I got the job!!

I got a call to say I've got the job, and can I go in for training on Monday. So pleased with myself, have now got to go and buy a pair of smart black trousers (shopping yay!) to wear, they will supply the polo shirt but I can wear my red blouse for now.

It is exciting and terrifying at the same time. When I got pregnant with Peanut, I left full time employment and office work, after that I only ever worked part time (off and on) mostly shop work. However, I haven't worked in a shop since 2004 when I went to college, then on to Uni.

I am sure I will pick it up again easily, it's hardly rocket science, but its the thought of the unknown again that scares me. I enjoy working with the general public though and because it's a local shop I will know a lot of the customers.

It's another goal completed on my 101 list too.

No52: Become an Elder at my Church

Another 101 goal completed. Today I am being ordained as an Elder. I am really nervous and can't quite believe it's happening. My best friends think it's hilarious that I'm becoming "respectable" in my old age. (none of them are churchie people)

As I've posted before my Church is important to me but I'm not one to be shoving my beliefs down other peoples throats. My Babes. although a member of the Church (he joined when we got married), is not interested in going to Church and that's fine with me as long as he doesn't mind that I go, which he doesn't.

For the last 3 weeks they've read out an edict about the new elders (there's 3 of us) being ordained, inviting anyone with any objections to bring it to the attention of the Kirk Session. I keep waiting for someone to jump up and shout NO! to my name. (perhaps I should wait till after the ceremony to post just in case!!)

Today is also our 23rd Wedding Anniversary but I will post about that when I come home.

Some photo's for fun

Assorted glasses of water I have guzzled over my month. I was drinking about 12 - 30 glasses a day depending on which glass I was using. Not to mention mugs of hot water.

My much loved herbal teas that I am so delighted to be able to enjoy again

No.89 of my 101list is to post photo's of all completed tasks. As previously posted I am behind in this having completed 15 tasks but only published 6 photo's. So here is a couple to represent completeing No. 25 Drink water only for a month which was completed 13/8/09. That brings No.89 up to (7/101).

A cup of herbal tea!

Bliss my water challenge is over thank goodness. No.25 Drink only water for a month is completed (whoop whoop) It was fab to have a cup of orange & lotus blossom green tea this morning. It was the best I ever tasted. I've really missed my herbal teas.

I'm so proud of myself for completing this challenge even though it took a couple of attempts. Not one I'd rush to do again though, not that I don't enjoy water, but it's nice to be able to drink something else if I fancy it. Although, I will still be drinking the recommended 8 glasses of water a day just as I always have but I'll supplementing that with my herbal teas, juice, pop, milk or whatever takes my fancy.

Tonight I'm having alcohol (can't even remember when I last had a drink). Not sure what yet, despite very rarely drinking (might as well be teetotal really) I do have a well stocked drinks cupboard in case any guests want. Will post when I've had my tipple, although it's been so long I may be quite merry after just one!! so it might not be until tomorrow I post.

Reading Frenzy

Sorry for the lack of posts have been engrossed in books. Have now finished both "Eclipse" and "Breaking Dawn" by Stephenie Meyer, books 3 & 4 of the "Twilight" saga. (14/101)

I just couldn't put them down. Peanut starting reading them when I started book 2 and he finished reading book 3 last night whilst I finished book 4 this morning. Like me once he starts a book series he can't wait to get to through them all.

Got breakfast in bed from Babes so as I could finish reading (what a sweetie). Am getting desperate for a cup of tea now (water challenge almost over), I'm not really a tea hand only having a cup now and again but obviously because I can't I really want. (Isn't that always the way)

No.42 Put all my CD's on the computer; is now completed. Photo to follow shortly. The kids and Babes are never done connecting their iPods to the computer to upload and update. It's quite funny how so much of my music (moaned about when I played it) is now on their iPods.


Watched "Flushed away" with Mouse last night. That movie is so funny (really didn't fancy it when it was in the cinema) I think it's the singing slugs that do it. The "Le Frog" character is played by Jean Reno (the French Army guy in Godzilla) I love his accent.

Anyway time for lunch so I'll post more later. Corn on the Cob for lunch Yum Yum!

