Baby is named Thomas James O'Neill Ryan - lovely name. Have spoken to Ems, but not been round to poke baby yet, I'm hoping to do that this week, then hopefully I'll have some photos to upload.
G&T came round for supper last night bringing photos of grand baby Freddie and also Thomas and I can honestly say they are both really gorgeous (the babies are ok too!). Have arranged dates and now made booking for our annual descendance (sp?) to G&T. Yippee! Now I have good stuff to look forward too!

I'm sure when she gets back on her feet she will come and inform y'all. But I wanted to let everyone know that Pickles2u has had her baby! Yippee!!! I had a message from her partner on Sunday morning saying she had had to go in for an emergency C-section and had delivered a 6lb 5oz baby boy. No name as yet.
Way to go Ems!!!

Well, I thought that being as busy as I possibly could this week may have helped...It didn't!
Can't believe that a whole year has gone by. On the one hand it all seems a life time ago and on the other it still seems like yesterday.
Tonight is the first time I have stopped and let myself think about miss_jen. Not that I didn't want to, just couldn't.
It's still the little things that get me, she so would have understood my DD1 calling her goldfish Marsole, Mufasa (cos he looks like him), Clive and Marigold; and been equally devastated as they have all (but Marsole)gone to that big fish pond in the sky...
In her honour on Saturday night I got rather tipsy and sang Karaoke very badly, then partook of the 'Chocfest' that was the childminder social meeting a couple of days later - Sara - 'backinthegarden' managed to squeeze more in than me though!
Fortunately G&T put up with me turning up on the door step f'coffee whenever they are in the uk, and I usually manage to catch up with Jen's sisters and delightful niece whilst there. So it's sort of 'business as usual', but of course it's not...
So Jen, keep sending the dragonflys and I'll keep on stalking hot boys and worshipping at the divine altar of cakedom.
K x

Well, we did it!

Last night 11.00pm I started queuing with DD1 (& boyfriend), DD2 and Pickles2u, full of excitement for HP7! It only took us 1 1/2 hours to get to the actual desk to collect our reserved copies. In the meantime I had a little chat with some girls who were trying to queue jump, pointing out that my 11yr old was patiently waiting and maybe they could learn some manners from her... (Very restrained, considering I had been in the pub since 6.30pm celebrating more of my 'birth month')
We finally got home about 1.15am this morning and I managed to only read for 30mins, as we are attempting our house move this weekend, so I knew I needed to be a bit sensible to help load furniture.
Most of the big stuff has now left - cooker, wardrobes, children's beds... Oddly enough the house doesn't seem any emptier, maybe I did have too much stuff after all...

Will post Harry Potter photos when I've got them from my phone.

K x

p.s. Very special birthday pressie from a work colleague - Personalised birthday greeting from Robbie McEwen (Winner of Stage 1 of Tour de France, I know I'm soooo sad!)

Well, I am now part way through my 'birth month'I am having far too many celebrations to be calling it a birthday...

So far have been shopping in Ikea and lunch out with DH, had childminders BBQ -which is usually hosted by the Hayes collective :o( so a bit poignant, although I managed to have a few wines and did some very dodgy dancing around handbags...Went to visit Pickles2u f'cake and more pressies, of which I will try and post a piccy. I also managed to have a cake on Monday, Tuesday, two on Wednesday (my actual birthday), one at work Thursday and at the other job Friday and another one on Friday evening! Hurrah! EAT CAKE!

Next week I will take a trip to spend birthday money from family on more frippery for my new bedroom (boudoir...)and hopefully a lunch date with aforementioned pickles2u and enichols (another Jen friend), THEN the following week I am having a work's bash to get a bit tipsy before going to collect my new Harry Potter book at midnight - phew, I'm knackered just thinking about it all, I must be careful now I'm 30-10.

Well here goes with attempting attaching picture... (no good, still can't f**king do it!)

K x

Hey everyone, I have now joined the 'growed ups', yes I have finally achieved the grand old age of 30-10 (40...)

My bestest pressie was from my DH, a very exciting new camera :o))). But I also got some lovely choccies, perfume, more choccies, jewellery, dosh ALOCHOL, and a trip to Ikea to munch on meatballs (oh and buy some furniture for daughter's bedroom). I managed to buy for myself a pair of very gorgeous lampshades for my new bedroom, and hopefully I will learn how to use aforementioned new camera and post some pics on flickr.Off to eat more chocs and get slightly tipsy on pear cider...

