Another year is over...

...another is about to begin!

What can I say that's not been said over and over again, every new year???

Not much! But then, why do I need to say anything different?

We all have the same thing to look forward to...another new beginning! Another chance to do it right, do it better, or just keep going the way we are! Sometimes what we have is all we need!

I am going to keep looking, and moving forward. But I am going to keep stopping to smell the roses on the way!

I look forward to taking more photos and sharing more coffees, to living life and enjoying every moment!

I'm grateful for the wonderful memories we have made in 2013, and the chance to make more in 2014!

I wish you peace and joy, love and laughter.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Ready, set...not quite yet!

As you might expect, I was all organise this morning for my darling sister to arrive....and her flight was delayed!!

What was I going to do to pass the extra two hours??

It was alright for her, "stranded" at the airport....shops, cafe...need I say more?

But I was stuck here, house preened and ready, and nothing to do but pace the floor in anticipation!!

It's okay, I found a programme that I had recorded the other night to keep me going!!

The good news is, she's here now.

Cuddles have been exchanged, tongues have never halted and the brandy bottle has taken a hit or two!!

Today I am grateful for my sisters...all of them!

I love them all so much, so it's lovely to be able to have one all to myself for a few days!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

The visit

I love when any of my family come to stay with us....and not just because I love to see them!

Forget all the cuddles, chats and coffees......I get a tidy spare room!

And for the very special visit of my big sis Mags, we even have a new bed! Well, okay, we've been waiting for the sales to buy one, she's just in luck that it arrived before she did!!

I am so, so looking forward to this visit!

I am so grateful that the world is a much smaller place than it was even a hundred years ago!

Imagine living in a foreign country with no hope of seeing your family again!!!

I am lucky to be able to have the best of both worlds.

Now, all I have to do is get the cuddle apparatus in working order, ready to give and receive!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

The day after

After a day of excitement.....

....a day of rest!!!

Long lie in, leisurely breakfast,nice walk, board game with kids, Lord of the Rings (all three films!!) on the tv, turkey sannies for lunch, turkey and ham pie for tea....

....bed!!

Today I am grateful for a day of rest.

Be grateful for the little things!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

And he's off!!

So, it's arrived.

Last sleep before the big day!

I had a great day.

I was working this morning, and the atmosphere was great. We all had Christmas jumpers on, which gave the customers a good laugh, we handed out our Kris Kringle presents to each other, and were all in great humour.

I spent most of the afternoon cooking....you know, the usual - ham, soup, spag bols, cheesecake! Then we went to the childrens' mass at 6pm at our local church.

After dinner we sat down to a game of Risk. I hadn't played it in years, but it was great fun. I don't know who was more blood-thirsty and power hungry, Meg the megalomaniac or Nanny the Invincible!!! They didn't give Attila the Dad or Vlad the Impaler a look in!!! Who knew!!!

The kids are almost ill with the excitement of it, and have retired to their beds relatively early! Amazing!

So, all that remains is for me to tell you all how grateful I am to you for reading this, and that I hope Christmas brings you some peace and joy, and that the coming year is one of your best.

Each day is a new beginning.

Gratefully yours.
xx

2 more sleeps

Santa is definitely on the final countdown.

And I'm ready for him!!!

Got a good lot done today....even hoovered the stairs (just in case Santa creeps up in the middle of the night!)!!

I'm grateful that the kids did their bit and helped with the chores!!

I have work tomorrow morning, and then it's Christmas all the way!!

Looking forward to a nice, relaxed family day.

Merry Christmas!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Growing up

I know it was bound to happen.

I even knew that it would happen soon.

I just didn't expect that the realisation that it had already started would hit me so suddenly...like a tonne of bricks!

My wee baby boy is growing up!

I know that by numbers he is a teenager, but I hadn't quite got my head round the fact of it!!

I noticed it last night, at our friend's annual Winter Solstice party. Thomas was a wee bit awkward and unsure of himself, and completely monosyllabic. I think he still enjoyed watching and listening to all the goings on, but he gave me the impression that he wished he could be invisible at times.

Then today he has been racing out to his pals as often as he could. It's freezing and miserable out, and I voiced  my opinion that he was mad, and why would he be so desperate to go out on a day like this, and K's reply was "because he's a teenager! Why would he want to stay in with us and be  bored?"

I guess he's right!!

Now I have to get my head round the fact that being a teenager won't mean that he doesn't love me any more....at least I hope it won't!!!

Oh the joys!!!

Today I am grateful that Thomas is growing up in a happy and secure environment, full of love and support. And I hope he knows that K and I will always be there for him.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Countdown

Only 5 more sleeps!

Not that I'm counting, of course!

I had a great "bitty" day today. Got lots of wee bittys done!

Nearly there now! Only the food shopping to do, and I don't intend to go overboard! There is only so much you can eat, so I don't see the point of stocking up as if the shops are going to close for a month!

And what with a photo with Santa at one end of the day, and carol singing at the other, I'm in no doubt that Christmas is definitely coming!!!

Today I am grateful that I have successfully navigated myself almost all the way to another Christmas!!

Keep on rolling!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Stovies

I have finally made the perfect pot of stovies!!!

When I was at home, growing up, my mam made gorgeous stovies, with tinned corned beef. I just assumed that that was how it was meant to be. I certainly couldn't imagine how it could taste any better!

In more recent times, I can remember being totally gobsmacked on finding out that stovies are traditionally meant to be made with beef, or, more precisely, the left-overs from the Sunday roast!

I have tried it a few times, but have never been happy with the results, as the meat never broke-up properly through the tatties.

