............................Silence prevails and I will take a deep slow breath and close my eyes as the peace of having an empty house washes over me.............................This will last about 7 minutes before my phone starts pinging with "Muuuummmm I've forgot my P.E kit" and "Muuummmmm can you top up my lunch money" then Mr DG will ring with a whole list of things he's forgotten to do and if I have time can I sort them out. Deep breathing comes in very handy at this stage...........................................................

This is my busiest time of year too as my little crafting business goes a bit mad as we attempt to make new products whilst keeping our sanity in check as we try to fulfil orders in time for that dreaded word..........CHRISTMAS.....Sorry.........I know you all don't want to hear it but its time to face the fact that its the next big holiday.

I hope you have all had a great summer and are ready and raring to go........If all else fails just remember a dash of Gin on your cornflakes doesn't hurt anyone...Not that I am advocating drinking in the morning, well, not every morning anyway........

Good luck to all you mums on the dreaded first day back.

Lots of Love
Me
xxxxx

Tuesday 3 September 2013

My Date With Jez.

Last week my Domestic Goddess Status for the day was "As long as a day goes by with no one I know appearing on The Jeremy Kyle Show, I can say that my life is blessed"..............................After being laid up for a whole week with some type of buggy thing I had no choice but to watch daytime TV. I knew things had gone to far when I suddenly realised I was watching the above mentioned show and more to the point quite enjoying it. Jeremy or Jez as they all seemed to call him was nice but firm and did on one show say "Its my name on the wall so shut up" 3 times which got on my nerves a bit but on the whole I didn't totally dislike the guy.

I sat with an open mouth as one guest told her husband of 12 years that she had been sleeping with his brother which then resulted in the 2 hefty looking bouncers intervening as they tried to smash each other in the face. It was then revealed that the husbands sister had also been with him as well as the Husbands Sisters Best friend.......................Are you following................................The picture of this guy I had in my head was one of some good looking bloke who had 3 women on the go at once...................WRONG!!!.........................................As Jez welcome Kevin onto the stage we were greeted by a 5ft skinny, scruffy, dirty looking fella with 1 tooth in his mouth. Even Jeremy looked gobsmacked as he swaggered across the stage while all around him women threw accusations at each other claiming that "He's mine" and "He's going home with me love" rang out. The funniest thing was the audiences faces, they looked horrified and slightly bemused by the spectacle in front of them.

Then Jez said what we were all thinking "Ok, Mr Hotshot..........What have you got that half the male population haven't"..................I literally spat my tea out and howled with laughter.

I was staggered why these people would go on national television and air there dirty laundry (literally) and why knowing that they were going on national television did they decide to wear a tracksuit and not wash their hair. Maureen (The Wife) summed it up in one sentence...."You only came on here to get the free hotel and meal out".......................................I think I would rather forfeit the meal and hotel and keep my own private life exactly where it belongs......In Private.

P.s If you ever need a side kick Jez.....I'm your woman.................

The Never Again Room

Our big project this year was to get the bathroom updated....When I say updated I actually mean..............Totally ripped out and gutted. For those that know me well they will confirm that this is quite possibly a complete nightmare for someone like me who is not only a self confessed control freak but also a clean nut who hates mess and chaos.

Mr DG assured me that it would all be over quickly this theory was flushed down the loo when we were told it would actually take 2 weeks.......................Everything was in place for the big day and I have to say that I was relatively calm (for me). The builders arrived and got to work straight away ripping the heart out of my little house. I must point out at this stage that we only have one bathroom and more to the point one loo......Yes, that's right.................One Loo!!!!!

The plan was that we would go up to Mums morning and evening to shower and this worked very well. Each person had their own wash bag and towel and off we trotted like we were on a camp site into the Wash House as we lovingly named it. Mum was amazing and very patient with all our coming and goings even making tea and toast in the morning for all of us.

By the end of week one the novelty of going to the Wash House was wearing a bit thin and the boys decided they would have a wash in the sink downstairs in the kitchen (God, I'm actually shaking even saying it) in the morning and us beautifully clean girls would continue with the original plan.

The Loo situation was solved by our wonderful friends and neighbours offering us the use of theirs in the daytime and ours was plumed back in each evening.

As week two began it all started to take shape and my designs came to life made possible by my now favourite builder who sensed my total fear of mess and cleared up after himself every evening.

Finally Friday arrived and.........................Ta Da........................It was finished.............................I cannot tell you how happy I am at this very moment and am planning on spending most of my day in there today.

So  without further ado....................I give you.....................................My New Bathroom................Now lovingly known as "The Never Again Room".