Journeys Are My Diary

Life, Adventures, Entertainment and more - A little bit of everything blog!

January Round-up

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Last year I gave up on my weekly round up posts during about October, having done them for all 2015 and all 2014 as well. Instead I’ve decided to try and tackle monthly updates instead!

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Watching: The Fall (Season 1 & 2), Making a Murderer, Criminal Minds (Season 1-3), House (Season 1-6), Before I Go To Sleep, Thor 2, James and the Giant Peach.
Reading: An Abundance of Katherines, Disney After Dark (Kingdom Keepers)
Sewing & Making (for Closet Geek): As well as the usual; Young Lottie from The Princess and the Frog, Hiro from Big Hero 6, Marauders Map cushion, Valentine themed hair bows, mouse ears, scrunchies and bows on bobbles.And in other news…
– At the beginning of the month, we all wrote our New Year resolutions. We sealed them up to reveal on NYE, but I honestly don’t remember what half of them were already!
– We’ve been lucky enough to eat out a few times this month; once for breakfast at Mill Lodge, once at The Nosey Parker and again at Gateway Park.
– We finished decorating our bedroom on January 10th. This is about 6 months after we started!
– Booked to go to a Harry Potter convention in August.
– We had the first snow on 14th, but sadly it didn’t stick around. We’ve had a lot of cold weather this month but still no settled snow!
– Bought a new toaster for the kitchen. I’m gradually getting all red bits.
– Tried to diet and failed miserably. January has been a tough month, with motivation and with being busy. February is my start over, so we’ll see how it goes.
– I did something really crazy and paid a deposit to do Lincoln Christmas Market this year. It’s a 4 day event and god knows how I will manage to get stock ready for it, but I’m committed to doing it now! I also decided cancel another event I had paid a deposit on, realising it was going to make life too crazy.

So there you have it – the highlights of January.

Looking forward to:
– Valentine’s Day. For me it’s not so much about it being a romantic day, but showing love to my family. All four of us are planning a special day together, followed by a special meal.
– Amy coming to visit. Though I saw her briefly in December, it feels like a long time since we had a proper catch up! It will be nice to drink wine, probably order takeaway at least once and catch up.
– Walker Stalker. Chris and I have booked a one day ticket at London’s Walker Stalker and I’m really looking forward to it. Not so much for the con (though I hope to meet Norman Reedus) but also because we’ve booked one night in a nice hotel and it will be nice to spend time as a couple.
– Half Term. We don’t have any plans, other than Amy visiting and technically Walker Stalker falls into that week, but I love not having to get up and dressed, take the kids to school etc. I also really enjoy having the kids around the house.

Book Review – Nathalia Buttface by Nigel Smith

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…and the most embarrassing five minutes of fame!

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I was sent this book for review but I want to make it clear that this book isn’t aimed at adults, it’s aimed at kids – specifically girls. As such, while I did read it, my daughter Megan (who is 10) also read it.

The most embarrassing dad in the world is back in this hilarious series for girls from TV and radio-comedy writing talent, Nigel Smith.

When Dad posts an embarrassing video of Nat online as a joke, she’s furious. Things are set to get much worse, however, when the video goes viral and she finds herself centre of the nation’s attention for all the wrong reasons – even the prime minister is imitating her!

But when a local care home for abandoned pets is threatened with closure, Dad convinces Nat to use her new-found celebrity to raise money for it – with him acting as her agent, of course! Cue: a disastrous appearance hair-modelling job, a not-so-glamorous campaign for a local optician and a call to turn on the town’s rubbish autumn illuminations (the one with the miserable face off The X-Factor cancelled at the last minute). And as if Nat didn’t have enough to deal with, school isn’t exactly easy when you’re a minor celebrity…

Its important to note that this book is actually third in the series of Nathalia Buttface books. However they are completely standalone and you do not need to have read the previous books to enjoy or understand this one. If I were to review this from an adult point of view, I would say that its very girlie and quite often annoying. To be honest, Nathalia herself is annoying and her parents, friends, school life etc. are very much like the tv I used to watch as a kid. HOWEVER as a kid, this is exactly what you want to read and my ten year old daughter genuinely enjoyed this book. In fact, the first two are on her Christmas List now and the fourth is released in January which I’m sure some Christmas money will be spent on.

