Christmas Day

Christmas day, I love it :O) Gemma & Matt slept at our house last night so they could open presents with us this morning. Gemma's main present was some GHD's and she loved them :O) Lisa only wanted a suitcase for Christmas so we surprised her with an iPod. Usually she spends Christmas Eve night feeling presents & trying to guess what they are so we wrapped the iPod up and Andrew put it in a box and wrapped the whole thing in brown parcel tape. It had two more layers after that so there was no way she could guess what it was :O) It took her ages to get into it lol. All Elena wanted was a green iPod so she was as happy as Larry when she opened hers. Lisa & Andrew have had a long standing thing with sprouts see this post. Anyway it was Lisa's turn this year to get her own back lol. Look what she wrapped up for Andrew :O) Liam couldn't be with us on Christmas morning unfortunately, he had to spend it with his other mum ;O) He came round after lunch though so he opened his presents and afterwards we had stockings :O)

Christmas Cards

It was my last day at work yesterday ~ yipee. A whole 2 weeks off OMG it's bliss :O) Got everything I need for Teresa & the gang now, caravan mattresses, quilts, pillows etc. (Gemma says it looks like the princess & the pea lol) .The freezer is full to the top so I think we are all organised. It seems so long since we've seen them but it was only a few weeks ago. Just one disappointment today so not too bad I suppose in the grand scheme of things. I ordered a new 13.5 tog duvet so that we would have one for Teresa & Nik . It was delivered today but when I unfolded it, it had a big black stain on it. It looked as though it was part of the material so I've parcelled it up & they are collecting it on Tuesday. Andrew found another one on the BHS website so we've ordered that instead. Fingers crossed it will get here before the 27th Dec.

Lisa & Liam came back from Uni yesterday too so we now have a full house again. Tonight Andrew cooked a gorgeous roast beef diner for the five of us plus Liam, Sam & Matt with trifle to finish. It was scrummy! Thank you Andrew xXx

We've spent the day doing housework, shopping, washing etc. the usual Saturday jobs. Elena's done a load of ironing for me too. She's a good un :O) Blutacked all the Christmas cards to the doors today. I love receiving Christmas cards. The really special ones from the girls are on the hearth in the front room. I had a lovely one from Kerri at work saying to a fabulous friend with love ~ aww. Sandy & Steve sent one with 'For Our Neighbours' on it. But the one that's had me in tears arrived this morning. Just a little card, nothing very special until we opened it ~ to Andrew, Vanda & the girls from Tony (& Edith). Edith died when we were on holiday in Jamaica back in May and she was Andrew's favourite Auntie. She was my favourite too. The Christmas card is a teddy looking out of the window up to the heavens. Not everyone is going to have a great Christmas are they.

What a Wonderful Week

OMG it's nearly a week since I blogged. It's not because I haven't wanted to it's because I just haven't got round to it. We've had a lovely week and a fantastic weekend so here goes ...
1) The Christmas tree is up and decorated and so are the decorations around the house (but not as many as last year). 2) House was fab on Wednesday as usual.
3) The fridge freezer has been ordered but no delivery date as yet.
4) The new curtains are up in our bedroom.
5) Went out with the girls from work on Thursday night and had a brilliant time. We had a meal at the Royal China in Sandown & then spent the evening drinking 'Jacques' in the Kinges :O) 6) Lisa, Liam & Sam have been home for the weekend and it has been brilliant. 7) Gemma & Matt spent most of Saturday with us too & stayed for tea.
8) We made some homemade 2008 baubles.9) Andrew & I had a lovely walk along the sea front in Sandown this morning. It was beautiful and so nice to have some warm sunshine on our backs.Someone had written Merry Christmas in the sand lol
10) Went to see Elena's show tonight in St Thomas's Church in Newport. We had a great time and saw some friends from the days of tomato tasting. Didn't realise it's been 10 years since the last time we saw each other. Where does time go. 11) Liam & Sam have me hooked on the online puzzle Zahada
12) Oh & Joe Swash won I'm a Celebrity!!! I'm glad it's over, an hour & a half out of your evening is a long time to sit and watch TV lol.

Where Are The Dragons When You Need Them?

We've been busy little bee's today. We took Elena to Newport this morning for a rehearsal at the church in St Thomas's Square. We went up to Curry's to try & find a freezer that would fit under the work top in the utility room then headed for Tesco. Came home and after lunch and the tiresome job of putting the shopping away we loaded some of the rubbish into the bus. We had old double glazed units, carpets, underlay, cardboard etc to get rid of. After two trips to Lynbottom tip, it was tea time.

