Not the Right Time...

Hi there, I hope you are all well despite this disappointment of a "summer" so far.  Although officially summer doesn't start till about 21st June I suppose but, nevertheless, it still feels like Autumn to me!  I've got a big fleecy cardigan on and the halogen heater is on/off as well!  Still, what can you do?

Thanks for the comments on the job front.  I decided not to apply for it in the end.  And here's why:

I have job hopped so much in search of happiness, over the last 4/5 years and finally, I feel happy in the role I am currently in.  When it came down to it, the thought of having to go through all the long formal application, a grilling interview and then, should I be selected, start all over again in less than a year of starting my current job, made me feel a bit queasy.  When I asked myself what I really wanted, the answer was, simply to enjoy this role a bit longer and really make the best of it and not go for another job just because it was there.  Sure it would have been a bit more money but truth is, I don't care about that.  It's financially tough at times but the bills are getting paid and we're getting by. 

What matters to me right now is getting to Sunday nights and not wanting to kill myself because I hated the job I was going to the next day.  It matters to me that I am really getting to grips now with the role and implementing the new knowledge and hopefully really helping people on the other end of the phone.  I simply want to have that stability for a while.

I have been in enough jobs to know that it hardly ever stays like that (forever) and one day I will realise I am coming to the end of the 'honeymoon period' in the job and I'll need another challenge.  And that's fine.  I'll deal with that when it happens and if there is another opportunity within the department I shall go for it.  But that's then and this is now.  I feel happy with my decision and it felt right for me.  My Line Manager may be disappointed with me but hey ho.  He'll get over it I'm sure!

So there you go that's that.

In other news, happily I paid off the balance to a holiday we have planned for late Summer down to Cornwall which hubby and I have been saving for since last July!  So the holiday is bought and paid for, now we are just saving for some spending money and the petrol to drive down there and back (and around and about should we decide to venture further than the beach & cottage garden!).  This has given me a boost as I have something to look forward to now.  I don't think we'll have another holiday again for a couple of years at least so, I'm really hoping for fine weather when we're there.

Our fourth Approved Foods order is due tomorrow.  I'm so grateful I heard about the site from Frugal Queen's blog, I know I have said that before, but I truly am.  This time I've saved a fortune on cereal bars and dairy free desserts which are packed lunch staples in this household.  I check most days to see what they have especially by way of breakfast cereals and it is hit & miss but I generally can use a number of things they have on offer. 

I popped to Aldi today for the usual weekly shop for fresh fruit & veg and some other usual weekly bits and was delighted to see that they had some Earl Grey tea in for 99p a box!  So a box went in the trolley and I had one when I got home...and was satisfied with it.  If you like Earl Grey, I'd say give it a go.  It may need a little longer in the cup or pot than some of the labelled brands but for 99p, you'd be crazy not to try it.

I also popped into a charity shop earlier and found a fabulous quality striped top with the modern twist 'batwing' effect (I hope you know what I mean otherwise it just sounds horrendous) and a ribbed/tight finish right at the bottom where it sits on the top of your hips.  Versatile to go with jeans or work trousers so I was pleased with that.  I would post up a photo but it's in the wash as I type!  I also got an electric blue plain t-shirt for hubby which he really liked.  He can never have enough t-shirts/tops as he's a master of the spilled curry or pasta sauce which refuse to come out no matter what I do, so spending top dollar on clothes for him, even if I was minted, would be pretty stupid.

Something else I decided to try last weekend (Jubbly weekend) was start using bicarbonate of soda after cleaning my teeth normally, for whitening.  I can't even entertain the idea of spending £4+ on whitening toothpastes now so I just heap a little onto my toothbrush when there is still some toothpaste left on it, and clean for about another minute, no more than that.  It tastes foul however it does the trick and no mistake!  A large pot from Tesco cost me 99p and it'll last for AGES.  I'm chuffed with that.  My teeth feel so clean and although they're hardly Hollywood white (you'd need bleaching kits for that!) they are clean, bright and healthy looking. 