During a conversation with Mam the other day, however, we came up with the idea (I honestly can't remember if I suggested it, of if Mam did!!!) of slow-cooking stewing beef till it was very tender, and then using it to make the stovies.

Well...all I can say is RESULT!!!

When I came home from work today the smell of the stew filled the house, and it was gorgeous! Or, to use an expression from my childhood - the smell went roon ma hert like a hairy worim!!!

I then used the beef from the stew, along with tatties and onions, salt and pepper, to make the most delicious stovies ever!!!

Thomas and K had it with a bit of the stew gravy, but I prefer my stovies straight from the pan, as they are! All I was missing was the oatcakes and beetroot!!!

So, today I am grateful finally cracking it!!!

Guess what we'll be having  for tea on a regular basis from now on???

Gratefully yours.
xx

He's making a list...

...and you better believe he's checking it twice....'cos otherwise I'd just forget everything, as usual!!!

I had to get Kieran to write a list for me, for my day off today. So much to do, and no room in my noggin for any of it!!! I swear, if my head wasn't screwed on!!!!

So,K had about 8 items for me to do, and foe every one I managed to tick off as done, I remembered another couple of things I needed to add to it!! The list currently stands at eleven items, six of which have been completed!!

So, today I am grateful that I am more than half way there!!

Assuming, of course, that I stop adding things to the list faster than I can do them!!!

Don't you just love Christmas??

Gratefully yours.
xx

Twas the night before Tuesday...

...and all through the house,
not a creature was stirring...'cos they've all gone to bed and left me, as usual! Even the cat!!!

Can I help it if there are programmes I like to watch on the telly at 9pm, or that I then have a blog to write, and facebook to check, and pinterest to view, and Zoo Atlanta's pandacam to follow???

Ah well, on the positive side...at least the bed will be warm when I get there!!

No rest for the wicked!

Today I am grateful to know that all my brood are safely tucked up in their beds. I can go to bed without worrying about any of them!

Oh....send Thomas luck....he has his Christmas exams starting tomorrow (or today, 'cos I guess it's Tuesday by the time you're reading this!!).

Gratefully yours.
xx

Away in a manger

We went to see a "live crib" in Adare today.

Our friends, Rosemarie and Eamon, and their wee babba, Eanna, were stepping in as  the stars of the show for a short while (couples with youngish babies take 20minute slots all during the afternoon).

It was a lovely, festive experience.

Kids from one of the local schools were singing carols, there was mulled wine and sandwiches, and the stable itself, complete with a donkey, two wee lambs, a calf and, of course, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.

I thought it was just lovely.

Also lovely were the cappuccino and cookies at the Dunraven Arms afterwards. Well....it wouldn't be an afternoon out without coffee, would it??

Today I am grateful for a lovely, festive family weekend.


Gratefully yours.
xx

NOT the live crib!!

The Spirit

Well, I got the Christmas shopping started.

It's all the wee stocking fillers that are the real problem! Still, I am getting there.

It's not all about the presents anyway. I love the idea of Christmas. The Christmas Spirit, if you like. There is a lot of happiness about. Lots of parties and glitter. Lots of people laughing and mixing with people they normally don't mix with.

Even with all the commercialism, I think people do tend to think a bit more about people in need at Christmas time. Again, it's the Spirit of Christmas permeating everything.

We are having a family day tomorrow.

Shopping in the morning, with a break in the best cafe we can find for coffee, of course. Then the cinema in the afternoon, to see the new Hobbit movie. A stop in at the local Chinese restaurant before coming home, followed, possibly - if we are still all on speaking terms! - by a new board game!

I'm grateful for the wee nudge that Christmas gives us, to open our hearts a bit wider than usual, and share the love!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Time

Time is what you make it,

It's never long enough, or fast enough, or slow enough, or, well, enough.

When you think you have plenty, it disappears,

and once it's gone, it's gone.

But

Time is what YOU make it.

Use every second, minute, hour. Notice it, make the most of it.

Make memories with it. Make fun. Make smiles.

'Cos once it's gone, it's gone.

Every second is precious.

It is unique, one of a kind, like a snow flake.

There will never be another like it.

Don't waste it on regret, or fear, or sadness.

Use each second to grow stronger and wiser and happier..

Use it to your advantage.

Time is what you make it. So make it amazing.

Prima Ballerina

Meggie had her last ballet class before Christmas.

As usual, the parents were invited in to watch the class, much to the embarrassment of the girls!

It was so lovely to see how much they have all grown over the last three and a half years. They look so much more like ballerinas now, and less like new-born giraffes - all legs and no co-ordination!!

It's just so wonderful to watch her enjoying something that I used to love as a girl too. I just wish I was still young enough and skinny enough to fit into one of their gorgeous neon tutus!!

Ah well!! I guess you're only young once!! All the more reason to make the most of every moment!!

Today I am grateful for the lovely memories I have, and the fact that Megan gets the same joy out of ballet that I did.

Can you spot Meggie's legs??

Gratefully yours.

xx

Walkies!

I treated myself to some fresh air and sunshine today.

I had to go into town this morning, just for a short message, and decided that I was going to walk.

The decision took me about half an hour to make, as I argued with myself as to the pros and cons of the two half hour walks (there and back!).

I mean, what else should I have been doing with that hour?

Christmas is looming ever closer, ever faster, and I've no cards done and hardly any presents bought! I could have use that hour well, writing cards or shopping on-line!

Even once the decision was made, I still had to convince myself that it wasn't going to rain, even though the sky was a bit grey. Honestly, I was talking to myself as I was going out the door! If I could have got behind myself to kick me out the door, I would have!!

So...it didn't rain. It was cold but bracing. It was lovely to be out getting some exercise. And I don't think I could have used that hour any better.