Elena stayed in Newport with her friends to do some Christmas shopping and got home at 5pm. It's the first time she's been out without us like that. They had planned to catch the bus back home but ended up getting a lift back with Lucy's parents. Of course I was having kittens until she was back home safe & sound but you have to let them do these things. Elena had a fab time and can't wait to do it again.

Andrew has got the bit between his teeth and can't wait to get the kitchen sorted. We were just going to change the cupboard doors & work top until I suggested he get himself a new oven. I know we've only had the cooker 2 years and there really is nothing wrong with it apart from the oven being so tiny, (you can't even get a normal size oven tray in it). I know how much he struggles when he's cooking so I made the suggestion that, as he is putting in new work tops, a bigger oven might be worth investing in.

Gemma & Matt came round again and had lunch with us. Gemma is worried at the moment that she might lose her job. Woolworths has gone into administration so things aren't looking too good. Whatever will be will be unfortunately. I did suggest that we write to Theo Popolopolopodus (Theo Paphitis from Dragon's Den) & ask him if he would take it on because we all think he could work his magic & get the company back on its feet. Well, any of the dragons, we're not fussy lol. We'll have to start a facebook campaign :O)

A Brush With Mr Potato Head

Andrew was supposed to go on the mainland again today so he got up at the crack of dawn. At 7:30 we had a phone call saying someone called Geoff ??? was poorly so the trip was cancelled & could he go into work as usual. Although I felt sorry for him that he had to get up so early I am pleased he will be home at the usual time ~ every cloud :O)

This new work rota is driving me mad at the moment. Now you would think that working Monday to Friday and having the weekend off would be the best rota ever. Don't get me wrong, it is. I get to spend the whole weekend with Andrew & the girls but I don't get time off in the week. It's things like shopping. I had got into such a routine that Monday morning I went to Tesco to stock up on food for the week but I was at work on Monday so the cupboards are bare! The washing gets done in the evening and I forget to pull it out of the washing machine & when I do remember it's dark outside so I can't hang it out. I think I know what the kids go through now at the start of the 6 weeks holidays. They are lost, out of their routine, don't know whether they're coming or going. Well that's what I am comparing it to at the moment as the alternative scares the c*** out of me ... getting old & turning into my Mum {shock-horror}!! Mind you it's been so hectic at work, I can't tell you how busy we've been ;O) Do you think the crisps, Tea & magazines give it away?photograph ~Nicky & Kerri in the office
Lisa & Liam are coming home today for the weekend. Can't wait to give them some cuddles :O)

Gemma has moved into her flat. One of the jobs this weekend is to take all her stuff up there for her. I have felt sorry for her as she hasn't been able to find anything properly since we decorated her room poor thing.

Here's today's HSMSHS word ~ brush :O) I was multi tasking this morning lol.

The best thing that's happened today was phoning Teresa after work. The postman had delivered a present to her ROFL. While we were staying at her house we went to see the new James Bond film, Quantum of Solice. We had a friendly argument about who was the best James Bond and of course I stuck up for the love of my life, Pierce Brosnan. Teresa didn't agree, because she LOVES Daniel Craig. Andrew was on my side and called Daniel Craig Mr Potato Head lol.

To be continued ....

Stop the press, news just in, just had a phone call from Liam asking me to pick them up ~ back soon :O)

Ok I'm back :O) Where was I, oh yes, Mr Potato Head lol. So we were having a laugh arguing over Pierce Brosnan & Daniel Craig. Then we got talking about the Bond theme tunes and Teresa said she would like a CD with them all on. We talked about Bond so much I dreamt about Pierce Brosnan that night but that's another story ;O) On the way home we hatched a plan. Andrew knew he had 2 James Bond CD's the same & wanted to send it to Teresa. So we sent this ... With this as the back cover lol ... Unfortunately I've deleted the photo of the wrapping by mistake but you can see it on Teresa's blog :O)

Elena took some photos while we drove to Ryde to pick up Lisa & Liam. We have to drive to the top of the pier because that's where the catamaran docks.

Hold On, Lisa & Liam Are Coming Home!

Guess what!! My gorgeous Lisa & fabulous Liam are coming home tomorrow for the weekend and I can't wait to see them. I have told them both they owe me a few weeks worth of hugs :O) I have missed them so much! I had a couple of text messages from Liam yesterday & then an e-mail last night. One of his 'house'mates (no pun intended) said to him, after watching the latest episode of House, that House was his Vicodine! What a fab saying!! That's exactly how I feel so I have added a photo of the very sexy Hugh Laurie to my side bar ---> thank you Liam for the quote :O)

Then, if that isn't enough, my lovely Gemma is coming to sleep next Friday & then we are all going to Derbyshire for a week for some quality time & R&R. It doesn't get any better than that does it :O)

Yesterday when Elena came home from school, we were going to nip to Tesco for some bits. We never got out of the door because Mum & Dad called round ~ enough said lol.