More books and more 101

Finished reading "New Moon" by Stephenie Meyer today and have rented the 3rd book "Eclipse" from the library, so will start it tonight. I am loving these books, can't put them down. I think the 2nd film is out later in the year. That's me up to 12 books in my 101 challenge.

No61. Try a new food once a month - this hasn't been happening regularly enough but today I had kidney beans and flagelot (think that's how it's spelled) beans in a bean salad first time for both so I'm up to (5/33)

Miscalculated my water challenge days so I have in fact only got 8 days left. (Yay!) Having restarted on the 13th of July and doing it for 31 days (month). Still haven't decided who's getting the £10 fail payment but will sort it soon. Thought I might give it to a local "Big Issue" seller.

No.88 Post a photo for every task completed. Have noticed that I have fallen behind with this having actually completed 13 tasks and only posted 6 photos. Will rectify this as soon as possible.

101,000 rice Grains

Yippee! I have done it. Another 101 challenge completed No90. Donate 101,000 grains of rice at Freerice.com. This was a really fun challenge and I may donate more at a later date. If you haven't checked out this site go have a look it, it is great fun and you are learning things at the same time as doing good.
OK the photo is not of freerice but it's the best I could do without copying other peoples.

More 101 in progress

No25. Drink only water for a month - I have failed this task before but am attempting again this month so 1 day down 30 to go.

No.37 Learn to blog - I am going to mark this as completed now, as I no longer need to call on shopaholly every time I want to do stuff. You may have noticed I even updated my layout (new lists) without her help. Simple stuff I know but I was completely useless before.

No54. Get my puppy to stop chewing things - This is another one completed as Hamish is a changed dog (well as far as destroying stuff goes) I blogged before about how it came about so I won't bore you again but well done Hamish. (see above photo of our clever boy)

No90. Donate 101,000 grains of rice - I love this challenge I am up to 90,600 grains and learning about famous paintings at the same time. I can now spot a Franz Marc or Edgar Degas a mile off (as they say)

Oooh I feel so good.......

Just a quickie (ooh er missus) We have paid off our credit cards and our store card. Will post more later. I'm off singin in the rain!!!!!

Busy busy, chop chop, work work, bang bang...........

My what a hectic week. It's seems to have been non-stop but I'm not quite sure what exactly I've done. Tuesday was supposed to be a relaxing day. Babes was off, so we went to the library and the Art Gallery. (No 71 completed) It was lovely, but I had a upset tummy and had to come home. Felt lousy the rest of the day and did not venture far from my toilet.(sorry if too much info) Therefore, did not go to my WW class but, spoke to my leader and all is OK.

Whilst ironing I have been watching more movies, also in the evenings once Mouse has gone to her bed. So have now watched 2 more box sets - "Alien" Quadrilogy and "Back to the Future" Trilogy. Both sets I haven't watched in yonks and really enjoyed them.

Also 2 more rooms done, very pleased with my progress on this challenge (No4).

Read a new blog thanks to a referral by apieceofwood and really enjoyed it. Thoroughly recommend No more spending.net. She has really tackled her debt. Will be putting several of her ideas into practice to help me with my debts.

Anyway new series of Bones on and Booth is calling to me (in my dreams). So I'm off to drool

Weighing Me Down.................

Yay, more weight off. Only 1lb this week but it's still in the right direction, so I'm pleased. Plus, last week was such a big loss. I didn't get that much exercise done last week so will have to make sure that this week I do.

I did however get some of the chaos sorted. 2 rooms have now been organised. The front hall and the back porch (I know these aren't technically "rooms" but, I have counted them as rooms for the purpose of my 101 list)

I am also making progress on No2 Finish my diploma and get on the staff development programme. I have my return to course interview next week and if all is well I will be going back to University on the 13th of October. I can't wait to get back to my studies but at the same time I am terrified. I will be joining a new intake (My initial intake class qualified in my absence) Traditionally the September intake is a younger group of students as the school leavers join then. I do hope I'm not left feeling like a Grandma of the class.