Good decision making!

Today I am grateful that I took my advice and got outside for a bit.

Several birds with one stone, if you ask me. Fresh air, exercise, sunshine on skin boosting Vit D, saved petrol and, thus, the environment, relaxation.....

Need I say more?

Gratefully yours.
xx

A good day

You've just got to love Sunday!!

I had a lovely, uninterrupted long lie, followed by a freshly bought pecan danish and a mocha in my bed - amn't I lucky that my hubby gets up early, even on Sunday?

I stayed in bed for a while longer with my book....well, it's another Rachel Hore book, and I just can't put it down!

I did rouse myself eventually to cook a brunch for the boys before they went out to their rugby match! Then Maggie and I went off to the cinema. We saw "Frozen" - a new animated film about a snow queen, with a really brilliant wee snowman, called Olaf, who got all the best lines!! It comes highly recommended by both Megan and me!!!

We then all headed out to see Nanny, who has just returned from 5 weeks in Oz, and had tea and scones by a real roaring fire, hearing all her stories and looking at photos.

The day was finished with pizza and Strictly.

A good day!

I am grateful to have my wonderful family around me. I cherish them all, and know just how lucky I am!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Carols ahoy!

As part of our fund raising for the choir, we were asked to do two nights carol singing (out of a possible 6 nights) in one of the hotels in the city, for their party nights.

It was the last thing I felt like doing today, as Thomas was late home last night from a school concert, and I was pacing the floor waiting for him!! One of his pal's mam was picking him up, so we weren't sure when he'd be in. God help me, in a few years when he's out in town with pals till all hours!!!!! He was so full of adrenaline after his show that he couldn't sleep, and guess who was awake with him?? (We really need to sort out some method of communicating our middle-of-the-night-wakefulness with each other, so that we can have a chat!!!)

Anyway, I've been like a slightly wrung out, damp rag all day, so carol singing was not my number one choice of a way to spend the evening!!

It was fun!!! Great fun, in fact! Not as stressful as a concert, 'cos it was much more informal. We all just had a laugh and sang our wee hearts out....to a bunch of party-goers who barely looked in our direction! Ah well, if we even made one person smile, it was worth it!

Today I am grateful that I was forced to get off my backside and make a difference!!

Looking forward to my next carol singing night now, in two weeks time. It'll be very Christmassy by then!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

And breathe!!

Deep breath!!

Another concert done and dusted.

Went well, I think. And it was fun...well, after the first rush of pure panic had subsided!!

It's funny how it always seems to come together on the night! Adrenaline, I guess.

Anyway, today I am grateful to be part of something so wonderful!

Singing really is a joy!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Wah, wah, wah waaaah!

Today I am just grateful that I've been with the choir long enough to know that a bad "dress rehearsal" doesn't mean a bad concert.

Just back from a 3 hour practice.

It was meant to be 2 hours but they were still going strong when I left to get back to my poor children! Need I say more???

Watch this space! Concert tomorrow night!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Sensory walk

I really enjoyed my walk into work this morning.

It was cold and dry - just right for this time of year. The leaves are now all dry and crunchy underfoot and the whole walk looks as if it's covered in a beautiful yellow and orange carpet.

I found it very peaceful. The river was not too low, or too high, and seemed to be flowing with strength and purpose (if that makes any sense!!)

There was noise all around me - hammering and drilling from the work going on across on the other side of the river, cars and lorries, sea-gulls squabbling over scraps - but the silence of the river overshadowed it all.

It was just a lovely start to the day.

I am grateful to have such a wonderfully uplifting walk between home and work!

Gratefully yours.
xx

All lit up...

...like a Christmas tree!

It was just lovely to get up this morning and put the Christmas tree lights on!

We really are on the countdown now, what with Christmas films on 24/7, the Christmas radio station blasting out all the oldies, but goodies of the Christmas hits, and now all our decorations up.

I saw a wonderful (new??) Christmas film the other day, where, instead of presents, Santa delivered Christmas Spirit from his sleigh, falling like pixie-dust from a crop-duster!! I really liked that thought.

So today I am grateful for that spirit. The spirit of love, of giving, of family, of compassion.

I think I might put some pots out into the garden on Christmas eve to collect some of that pixie dust, and spread it out over the year!

Gratefully yours.
xx

High five - Meggie and her Dad put the Angel on the tree.

The Day of the Decorating!

This afternoon Christmas arrived in Ashbrook!

At least, it did in our house!

K was sent up to the attic, and then box after box of stuff came down!

Tree, strings of beads, tinsel, garlands, snowmen....you name it! It's amazing how much we have accumulated in the last 17 years!!

Thomas came in from playing with his pals to help out with the tree. Meg did the crib and then got to put the finishing touch to the tree...K lifted her up to put on the fairy!! It may be the last year he's able to lift her!!

The house looks lovely now. Porch, hall, lounge, kitchen and stairs all decked out in their Christmas finery! Now all I have to do is get my head round the present shopping!!!!!

Today I am grateful for family traditions. And long may the kids want to take part!

Gratefully yours.
xx

The new shoes

Today I am grateful, and very excited, to have found, and bought, the most gorgeous pair of shoes!!

I went looking for a dress for my night out (which is tomorrow, so advanced warning...there will be no Blog to read on Sunday morning!!), and came home with a dress, shawl, jewellery (only cheapo stuff!) and my shoes!!

After tomorrow night, I think I'll mount them on a plinth so that I can just love and adore them!!

So excited about a pair of shoes!!!!! Am I sad or what?????

Check them out....

My golden slippers!!

Well.....what do you think???

