Friday 29 May 2009

Return from Oz

My niece comes home today after 3 months touring Oz and NZ. It's got me thinking how great it is for young people(and the not so young) to be able to take these gap year type trips. In my day only the very intelligent or rich were encouraged to stay on at school and go to University(clearly I was neither, although I did make it to Uni eventually). Now everyone has the chance which is excellent. Same with the travelling. I am so delighted that those that want are usually able to manage some form of backpacking trip.

My niece worked damn hard at uni not only getting a first but working outside uni and saving like mad to make the most of her trip. Judging by the photos and her travel blog her trip has been everything she wanted and more. She has done amazing things (sky diving, swimming with dolphins, flying a plane to name but a few) that will stay with her all her life. I can't wait to catch up with her and hear more.

I am slightly jealous, who wouldn't be, but more than anything I am so proud of her. She is an amazing young woman with the world at her feet and I know whatever she does she will make a great success of it. So welcome home Reezer, we've missed you heaps and love you tons.

Wednesday 27 May 2009

More 101 stuff

No.45 -Eat dinner at the table every night - I have marked this as completed as we have been doing it for about 2 months now. The only time we don't is if we have made the decision to eat in the living room so as to watch a movie together and even then only if we're having pizza or the like.
No.16 -Start a £2 box was completed back in September 2008 but since I have raided it and not restarted it I have put this back to waiting to achieve.

This means I have only completed 10 of my 101 goals, although another 23 are in progress. No.54 - Get my puppy to stop chewing things is nearly completed.

He nearly went back to the pound a couple of months back when we came home after being out for an hour to find the room trashed. He had pulled out all the bags of sand, forest base and parrot bark from under the animal vivariums and ripped them to bits sending the contents all over the floor. Not to mention the mess from everything else he had attempted to chew. The room looked like a bomb had exploded.

He has very discerning palate and has eaten 2 DVD remotes, a hands free house phone, a foot stool, a ceramic pig Mouse made me for Mother's day, a candle, a diary, numerous pens and pencils, a homework jotter, my favourite blouse, another one of my handbags, rented DVD (thankfully only the box and they were very understanding), hamster food, prescription drugs (followed by a frantic call to the vets surgery).

Anyway I'm sure you get the picture, we seriously thought he would have to go back and went to see them about returning him (in floods of tears). Very nice lady at the pound suggested we get a cage for him. We were not keen but willing to try anything rather than give up on him. (he is so loving).
Anyway £80 later Hamish has a cage, lined with blankets and a quilt, which he gets shut in when we go out. The rest of the time the cage door is open and the dogs can wander in and out at their leisure. Sometimes all 3 of them at once which is highly amusing. It has been brilliant and after the first couple of times he settled no bother. He 's happy, we're kinda happy (still wish we didn't need it) but most importantly we have been 6 weeks with only one bad chewing experience. If he makes it 2 months without chewing I will consider this a completed task.

Christmas shopping

My new studio Christmas catalogue arrived this morning. It's not even half way through the year yet. I'm sure they never used to come out until September. I know I'm striving to be more organised but come on.

Doctors Clocks

Why do Doctors clocks run so slowly. Is it so they can fit more work in?
Had to take my Aunt to the Doc this morning, her appointment was at 9.30 we arrived at 8.55 (traffic was less than expected). The first appointment was at 9.10 and both patients before her were in and out within 5 minutes so how come my Aunt wasn't seen till 9.55?

Don't get me wrong I know the huge workload they have and we are lucky our family Docs are all fab but what is going on? Are they sneaking out the window for coffee/fag/pee breaks? Or perhaps there is some secret blogging going on!!!

Tuesday 26 May 2009

My 101 list

I started my 101 list on 1/9/2008 which means I have until 30/5/2011 to complete my tasks. I have already done some but I intend to change some now. I did say I could change up to 10 of my goals so here are the changes

No.2 Finish diploma & get on staff development programme. I am changing this one as I have completed part of my diploma and have qualified although not as a staff nurse. I will not be returning to uni in the very near future so it seemed sensible to remove this one.

No.19 Go swimming (2 a week) - due to council cutbacks (miserable gits) most of the pools in town have been closed or are being used solely for swimming lessons. Finances do not allow for gym membership just now so until finances improve to allow this it's coming of the list.

No.34 Read all the books in my bookcase - on closer examination of my bookcase there are 5 dictionaries and various Star Wars manuals belonging to Peanut plus several children's encyclopedias and atlases - I know I love to read but that's pushing it a bit, also
No.35 Read the top 101 books on the BBC's Big Read Chart - There are some books on the list (such as War and Peace and some Dickens novels) that frankly I'd rather watch paint dry than read so will combine both of these to make a new reading challenge by reading 101 books of my choice.

No. 57 Teach my 2 daughters to cook (1 night each a week) - am changing this only slightly as due to their busy social schedules (why do kids have better social diaries than their parents ?) this has to be changed to 1 daughter each alternated weekend.
and finally......
No.101 change no more than 10 things on the 101 list unless to increase amounts - I have decided this should be a rule for my list rather than a challenge - which means I can choose another new one to add to the list.

Will post new challenges once I have decided what they will be - suggestions are welcome.

Rip van Winkle has awoken

I know it's been 6 months since my last posting but I am alive. Not going to bother with filling in the blanks except to say that Peanut is now 21 and single. Banana and him having parted ways and she has moved back home to her folks. His 21st party was a blast. Napkin is turning 18 in 2 months so another party on the cards. Mouse finishes primary school next month (can't believe my baby is going to the Academy after the summer).

I am so proud of my niece Holly for having completed her year of no shopping and am now enjoying reading her new blog (shopaholly.wordpress.com) One of her sisters has been in Oz for the last 3 months and am really looking forward to seeing her when she comes home at the weekend.

My car has gone to car heaven and I miss her sorely (especially the boot space) however am managing fine without it.

My life is still chaotic and I'm still trying to work through my 101 list, so expect more posts,