Sorry! Been AWOL again!

Sorry I've been away for so long. Been crazy for a while here! I am currently dying of a flu lurgy that my darling youngest son gave me. He had it for 2 days and was fine, I have been dying for three days, no four days, aching all over. I want it to go away! So, as always my photo's are in the wrong order. lol. This first is a pic of a Chinchilla. Because I'm getting one in about 8 weeks. He's four weeks old today. Have named him Cheeky. Because he is very cheeky. lol. Such a little guts. Adorable too. I haven't seen him for a few days as I've been too sick. But last time i held him, he's doubled in size within a week!! Beautiful primrose, my darling man bought me a potted primrose to cheer me up. So thoughtful! But that was when I was sick a couple weeks ago! It still makes me smile, flu or not. He actually took a couple days off work to look after me. He cooked and cleaned and everything!! (Well, a mans version of) He's such a sweetheart though. I feel very lucky. My Aloe Vera plant has had babies, so I've been dishing them out. Want to keep at least two though, they are such handy plants to have around, even safe to use for my darling animals. Although the cat seems determined to eat them all!

We've had a couple of breakdowns recently. First, the tumble drier died. And I do mean died, it completely irrepairable! Then my oven, also dead. We got a recycled drier for nothing, which was an absolute bonus! But no luck with finding a new cooker so far. But, will keep looking. Thank goodness I have my slowcooker!! Chilli for dinner tonight I think. Might clear my breathing a bit!
This is a representation of how i feel. lol. Tissues and all. Been through almost a whole box in one day!!! Too much info? lol. The Kleenex ultra soft tissues are very kind to my poor sore nose though. I'd be lost without them. I haven't been paid to say that. I just love these tissues!
I can't believe it's March already! Where did February go??

Another positive note.... The most positive in my opinion, Little D finally pooped in the toilet!!!!!!!!!! We've really struggled with his toilet training. He's so stubborn! But he's been doing really well with going no. 1 When it came to no.2 it was a different story, he just wouldn't do it. But yesterday, he was about to go, and i persuaded him to run upstairs with me, (nearly fainted in the process or carrying him!) and we got him on the loo, and he went!! He was thrilled! lol. So, fingers crossed it continues!!

I have been less shaky recently, so I was hoping to get out and get some nice (hopefully) photo's, But as it is, I can't stand up too easily without getting dizzy. So no sitting/standing/crouching in odd places for photo's for me at the moment.

We are forecast snow over the weekend, although, the sun is shining beautifully just now. I'm hoping it passes us by. I'm going to attempt to hang out some washing, I feel like fresh air will do me some good. Might as well do something constructive while i get it. :-)

Sorry for the "Yuck" factor of this post. But, life is yuck sometimes! Especially when snot is involved!!

Sal. X

Bleh!

Hi all, just a quick short post, my appointment went pretty well, tests (all 3 hours worth!) came back relatively normal, so I am to go back for the full work up again in 3 months, i'm also having to try some anti epilepsy drugs to control the headaches. My head is really sore today from all the bright lights being flashed into my forcedly dilated eyes hence the very short post.

I also wanted to say, there's something very wrong with my g mail, which means i cant comment on blogs, including my own, but I hope to have it sorted by the end of the month when we get broadband sorted out. Also, a huge thank you to Rachel!! For a lovely blog award, as soon as this stupid headache eases off i'll be back to see to it and do a proper post. Right, i'm off to conserve my energy as OH is working late and i'll not have any help with the little guy. Back soon!

Sal. X

Back! (at last)

Sorry I've been M.I.A. for a while, been a busy time around here. We had a lovely relaxed family Xmas. It was lovely! I didn't burn anything, and i remembered the stuffing! Huge achievement! lol. New year was relaxed and quiet too. Just as well as I was full of the flu. We went to a neighbours party, we were free to go as the kids were all visiting family, was nice to get out together and meet new people.