Karen x

Well, I took Sara for a visit to Jen's Bench on Friday - May the 4th be with you - this is the first year for ages I didn't receive a text with that message :o(.

We decided that it was a sin for their not to be cake at the bench, so we secreted a few little items for Jen's nearest and dearest to spot when they visit... Not obviously so that the museum folk get upset, but just to cheer us up on a visit.

I've attempted to compress the photos and will now attempt to post them here...

Here goes.

K x

OK I can't do it, grrr I'll post then to flickr instead then :oP

(username planetwheeler)

My lovely car decided to misbehave rather badly this week... Well she has been a bit sad for a few days and finally decided to give up and have a hissy fit on me on Wednesday. From spluttering she just stopped and said "no, I don't want to go any where". Well after a little persuasion she also threw her exhaust pipe out from her underbelly, so determined was she not to leave the house.
Ha ha! I had the last laugh as I called the good old AA out and got us both towed to my garage, where the nice man gave her a bit of TLC (oh and I gave him £150). She now really likes going out again... Tis good to have a working car again.

Very exciting too! My new purchases from Ebay have started arriving - a luvverly pair of long william morris curtains for my new lounge, I know we haven't moved yet, but I HAD to have them, how sad...

Was about to post when I found this... "Yet more scrubbing today... I am off work due to dreaded lurgy and was feeling guilty, I decided to attempt to spring clean the kitchen cupboards. So there I was with my Cillit Bang, not very enviro friendly I know (but it was all I had) scrubbing to my heart's content, when I started feeling even worse so had to call it a day. Even so, I managed a bit, and now have the wrinkly hands to show for it." Must have been from last week.

DS2 was 11 yesterday and parents from hell-we have bought her a cheapie mobile. She starts high school in September and I just feel a bit happier knowing that she can get hold of me if she needs to, bearing in mind she has a 30 min walk to and from school.

I have survived the 'party'. Bowling followed by supper at the nearby Frankie and Benny's (I know, but at least it's not Maccy D's). I'd forgotten how much noise 10 girls can make - surely I wasn't ever that loud?

Update of clearing - well it's still there and I'm still ploughing my way through it all. Many bags of clothing for bootsale/jumble sale/recycling etc. Now have to wade through my paperwork. I feel like just dumping the lot as most stuff is now on disc. In fact I think that's what I'll do - bung it all in the recycle bin... All I can say is that it's a good job they're not charging for rubbish by the weight, lol.

Met Pickles2u and another Emma f'coffee this afternoon, a treat to reward myself for working hard and getting nowhere, lol. Then Pickles and I hit Waitrose and played the 'lets see how smutty we can make food labels' game. I think 'pork ring' scored quite highly...

Then this evening I went shopping on Ebay, oh my god, didn't realise how much time I could waste on there. But most importantly got the curtains I wanted, phew.

I'm exhausted now.. see y'all later. K x

Hey everyone. I can't believe how long it is since I last posted. I'm not supposed to be on here now as I'm in the midst of sorting through clothes and stuff to get ready for selling our house. I've managed a couple of trips to the tip tho so I'm feeling quite pleased with myself. I've also got the stinky cold that's going round so feeling very sorry for myself(well no one else is, lol).

Thinking about it I've also managed to scrub my (tiled) bathroom walls - Goddammit I've been very industrious!

DH is also being very busy rubbing down and painting, I forgot how tedious that is, I can't think who has the better or worse deal, me or him! It will all be worth it in the long run I know, but at the moment I can't see the light at the light at the end of the tunnel.

bye for now

k x

Took the girls to visit the Christmas House this evening, sadly DS1 was a bit too poorly to come, but we're hopeful he will be ok tomorrow for a visit.

Well, I knew it wouldn't be easy and my goodness it wasn't; many memories came flooding back, and not just for me...

The house and garden are even better this year and you can go inside for a visit too - although we were a bit late for that. Just so many lights and they have even put a little bucket with chocolate santa lollies for all the children who visit :o). Jen would have loved it, in fact I'm sure she is watching over it and delighting in the sparklyness of it all.