What I will say for the book, is that it has a pretty good storyline and plot. It is a little predictable, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Nathalia is annoying (I think she’s meant to be), her friends ground her (somewhat) and ultimately despite the rocky road she takes to get there, the book has a nice outcome and actually a pretty good moral to the story. Nathalia’s parents are very much your average parents, especially from a kids point of view and the plot features many modern references like the concept of the internet, YouTube etc. All round if you have young girls, I think they would enjoy it as a book. The language is simple and yet fun – a lighthearted read that’s perfect for your young ladies.

My Fave Fun Things to Do With the Kids

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This post is contributed by Alex.

When you have kids, your world completely changes. You’re not focused on entertaining yourself anymore, you need to keep them happy and entertained. It can also help if the way you entertain them also teaches them a thing or two! Here are my fave fun things to do with the kids. Take a look for some inspiration!

Picnics

I love going for picnics with the kids. They love it too, especially on a nice day somewhere beautiful. We take a cosy blanket, and healthy snacks as well as a few treats. I like to take flasks of tea too. I always invite other members of the family to see if they want to come along too. If the weather is bad, no need to panic; indoor picnics are fun too! On sunny weekends, we sometimes set up near the house pool, which adds an extra splash of fun for the kids. Keep your weekends free as Pools Etc. takes care of the grime.

Hiking

Hiking helps you to stay active and get some exercise as a family. I have a book that I like to pick routes from, so we only do one twice if we really enjoyed it. It’s always nice to explore new places in the area!

Arts and Crafts

I love doing arts and crafts with the kids. It helps to expand their imagination and improves so many skills depending on what we’re doing that day. We make jewellery, cards, and even just paint pretty pictures. It can get messy, but that’s what you sign up for when you have kids.

Theme Parks

If you want a fun day out with your brood, theme parks are a must. There are so many theme parks dotted all over the UK, so you have a lot of choice. There are nearly always bits especially for kids there too, with rides themed around programs like Wallace and Gromit. There’s nothing like watching your kids have an amazing time somewhere like this. And trust me, they’ll sleep well when you put them to bed.

 

 

 

Gardening

Gardening helps us all to get some sunlight and fresh air. The kids love to help me get rid of weeds and plant flowers. Even just water the garden! They learn all about bugs and things and take a real interest in gardening. You know what they say too, it’s good for them to get their hands dirty.

Cooking

Cooking teaches kids about what foods go well with other foods, different flavours, healthy meals, and so much more. They love creating things with me in the kitchen and then eating what we’ve made! We don’t always bake cakes and things; sometimes they just help me with the dinner.

Reading

Reading to kids helps them to expand their vocabulary and listening skills. If you take it in turn to read, they also improve their reading and speaking skills. You may also tell stories and introduce your child to countries of the world and their cultures, give them the right materials from little-global-citizens. You both will get to enjoy and have a great time together!

I guarantee you’ll have so much fun with your kids and love spending the quality time together. Make time for things like this at least a few times a week to help them develop and grow. Thanks for reading!

Book Review – Mister Cleghorn’s Seal by Judith Kerr

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You may well have heard of Judith Kerr before and if you have, the chances are it’s because of the childrens book “The Tiger that Came to Tea” or the Mog books. However I was offered her latest book “Mister Cleghorn’s Seal” to review and since it’s aimed at 7+ years, I figured it would be perfect as my girls are 7 and 10.

Lily and the book

Lily and I read the book together as a bed time story, over 3-4 nights. It’s not a big book and it isn’t broken into chapters, but it’s more than you’d want to read in one sitting, unless you were sitting down for maybe 30 minutes or so.

An exquisite new story to delight readers young and old, from a much-loved writer and illustrator.

What do you do if you find an abandoned seal pup on a rock in the middle of the sea? Well, take it home with you to your flat, of course.

At least that’s what Mr Albert Cleghorn thought, though perhaps he hadn’t considered all the complications…

This is the story of what then happened to Mr Cleghorn and Charlie the seal in their determination to find a home for Charlie and, incidentally, happiness for them both.

Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, Mister Cleghorn’s Seal is a classic in the making from the inimitable Judith Kerr.

Lily and I both enjoyed the book – a story about Mister Cleghorn, who now retired, is lost for something to do and takes a vacation by visiting his brother. While there he find a seal and decides to take it home with him. The story is cute and endearing, it’s also well written and enjoyable. However, I’m not entirely convinced that the target audience is 7+. Lily did enjoy the book, but it wasn’t really on par with a lot of the other books we’ve been reading recently – James and the Giant Peach, Matilda etc. It was probably the right reading level for her – as in, she could have read it herself – but the storyline probably wouldn’t have been something she would have picked.

