Completed April Scavenger Hunt

I’m chuffed that I have finished this months hunt with a couple of days to spare. Yay!

The Gallery: Portrait

It’s Gallery time again and the theme is “Portraits”.

Last Friday I went to watch the Dancing on Ice tour with Robyn. Imagine the scene… just me and my eldest daughter on an exciting trip to watch a show! Robyn is a huge fan of the TV show Dancing on Ice and Anthony very kindly splashed out and bought me and her a ticket each to see the tour in Manchester.

We only live 30 minutes from Manchester on the train so off we went after school. We went and got something to eat before the show started and then we went and found our seats in the M.E.N arena. Robyn was totally gobsmacked! I don’t think she expected it to be as huge as it was.

The show was absolutely fantastic. We shouted, cheered and clapped. We also boo’d when Nicky (one of the judges) only gave Hayley (our favourite) a score of 5.0 for her Jai Ho skate. The audience went crazy.

I watched in amazement when Torvill & Dean skated. Seeing them skate a variation of “Bolero” which won them their gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics made my hairs stand on end. Totally awesome (that was just for you Mel!).

Anyway, back to the Gallery! I only took my compact camera to the show and I snapped a picture of Robyn while we were waiting at the train station on the way. A beautiful portrait of my beautiful girl.

Come and have a look at all the other Gallery entries. There are some wonderful portaits!

Thankful Friday

I can’t believe it is Friday already! This week has gone quickly.

Today I am particularly thankful for the water board who took responsibility for the blocked drain at the front of our house. We’ve had the pipes backing up for the last 2 days and it was not a pretty sight. Without going into too much detail it was a health hazard. Still, it is all sorted now and we can breathe easy once more!

I am also thankful for our church £1 sale. It is an annual event and it happens tomorrow. It has made us go round the house with a bin bag and clear out all the stuff that is no longer needed. You know what they say… one man’s rubbish is another man’s treasure! I’m sure tomorrow we will go and buy a whole load more junk but it’s all good fun!

For getting to see my best friend on Sunday. It was so lovely to see her.

For my sister passing her driving test. It was her 4th attempt and I am so thrilled for her.

For Anthony starting his new job.

For a plastic storage tub that Katie spent ages playing in this morning!

For getting funding for another Open University course. Even without being on full benefits I qualify since Anthonys new job is low paid. I start a short course on web design on May 1st.

For going to 2 friends houses this week for a cup of tea and a natter.

For the UK benefit system. Yet again we have survived a period of time on benefits. Without the system we would have been in serious trouble. We are a very lucky nation.

Enjoy your weekends everyone.

The Gallery: Joy

I missed last weeks post on The Gallery. If I am honest it just stumped me! The prompt was “Ugly” and I’m trying so hard to think positive at the moment that I couldnt bring myself to think ugly thoughts lol.
I’m back though and this weeks prompt is “Joy”.

Last week my best friend who I miss so so much had a beautiful baby girl. We moved up to Yorkshire over 2 years ago and so I don’t get to see my friend as often as I’d like. I think about her every day and I know that no matter how many times a year we see eachother (last year it was twice) we will remain the very best of friends for life. She knows far too much about me for us to fall out lol.

So… joy. Baby Alexis Iona was born fit and well last Wednesday. I dont think there is much more of a joyous occasion than the birth of a new baby. I spent last Wednesday telling everyone I know that Lorna had given birth. I was so excited for her.

On Sunday my wonderful husband drove me and the girls down to visit Lorna and her lovely family. We spent the most wonderful afternoon together. It was so important for me to visit my friend and give her new precious baby some snuggles. It was definitely a joyful occasion. Seeing the friend that means so much to me and holding her newborn daughter. I also managed to take some photographs of Alexis which in turn has given Lorna so much joy. She said she cried when she saw this picture and I have to say I keep finding myself gazing at it too.

I am so proud of my friend. I miss her every day but it is moments like Sunday that keep me going. I know that we are there for eachother when we need it the most. In times of sorrow and joy, just as friends should be. Last year the two occasions we saw eachother were a funeral and Lornas own wedding. Sorrow and joy.

Here we are together last Sunday

Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief.– Swedish proverb

Thankful Friday

So much to be thankful for this week!