Between Xmas and new year, we welcomed a new pooch into the family! Isn't he adorable?! He's 5, and apparently a long haired German Pointer X Lab. Although everyone is adamant he looks just like a Spaniel. His family were (supposedly) made homeless and couldn't keep him, but they were able to keep the Lhasa Apso they intend to breed from. But their loss is our gain! He is a very sweet boy, very clever, he picks things up very fast. Perfect with kids and our old lady lurcher is thrilled to have a friend to play with. She's acting like a puppy again!

We also had my eldest sons 13Th birthday! I still cant quite believe I'm a Mum to a teenager!! He had a lovely day. I have middle son off school today, stomach bug. He's chirpy enough though. Thankfully.

Tomorrow, I have my Ophthalmology appointment in the big city. Dreading the 2 hour bus, horrid eye drops etc. My Mum is coming with me though, so I'm grateful for that. Just hoping we get some answers this time! Headaches are really starting to get me down.

Other than that, all has been well here, just relaxing and enjoying family time. Getting ready for kids going back to school, and i shall be back with more photo's as soon as i can get them from OH, he has been on photo taking duty.

Hope everyone is well and enjoyed a happy and healthy Xmas and new year!

Sal. X

Bargains, snow and xmas spirit!

To begin with, I apologise for the absolutely rubbish photos. lol. The two of my bargains anyway. I couldn't be bothered dragging out the tripod, so the blurriness is the result of my stupid shaky hands. We went to a little sale at Little D's pre-school to raise money for Famine Relief for Orphans in Malawi. The first pic is a Spiderman suit Little D spotted as soon as we got in the door and fell in love with. lol. It was only £1! And the two balls of red wool only cost me 20p! Fingerless gloves here I come!! We also scored 10 Charlie and Lola books, brand new, one with free stickers for 50p. That was for all of them! I plan on wrapping them up as part of Little D's Xmas.
This is one of two gorgeous hessian Santa sacks we got for 50p each! Because there were only 2 and not 3, one for each of the boys, I plan on stuffing them with newspaper or something and using them to decorate around the living room. Little D and I have already sneaked in a little Santa snow globe and a small set of led Rudolph lights. :-) I really want to put up my decorations this weekend, but trying to be sensible and wait until next weekend.
This is the reason for all the Xmas spirit! Little D has decided that as it's snowing, it must be Xmas. And I don't disagree to be honest. It certainly feels like it! We're all enjoying spending time together, it's still going to be a very tight time money wise. But family fun good food, and quality time will be in abundance! Next the plan is to make lots of paper snowflakes with the kids, and string them up, I might just keep sneaking in little decorations until next weekend. OH thinks I'm crazy. lol. Little D is currently running around in his bargain spidey suit, thrilled to bits with it. Nothing like a happy child to put a smile on your face.

Sal. X

My very own "Black Dog". Although, this one doesn't cause nearly as much problems!! Have been in a wee bit of a depression episode. Brought on by stress no doubt, (I stress myself out about silly things) but seem to be at the tail end of it now. Thankfully!

Unfortunately, OH was away for 4 days while I was on a downer. And I got myself into a selfish state. I felt like, still feel like, truth be told, everyone else gets the best bits of my family and I'm left with the crap. Sounds awful doesn't it?! It's just, Grandma, Nana, Sisters, they all get to take the kids out and have fun with them, OH was away with his Mam and Sis, to a concert, and night out, cinema, he had a ball! I'm not pissed off because he was having fun while I was sat at home, I'm not quite that selfish! But that we don't get to do these things together often enough. Or with the kids. Yes money is incredibly tight, but I feel like we're neglecting our relationship. I can count on one hand the times we've been out together. And we've been together almost 5 years!
This is/was my dream house. We thought we actually had a chance of getting it, it would have been so perfect for us. But it was not meant to be. I was heartbroken. I love this house!
My friend has just moved away. Not far really, and I knew her living locally was temporary, but I only helped her move yesterday and I'm missing her and the kids already. It was lovely to have someone close by I could actually talk to! I'll get used to it again i suppose. Just still feeling a little sorry for myself really. Still no further forward with the housing situation, I'm finding it a little ridiculous to be honest. It does stress me out a lot all of us being cramped in here. It tends to come in waves. I can cope with it usually, but when the kids are getting narky with each other, and Little D thinks he doesn't have to go to the toilet as he's still in our room, which to him means he's still a baby. That's when it gets to me.