Well not too much else to report from here....I am out tonight...being treated to a film at the cinema so I am looking forward to that.  All I have to do is drive there which I am happy to do!  I can't remember the last time I went out on a Tuesday night so it'll be appreciated.  I've cut right back on money for 'going out'.  I won't say I never go out as that would be a blatant lie but, it's barely anything these days.  I have made a plan for the next 6 months or so and if I stick to it, I should be overdraft free within that time and will have put some savings away.  I know some people would say "Why save if you are overdrawn?" but I do because:

a)  If something crops up I don't want to go deeper into my overdraft
b)  My overdraft is completely free/no interest up to a certain point so it's not costing me anything to save if that makes sense.

Wish me luck, I have to say I need all the encouragement I can get to stick to the plan!  I do like to be a little social and see my friends & family but not a lot is free is it, so some money always ends up getting spent.  And I can get carried away with the moment at times, I'm the first to admit it.  More education (or even some!) is required for the whole country on how not to be a hermit and not run up debts in the process I think!

OK that really is it so I shall bid you adieu for now.  Thanks for reading!  And feel free to add your comments on what you do to be social, for free or very little money.  I'd love to read them.

xxx

The Jubbly Weekend!

Hi there, how are you on this rainy Jubilee Sunday? I am having a day of enforced relaxation as it's pouring down outside! It's been lovely though - I had a bit of a lie in, then came down to a lovely breakfast of tea & brown sugary porridge which hubby made, then after washing up I embarked on some home administered pampering (free!) topped off my a long hot shower with my favourite soap "Dove" which I treated myself to yesterday as I had some Tesco vouchers.  I love the smell of Dove soap it's so nice.

After a frugal lunch of beans on ALDI seeded bread toast (which incidentally is one of my favourite lunches!) I am now watching some tv.  I don't know about you but I am middle-of-the-road when it comes to the Royal Family and all this Jubilee stuff.  I'm watching the start of the flotilla because it's history in front of me and I feel I want to see at least some of it.  So here I am, on the sofa, cup of tea, tv on, laptop here...and I'm quite happy.  Hubby has closeted himself away in the other room with his OU studies - he's hardly what you'd call a Royal fan!

Life's been quiet generally although I have a doctor's appointment on Wednesday to discuss my recent blood test results.  I already know what it's going to be about......I am vitamin D deficient.  I had to visit the nurse for something else in this last week and she looked on my notes when I mentioned it and told me!  I am happy that at least I know what I am being "recalled" for and I know that it is quite easily treatable.  And on the plus side, once my Vit D levels are back up to what they should be I am hoping this will give me a big boost and help my back problems as well.  For those who don't know, Vitamin D deficiency can give way to aches & pains and bone pains amongst other things.

There is a vacancy opening at the hospital within the department I work in and I am in a dilemma about it.  It's going up a banding and I would be a "Senior" should I go for it and get it (and my Manager thinks I should go for it and that I have as good a chance as anyone even though I have only been there 8 months!).  However I quite like the job I am doing right now and would quite like a bit more time doing it if I am honest.

But these opportunities don't come up very often.  I know I could do the job although there may be a short period of time to get some foundation knowledge built up (wouldn't take too long) but the big question is...do I want to do it?  Lots of people are saying "Just go for it!" even if for the interview experience but I need to answer the question of myself first:  "do I want this job?" before I waste anyone's time (including my own) filling out a long application form and going through the tough interview process.  And what happens if I do all that and actually get offered the job and I am still not sure if I want it!  Imagine that!  (Getting ahead of myself a bit there though I know.)

OK well I hope you all continue to enjoy your "Jubbly! weekend break and the spectacle that is this flotilla, should you be watching it.

Bye for now.

xx

Results

Evening all, how are you today?

I am sitting here in floods of tears watching "Planet Earth" and seeing the baby elephants struggling to cross the river...some got swept away and it was the most heartbreaking thing to watch.   The elephant group has been reduced due to poachers (for ivory) so the Matriarchs who can judge the river are not around...so the younger ones take the risk and this what happens.  It's so so sad and distressing to watch.   Oh but here we go, they are about to update us on it actually.....

