Published :)

I'm published. I have managed to cross an entry off of my Bucket List! I normally always have a quick flick through the local free paper, but for some reason this week, I didn't and Hague had already made a home for it in the recycling bin. I then got a FB message asking if it was my picture in the paper.....

Cue a panicked search through the recycling bin and a peruse of the paper and there it was - my photograph in print for all of Great Yarmouth to see (if they bother looking at the free paper). I was SO excited!

Okay, so it's part of an article about the iWitness website which encourages people to upload their pictures of local events and pictures of interest, but they chose mine and it truly did make my day :)

I'm famous!

Happy Birthday Bayleigh Boo

I know she's a dog, but to me she's my little girl, and I don't care if you think that's sad :op

Today she is seven and I can't believe how quickly that's come around, it seems like yesterday I went and picked her up. 10 weeks old and just about all ears and paws. Utterly adorable!

As far as I'm concerned she only got cuter - although that lovely blackness on her back soon disappeared, so here is a shot of her at 6 months old....

Still all ears and paws :)
Over the years she has been my constant. Through the breakdown of my marriage, through the trials of a messy new relationship she has always been there.
She is soppy, messy, scruffy, sweet and loving and yes, she might be "just" a dog, but she has been one of the most wonderful things I've been lucky enough to have in my life.

So my BooBooStink, my WigglePuppy, my DogBot, my StinkyPuppy, my Bayleigh Boo, my little girl.....happiest of birthdays and may we share many, many more together xx

Slowly Improving

2012 started off quite poorly as I blogged a couple of weeks ago, but since then it does seem to have bucked up its ideas a wee bit.
So far, in a mere 23 days this year has included two family deaths, a court hearing, still no CRB for Hague and utter skintness.

However....

Things are looking up, no-one else has died, thank goodness, and the court hearing last week went exceptionally well. Both Hague and his ex sat down and discussed the issues and came to an agreement together. Something that really does seem to have brought out the best in both of them and the current respectful, helpful and polite way that issues are being dealt with is the best thing we could have possible hoped for - long may it last for the good and welfare of all involved :) Add to that the fact that soon Hague will be having extended contact with his boys and it's definitely a bit of a high spot for the year so far!

The much delayed CRB finally seems to be in its final stages, Hague's soon to be employers are keeping him informed so hopefully he'll be back at work within the next few weeks. A development which will seriously help with the skintness, and will allow us to maybe start to save for some of the home improvements we've been unable to complete.

Finally my ground-breaking scheme to lose weight, Get Off My Butt And Do Stuff, has so far been working. The combination of being back at work, and so being way more active and me making little decisions regarding portion sizes and what I'm eating has resulted in my losing 4lbs so far this year. This means I'm still on track for my 1lb a week target without me feeling like I'm actually dieting or anything! Go me!

Soon I'll be back at work full time (next week) and so life will slowly be getting back to normal. I hope this is another huge step towards my full recovery. The last stage will be the slow removal of the anti-depressants, but baby steps eh?

Manic!

I'm still here, honest! I'm just struggling with this work lark, and balancing it out with the fun parts of life! I shall return very shortly with more in-depth, fascinating and deeply thought provoking posts for your perusal and enjoyment....

Or just more mindless wafflage :)

2012? Must Try Harder!

11 days in and already 2012 looks set to be complete and utter shite....So far this year we (as a family) have lost 2 people. My Dad's Cousin and her Mum....within a week of each other. Dad was shocked enough to lose his Cousin, to have that followed so swiftly by the death of his Aunt has knocked him a bit for six.

To add to that I heard to day that an old friend's brother hasn't beaten his cancer, and it has returned with a vengeance, so aggressively there is nothing they can do.

Days like today make you sit back and take stock. Make you remember how short life can be....I know these losses are not "close" family, but they are family nonetheless, and the loss is a heartbreaking one.

2012 really needs to buck its ideas up. After 11 days you really have delivered a whole lot of crap to a whole lot of people and some good news would be rather nice!

Nothing...