As a massive fan of stories like Catch a Star, Lost and Found, Room on the Broom, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and even The Tiger that Came to Tea, I didn’t find this book in the same league. It’s a good story and I enjoyed reading it, but I think it’s still a young child’s book when being read to a child, and unfortunately not the right topic to attract 7+ years.

Book Review – Paper Towns by John Green

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Last week I read Paper Towns by John Green. I read it in less than 24 hours and because of this, I wanted to share it with you. While the book itself isn’t new, the movie that’s been made of the book, is just out at the cinema now. Because the movie looked good, I decided to read the book. I’m really glad I did, as I thoroughly enjoyed it (though truthfully, not as much as The Fault in Our Stars, the reason I was interested in it).

Quentin Jacobsen has always loved Margo Roth Spiegelman, for Margo (and her adventures) are the stuff of legend at their high school. So when she one day climbs through his window and summons him on an all-night road trip of revenge he cannot help but follow.

But the next day Margo doesn’t come to school and a week later she is still missing. Q soon learns that there are clues in her disappearance . . . and they are for him. But as he gets deeper into the mystery – culminating in another awesome road trip across America – he becomes less sure of who and what he is looking for.

The back of the book, actually has less information than this. And when I picked up the book I really had no clue what the story was about. To be absolutely honest, even when I was reading the book, I still had no idea what the story was about. In fact, that was part of the draw.

The story starts with a boy called Quentin, who likes the girl next door – Margo. It starts with a story from their childhood, then jumps to a time in their teens and school. For the most part, it follows Quentin’s day to day life, until of course he spends one crazy night with Margo – the girl from next door who he barely knows nowadays. This starts the main story for the book, but honestly you’re never really sure where the book is going. Is Margo missing, or is she dead? Is the point of the story for Quentin to figure out clues or will the story lead somewhere else. Will he find Margo? Will she be dead? Will it end happily ever after?

For the whole story, I had no idea. Of course I had guesses and even assumptions, but I sort of loved that I was confused and curious all at the same time. Was it the best book I ever read? No, absolutely not. Was it a book that made me want to keep reading? Yes definitely. And more than that, when I was finished, I was okay with the ending. Maybe it wasn’t the ending I had hoped for, but it was tied off and left in a way that a book leaves you feeling satisfied.

Having now read The Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns, I’ve ordered a few more John Green books. I hope I enjoy them all, as much as these two, but I’ll be sure to let you know.

Book Review: Sanctum, Fractured & Chaos – by Sarah Fine

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A few months back I wrote a post about two great books that I’d read called Marked and Claimed. They were written by Sarah Fine and while I loved the plot and writing style immensely, I just wasn’t really into the ‘adult’ aspect of them. Therefore when I saw that the rest of her books were YA (young adult), I decided to give them a go – hoping they were less raunchy. They were – and I quickly discovered three great new books. Anyone drawn to captivating romance and unexpected twists may enjoy hiding my twin pups from their alpha dad, a story that keeps the emotions running high.

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Sanctum – the first in this series, Sanctum is a book about Lela Santos, a girl with a troubled past, who is just trying to start over. She has a new foster mum, a great best friend and she’s doing okay at school. Things changed however (and I won’t spoil why) but she ends up technically dead in a city for people who committed suicide. She’s here to rescue someone and so determined to do it that she will even sacrifice herself in the process. However she meets a guard called Malachi and it’s pretty obvious they like each other. They work together to help Lela’s friend and become closer the whole time. An enemy of the city, comes in the form of Mazikin and these form the main plot for all three books. However there are twists and turns, happiness and sadness, and a massive cliffhanger at the end. Without a doubt if you enjoy the first book, you are certain to pick up the second!

Fractured – the second in the series, picks up exactly where the other left off. I can’t tell you an awful lot but Lela is back ‘alive’ and only a few minutes after she last thought she was, even though weeks and weeks have passed where she was. Her role is now Captain of the Guard and she needs to stop the Mazikins from spreading and growing in number. The story centres around Lela’s regular life and her hidden life as a guard. There is school and boys and of course a prom to attend – nevermind the threat to mankind! Again the book ends on a cliffhanger (far worse than the first book) and you are guaranteed to be desperate to read book number three!