...so further down the river, the babies do struggle but they eventually make it out.  Oh good God what a mess I am watching this.  They must be so distressed and exhausted!  But good news, they made it out and off they go.  Ohhhhhhh dear, pass me a handkerchief!

Anyway it wasn't my intention to write about struggling baby elephants but there you go! 

Well I got my blood test results back today and mostly good and in range for the things I was tested for.  The Vitamin D test didn't come back for some reason the Nurse on the phone advised so I will need to see if the Doctor calls me in the next few working days because that was one of the things I wanted checking.  My calcium levels were a "bit" high but without knowing what my Vitamin D levels are I don't know if that is a worry or not. 

However iron, B12, folate were all ok which is good news especially as I have struggled with anaemia in the past. 

My back ache is gone though my lower back is slightly stiff in the morning but a hot shower sorts that out.  I am back on my bike this week which I think is helping actually as well as saving me £2 a day when I need to take the car!

As for the weight, well, I don't think I have lost anything even though I have been trying hard to stick to a calorie limit and get some exercise.  But someone said to me today that I looked "tiny" especially top half and none of my clothes are feeling tight so...I don't know.  Part of me wants to just forget about what the scales say but part of me thinks I can't ignore it in case there is something 'hidden' causing me weigh 2.5 - 3 stone more than I look!   Sometimes it is hard to know what to do for the best and I don't want the GP to think I am some paranoid hypochondriac! 

Right, I am off to make my frugal home made lunch for tomorrow.  Nearly the weekend!  I hope you all have at least one nice thing planned for your break.

Cheerio for now!

PS.  ARGH!  Now they're showing a buffalo being attacked by lions!  It's all too stressful for me!  Think I'll put on Die Hard or something mindless!

The Doctor Will See You Now...

Hello again and hello & welcome to my new followers.  Lovely to have you around.  It always makes my day when I see someone else has decided to follow my ramblings!  So thank you for choosing to follow.  And thank you to all who commented on my last post where I was quite flat.  I appreciate your time to try & cheer me up.

Well I went to the Doctors today for a chat and some tests.  I do have to go back on Friday morning for a fasting blood test as she was concerned enough by my symptoms to agree to it.  So we'll see how that comes back.  She is also going to check my iron levels (full blood count), Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, folate and something to do with calcium as well.  Very thorough eh?

I also had a bit of an MOT whilst I was there.  Blood pressure slightly elevated at 141/85 (second reading) but that was not high enough for her to be concerned to 'take action' I guess especially if you take into consideration the "white coat" factor, oh, and the incident in the waiting room of which I shall tell ye more in a minute!

I also asked her to listen to my heartbeat and that was fine too.  I asked for her to check it as I am aware of palpitations at times, and seems I was there, I may as well ask! 

She also weighed me and I was 80kg.  The 'system' said my ideal weight was 66kg.  Even the GP looked at me and said "No!  No way, that is TOO much!" (in her lovely accent with it's slight West African twang) and she went on to say "If you tried to get down that much you would be *this* thin (holding up her finger) and you would be ill!"

THAT, dear readers, really made me happy!  I was delighted that someone in the medical profession agreed that losing over 2 stone just to fit into a chart, is a ridiculous notion.  What she did say, is, if I want to aim for something, aim for the weight I was last time the (previous) GP weighed me which was 75kg.  She advised trying for a kilo a month (2.2lbs), so, take it slowly and don't rush it.  I was perfectly happy with that.  That is 11 pounds to lose from today. 

11 pounds does feel a bit daunting but I think it's do-able if I make some sensible changes and really look at what I am getting for my calories during the day.  It's like getting more for your money really isn't it?

So there we are.  Just the blood tests to be done and results reviewed so we know if there is anything to include more of in the diet then I can really get on with it.

I shall post again in due course!  Fingers crossed.