....can cheer you up and dismiss the trials of the day like a beautiful, chocolatey, kremey box of delicious doughnuts :)

Chuck in a bottle of Jack Daniels from the younger Hague brother and I've almost forgotten that West Ham were knocked out of the FA Cup as well :)

Zooooooooom!

2012 has barely started and already we're nearly at the end of the first week! Madness! I really don't know where the time goes sometimes.

I've managed to complete 2 shifts so far this week, with a third to do tomorrow, and I'm getting more involved with the tasks in my eventual job as part of my phased return, however...I'm still not sure that I'll be going back full time in just over a week, but I have a review with my boss tomorrow, so things will be clearer then. I actually feel fine about being back at work. It's a nice change, and it definitely makes me feel a whole lot better just being there and getting to know the new people I'll be working with. That has to be a good sign, but I'm struggling with the routine, with sleep and controlling my moods - I'm sure a happy medium will be found that lets me continue at work until I'm ready to get back into it full time :)

As for the rest of the week, Hague has had a phone call and hopefully his CRB check is in it's final stages and he might be starting his training by the end of the month - which is wonderful news. We also managed to get a statement sorted and posted off in time for his next court hearing, and my 365 has continued unabated, so things are definitely looking up in just about every area right now :)

One thing I haven't managed to do is weigh myself. Rather than diet this year I'm going to just make little changes to make me fitter and healthier, merely being at work will increase my activity and I'll be just cutting back on fatty things for now...but I need a measure, and my weight will be it - so I need to get my fat 'ol butt on the scales so I can get me (yet another) weight ticker to track my progress.

All in all, not a bad start to the year as far as I'm concerned!

December Book Club

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer
A while ago I asked for recommendations on my FB page, I tend to read similar kinds of books and wanted to try something different. My friends came up with a huge variety of suggestions and this was the first one I chose...
It was something different for me, and I loved it. It's the story of a writer based in London just after the end of the Second World War, and how her life changes through the receipt of a chance letter. It also gives an insight into the occupation of Guernsey during the war. I adored the writing, and admired how the author gave each character their own voice (the book is written in letters from and to many of the characters) and how she brought alive a part of history I knew little about. Try it, it's fabulous :)

Holes - Louis Sachar
Another recommendation from FB, although this was a book I'd fancied for quite a while, but I am too tight to hand over nearly £5 of my own money for a Kindle book....so when I got a few Amazon vouchers I treated myself. This seems to be the story of a boy sent to a correctional camp for a crime he didn't commit, but it's so much more. It's not a long book, but the story grips you utterly and I couldn't put it down!

Integration - Stephen Edger
I tried this one as the reviews on Amazon were amazing. Five stars all the way with phenomenal things to say about this book.
So, although I enjoyed reading this book, I have learnt to not always believe Amazon reviews....
It's the tale of a normal guy who gets caught up in something way beyond his control, and how his whole life is turned upside down. It's a good enough read, although somewhat formulaic and frustratingly ended with a "To be continued" I'll be reading the follow up, as I do want to know what happens to Mark next. It's worth a read.

A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
I finished this not long before Christmas and it was simply wonderful :) Oh of course I knew the story, everyone from The Muppets to Bill Murray have done the story, but to read the original words, and the delightful turn of phrase that Dickens has in this tale was priceless. It is quite simply a magical story that is full of the spirit of Christmas. I think I'll find myself reading this before many future Christmasses :)

The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien
Another one from the Big Read. I tried this one as it's supposedly an easier read than LOTR. I can't argue with that, after all I finished this one lol! Whilst I did enjoy the story, I can't say I loved it. It's obviously about Bilbo's journey, and much as I really tried to absorb it and love it, I just couldn't. It's okay, it's a story about a journey....but without the gorgeous depth of detail that would have made it come alive for me. I'm sorry, I know Tolkien's books are deemed wonderous, but not for me.

It's hard to pick a favourite this month. I can't say how much I loved Holes and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - they are both wonderful, amazing books that I am so happy to have been recommended and as they are both utterly different I just can't pick between them. Read them both, you won't be disappointed.
Worst is The Hobbit, I know I'll like the film - but the book just didn't do it for me!