Chaos – the third and final book, is not just a tying up book as some third books in a trilogy can be, but instead a whole story in itself. I was desperate to get this book read and find out what happened in the end, but there is so much to it that you would never guess. I really can’t tell you an awful lot about this final book but there are people who you thought were gone, back again, but others lost. There is an adventure to the Mazikin city to be had, but also back on “Earth” too.

I absolutely loved these books as they are a bit fantasy, a bit adventure and a bit romance. They were some of my favourite reads ever and it has now firmly made me a fan of Sarah Fine.

There are a few small books to read in addition to these main three. There is Captive, Vigilante and Stories from the Shadowlands. One is Malachi’s PoV before meeting Lela and isn’t many pages at all. One is Ana’s point of view, but runs from first book, right into the third, so be careful not to read this in the wrong place and spoil the ending to book two (as I did). And finally Stories from the Shadowlands is a compilation of various stories, largely from Malachi’s PoV before the first book, but with other bits relevant to all three books and even an additional bit after the ending of three. Make sure you definitely read that one last!

Sarah Fine has also written several other books and I’m tempted to try Scan and its sequel Burn. However both are quite expensive at the moment so I’ll probably wait till they drop in price!

Week 25 – Monday Round-up

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Last week I was late with this particular post and this week is no different either! Where Monday and Tuesday of last week were spent catching up on the decorating from over the weekend, this week has been spent catching up on catching up!

Monday I spent pretty much the whole day with Nat, after dropping the kids off at school. It was her youngest son Harry’s 2nd birthday and my gift to him was a mattress (a bed, a stairgate and a bedside…). Strange gift I know but basically Nat was wanting to move him into a big bed so I headed over there with a divan bed for Josh (her oldest son), which after we took the cot apart and put in the loft (oh I took a ladder too but that wasn’t for them to keep!) we moved Josh’s bed to Harry’s room, put the new mattress on it and then put the divan in Josh’s room. We put new bedding on Harry’s bed, added the bedside and also put up a stairgate. Afterwards Nat and I went to the tip and then Asda Living for a fitted sheet, all before I headed back to get the kids from school. The evening was spent trying to relax, even though there was still decorating to do. We did watch the Game of Thrones finale however *sob sob*.

On Tuesday Chris was off work so we made an effort to get our bedroom a bit straighter. We hoovered and tidied, moved furniture and most importantly put up a curtain rail so we could hang curtains and sleep back in there that night. We also wandered into town for a few hours to buy shelves and new curtains. We spent the afternoon finishing everything off and finally moving back into our room. It isn’t finished sadly (even now as I write this a week on) but it’s getting there slowly. I have had a lot to do since last Tuesday though so I haven’t done anything further on it.

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In the evening we moved the wardrobe forward (which is so heavy we had to empty it all out first) so I could paint the last wall. Since it was so heavy and all the stuff out of it made such a mess (and I didn’t want to put it back in, only to take it out again), I spent the whole evening giving the wall five coats of paint, one every half an hour. Chris and I then moved the wardrobe back, had a sort through our clothes and then crawled into bed!

On Wednesday I had a catch up blog day. I was so behind on posts I was supposed to write that it took me all day to catch up and I still wasn’t done. However I did manage to write about five for my own blog and two for TTM. Thursday started off with a breakfast from Morrisons as I offered to give Chris a lift to work and he treated me. When I got back home though I properly cracked on with a murder mystery I’ve been writing – a sort of gift for my friend’s birthday at the end of this current week. I made some progress but it all seemed very slow. I also accidentally loaded $100 into my Fiverr account which was a slap on the forehead moment. I worked all day and into the evening on the Murder Mystery but didn’t get all that far.

Friday was another day working on the Murder Mystery but it ended up more of a blog/internet day. I still felt so behind on everything I needed to do so I spent most of my time getting organised, but the evening spent on the murder mystery again. After that, my whole weekend was swallowed by the murder mystery and I’m not even kidding. I spent all day Saturday and all day Sunday, breaking only briefly to make tea, feed the kids, put some washing on etc. It genuinely felt like I was getting somewhere the whole time but in the same token it seemed like I had loads left to do.

In the end I could feel myself getting annoyed and snappy so I took Sunday evening off. I watched some TV and then decided to turn that off even and read a book. I read two short stories and then started on the second book in a series I’ve been reading and enjoying. I will write a review shortly of the first book – Sanctum (Guards of the Shadowlands, #1).