Oh!  And the waiting room incident!  I was sitting there minding my own business, when a elderly gentleman came in and sat next to me.  This guy had some health issues in that he couldn't speak (not sure if it was due to a stroke or something else) and he also had an issue with his leg.  Anyway he sat next to me and before long had got my attention to check what the time was.  I told him the time and he gestured he wanted to go out for a cigarette (naughty!) but he was next in the queue - did I think he had time?  I said "No, you'll have to wait I think" to which he looked a bit deflated but hey ho. 

Then after that, he took a bit of a shine to me and he managed to point out to me that he was wearing his Manchester United track suit bottoms (!) to which I said "OK, well I don't think you're going to win the league this year!" which he waggled his hand at as if to say "Maybe!" then he gestured to ask me who I supported.  I showed him my keyring which has the Liverpool emblem on it and that cracked him up!  We were having a right little conversation between us I have to say.  But then he made a rocking baby gesture to ask if I had children.  I said no, then he checked my hand to see that I was wearing an engagement & wedding ring and checked that yes I was married.  THEN, bold as brass he asked me if I wanted to go to the pub and have a drink with him!  At 9.45am to boot!  I said no (oh really?) but he seemed surprised by that (?) and was trying to pursue it but luckily, his Doctor called him in.  I sat there stressing out thinking "Please let my Doctor call me in before he comes back out!!"

My doctor called me in just as he was coming out, he made a sweeping gesture for me to go through the door before he came out so I said "thank you!" and rushed through to my GP's room all a-fluster! 

So, with all that in mind, perhaps a 141/85 blood pressure reading wasn't too bad eh??

Till next time!

Keep On Keeping On...

Hello there everyone, how are you?  How is your Bank Holiday going?  It's cold, grey, windy & drizzly where I am, atypical Bank Holiday weather eh?  Firstly thanks to everyone who mentioned I could change my Blog settings back - I did so and it's so much better.

Well apologies for the lack of blogs recently, I am feeling very uninspired about things I have to admit.  There's no money, the weather has been horrendous for the last month at least which means I can't even enjoy a nice walk and then on top of all that, last weekend my lower back decided to give out!  It's on the mend now - I found some free yoga advice & videos online which have helped plus I have a friend overseas who is very into yoga so she offered some tips too. 

However all things concerned, life feels bland at the moment.  Just getting up for work, coming home, eating dinner, not doing much in the evenings, going to bed then doing it all again.

I did throw myself into trying to lose a bit of weight didn't I.  That went well for about 3 weeks (lost about 5 pounds) then all went downhill when I hurt my back (bloody typical!) as it meant the aerobic exercise pretty much went out of the window and I comfort ate as well, all last week.  So I need to get back on track with that as well.  I have definitely put some weight back on so I am probably back to where I started.

I am actually off to the Doctor this coming week for a bit of a chat as I am worried about a few things: my weight for a start.  WHY do I weigh so much when people think I weigh about 3 stone less than I actually do?  I want my blood pressure checked and if possible, my Vitamin D levels checked along with my iron.  And possibly blood sugar levels as well as I keep getting the shakes & instant hunger which is a bit weird.  One of my sisters is hypoglycaemic and she's urged me to talk to the GP just in case as I also get jittery, bad tempered & get some headaches with it as well. 

Oh dear!  I feel like a bit of a wreck at the moment if I am honest.  But, I am just carrying on, just trying to keep my head above water financially for now with a plan to try and improve things later on this year.  I hope, I really really hope, that the sun comes out soon.  I am feeling very lethargic and down.  I need the sunshine to cheer me up.  I am longing for a lovely long walk in the warmth but it's just not happening. 

Well apologies for the depressing post.  I just wanted to check in with you.

Here's hoping you are all doing much better. 

Take care. x

I Go Away For a Week and Look What Happens!

Hi there!  Well, lookie here....Blogger's got a whole new look!  At least it has on my input screen, I presume it has on yours too?  Not sure what I think about it to be honest but I guess I will just have to get used to it won't I?

So how are you all today?  Dodging the showers out there hopefully!  Hi to new followers and thanks for the recent comments as well.