Had a doctors appointment at teatime so me & Elena toddled off back to Shanklin. Got some antibiotics for a lady problem ;O) Whilst we were waiting for the Doctor Elena took this photo of a picture on the wall, she thought it was funny lol. Then as we wandered over to the chemist to pick up the prescription we walked past a shop with this in the window. We just cracked up laughing because I thought they were selling weird fish, similar to the one we'd seen in the Doctors PMSL. Elena rolled her eyes at me ~ I love being an embarrassing Mum hehe.

In the evening I did a bit more Christmas shopping online. Unfortunately I can't post any details on my blog because they are presents for Liam & Lisa & one for Elena's birthday.

This morning at work I was talking to one of the caravan owners. He'd come in to pay a bill and we got talking about holidays. He was telling me that he went to the Maldives at the beginning of this year & is going back again in April next year. I told him that we are going next year too so he started telling me all about it. He said it is the best place he's ever been. Nothing to do apart from relax, sunbathe, swim, eat & drink lol. He goes to one of the larger Islands and it takes him an hour to walk round it! Ooo I can't wait :O) He told me not to take any dressy clothes as nobody dresses up. They live in swim wear, shorts, t-shirts & bare feet. Definitely a Robinson Crusoe experience. The best part of the trip for him was landing at Male airport (which takes up a whole Island). Male, the capital of the Maldives, is on an adjacent Island. (It's a small one packed full of high rise buildings so looks a bit out of place.) When you've been through immigration a bus takes you to the other side of the island where all the seaplanes are waiting. The seaplane ride is fabulous. The planes are small only carrying 17 people & the pilot flies really low so you can see everything.

Today's word over at HSMSHS is Hold. Elena's bedroom has come to the rescue again :O) This is Jack with his arm around Elena's Nightmare before Christmas photo frame. If you look closely the photo is of Lisa holding Elena too :O)

Elena likes a lot of things at the moment. The other day she was asking me why I thought she loved Halloween so much? Quite a hard question to answer when she doesn't even know herself. Anyway she started reeling off all the things that she loves so much ~ Halloween, the film Nightmare Before Christmas, the TV series Charmed & Ghost Whisperers. Any ideas? Is she turning into a Goth or is that something totally different?

The last photo I'm going to post is one Elena took of my hair last night. Shock horror it's a grey one!!! Elena thinks it's highly amusing and said she couldn't imagine me with grey hair. Well guess what kiddo, I'm not going grey cos I'm off to Tesco later to stock up on hair dye ROFLMAO!

Noah & The Computer Programme.

What a great day today, my friend Kerri is back from her holiday and it sounds as if she's had a fantastic time. I'm so pleased for her & can't wait to catch up with all the news :O) I've also had a lovely e-mail from Chris too. It sounds as if she's been having a bit of a rough time lately so I hope she can get some R&R over the next few weeks :O)

Not a very eventful day today, been to work, been to Tesco as I'm making a couple of surprises for Teresa & Claire as a thank you for having us over the half term holiday. Can't say anything yet but when they are finished I hope they like them. Called at Woolworths on the way home to see Gem as she phoned me at lunchtime to tell me today was the last 'double discount' day. Managed to pick up 3 tins of Cadbury's Roses Chocolates as I need them for Christmas presents. Got 30% off each tin so a bargain as they were in the sale anyway :O)

Andrew's been on the mainland again today visiting Poole. They need a new computer programme for work so he is visiting different places to see the programmes 'in action'. Personally I just think it's an excuse to get out the office for the day lol. I'm quite envious of him as he can choose what programme he wants etc. but me, I am stuck with something Noah invented when his first computer was installed on the ark. My CP (computer programme) at work is a DOS based one and is more than useless. The man who created it sadly died 2 years ago & his son took over the business. I don't really think his son knows how to handle his clients but I'll give him his due, he is very good at sending out the bill at the end of the year. So last back end, Paul (the owners son, a computer expert) said he would take over the job and help me sort the computer programme out.

Now I must tell you at this point, when I started at the holiday park 13 years ago, I couldn't even use a keyboard let alone a computer. So it's a bit like the blind leading the blind, literally, he's in North Wales & I'm on the Isle of Wight.

Last week I told Paul I needed a 2009 bookings programme because we have some holidays for next year that need processing. He duly copied one for me but when I came to use it, it wouldn't let me input any 2009 dates. After 3 days of trying to find out how to change them we can now put the 2009 dates on it. The next set of problems ... I can only take bookings up to 23 Sept 2009. The dates run from Wednesday to Wednesday so the prices for the holidays are wrong & I have all last years bookings in amongst the new bookings so the banking figures are all wrong too. Joy to the world.