Other than that, I won’t get into my Monday and Tuesday so far but needless to say they’ve been busy again. Right now I have emails to go through and some housey bits to get done, but I’m hoping to actually see my sewing machine this evening – fingers crossed!

Book Review: Marked & Claimed by Sarah Fine

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About two months ago, I meant to review a book called “Marked (Servants of Fate Book 1)“. It was one my mum had recommended and I read on kindle. I really enjoyed the book and wanted to share it with you all – in fact I even pre-ordered the next book in the series, “Claimed (Servants of Fate Book 2)“. Though I didn’t get time to read it when it first came out, I did get around to it this week and finished it within a day. So instead of one review in this post, I’m doing both!

Claimed is the first in a series of books, known as Servants of Fate. I had never heard of Sarah Fine before my mum recommended this book and I have to admit it was nice to read something from someone new.

In this urban fantasy, brilliant scientist Galena Margolis is determined to fulfill her destiny and develop the vaccine that could save millions. Yet when Galena’s test subjects meet with foul play, it’s clear that someone is still determined to stop her, and that Galena herself is a target. As the Ferry empire forges a plan to keep her safe, Declan Ferry, the politics-hating black sheep of the family, steps forward to protect her—but the emotional cost may be more than either of them is willing to pay.

As unknown enemies close in, it becomes terrifyingly clear that they threaten to destroy not only Galena’s lifesaving work but also the very fabric of fate. As Galena and Declan race to uncover the traitor, they also forge a special bond that could save both Galena and those she’s sworn to help. Torn apart by the past and hunted by those she trusted, can Galena find room amidst her fears for a passion that could make her stronger than ever? And even if she and Declan can find their way together, will it be enough to keep the future from coming apart at the seams?

I will admit that it took me a little while to get into this book. While I knew it was an urban fantasy, the world that was created for this story, took time for me to wrap my head around. However the characters were easy to love, especially Eli, Cacy and Declan. The story is basically an introduction to the world of Ferrys, Keres and the concept of death and fate. It’s a really easy read and I think would be enjoyable for most who like a fantasy read.

That said, what you don’t know before reading it, is that there is quite a fair bit of erotica. This isn’t a grumble, just an observation. I went into the book, not expecting it and got quite a suprise. I’m not a prude but I did skip over the majority of the sex scenes as I really just didn’t think it was necessary to enjoy the book. I was happy with how the story ended and it definitely left me wanting more. I immediately pre-ordered the next book in the series and couldn’t wait for it to come out.

Though you could say that the first book was focused on Eli and Cacy, it also carried a very general storyline too. It introduced all the characters fairly equally and also spent time covering the whole world introduced by the series. Claimed however is completely different. This second book in the series, is very much a focused story. It revolves mostly around Galena and Declan, continuing on from the first book but branching off into a very individual story. To be honest, I had no problem with this. I enjoyed Eli and Cacy as a story but Declan and Galena had me gripped.

In a broken landscape carved by environmental collapse, Boston paramedic Cacia Ferry risks life and limb on the front lines of a fragile and dangerous city. What most don’t know—including her sexy new partner, Eli Margolis—is that while Cacy works to save lives, she has another job ferrying the dead to the Afterlife. Once humans are “Marked” by Fate, the powerful Ferrys are called to escort the vulnerable souls to either eternal bliss or unending fire and pain.

Unaware of Cacy’s other life, Eli finds himself as mesmerized by his fierce and beautiful partner as he is mistrustful of the influential Ferry clan led by the Charon—who happens to be Cacy’s father. Cacy, in turn, can no longer deny her intense attraction to the mysterious ex-Ranger with a haunted past. But just as their relationship heats up, an apparent hit takes the Charon before his time. Shaken to the core, Cacy pursues the rogue element who has seized the reins of Fate, only to discover that Eli has a devastating secret of his own. Not knowing whom to trust, what will Cacy have to sacrifice to protect Eli—and to make sure humanity’s future is secure?

Due to the nature of this storyline (you learn Galena was attacked and raped in the first book and this is revisited a lot in the second book), there is even more erotica in this book than the last. Again for the most part I skipped over it, though I could at least see how it was relevant to the storyline and partially needed to be there.

I really loved Claimed and I think probably more than Marked. Luckily mum tells me that she has already pre-ordered the third book in the series but that doesn’t come out until Fall/Autumn. I’ll need to find something else to read until then but I’ll definitely be looking forward to it’s release.