I have also completed another goal. No41 Develop and maintain a proper organiser. My birthday is coming up soon, and I had asked my family to buy me pages for my filofax so I could start using it again. Holly, very kindly agreed to buy me my present early. She gave me a set of mid year diary pages and a mixed set with tab pages, address directory and plain and lined note pages. I was so pleased and have now replaced all my old pages, filled them in with all relevant information and am now back to carrying it everywhere so I can jot everything down as I need to.

Photo to show completed task is my lovely newly organised filofax with one of our Baby Beardies (Noona) helping me.

And Another One Bites the Dust.....

Yay me, I have completed another task. Ok it's a simple one but still it's on my list. No53 Make up and keep an animal diary. This mainly concerns the creepy crawly members of our family. It records who eats when (our snakes only eat every 5 days) and what they've had to eat (fruit,veg,wax worms, crickets, pinkies, fluffs, locusts, mealworms etc.) don't cringe it's not that bad. Who's been bathed, sprayed (obviously we don't bathe Rose our tarantula) or whatever it is they need.

Anyway as promised, a photo will be published for every completed task. If you want to see Rose pop on over to Holly's site, as holding her was one of Holly's 101 tasks. Meantime, hope you like these pictures of our big chameleon "Booger" wearing one of her many coats! (should have called her Joseph!) and two of our rescue Bearded Dragons called Eric and Ernie, soaking up a bit of sunshine.


Our bonnie beasties are all very friendly and love a cuddle. Booger's favourite is to sit on top of your hair. Whilst Eric and Ernie will happily sit on your shoulder when you are on the computer, just watching the screen. Beardies we have discovered are very nosey creatures!

I dunno where all my money goes........

Well, I certainly do now!! Holly came round yesterday and downloaded me a thing called budget planner. You have to fill in your income, then you fill out all these questions regarding how much you spend, finally it gives you a green or red sign and lets you know the state of your finances. OMG, according to it I am spending well beyond my means. Think I'll have to join the stopping shopping brigade.

The good thing is it shows you exactly where you are overspending, so if we calm down at Christmas and don't take a holiday anytime this century we should sort it. The biggest shock was what we spend on the animals, but then we do have rather a lot, 43 at last count.

At least I've completed another one of my 101 tasks. No12 Do a spending check. I said I'd publish a photo for every completed task. So am going to post one of Inverary Jail. Babes and I took a trip there last year and it was great fun. A fascinating place which I would highly recommend you visit if you can. Anyway the point of the picture is to make me think of the poorhouse, which if I don't sort my finances is where I'll end up!!!!!!!!!!
Perhaps I'd better watch "Prisoner Cell Block H" episodes to prepare!!!!!

My positives list

The idea of this list is to remind me, when I’m feeling down or discouraged, of 10 real positives in my life.

1) I have married my soul mate, (corny I know). We have been together since we were teenagers, and he’s my best friend, soul mate and husband all rolled into one.

2) I have three wonderful, healthy children whom I love to bits. Two are young adults and one is still at school. They don’t cause me any worries with drink or drugs.

3) I have a house full of animals who never fail to make me smile with their antics.

These are our boys l-r Hamish, Bubba and Zazu

4) I am in close contact my brother and his family, and we all get on! A major bonus in today’s society. I also see my Aunt and cousin regularly. My Dad lives 600 miles away but we speak most days on the phone. Although my Mum died recently she was always an inspiration to me, her loving presence will always be felt in our family.

5) I have a nice house (although chaotic) but it’s dry, warm and secure so really I have nothing to complain about.

6) Our income is sufficient enough to afford us some small luxuries in life although I could spend it more wisely.

7) I have a group of close friends whom I have known since childhood and I’ve been privileged to watch their families grow. We keep in contact through phone and email but also meet up when we can for girlies nights.

8) I can look back on most of my life with fondness. I was fortunate enough to have a happy, fun childhood.

9) I have never had to live in a war zone, been persecuted for my religious beliefs or been unable to express an opinion without fear of retribution. I have clean safe drinking water on tap and food is readily available and affordable.

10) I have the capability and the means to effect changes in my life to improve it physically, mentally and aesthetically.