Fab Food bad plates.................

Not long back from the Chinese Restaurant. As always had a fab meal. We go probably once a month so the staff know us. We were having a great time then when I went to get my plate for my next course (It's a buffet place and the plates are stacked on warming racks ) I picked up my plate only to find it was roasting hot and I nearly threw it on the floor. I managed to put it on the table and picked it up again using a wad of napkins.

I wasn't the only one to get a roasting either. Others were picking up plates and throwing them hot potato style from hand to hand then copying my napkin trick. We told the manager and having checked he switched off the plate warmer.

When I got back to the table my hand was still stinging and on examination I found I had actually received a nasty burn on my hand, The staff very kindly gave me some ice cubes which I wrapped in tissue and held in my palm. It was still smarting by the end of the meal but at least there was no blister. I am left with a small red blotch on my hand but no permanent damage thank god.

I'm off for a quick nap before my brother arrives so that I'll be fit to share the driving.

Zzzzzzzzzzzz

Secret Trip........

Secret trip is no longer secret. My brother blabbed. Basically we are off tonight to London, to go and attend a surprise diamond anniversary celebration for my Uncle and Aunt in Essex tomorrow. It was also supposed to be a surprise to my Dad that we were coming down to go with him to the party but as I say my big bruv talked.

Never mind should still be fun. The whole family has been invited to the party but unfortunately due to work commitments etc only my brother and I can attend from Scotland. My Aunt and Uncle have no idea that all the brother's , sister's and their families have been invited not to mention all the cousins. My brother and I have not seen most of our English rellies in more than 20years, should be a great reunion.

We are heading off at 10p.m tonight in order to get there and have time to have a sleep before we go the party as it's an hour and a half travel time (if traffic is good) from my Dad's place to the party venue.

It's Friday........

At least it was when I typed this. Today is my Babes birthday. He was on an early shift today so I haven't actually seen him yet. I think I did mumble something indistinguishable as he said so good bye but will be all bright eyed and bushy tailed when he comes home.

We are going out for tea at his favourite buffet style Chinese restaurant. All except our youngest Mouse who is away to Aviemore for the weekend for the National Children's Assembly. She was so excited, but when we got to the train station the other girls going from our church were all in sobbing mode. She had a little blubber too, but it seemed more to fit in with the others than really wanting to cry. However, she is away safely, and full of excitement again. We have had 3 texts from her already and she's only been gone 20 mins.

Out of time.........

Ok so you may have noticed that last posting was out of date sequence. This is because our computer crashed as I was trying to upload it on Thursday. Have been offline till today but now have new router so all updates will be posted under today's date.

Aww aint it cute...........

Last night the rabbits joined the mad house so as to protect them from being scared at the fireworks. They were in the kitchen for the night (lino floor incase of mishaps) and were quite contented hopping about the floor and eating their greens. The kittens were fascinated by them and kept nosing about at the rabbit food to see if it was worth them having a nibble too.

So during the evening we go into the kitchen to find not only the rabbit and the kitten sharing a drink but one of the dogs as well. If only we'd had the camcorder charged might have made £250 on "You've been framed"

Sudden trip to a secret destination may be on the cards, my brother has just called with a secret travel plan (sounds very 007ish doesn't it) but it's just that I can't blog it incase the wrong person reads it. All will be revealed tomorrow.

Saw Journey to the Centre of the Earth (Brendan Fraser Version) today, good family type yarn. Sometimes it's nice to watch a movie that doesn't challenge you.

Here's Kerri ......

Hello Hello I'm back. So sorry for the blog lapse. Many things going on so you better get comfortable as it's going to be a long read. First of all thanks to those who have enquired after me. It's nice to think we have strangers who are friends and miss our ramblings. I know I like to catch up with whats going on with all of you.

Okay October goals - FAIL, FAIL, FAIL the only one achieved was no spending days. I actually managed about 9 (nearly double target) as I've not been out much.

Drinking only water for a month - this did not happen but not far off. Had a couple of slips, went to a church coffee morning and was so caught up in chatter that I'd had half a cup of coffee before I remembered. However have managed to drink only hot water at church since. Also went out for lunch with my son and took a coughing fit so gulped a couple of mouthfuls of his coca cola to appease my throat. Then on the 27th I had a blowout and drank a McDonald's Banana milk shake. I was feeling sorry for myself and needed a "bad for me fix". Therefore task failed £10 to charity. I will however, be attempting this task again, but not until the New Year as I need my hot chocolate on these cold nights.

Lose 8lbs - Miserable fail on this have put on 4. My heart has not been in it and have been comfort eating. This is very bad as Christmas approaching and do not want to look dreadful in Christmas Photos. Will tackle again this month. Will not be paying £10 to charity for this one, as not an actual task, but will give extra food to instant neighbour scheme, as a punishment for going off rails.(will make me feel better that at least I'm helping someone)

Start exercise routine - started but did not stick to it. Lost heart. Same with set up menu planning and stick to it - started well but fell by the wayside after couple of weeks. All in all October not a good month but I do have a excuse, at least it's not an excuse but a reason for losing heart.