Week 18 – Monday Round-up

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A little late again this week but what’s new? It’s been another nice quiet week this week and honestly after Florida, I’m glad for it. Last Monday both the girls were back at school and Chris was at work. It felt like a long time since I’d had a day to myself so I was glad to be home alone for once. I spent most of the day relaxing and catching up on TV but I had some other bits and pieces to do around the house. After school I went to pick the kids up and we headed to Asda Living to look for some School Uniform and then to McDonalds to meet Chris and get some dinner. We headed back to the girls school for 5.30pm as they had a school concert. Chris and I stayed to watch and though it did drag on a little, the concert itself was pretty good and as always I was proud of my girls. We got home and the girls went pretty much straight to bed. I spent the evening with Chris, catching up on TV.

Tuesday I was in work for the day (the new job I mentioned last week). I’m working in the school office, helping out with this and that, whenever I’m needed. I went in at 9am when I dropped the kids off and didn’t finish till almost 4.30pm (the kids were with their dad). I was exhausted when I got home so just collapsed onto the sofa and read a book. I spent the whole evening, even once Chris was home, curled up on the sofa reading (I still wasn’t feeling well) and we ordered takeaway for dinner. Chris was up early and I was tired so we headed to bed fairly early.

Wednesday I took the girls to school and then headed to the storage unit we have nearby. I met my mum and we sorted out the containment box, waiting for my brother to arrive. We pulled out all the camping stuff and shoved it into the car, eventually heading down to my mum’s to sort it out. We stopped for a coffee and then cracked on. There were two main tents to sort out and so we took one and made sure all the bits were there and then we took the other and did the same. In the end, Chris (my brother) took one and I took the other. He was going camping that weekend and it really made me want to go too – especially as my partner Chris was off Saturday, Sunday, Monday for a change. Anyway once we were done I sat at my mum’s, reading more of my book and wasting time until school finished. I then picked up the kids and headed home. The girls had dinner and then a bath, while I finished off the book I was reading. Nat was coming around that evening and I needed to pass the book to her. Once the kids were ready for bed, I let them stay up to see Nat and then shuttled them off to bed. Chris got home around 9pm and I had to shove him off upstairs too. Nat and I spent the whole evening chatting and she arranged to come again the next day to help me make a start on all the DIY. Once she left, Chris and I headed to bed.

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On Thursday morning I took the kids to school and then came straight back. Chris had a driving lesson before work and so he was already gone when I got back. I waited for Nat though as she was only five minutes behind me and we popped out to the shop before cracking on. Well, when I say cracking on, I mean having a cup of tea and a chat, before eventually deciding what to do. We started on the hallway, getting all the glossing done. It took majority of the day with a brief stop for lunch but then at 3pm we were pretty much done and I had to get the girls from school, but Nat was happy to do more. While I popped out to get the kids, she cleaned all the window area in the dining room, ready for us to do more when I got back. When I did get back, she was hoovering my stairs and she had done my dishwasher too! We decided to gloss under the window and this lead to me doing some of the skirting board and around the door in that room too. We called it a day and Nat went home, the girls getting themselves some dinner and then us all sitting down to relax for a while. I spent the evening on the computer, waiting for Chris to get home from work. We spent a little while watching TV and then headed to bed.

Friday was such a relief when it came around as it was the first day I didn’t have plans. I dropped the girls off at school and then went to get a salad from Morrisons, along with an iced coffee. I then came back and spent the morning watching Gone Girl, for our From Page to Screen feature over on Twice the Mum. I then spent the rest of the day on my computer, getting some blogging done and just generally catching up. During the day my tickets to Phantom of the Opera arrived and that was pretty exciting! Later I headed out to get the girls from school and then we came home and relaxed. It was so nice to know we had nothing to do for the next few days! I honestly don’t remember what I did that evening but I imagine it was nothing exciting.