• Anthony got the job that he had the trial for! We just found out this evening. Totally thrilled!
• Lorna had a healthy baby girl. She has called her Alexis Iona and has 2 big brothers to look after her. We will hopefully be able to go and see them all on Sunday. I am so excited!
• I am thankful for my mum and dads apartment in Morecambe again. We were able to go there this week and take Robyns best friend with us. I love being able to make happy memories for my children.
• Thankful for good friends who help us out in various ways.
• Thankful that we can now start to try for baby number 3 again after a little break.
• Thankful that I was able to take Katie to church on Easter Sunday ON MY OWN! She was a good girl and most of all the task didn’t daunt me. I did it and I will do it again!
• Thankful that I continue to make people smile with my photography.
• Thankful that we have been able to spend some lovely time as a family this school holidays.

The Angels are watching…

Today my best friend goes to have labour induced with her 3rd child. She is 2 weeks overdue now and very fed up. I know she is very nervous she prepares to meet her new baby and I am thinking of her alot today.

As I briefly mentioned in my earlier post, Anthony has a 1 day job trial today for a chef position at a nearby carvery pub/restaurant. He had an interview last week that seemed to go well.

The angels are watching over my nearest and dearest today I’m sure…

An update on my 10 things.

Back in December my friend Mel asked me to compile a list of 10 things that we want in the next 12 months. That was 4 months ago so I figured I should post an update…

1. We want to have another baby
2. We want Anthony to be working in a good job where he is happy Anthony has a job trial today after a good interview last week!
3. Mel wants to be confident in looking after Katie on her own I can do it!! Anthony went away for 4 nights last month and I was fine. I took Katie to church on my own twice last week!
4. Mel wants to have lost 4 stone in weight I’m a quarter of the way there
5. We want to be living in a house with a garden We are on the council list now. It might be a long wait but we’ve taken the step.
6. We want to go away somewhere hot and sunny with our family Butlins booked for October!
7. Anthony wants to have lost 2 stone in weight He is going to take up running soon
8. We want a brand new family car
9. Mel wants to publish a children’s prayer book with her mum
10. We want our own Cafe and Bistro business. We will call it Karma

So, I’ve knocked one off the list and for me that was one of the huge ones to overcome. Of those that are left three are making real progress and the others are being worked on. We have booked a holiday to Butlins in October. Not quite hot and sunny but a holiday all the same. We are really looking forward to it.

It is really exciting watching the list slowly work out. Why don’t you have a go?!

Happy Easter!

Just a quick post as I’m not really feeling too well. I seem to have a tradition that says “Mel must have a sore throat at Easter!”. Ah well, off to bed in a bit and hopefully I’ll feel better in the morning.

I just wanted to share some pictures from our Easter celebrations at my parents house today.

Bubbly to start…

Followed by a spot of Rosé…

Followed by a scrummy dinner of roast lamb and various vegetables (oh, and more wine…)

Followed by an Easter egg hunt for the children…

Followed of course by eating the chocolate…

What do you call a bunny with no ears?!

Anything you like… it can’t hear  you!

I hope you all had a very blessed and happy Easter xxx

Good Friday Blessings

This morning we went to a lovely Good Friday service at church. It was all aimed at the children and they had a really great time learning more about Holy week and about what we, as Christians believe.

The children re-enacted the Last Supper and made crosses from salt dough. We all ate hot cross buns too 🙂

At the end of the service all the children lit a candle on the big cross and we said lovely Good Friday prayers. It was really beautiful.

Wishing you all a peaceful and blessed Good Friday.

April Scavenger Hunt

It’s the first of the month which means a new Flickr Monthly Scavenger Hunt list is up. Hmmmmm, I’d better get my thinking cap on!
When I find a clue I’ll strike it out and link it to the picture on Flickr.

1. Chocolate egg (on top)
2. Aging, if not always gracefully
3. Airport
4. Ant´s Eye View
5. Blue planet
6. Close Call
7. Couch Couples
8. Dreams of Spring
9. Emotions (Joy, Fear, Anger, or Sorrow)
10. Items We Carry
11. It´s a puzzle
12. My Favorite Mistake
13. Oh, Snap!
14. Plastic Fantastic
15. Pssst — They´re BEHIND You!
16. Shoot from the hip
17. Stop and look
18. Summer time / Winter time changeovers
19. Test Run
20. Three Quarters