On the plus side.... There was a craft afternoon at the school this weekend, to raise funds for the dance they school puts on to say goodbye to the P7 class before they leave for high school. We had a fun time, just me and the kids, as OH wasn't home until evening. We made tea light holders, (well, the kids basically covered them in glue and stuck tissue paper all over) they're cute! Some window ornaments of Santa, a robin and a snowman, some of those black scratchy art things, but pre punched out shapes. And Little D decorated a canvas bag each for Grandma and Nana with hand prints. He made a Scooby Doo one for himself first though! And I brought home some stocking making kits for the kids to do nearer Xmas. Should be fun!

I still have lots of sewing to be getting on with! An absolute pile of it! Also, OH has been helping someone out with pc issues recently, they've just opened a shop and asked if I'd be interested in doing some crafts to sell in the shop! So I'm excited but also nervous about that. I don't think my bags are good enough to sell in a shop really, but they've asked about jewelry too, they just want "local crafts" so I'll have to have a play and see what I can come up with. Fingers crossed.

Sal. X

The C word...

So, Christmas time is creeping up on us yet again, it's almost a year since I started this blog, when i began, I never dreamt I'd get anywhere near 19 followers! I'm thrilled! Thank you to you all for reading, and especially for persevering when i don't post for a while. Life here is still pretty "up in the air" at the moment I'm afraid, no further on the health or housing fronts. I have a wee idea about the housing bit, but don't want to jinx it so I'm keeping quiet for the time being.

I love Christmas! I really do, but I love it, the way it used to be, before it turned into a commercial nightmare! So for the last couple years we have been trying to bring it back down to real Christmas, not the religious aspect, as we don't believe in it. But the family aspect. It should be about the thought and love someone has put in, not the amount of money they spent. So as such, my Christmas shopping is pretty much done! Only bought things the kids will wear, or use a lot! Like a guitar gig bag for my eldest, something he both needed and will use regularly. The kids are happy enough with the arrangement. They already have games consoles, OH and I have put ourselves into debt previous years to make sure of it. But the older boys have said many times that it's the fun we have and the quality time we have together as a family that make the happy memories for them, not the toys that will lie in their cupboard til next Christmas. So again this year, it's all about one or two thoughtful and useful gifts, lots of homemade gifts, including sweets and cookies, and family time. I cant wait!
If i get my dream, this is the kind of scene awaiting us next Christmas! Fingers crossed!

What are your favourite parts of Christmas? Any traditions you have every year?

Sal. X

Such is life.

Happy Halloween! Ours was a bit of a wash out truth be told, we only had two sets of guisers at the door, and when my friend and I took our 3 yr old's out for their first ever guising, hardly anyone even opened their doors! Miserable people. Never mind, I've sent OH off with a bag full of goodies for everyone at work. So they'll be happy at least.

Hopefully our bonfire night will be better, we plan on having a little BBQ at a friends, and letting off some small child friendly fireworks. Baked potato's in the BBQ, sausages in buns, and maybe some soup. Lovely!
How funky is this pumpkin?! OH carved it, it's a geek related thing. lol. Trollface. I think it's fab looking. It's his first ever pumpkin carving, he put a lot of effort into it, I think it paid off!
OH's lovely picture taking skills. lol! Open cupboards, overflowing craft boxes, the lot! He couldn't work my camera very well, so we didn't get a lot of photos. And Little D was hyper so wouldn't stay still for many either.
A very bedraggled but happy little vampire.

How was your Halloween? Lots of fun I hope?!

Sal. X