So, going back to work was awful as you would expect but once I got into the swing of things again I guess it wasn't soooo bad.  I really detest getting up early though so having a long week off where things are a little more leisurely makes it even worse when things get back to normal!  I asked a friend of mine once, who is a very very early riser, how she did it when the alarm went off at such ungodly hours (in my opinion anyway!) and the answer was pretty simple.  "Well we all have to get up at some point so I just get on with it!".  Can't argue with that and I do try and keep that in the forefront of my mind on the days when I am tempted to hit snooze for that bit of extra zzz time...a slippery slope that is!

As you can probably imagine, I was happy for the weekend to arrive but I haven't really done anything exciting with it....but to be honest that is fine by me!  I had a massive basket of washing to sort out as well as the sheets & towels as ever, a frugal meal plan to, errr, plan, dinner to cook last night, chores to be done around the house and some Wii fit exercise to be carried out!

The Wii fit exercise was crowbarred into my day last Monday after a shocking revelation on some scales recently (pre-holiday time).  Although to look at me you wouldn't say I am overweight, three pairs of scales and numerous body charts all tell a very different story.  By about a stone and a half apparently!  Now, I am 5' 7" (67cm to those of you who work with sensible measuring systems) and weighed in at 12st 13 (181 pounds or just over 82kg)  on a pair of hospital clinic scales.  This is H-E -A-V-Y for a 41 year old female.  However everyone whom I have dared to confide in, bar none, have all said "No!  Really?  You don't look it!" when I made the big reveal.  So I think muscles and big old bone density (yep that old chestnut) really must play a part in this??  Or am I in denial?

I fit into tops that range from a size 8 to a size 12 and trousers which range from a size 12 to a size 14 depending on the make/brand.  (All sizes UK sizes obviously.)  So from that, assume what you will but I would hope you would assume I am not a contender for "A Year To Save My Life - Obese Special".

Anyway the scales scared the bejesus out of me because fairly slim or not fairly slim, nearly 13st is pretty bl00dy heavy and I need to do something about it.  So this week I decided to take action!  So I have signed up to an online calorie logging site (available at Everydayhealth.com if interested) and set a sensible calorie limit which incorporates a 500 calorie drop (per day) to try and lose a pound a week.  I also decided that although when the weather is good I do cycle to work, it's too inconsistent so I need to incorporate more exercise.  So that's why the Wii and the Wii Fit board have been dug back out!

I bought the Wii stuff a few years ago when I got a bonus from a better paid job and although I used it for the first year or so, it then got put away...like so much in life sadly.  But!  Happily I realised this can be a very useful tool in my war on weight so out it came again along with Wii Fit and my Just Dance discs.  I have used it 4 times since last Monday (inclusive).  I weighed myself last night and I am down to 12st 8!  So 5 pounds gone since I weighed myself just before my long week off. 

I am pleased with that and I am really enjoying the extra activities I am doing.  I love the 'step' activity on Wii Fit (though was never interested in it, in real life strangely!), love the jogging (but again you wouldn't catch me outside jogging on the mean streets!), the rhythm boxing is fun as is "Kung Fu Moves" and if you want a real laugh, try the hula hooping!  (I don't do that for too long....you do feel like a plum!)

As for Just Dance, that was made for me.  I absolutely love it.  Some are definitely harder than others but some are easy to follow but give you a great work out.  I love dancing, I always have had dance in my life in one format or another but now I can't get out dancing for real due to lack of funds or facilities (or just feeling too old to even think about going to a club for that sort of dancing!) this helps fill a gap.  I recommend it for some fun movement if you need a bit of activity injected into your day.  I have Just Dance 1, 2 & 3 and I still go back to quite a few on the first disc. 

So, that's what I am up to at the moment, trying to shed a bit of excess baggage!  Wish me luck and if you have any pearls of wisdom to offer....feel free!

Bye for now.

x

Trying to Enjoy My Last Two Days Off Work

Hi there, how are you all today?  Welcome to my recent new followers, it's lovely to see you!  And thank you to all who have commented of late.  I see we are all pretty similar when it comes to the National Lottery!  Yes just how lovely it would be to look after those nearest & dearest to us as well as enjoying some financial freedoms ourselves.