Gratefully yours.
xx

The right choice

Today I thought, enough already with the melting down and the stressing out.

Today I CHOSE to be happy!!

I started as soon as I felt the dreaded nudge from K, telling me it was time to get up.

Instead of the usual groaning and "do I really have to?", I took a minute to smile and remind myself of the new day ahead of me. A new and exciting day, if I chose to make it so.

I took it as a good sign that on my walk to work I spotted Mr Heron, down by the waters edge with the swans. I haven't seen him for ages, so that really made my morning! I also made a point of smiling at everyone I passed, which drew more wary looks than smiles back, but I didn't mind.

I didn't let anything phase me at work, and didn't even get upset when I could find nothing in my wardrobe to wear for my night out on Saturday!

In the evening I treated myself to Shelac nail polish at my favourite salon, also in preparation for Saturday, and had a good chat with the girl doing my nails, instead of sitting in silence!

All in all, today I am grateful that I remembered that I do have a choice in how I feel, and that I actively chose to be happy!

Must remember to do it again tomorrow!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Drip drip drop

Today I am grateful for the calming effects of a nice, hot shower!

I was feeling a bit unbalanced today.

Or, to put it another way, I was a grumpy mummy!!

Everything was just too much trouble and I felt like a good cry...so I took myself off upstairs and had a nice, hot shower instead.

It was lovely. I guess it gave me the time to relax and let go of whatever was eating me.

It had the added bonus of giving me a chance to dry my hair better....I'd been having a bit of a bad hair day!

Maybe that was the problem all along!!!

Anyway, having a hot shower is going to be my new counting to ten! Well, until they start the water charges, that is!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Re-purposing

It's getting to the time of year when, even if the day is mild, the temperature drops along with the sun.

Tuesday is ballet day.

Meg's class is now half past six till half past seven. So, for me it's an hour sitting in the car with my book. Cold!!

Thank goodness for crocheted baby blankets, that's all I can say!!!

My beloved mother crocheted blankets for me when my babies were born, and once they had outgrown their usefulness, as far as their original purpose is concerned (the blankets...not the kids!!), they were assigned a new task.

They have, for the past 10 years, lived their lives in my car, and they are given a lot of use in this kind of weather!!

So, today I am very grateful for my crocheted knee and shoulder warmers. As beautiful and functional now as the day they were made!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

A whole heap o' somethin'

I have as lot to be grateful for today.

Shopping done. Cupboards full. Bank not broken.

Car given a thorough wash, by own fair hand. Again, bank not broken. Calories burned. Win-win!!

Heart shaped scones made for K (yes, really!!). Chicken rolls for T and sausage and ketchup rolls made for Meg! Some for tomorrow, and some for freezer. Job's a good 'un!!

Gorgeous (my cat) cuddled, stroked and generally loved to bits, and now curled up at my feet.

And last, but definitely not least, my darling now teenage boy fast asleep in the bed beside me. So good to know that he still needs a reassuring mammy-cuddle every now and then, even if he's too grown-up to admit it out loud!!

Yes. Today I am a lucky girl.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Walk the walk

Today I am grateful to have had a wonderful, long walk with Megan.

I've become too lazy over the past few weeks. The cold, wet weather is a great excuse, but really, the weather's not been that bad at all!

I've become a bit energy-less, especially later on in the day, and find it hard to make myself do anything at all, never mind anything that involves having to put boots and a jacket on!

So, this morning I suggested to Megan that we go for a wee walk. No pressure, no set route, just a wee walk.

We ended up doing the longer of our routes, the one that takes us along by the river and back through the wet-lands sanctuary. We were out for just over an hour, took lots of photos, and chatted non-stop!

I still ran out of juice by mid-afternoon, but I'm so glad we went!

I need to start thinking energetic thoughts!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

No pressure

I'm grateful to K for the lovely danish pastry he bought this morning for my breakfast!

He was up for goodness knows how long before I even woke up. He brought me a cup of tea in bed, then went out for his paper and danish!

All in all, it was a strictly no pressure day.

Got to love being spoilt!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Confused

Okay, the bad news is today is not Friday!!

I thought it was!

I was looking forward to the weekend!

This travesty of confusion was brought about by the fact that I had to change my work days this week, because Thomas had no school today. (Parent/Teacher meetings, so the whole school was closed!).

So, I guess, on the bright side I did get all my ironing done.

And on the even brighter side....tomorrow IS Friday!!

Today I am grateful for having a bonus Friday!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

The worry box

My worry box has been switched on over the last 24 hours, because my Mum has been ill.

Thankfully she has some very, very good friends. 

Thankfully she also has four daughters who love her very, very much!!

Thanks to that, my worry box has been temporarily switched off again this evening.

I'm grateful to sisters and friends who are there when I can't be!

Gratefully yours.

xx

PS this post should have gone up last night, but in my overly anxious state I put it in "drafts" by mistake!!

Creativity

Today I am grateful for creativity, and the chance to use it!

I've been having some fun today with my photos, cards and the like. I love it when a plan comes together!

I really just need to focus...and switch off the tv!!

The problem is that the Christmas films have started!!

Oh boy!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Fear an phoist

For those of you not of the Irish speaking persuasion....

Today I am grateful for the Postman (Fear an phoist!).

I did a wee bit of on-line shopping last week, and was delighted when three parcels arrived today. One with the parcel-postie and the other two with our regular postie.

Bless him, he was desperately trying to shove them through the letterbox, but there was no way! I put him out of his misery and opened the door for him!

So, I am now armed and ready with our 2014 BIG family diary - essential if I am to keep tabs on what everyone is doing and where they are meant to be! I mean, you all know what my memory is like!! Can you just imagine the chaos???