I am posting some pics on my flickr site if any one wants a peek...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/planetwheeler/

Karen xxx

Hello world!

Well for the past few weeks I have been nursing my poorly DD1 - who has been smitten (or should that be smote) with glandular fever... Ho hum that'll teach her to go kissing boys, yuk! Hence I have been knacked and not posting for a while. Dd1 has now passed this to Dd2 in the form of tonsillitis, and then today I have been called to school to collect Dd1 as she as unwell (told her she wasn't ready to return....

Roll on Thursday-it's my last day at work and I'm meeting pickles2u f'coffee and/or shopping.

Want to add a big welcome to my buddy Sara appearing as Backinthegarden.

Hi all.

Thought I would post my TD experience.

Apart from the fact I really like Jack Black,which makes it worth seeing, I loved it to pieces. The humour is so very childish (just like mine)- and the absolute songness of it all - ROCK!!! And then there was the little bit at the end when I thought they were going to break out into 'Tribute'.
AND then the bit at the very very end when they were using the horn as a pipe-lol.

Hey Jen, I hope you enjoyed it too!!!

K xxx

Well it's been hectic since my last post:

Firstly a new hairdo (well just a good cut really) and without any additional friends - the smelly stuff worked!

We then had granddad's funeral and 'wake' on Friday, very sad and stressful not least because of certain family members being obnoxious (no I don't mean DH-lol).

The highlight of the weekend - Tenacious D along with pickles2u (and N) and magic pumpkin. A lovely evening, but also poignant as our beloved Miss Jen was not sitting alongside us (although we are convinced that spiritually she was with us...)

DS1 is being painful again, behaving very irresponsibly regarding her phone and staying in touch with us, and not doing her chores, which ended in her being grounded for this week.

Finally, college have messed up my wages - I have been doing extra hours since the beginning of November and they haven't been paid and may not even appear in December's wages grrr!!!!!

Hey ho, at least my hair looks good!

Hi all

I'm sitting here at my computer with a very smelly head... Guess who I found waving at me from my small person's head. Yes you've guessed it, Mr Head louse :o( As I have a bit of a phobia about these AND mainly cos I'm having my haircut tomorrow I am now sitting here with my head covered in a combination of tea tree oil and conditioner, until I get really high from the fumes, then I will attempt to rinse off in the shower. (without getting it in my eyes cos then it really stings)
I hope my hairdresser appreciates all of this...

He haw, he haw, he haw (in a bad French accent).

Today was spent enjoying the glorious weather at the Chichester Craft and Christmas market. Loads of Peeps from the French markets came so there was a resounding aroma of merguez (spicy French sausages - just in case you weren't aware) and freshly baked French bread. Yes they brought their ovens with them and baked on the spot - beautiful!
After lots of browsing I settled upon some wooden Christmas decorations to add to my collection - I usually buy a couple each year and as you can guess my Christmas tree is expanding with the need for more branches to hang stuff off!

DD1 is still being painful, but I am trying to cut her some slack after all the crap we've faced recently, at present she is in her room sorting it out, so I'm not complaining... Although I did threaten with removal of allowance so I know I've found her weak spot, LOL.

Hi Trevor, if you manage to find ,me :o)

Met up with Emma (Pickles2u) this afternoon for a 'Ginger spiced Latte' and a 'pimp my shortbread'. Emma had a hotty choccy and Christmas slice. 31/2 hours later we were asked to leave as Costa were closing, oops!

We had a great time (well I did, Emma said she did and I'm sure she wasn't just being polite...) reminiscing, laughing, being sad and generally putting the world to rights. Although I do think the other customers got a bit worried when we were exploring the new wind up torches I bought for my two youngest for Christmas - humming and flashing lights anyone???

Thank you Emma :o)

hi everyone, been playing with photos (for that read learning how to upload and down size...).
I'm not sure which one looks more like me...

Well, Planetwheeler has now experienced more heartache... My father-in-law passed away this afternoon.
I don't know how much more heartache we can face. As a family we are still reeling from the loss of Miss Jen and now losing 'grandad' too. When will it end?

K x

Ok,

So I'm already really, really, really pissed off with this BP monitor thing! no doubt I'll be on here most of teh night as I won't be ale to sleep!!!

Be seeing you ;o)