Had a phone call from Lisa tonight too. Both her Liam are doing OK. They may be coming home this weekend but if not definitely next weekend. Liam is going to Lisa's after his last lecture tomorrow & then their both going up to London to watch an American play. I can't remember what it's called but it's part of Lisa's coursework.

There was a tiny bit of sunshine tonight so me & Elena were messing about with 2 pairs of 3D glasses & the camera. Don't worry, Andrew's rung the lunatic asylum & the men in white coats are calling round for us later ROFL. Anyway, here are the photos :O)

Samba de Amigo

Dropped Elena off at drama yesterday & Gemma came round. She came with us to Tesco and helped with the shopping. Andrew & I split the shopping between us so we could try & use the last of our points coupons & loads of MOC's. I bought a Wii game for us all as Elena was fancying the new Samba de Amigo game :O) Got my bill down to £9 with 514 points & Andrew got his down to £28 with 400 points so I didn't think we had done too bad. Got home & Andrew announced that he had 'forgotten the carrots'. So before we picked Elena up we nipped to Morrisons & spent £14!!! No money off no points ~ I nearly cried lol.

Spent the afternoon laughing our socks off at the new game. It's very girly, a bit like the dance mat but the controls become maracas ~ what next? Great fun though :O)

Gem didn't stay for tea as she was going out with her work colleagues. Kat left last week so they were celebrating her new job.

Tried phoning Lisa a few times but couldn't get hold of her so will try again tomorrow. Got a lovely text message from Liam. Can't wait till we can sit and have a conversation about the new series of House :O) Did I tell you I'm LOVING the new series lol.

Oooo just realised ~ 6 months today we'll be flying out to the Maldives :O)

Thursday Already

Goodness me it's Thursday already & I haven't blogged for 2 days. Not because I have been rushed off my feet or anything like that. Nothings been happening. Got up, went to work, went to bed blah, blah & that's it.

I have seen Gem a couple of times this week which has been lovely. Spoke to Lisa on the phone which reminds me I must phone her again to see how she went on in her lectures. Elena's still loving school and now on about joining a Break Dancing Club after school on Wednesdays!! Not sure she knows what break dancing is lol.

Watched House again yesterday, it was fab!!! AND I learned that Hugh Laurie has signed up for another 4 years ~ get in lol.

Not sure where Chris has gone :O( She hasn't replied to my e-mail but that could be because she's busy. I suppose the reason I'm a bit worried is that I sent her a parcel & I don't know whether she's received it or not.

We are still all looking forward to our visit up North :o) Can't wait to see everyone again.

This from the PTS website, made me giggle :O)

There is a factory in Northern Minnesota which makes the Tickle Me Elmo toys. The toy laughs when you tickle it under the arms.

Well, Lena is hired at The Tickle Me Elmo factory and she reports for her first day promptly at 8:00 am.

The next day at 8:45 am there is a knock at the Personnel Manager's door. The Foreman throws open the door and begins to rant about the new
employee. He complains that she is incredibly slow and the whole line is backing up, putting the entire production line behind schedule.

The Personnel Manager decides he should see this for himself, so the 2 men march down to the factory floor. When they get there the line is so backed up that there are Tickle Me Elmo's all over the factory floor and they're really beginning to pile up. At the end of the line stands Lena surrounded by mountains of Tickle Me Elmo's. She has a roll of plush Red fabric and a huge bag of small marbles.

The 2 men watch in amazement as she cuts a little piece of fabric, wraps it around two marbles and begins to carefully sew the little package between Elmo's legs.

The Personnel Manager bursts into laughter. After several minutes of hysterics he pulls himself together and approaches Lena .

'I'm sorry,' he says to her, barely able to keep a straight face, 'but I think you misunderstood the instructions I gave you yesterday...'

'Your job is to give Elmo two test tickles.

And Then There Were Three

We dropped Elena off at drama this morning and then carried on to the car ferry in Cowes. Gemma said she would pick Elena up from drama for us and look after her while we took Lisa to Uni. Lisa had a hang over from last night lol so made herself at home on the ferry ;O) We found her new house and with the help of the other girls who she is sharing with, moved her stuff in. The weather was gorgeous, lovely & warm & dry.We were so busy helping everyone else with their stuff that I forgot to take anymore photos. The boat show was on in Southampton so managed to get this shot of a sunseeker through the car window. Just look at that blue sky!!Andrew's photo of the Waverley ~ the only working paddle steamer in the UK (apparently)We made it back in time to catch the 6pm boat & met Gemma & Elena at the Ponda Rosa for tea.