I can go to bed now with cosy new Sock-Shop socks (try saying that fast!!) and my Cooking for Geeks food science book!

Thank you Fear an phoist!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

The weekend

I like weekends.

I especially like weekends when I'm not working.

I especially like weekends when I'm not working because I get left to sleep until I wake up.

It's just wonderful. I feel that I get to catch up on the sleep I don't get the rest of the time!

One of the downfalls of not having kids till my late thirties is that I have gone from sleepless nights with the kids straight onto sleepless nights with the menopause!!

At the rate I'm going I'll be joining Mam and Susan's middle-of-the-night club! (They send each other texts in the middle of the night when Sus is working and Mam can't sleep!)

Anyway, as I was saying, I am grateful to my darling K and kids for leaving me to sleep in at the weekends.

I'm always last up!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Surprise!

Don't you just love surprises?

I know that anticipation can be fun too, but you can't beat a good old surprise.

I had three today.

1. Craft supplies I ordered on Monday arrived....wasn't expecting them for at least another week!

2. Books arrived from Linds. She had said she'd send them to me (books about "green" cleaning), but, again, I wasn't really expecting them. I should have known she meant what she said!

3. Went to do the ironing and there was only one top of K's, and a hanky....so I didn't bother doing it!! Well, I mean, by the time I carted out the ironing board...just not worth it!

Oooh, ooh.....just thought of a fourth.....

4. Got to speak to Judy and Mam this morning on Skype. Mam had said she'd be out this morning, but her plans changed!

So, obviously, today I'm grateful for little surprises!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Synchronicity

What is it that makes us go into just the right shop at just the right time?

I had a little extra time between work and picking-up-the-kids time today, 'cos Meggie has a book club after school on a Thursday at the moment, so I thought I'd try and get a little bit of the Secret Santa shopping done.

No idea, of course, of where to start! I wanted to get things that are appropriate to each recipient, but not something too obvious, if you know what I mean.

I was drawn into a shop that I hadn't even considered, just by the colourful display of stock in the window. I wandered round for a bit, not seeing anything as nice inside. But, just as I was heading out again, I spotted it!

A beautiful object of desire, that I knew would be perfect for one of my friends.

I'm still not sure why I went into that shop. It wasn't something I had even considered getting as a present, but it is, I am convinced, perfect!

So, today I am grateful for synchronicity...being in the right place at the right time, trusting my instincts and getting the right result.

Doesn't happen every day!

Okay, okay....I'll tell you. But only if you promise to keep it a secret!

It's a beautiful and unusual handbag that I think just suits this person down to the ground. Quite fancy it myself!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Hide and seek

I've been having a game of hide and seek.....with the cat!!

When I came home from choir she was at the kitchen window, wanting in. She had a quick bite of supper, then started her usual "mad half hour" routine of haring about, up the stairs and down again, under the chairs and all over the place, at top speed.

I came out of the kitchen, at one stage and she was sitting half way up the stairs. She took off up to the landing and then flattened herself down, looking down the stairs, so I slowly started climbing the stairs on my hands and knees. She watched me till I was half way up then dashed into the spare room. I stopped at the top of the stairs, still on my hands and knees, and waited.

She's just like the bairns...no patience!...so after a few seconds silence she crawled to the door to see where I was! When she saw me she darted back into the room and hid in her favourite spot - the bed-side locker! As soon as I came into the room she was off again, full pelt up to my room.

We had a great game!

I'm grateful to Gorgeous tonight for reminding me that a little bit of fun every now and then is a very good thing!

She is now sprawled out on the bottom of my bed, while I write my blog here on the lap-top. And I have a child on either side, reading their books!

Just as well Daddy isn't ready for bed just yet...no room!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

The bird-man

For the last few weeks, along by the river, where I walk on my way to work, I've passed a man feeding the birds.

He seems to go there every morning, feeding the swans, sea-gulls and pigeons, with a bag of bread and scraps, and I would say they love to see him coming!

This morning he was standing with his arm out, covered in pigeons, with fully grown swans eating out of his other hand, as gentle as you like!

I had to stop and tell him that I thought the birds must be delighted to see him every day, and he looked up and said "I just love coming here".

Now, he's the kind of man that, to look at, you wouldn't want to meet on a dark street, and yet here he is, every day, feeding the birds, and getting so much joy and peace from it.

It cemented in my mind what I said the other day: underneath the surface, we are all the same.

It also reminded me not to judge a book by its cover!

Today I am grateful for the ripple effects of one good deed.

Not only was he giving himself pleasure, and all the swans, seagulls and pigeons, but he gave me a boost of good feelings to carry with me for the day.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Where's me grub??

The C word

Well, I'm sorry to have to bring it up, but Christmas is just around the corner!!!

I started my shopping today....although, I must admit, I only bought a couple of pressies that need to find their way to Oz for the big day - and by that I mean the Antipodes, not the Great and Powerful!

More impressively, K brought home our first presents from an outside party!!! In fairness to her, she's heading off to Fiji for three weeks very shortly, so I guess she had to be organised! I could be organised if you sent me to Fiji for three weeks, honest I could!!!

I've seen some Christmas adverts on the telly too, and I have to say I'm not impressed with the one from Boots, which all but tells you you're a bad person if you don't buy a present for anyone and everyone you know, from their stores, of course!

John Lewis, on the other hand, has a fabulous ad about a bear and a hare. It is so, so touching...much more about the spirit of Christmas.

Today I am grateful to be getting my Christmas groove on.

Bring it on!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Stuff and nonsense

Today was a day for getting stuff done and taking no nonsense!