Saturday was a lovely day where we did nothing! I didn’t get up for ages and Chris brought me a cup of tea in bed. Megan joined us for a while and then Lily turned up too. Eventually we were all four in the bedroom, doing nothing! Lily was supposed to be going to a party in the afternoon but she decided not to go so we didn’t actually leave the house all day. We watched some TV, played on computers and just hung out. It was really nice to just lounge around the house as a family and do nothing! Sunday was even more exciting, with the fact I didn’t even get up till almost midday! We’d originally planned for a DIY day but sadly that didn’t happen. I did manage to convince Chris to go and chop down the tree at the front (he owed me some hard work since Nat and I had a day of it on Thursday) but that didn’t actually take him all that long. Mum called in briefly, just after lunch, to say hi and bye to us all before she headed off on holiday again. After she left, I potted around the house and got some washing done, the dishwasher etc. In the afternoon Megan and I worked on their Florida scrap book but we stopped to have dinner and didn’t end up doing any more. We had another relaxed evening and headed to bed fairly early because despite the fact I didn’t get up till midday, I was exhausted!

So that was my week, though it feels incomplete tying it off there, especially with Bank Holiday Monday feeling like it was connected to that weekend. However you’ll have to wait till next weekend for that one, but I did have a lovely Monday! Already this week is shaping up to feel busy but I have a sneaky feeling it will die down a little I hope so anyway.  Till then…!

The Versatile Blogger Award

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The lovely Aymie, over at Aymie Louise, recently nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award. I’m incredibly grateful for the nomination and hope that any of my lovely readers who fancy stealing this award will do so. I nominate you all! I know that’s cheating a little (you’ll see why when you read the rules) but genuinely I haven’t done a lot of “finding new bloggers” recently as I’ve just been so busy. I love all my Bloggy Buddies though so if you want the award – it’s yours!

Rules for the award:

– Thank the blogger who nominated you.
– Tell your readers seven facts about yourself.
– Nominate 15 bloggers that you have recently discovered.

Seven facts about me:

1. I am the oldest member of my social circle of friends, by quite some amount. Forgetting my partner Chris (who is 5 years younger than me) and my brother Chris (who is 3 years younger than me), majority of my friends are 8-9 years younger than I am. I very rarely feel the age gap though, despite the fact I often take the leader/organiser role in the group.

2. I currently have 56 friends on Facebook. These are mostly close friends and family, with the odd exception. I have no-one on my Facebook from Primary School, only three from High School, no-one from University and five mum’s from the girls’ school. Majority of my friendships were made with people I met online through a website called Deckleswood.

3. When it comes to book/movie adaptations, I have some pretty strong views. If I watch the movie first, I’m unlikely to ever read the book afterwards. If I see something I might like and think I’ll enjoy, I always make sure I read the book first, even if that means watching the movie a lot later than it’s released. This topic has even inspired a blog series on my sister blog – Twice the Mum. You can read it every Wednesday in our “From Page to Screen” series.

4. Still talking about books, I also never (or at least extremely rarely) re-read a book. Doesn’t matter how much I enjoyed it, or even if I own it, I never choose to re-visit a story. My thought is really similar to that of traveling – in that there are so many places out there to visit, why restrict yourself to places you’ve already been. Yes it’s great to re-live memories, but it’s also amazing to broaden your horizons and make new memories. There are so many books and so many stories out there, why waste what time you have re-reading when you can discover something new.

5. I’m a total perfectionist, but rarely consider anything I do to be perfect. I set incredibly high standards for myself (and others) and never really manage to achieve them. Despite being told I bake good cakes, sew good clothes, write good stories etc. I hardly ever believe it. I don’t know if it’s low self confidence or just a lust to strive harder – that or I’m just genuinely rubbish and people lie to me!

6. The fastest way to make me function is hand me a cup of tea. This applies not only first thing in the morning, but really throughout the day and even into the evening. That said I can be a complete nightmare to be around if I haven’t eaten at the right times throughout the day too. Sometimes I get so grumpy and the only thing that can fix it is sitting down to some decent nosh.

7. I genuinely believe I am a good mum. I don’t believe I am the best or even perfect, but I know my children are healthy, happy and being brought up well and that’s largely because of me. Despite struggling to ever see myself in a completely positive light, the one thing I will always be proud of is my children and the fact they are a genuine credit to me. It’s unlikely that I will ever earn huge amounts of money, become famous or even have a career to speak of, but I will eventually die happy knowing that I brought those beautiful girls into the world and made them the best versions of themselves that they could be.

Everyone who reads my blog know things like that fact I’m a huge Disney and Harry Potter fan, so I tried to make these facts something different. If you’re a reader of my blog and you’ve seen this, please feel free to take the award and place it on your blog. I’d also love to see your answers so please feel free to leave your link in the comments and I promise to read them all!