So here I am, the last two days off of work before back on the bike and back to the grindstone on Monday morning.  I am still massively grateful I have left the other awful place I worked at before but I am not going to pretend I'm looking forward to going back to work after such a nice week off!  I think that's probably another thing we're mostly all in agreement on isn't it?  But it has been lovely with a good balance of relaxation, busy times and seeing friends and my Mum too.

So it's a fairly sunny day today but fresh...the wind is a little chilly but it's good washing drying weather for the towels and other "whites" I washed overnight.  I was awake at about 8.30am this morning when postie knocked for a signed delivery and I was up & about properly not long after that.  I have given the kitchen and bathroom a clean and I really should give the lounge a once over but I appear to be glued to the sofa with Liverpool v Everton on the radio!  Anyway all housework was done on Tuesday so it's hardly a hovel.  I'll get my act together when the game finishes and whip the vacuum cleaner around and a duster.

We're off out tonight to a comedy show.  I bought a couple of tickets for Jo Caulfield a while ago with the intention of taking a lady I work with, as a thank you for all the lifts she'd given me to work over the Winter period but unfortunately it didn't pan out as her sister subsequently booked the same date for her wedding...how very dare she!  Some people are all self self self aren't they?  Only joking obviously.  So anyway, hubby is coming with me tonight - it's the first night out since his birthday treat in February when we went to see the Spaghetti Western Orchestra (who were brilliant).  I am looking forward to going out, it is a bit of a drive but not too bad.  Part of me would like to just snuggle up on the sofa tonight with a film but I will go out and hopefully have a good giggle.

Tomorrow I am really hoping will be dry even if not sunny as I would like to get out for a walk and get some fresh air/exercise.  I am carrying some extra weight at the moment even though my friends have said they can't see where, I know that I am as two pairs of scales have told me so!  So I really need to start getting some more exercise as well as watching what I eat for a while.  I'm still fitting into all my clothes though so it's hopefully salvageable!

Well I do hope that you are all having a good weekend, whatever that involves for you.  Wish me luck for Monday....!

Bye for now. xx

I Won The Lottery!!!

I bought a ticket last week on the spur of the moment for two draws.  Nothing on Saturday which left the Wednesday 11th draw.  I woke up this morning and daydreamed about how great it would be if last night's draw had been kind to me then decided to check the results on my mobile.  And I thought "Hang on....I've got at least three of those..." so I bolted out of bed and ran down to where the lottery ticket was, and...I had............four numbers!

So that was better than a poke in the eye with a stick!  £99 in my hands less than half an hour later after a quick dash to make myself decent and get round to Tesco to take some money off them for a change!

So early retirement and generous gifts will have to wait for now (!) but what a nice start to the day eh?

It's allowed me to fill my little car up with petrol, put some cash away for next week's groceries, get some stamps & greetings cards, treat hubby & I to a bottle of wine each (and him a packet of posh coffee....a real treat for his weekend mornings with marmalade on toast!) and I added a little bit to my Body Shop voucher today to get myself three of my favourite products.   I have a bit left as well which I will use tomorrow when I meet a good friend for a chat and a cuppa.

I also discovered that I had £1 left online in my Lottery account (I don't use it frequently) so I have picked 6 random numbers for this Saturday's draw.  This allows me to wake up Saturday morning and allow myself to daydream again....  :-)

Winning the lottery is a little daydream I have and I am not a person who spends pounds a week on trying.  It's just a pound here and there and that allows me to dream occasionally.  I do get lost in my little daydreams, it's true!

As well as the obvious things like being able to pay my mortgage off, I'd truly love the opportunity to make a difference to family & friends' lives.  And I would really be grateful for an opportunity to visit my friend who emigrated to Australia in 2010. 

But I would also try and plough money into local schemes and charities.  I would like to buy some wells for villages in 3rd world countries where clean water is so badly needed, plough some money into World Vision's scheme where they loan money to small businesses that want to start up in some of the world's poorest countries.  Sometimes people just need a chance to turn their lives around and not just a handout.

I'd also buy a massive vat of vanilla body lotion obviously!  ;-)

What would you do with a big lottery win?  