K asked me what my plans were for the day this morning. My reply was "as little as possible!".

It didn't quite work out that way!

Not quite sure where the day went, but we didn't sit down till tea time!

One thing we did do was to clear out K's wardrobe. I could hardly get room to hang up his shirts!

I do my own wardrobe fairly regularly, and the kids ones, but K is not such a clothes-hog as I am so I can't actually remember the last time (if ever!) that his was done!

I was taking no nonsense. If he wavered, even slightly, it went into the charity bag! Well, in fairness, he lost a fair bit of weight over the last year and half the shirts and trousers in there don't fit him any more!!!

So now he has a tidy wardrobe with lots of room in it, and he knows what he might need to buy in the January sales....yes, he will wait till then before he ventures into a clothes shop!!! Like I said, not such a clothes-hog!!!

Today I am grateful that we tackled some jobs together. It felt good.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Every cloud...

...has a silver lining, or a resultant rainbow!!

It was a yucky morning. No better word for it! It was cold and wet and dark.

Driving to work I was delighted to see not just one, but a double rainbow.

I just love when you can see it coming! The really black sky, filled with rain clouds, then the sudden bit of blue sky as the sun comes out behind you...and you just know that the rainbow is going to appear!

It kept me going all day! Just remembering it.

Today I am grateful for the sun, the rain and their hybrid baby, the rainbow.

Gratefully yours.
xx

All done

...but not quite dusted!!

I had a good day though.

Ironing done......check.
Laundry room (utility!) cleared of all laundry....check.
Stairs hoovered....check.
Toilets cleaned.....check.

Coffee at Cost with the kids....check!!!

Well, I didn't quite have the energy to bake myself a treat, so Costa was the next best thing!!!

It's a good feeling to know that I am looking after the place that my family live. It is our shelter, our refuge, our place to be together, and I am finally realising that it is a privilege for me to be able to keep it a warm, tidy and relaxing place for us all.

Gosh.....I think all the cleaning must have gone to my head! I feel a little faint!!!!
Ha ha ha.

Today I am grateful for FINALLY accepting the role of housekeeper with good grace!!

I knew all I had to do was to see the job in a new light. I'm a bit slow....but I get there in the end!

Gratefully yours.
xx

A little effort....

....goes a long way!

Thomas has been on at me for about two weeks now to make chicken rolls (as in chicken instead of sausage rolls).

They are incredibly easy to make, yet it has taken me two weeks to do it!!

It's the same story with healthy scones for K...although I am now back in the habit of making a batch regularly for him.

It's back to my old chestnut, motivation!

But I think that I am (finally!!) getting better at the self-motivation malarkey. And I am definitely starting to realise that a little effort does go a long way. It goes a long way to improving my peace of mind and general well being!

So today I am grateful for a little effort, and, of course, the results of that effort!

Now, what can I bake tomorrow, after I've done the ironing and hoovered the stairs???

Gratefully yours.
xx

All for one...

No-one's life is perfect.

We all put our pants on one leg at a time.

You can never know what is going on in some-one else's mind.

It dawned on me, as I sat contemplating my day, that we are all the same, and none of us are perfect.

We all arrive on this planet in exactly the same way, and we all strive to make our lives the best that we can make them. We all have bad days, and we all have good days.

So maybe if we all remember that, then when some-one beebs their horn at us in anger, or shouts down the phone at us, we might find it easier to put ourselves in their shoes, and respect that it's their turn to have a bad day! We can then secretly rejoice that it's our day to have a good day!!

Easier said than done, I hear you say. And I agree. But it's worth a try!!

Today I'm grateful for deep breaths, counting to ten and calm reactions.

Nothing worth doing is ever easy!

Gratefully yours.
xx

A good start

There is nothing better than a day that starts well.

It just puts you in such a good frame of mind that everything just seems to fall into place.

Nothing, and no-one can bother you. You're in a good place.

I was taking mental notes today, just to see if I can work out a formula to re-create that wonderful good-start feeling!

What would be needed?

A pleasant walk in the cold morning, with a heavy sky but no actual rain?

A beautiful view?

A good deed on the spur of the moment?

Getting something off your chest at just the right moment?

The perfect cup of coffee?

Today I am grateful for "good starts".

I'm not sure, but I think mindfulness plays a role in there somewhere!!!!

Gratefully yours.

xx

TV Times

I just love this time of year.

Strictly
Downton
Grand Designs
The Great British Bake Off
The Choir

Need I say more??

Nothing to watch all summer then....BAM!!! How's a girl supposed to get anything done in the evenings with so much good stuff on the telly?

Poor K's taken to reading a lot! Or watching rugby on the wee telly in the kitchen. Poor soul. Yes, I know I should be giving him a shot of the big telly every once in a while,, but he's not as square eyed as I am...and I wonder where Meggie gets it?????

I am still, however, grateful to the mighty programmers at the Telly Place on high for their wonderful choices.

I have to ask though....what's the verdict on Gareth's strange, red facial fuzz?????

Gratefully yours.
xx

Done and dusted

No...I haven't been doing housework like hoovering and dusting all day!

I just mean that the day is done and dusted!

Strictly results show is watched and Downton is on in 5 minutes!!

Beds are changed and re-made, clothes horses groaning with the weight!

Lovely dinner cooked and eaten. Dishwasher emptied and re-filled!!

Food shop is done for the week, as I'm working tomorrow morning.

All done and dusted!

I'm grateful for all the help I've had today with the above mentioned, and I'm glad to put my feet up, watch Downton, and go to a nice fresh bed!

Day done.

Bring on tomorrow!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Small world

Today I am grateful for a fairly hassle-free day at work, Strictly, and checking into my blog and finding out that there were nearly 50 page views yesterday!!

