Wednesday, May 20, 2009

5 things about us

Inspired by Ali Edwards again!

5 things about me;
counting down the days till I give up my cleaning job (next Thursday)
loving (and keeping up with) my Photo a day project
struggling with losing a bit of weight
reading David Bellamy's autobiography
crafting (esp scrapbooking) LOADS!

5 things about Maurice:
looking forward to his Himalayan adventure
has lovingly cleaned and polished the 'blingy' bike - Honda
is enjoying playing squash again
loves loads of vegetables with his dinner
has a job still atm (American Express are to make another 4000 redundant)


5 things about Nicholas
is taking 1st year exams at Bath uni
is staying on for an extra week to party!
will probably do some voluntary work in the summer - computer related
is probably looking forward to coming home for the summer
is willing to talk to me on MSN a lot!

5 things about Lucy
is taking A/S level exams at the moment
is on study leave - but not too much studying going on!
is driving everywhere in the little green Micra
working quite a lot at the Cricketers as a waitress
is looking forward to going to Spain in the summer with Tom.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

driving, eating, scrapbooking!







Well, my first advanced driving lesson has happened! I arrived at my instructors house, suprisingly nervous, and knocked on his door. He is exactly how you would imagine an member of the IAM to be, middle aged, ex police type, precise. When I went back to the car to wait for him, I noticed a drip coming from the bonnet, eeek! The car radiator is leaking!!! So, we decided to drive back here and pick up the Micra! Maurice said I should do the test in the Micra because it is manual and the Honda is automatic. So there I am crashing through the gears - trying to start off in third, not going into 5th when I should! Actually he said at the end that I impressed him with how I switched to manual having not realised it. I came away not really knowing what I have to do to improve my driving, but well aware of the IAM system, IPSGA! (Information, position, speed, gear, acceleration)






I spent the weekend scrapbooking. It was our Brighton crop on Saturday, and then Maurice was out all day on Sunday. It has been a while since I have been 'in the goove' for scrapbooking, but I think I am getting back there now. I just need a 'project' to do. My last project was our wedding album, and as my birthday photos hadn't turned up, I decided to do more to my A-Z of everyday things, and start a 2009 album. The 2009 album is going to have 1 DLO per month, it is going to be tricky to decide which photos to use and which to leave out!






Last night I went for 2 meals out - one after the other!!! Naomi at work (our student social worker) was leaving her placement so we went to a nice little Italian on Worthing seafront for the early bird dinner, £8.99 for 2 courses). It was great! I had meditterraean grilled veg for starter and then goats cheese salad for main. Naomi gave us all a little present! We each had a little bottle of nail varnish beautifully wrapped in pink with silver ribbon!






Maurices brother and wife are down for a visit from Scotland. So we arranged to take them out for a meal, yes last night! WE went to a little pub on the outskirts of Worthing. Trouble was it was a gut-buster type of menu - no salads! So I picked scampi and chips and I ate it all! Boy did I suffer though! It would have been oK if I had not eaten the (earlier) cheese or the chips! So I have had a nice long nap this afternoon! Probably won't be able to sleep tonight nowLOL




Tuesday, May 05, 2009

BH weekend


We love a BH weekend! This time of year is great because May day comes soon after Easter, and then we have the late May one to look forward to as well! (Lucky my notice at work covers the month of May with 2 BH Mondays in it!)
We went to visit Nicholas at Bath on the Honda motorbike. It's about 2.75 hours each way. Oh my god it was cold! And oh my god did I get a numb bum!(Although why they call it a numb bum I don't know - it is actually quite painful!!) Here we at the university are setting off for home, and it rained a little bit! Maurice had spent all morning on Sunday polishing the copious amounts of chrome on his bike, only to get it slightly damp! Oh dear!
It can get very boring on the back of the bike, so to pass the time away I have made up loads of little challenges for myself, and might make an art journal to record them. A bit like my photo a day - but instead a challenge a week! 50 challenges this year as I am 50!

Saturday, May 02, 2009

Big decision time!


Lots of big decisions this week!And I have done things I have been putting off for ages!
On Monday I had a health check I had put off for about 2 years!
On Wednesday I handed my notice in as cleaner at Worthing Family Centre. I have been doing the early morning cleaning for 2.5 years, which is much longer than i anticipated when I took it on! I liked the hours (except that getting up before 6am is not too good - especially in the winter!) because I was home by 9.30am and the rest of the day is my own. I liked having a bit of money that was my own, to spend how I liked, and I have bought a lot of scrapbooking stash with it! But I also have loads of money left! I didn't like the way my hours had changed and going in on Wednesday and Thursday evenings.
What am I going to do now? Well there may be an opportunity to be a volunteer coordinator for the Family Centre in a couple fo months. I have been 'nibbling' at this as a volunteer myself for 6 months or so, but it is very frustrating as I only do about 2 hours per week, and I can't chase things up very well. I really hope it happens! It will be a 2 monring a week job, and PAID - not voluntary!
Also on Wednesday I went to the dentist and finally made a decision about my 'failing crown' on my front tooth! I am going to get it fixed cos it is really starting to bother me now. So I am going to have a bridge (an implant was another option, but cost £3k YIKES!) . I have an hour and a half appointment in July for the temp bridge to be fixed!
Finally, this morning I have been to have my eyes tested and ordered new more trendy glasses! Again, I have been putting off going for about 2 years! No problems with my eyes, just need slightly stronger lenses.
PHEW! I am exhausted now!