As those of you who have read my previous posts know, my Mum died on the 1st of May, The 27th of October would have been her 72nd birthday and the 1st of November, 6 months since she passed. My Mum was an amazing lady (as are all Mums) but she coped with such adversity in her life. She was diagnosed with throat cancer at the age of 13, after extensive surgeries to save her life (all pioneering stuff at the time) she had a post operative stroke at age 16.

Never once did my Mum let her disability get in the way of things she wanted to do in life. She met and married my Dad, had my brother and me and did everything for us. She learned to drive and worked as Nursery Teacher most of her life. She went back to college and did a secretarial and shorthand course in her late 40's. She helped look after her grandchildren and all 6 of them have special memories of things Grandma taught them to do. She needed a lot of help in the latter years of her life but we were very grateful that, with the wonderful help from our GP's and District Nurses, she was able to stay at home till the end.

Now I don't mean this to be a depressive posting, I just wanted to tell you what's been going on. As with others who have lost loved ones, you'll know the firsts are always the hardest, first birthday, Christmas, anniversaries etc. I just wanted to put down in print what I was feeling as much to help me with my healing process as anything else. My Mum was a Mum in a million, and I miss her greatly. However, if she was here she would give me a good kick up the arse (well at least the ankle as she couldn't have reached my arse) and tell me to get on with things. It's right and proper that I should miss her but not that I should feel so sorry for myself. I have been very down this last couple of weeks and it's time I pulled myself together and got on with it.

So if you've kept reading to the end, thanks again for letting me ramble. Normal blogging will resume and I will pick myself up and dust myself down (adding more to the pile of dust that has accumulated on every surface recently) and bloody well get on with it. Time to re-read my positives list I think, then work out my November goals.

For those of you asking about my CREDIT CARDS, paid them off by taking out a consolidation loan, not the best way we know, but we were only paying extortionate interest charges not actual bills. This way we have a very low interest rate and are able to pay the loan off quicker. Definitely a boost in today's credit climate I think.

The car is back on the road, as is Peanuts, however he has also bought another car so that he can pass the first one on to his sister who will hopefully pass her test soon.

Happy 5th of November to you all, and if you're having fireworks be careful and ensure your pets are safely inside. Even our rabbits come inside tonight. Here's a photo of them in better weather.

Girlie Nights......

Off for a Girlie Night tonight to relax and catch up on the gossip. I am going to my friend A's new house for the first time so looking forward to the tour. Her houses are always beautiful and emmaculate not at all like mine. Also doing the driving so I can stay on the water (had a couple of slips will tell all tomorrow) and am giving a lift to another friend S who loves her vino and is likely to be very pissed by the time I drive her home. She is always a scream drunk or sober so should be a fun night, Just what the doctor would order I think.

On a yucky note Banana has had to take her belly button piercing out as its gone all lumpy and disgusting. Hopefully she will have had enough of piercings now (her one at the top of her ear went yucky too). Then again she never stopped playing with it "bad girl".

R.I.P Tai

Sorry I've not been blogging but our beautiful Bearded Dragon Tai was ill and needed a lot of care and attention. Sadly it was to no avail and our little lady died yesterday.

She was our first exotic pet. She had been badly treated before we got her and after she had been initially nursed back to health by our exotic supplier Jodie we took her on as a rescue. She blossomed and began to lay eggs again. A sure sign that her calcium levels were back up and she was thriving. We were absolutely delighted, she loved a cuddle and a bath, and to run about the floor with the other beardies.

Unfortunately in her last cycle she became egg bound and this sadly led to her death. We had sought advice from our vet and Jodie and tried everything. She died in Babes arms (her favourite cuddling place) and she will be very sadly missed.

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!!!!!

My Kingdom for a car....

Now before I get pounced on for being bad to the environment and reminded of how many people manage without cars, I just want a little moan well actually a big one. Our car is off the road and will be most of this month. No problem we decided to do it so thats all good.

However, the deal was that I would walk or bus everywhere but when I needed any big shopping, Peanut would take me in his car or, when it was my turn for the choir run I would borrow his car. Still sounding good!.

Why oh why then did Peanut crash his car and put it off the road!!!. I am not being a heartless Mother, I made sure he was OK first, then that no one else was hurt. Then I went ballistic. Why do young drivers think they know it all. He was driving in the rain and took a corner too fast, skidded, spun out and hit a wall. No damage done to the wall but the wheels are wrecked on the drivers side and the bodywork dented a bit.

Like I said I can walk and bus but what about the big stuff. Thanks to my niece (not Holly but her equally kind and talented sister Rhea who drives) I got my dog food picked up and delivered. Obviously with 3 dogs we buy in bulk and its kinda hard to take a 25kg bag on crowded busses.

For everything else I am reduced to shopping at my local spar (not that there's anything wrong with Spar but it's not friendly to my budget) What's more I'm going to have to help bail Peanut out as he cannot afford to buy wheels and tyres in the same week. So right now I'm being ungreen and sulking.

I WANT MY CAR BACK!!!!!!!!