I know in my heart of hearts that a lot of the viewings are people stumbling here in search of something else....but it's still nice to see! And hopefully it will bring a smile to a face somewhere in the world that I've never even visited!

I know that on my Facebook page, I follow some people from Australia, America and New Zealand, and it's wonderful to be able to see into those people's worlds, however briefly.

The world really is shrinking, and the people in it really are very similar at the end of the day.

How lovely!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Pandacam

Today I am grateful for modern technology!!

I have a new obsession....watching the Pandacam at Zoo Atlanta!

Two beautiful baby pandas were born there on July 15th - 2 minutes apart!

Since I was very, very small, I have loved pandas, (the black and white ones!) but have never seen one, other than in photos. (Yes, I know they have some in Edinburgh Zoo, but they are new since we were there a couple of years ago!)

But now, thanks to some amazing technology, I could watch the mammy panda and her babies 24/7, if I wanted to! And have, in fact, been flicking back and fore watching them while writing this!!!

How wonderful is that???

And it's fabulous to think that so many people are out there protecting, and looking after animals that might otherwise, thanks to the thoughtlessness of human beings, become extinct.

Rock on Zoo Atlanta!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Halloween

Halloween is here
Look out!
There are ghosts and ghouls and kids about!

They screech, they scream
They stamp their feet
They threaten you with "Trick or Treat?"

But I don't mind
I sit and chill
Cos if the ghosts don't get them....

The sugar will!!!!!

Happy Halloween, ghost-hunters.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Songbird

It was a tough decision, due to my recent chestiness (no, I didn't have a boob job!!), but I thought I really should go to choir this evening because I missed the last two weeks, for one reason or another.

I kind of hoped that there was no choir tonight, it being the mid-term school holidays, but I decided to go just in case.

I'm glad I did.

It was, as usual, joyful.

It's not that I have great laugh with the others, or meet friends there. I hardly know anyone to say more than a few words to. I just love the singing!

And I have to say, breathing exercises and an hour and a half of singing are better than any cough bottle at clearing phlegm of my chest!!!

Today I am grateful for my choir.

Gratefully yours.
xx

In the swing

I'm happy to report that I am feeling a lot better today, and am back in the swing of things!

I like the school holidays because I only have one person to think about in the morning...and that's me!!

Well, not quite, but the kids were off out with K this morning (there's a holiday camp at the hotel again...thank goodness!!), so I did have lunches to organise, but they left at quarter to 8, leaving me with a whole hour to myself before I had to leave for work! Bliss!

As Thomas is now a teenager, he is too old really to be at camp, so the leisure centre manager took him on as a junior member of staff today, giving him a leisure centre t-shirt to wear, and sending him off on errands all over the hotel!! He was delighted with himself, and K was delighted with the manager, who took it on herself to really treat him like staff, and make him feel so grown-up!

Personally, I think it shows how well liked K is at work, that they will go to that trouble for his son!!! I may be biased!!!

Anyway, all in all, I'm grateful that today was a good day, and I'm feeling glad to be who I am, where I am, and with whom I am!!!

What more can I say.

Gratefully yours.
xx

In the bank

Today I am grateful for bank-holiday Mondays.

More, this time, because it meant that K was here all day so I could sit back and try to get over my chest infection in peace!!!

I've not been feeling the best, which is why I've not been regular with my blogs! (Maybe I should be eating more fibre???) But the kids and K have been looking after me very well, for which I am grateful

Looking forward to getting back in gear.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Home time

Today I was grateful for 6pm!!

Not only did it mark the end of a long, very busy day at work, but it marked home time!!

Home to a glass of wine, a husband-cooked dinner and Strictly.

I like Saturday evenings!!

Don't forget to put your clocks back an hour tonight!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Milestone

Well, today my baby reached a milestone in his life. He turned 13.

He's been working his way up to being a stroppy teenager for a while now, so God help us over the next few years!!!

Joking aside, I just can't believe the time has gone so fast, and I hope it slows down a bit!!!

Thomas has enjoyed his day, I think. Last day of school before the mid-term holidays....good day for a birthday!

He got lots of money and vouchers, and is planning a trip to town tomorrow to get a guitar. He was really taken with David and Lewis at Grandma's birthday in March, and has been planning it since then.

We had a lovely dinner out this evening, and I made a cake, which might have to stay in the fridge till tomorrow, cos we're all too full now!!!

Today I am grateful to have such a wonderful boy in my life.

And to think I helped make him!!!

Wow!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Singin' the blues

Today I am grateful for hot whiskey and a cosy bed!

Full of the cold and looking for sympathy here!!

I'm actually grateful that I have all you guys to blog to, 'cos this blog makes me smile!

Gratefully yours.
xx

PS Atshooooo!!!

Pants

I have a new source of joy in my life.

They are a pair of turquoise, leopard print knickers!!!

Due to the fact that Megan loves, loves, LOVES leopard print, my new knicks remind me of her, thus making me smile every time I see them!

Going to the loo is now my biggest smile-inducer of the day!!!

So, today I have to be grateful for my new knickers! Long may their elastic last!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Clear the table

I like to sit at the table for our tea, all together.

I have to admit that it doesn't always happen, mainly because the table is a bit of a dumping ground, but we do manage to sit down for 3 or 4 meals a week.

We always start by saying grace, and we always ask each other how our days went.

It's never a quiet affair...the kids talk more than they eat....but it's the only time we are ever in the same room at the same time these days, so I just savour it as family time, noisy or not!!

And it's an added bonus, of course, if the plates are cleaned, or even half cleaned!