The Holidays Continue...

Good evening to you.

Well the Easter break is officially over - did you indulge?  I must confess I did munch my way through one egg and three little packs of treat chocolates that came with it!  My hubby bought me the egg and who was I to say "No no darling please take it back!"   That so wasn't going to happen....

I treated hubby to a dairy free Easter Egg which he said was tasty.  It came with little caramel chocolates which again, were tasty I am told.  I couldn't resist, I bought him a Lindt dark chocolate bunny as well...they're so cute!  He's worth spoiling.

So a lot of people were back to work today but I booked some annual leave to extend the holidays so I have all this week off too.  I get 27 days a year plus Bank Holidays (which is generous I acknowledge) so I wanted to enjoy that feeling of getting to Bank Holiday Monday evening and knowing I didn't have to worry about work the next day...or the day after that...or the day after that and so on!   Loving it.

So far with my time off work/the holidays, I have seen my Mum for the day (she lives about 70 miles away), watched world championship track cycling on the tv (a love of mine), cleaned the house from top to bottom, caught up on a lot of washing between rain showers, seen or am seeing friends, done the grocery shopping, got my ironing out of the way (did that on my first day off so it was done and not hanging around waiting to ruin my last day off!  Good idea I thought...), enjoyed a birthday....and still got  five more days! 

For my birthday I did get some John Lewis vouchers and a Body Shop gift card.  I can't tell you how excited I am about this.  I know I know that a lot of you can't bear shopping or perhaps you think vouchers are boring but for me this is brilliant.  I absolutely love seeking out lovely smelling toiletries for ones ablutions!  And body lotions to follow. 

John Lewis have a body lotion by Australian Organics called "Evening Primrose" which includes patchouli which smells completely divine.  That's on the hit list.  It's not outrageously priced but it's not cheap either.  Definitely a treat to be had and using vouchers is perfect for such a thing. 

And as for The Body Shop, I could literally buy everything they do for shower & body!  I especially love the vanilla & Neroli ranges.

I shall be stocking up on bits and bobs which will see me through for months and months and I shall enjoy perusing and choosing.  Getting ready in the mornings is not anywhere near so much of a chore when you're using gorgeously scented and animal friendly products!

I think I have talked myself into browsing The Body Shop website now to get some ideas!

Bye for now, enjoy your week.
xxx

Happy Birthday To Meeeee

Hello there, apologies for the absence of late.  How are you all?

So today was my birthday!  And I feel I have been spoiled rotten.  I had a bit of a lie in then hubby made me breakfast and a cup of tea and gathered up all my cards and presents into a lovely pile on the coffee table.  He made me eat my breakfast before I was allowed to open anything...wise man.

Friends and family have been very sweet and thoughtful and I got some wonderful cards and gifts, all of which I love and am grateful for. 

After texting and emailing lots of thank you messages (I know it's probably nicer to phone but I wouldn't have got off the phone for hours believe me!), it was time to get ready then go out for the day.  We went to the big park in our city to take a walk around and look at the lovely flower beds and we had a hot drink in the little Italian cafe there.  After that we came home and went for another walk around our village area, stopping in at the local chippy for 'open' chips for our lunch.  As we'd been out walking, we felt we were allowed!  :-)

We spent the afternoon at hubby's parents as we haven't seen them for a while and also hubby's elderly Gran is staying there for a while to recuperate from a mini stroke and a fall.  So we could see her too, bless her.

We came home and had home made veggie Mexican food and some drinks.  We didn't venture out anywhere thereafter as it was just so cosy and happy at home, listening to some good music and just enjoying ourselves here.  I am past caring about going into town now....that's for people half my age now (or even younger) which I completely accept.  I wouldn't last 5 minutes!  All that shrieking, crap music and alcohol induced vomiting....euw no thanks.

So hubby has spoiled me, made sure my glass has been topped up, supplied me with chocolate and generally looked after me.  I am lucky and I know it.

Off to bed soon after what feels like a long lovely day and indeed it was a Good Friday.  I hope yours was too.  Enjoy your Easter weekend!

x x x