Today I am grateful for my 17 year old dining table. It has served us well, not only for eating on, but for card making, painting, lego building....and generally dumping stuff on!

Funny how you take things for granted until you focus on them for a short while! Then you realise what they mean to you!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

The rain in Spain

Stays mainly in Ireland!!!!!

I have to keep reminding myself that without all the rain, I would not be living in such a beautifully green country!!!

Meggie and I decided to go for a walk this morning to clear our heads (Meggie is stuffed up with the cold!) but by the time we got to the end of the road (literally!) the blue sky had vanished and the rain started! It was on and off then for most of the day.

Mind you, some of us have more luck....K was on the golf course this morning and reported only a couple of light showers!!!

Anyway, today I am grateful for all the wonderful greenery and flowers that abound thanks to the rain.

And, of course, if it wasn't for the rain, we'd have no rainbows!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

In the swim

Meggie wanted to go swimming today.

In fairness to her, she had wanted to go last week, but we didn't have time, so I promised her we'd go this weekend as I was off today.

I really couldn't be bothered!!!

Well, as I explained to K, it's okay for the rest of them, they just need to pack  swimming togs and towels and they're ready to go! But I have to de-fuzz!!!

It's not so bad in the summer, 'cos I keep on top of the de-fuzzing, but at this time of year, once the tights have gone back on, the momentum is kind of lost!!

Anyway, the long and short of it is, I am now silky smooth again, and had a great morning with my crew at the pool, and then out for coffee and cake.

Today I am grateful to have been given the shove!!

I could really be doing with a disco and a short skirt now though!!! Ha ha ha!!!

Gratefully (and smoothly) yours.
xx

Two for the price of one

Can I be grateful for two things today, or is that just being greedy?

I'm going to go for it, greedy or not!

Firstly I am grateful for K's patience.

He got the computer up and running, and has managed to get the printer working again too, which meant that I could get some cards made today.

I'm very pleased with them, and had a lovely time making them.

Secondly, I'm grateful to have had a lovely, girly evening at the ballet with my Meg.

It was the Moscow Royal Ballet's Cinderella.

We got dolled up (well, I did! Meg doesn't really do "dolled" - too uncool for her!!!) and headed out for the evening. Lovely.

Yes, all in all a very good day, with lots to be grateful for!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Line up

Who wants a hug?

Line up 'cos I'm handing them out!!

My friend at work is going off on holiday for a week, and before I left today, she gave me a big hug.

It reminded me just how nice a hug can be, especially when it's unexpected.

It really lets you know that someone cares, which is always nice!

So, today I am grateful for hugs.

And just because I can't see you face to face doesn't mean I can't give you a great big cyber hug!! And big kisses too!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Lost and found

We got a new computer...Yeaaah!

Glad K has patience!!

He's done all the setting up, and most of the transfer of "stuff" from the old one.

I spent ages today trying, and failing to transfer all my photos, which I had very carefully saved onto our hard-drive!!

He comes home, and within 5 minutes all my photos are here!!!

What a star! Again!!!

Today I am grateful that all my 10 years worth of photos, that I love playing with so much, were lost, but now are found!!!

And to celebrate...

Through the kaleidoscope!
 

Gratefully yours.
xx

My second pair of hands

Today I am grateful for my second pair of hands.

They belong, of course, to the man of the house, who found himself in relatively unfamiliar territory this morning.

My back went into spasm when I came out of the shower this morning and rendered me incapable of more or less all the things I need to be doing in the mornings.

Step in the second pair of hands!

He got the kids up, sorted their lunches, emptied and refilled the dishwasher, made sure the kids were breakfasted and dressed and had them out the door in time to drop them at school on his way to work....leaving me to worry about nothing other than how to get a pair of tights on - no easy task!!!

Because I was allowed the time I needed to get myself organised, without worrying about anyone else, my back was feeling much better by the time I had to leave for work, and the walk really helped ease it even more.

So....thank you, K. You are a big, hairy angel. xx

Gratefully yours.
xx

Super soup

The only thing better than home-made soup, is home-made soup made with yesterday's left over gravy and veg!!!

Yum!!!

I did a lovely pork fillet, with onions, apple and carrots, cooked in a mixture of apple juice and stock. It was a delicious Sunday dinner, and an even more delicious Monday lunch bowl of soup!!!

Today I am grateful for creative uses for left-over dinners!!!

There's even some left for tomorrow!!! Result!

Gratefully yours.
xx

A positive twist

Not sure if I twisted, pulled or just stood in a cold cathedral for too long, but my back hurts!!

I had to laugh though, because two people suggested to me today that I might try a heat patch, and I told them both that I was already wearing one! Had a lovely warm back all day!!

But, I have to say that if that's all I can complain about, I'm doing okay.

I know that a lot of people are living with a lot worse than that, and I am grateful to be as healthy as I am.

Health is wealth, and I come from a rich gene pool!.

Good health to you all!

Gratefully yours.

xx

Done and dusted

We had our choir concert this evening!!

After the disastrous rehearsal on Wednesday night, I was a wee bit apprehensive today.

I actually spent most of the day feeling a wee bit sick! But then I took myself aside and gave myself a good talking to!

I joined the choir to have fun, and for the pure joy of singing, not to get stressed out about every concert we do.

So, I got myself dolled up, and headed off this evening, determined to do my best (all I can do!!) and to enjoy the concert.

And I did!

Today I am grateful to have taken part in a fabulous musical evening, and to have enjoyed every minute of it!

I hope (and I think) it showed in my singing!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Well past it

I had a lovely visit from my pal Audrey, and her wee boy this afternoon.

He was full of chat - incomprehensible, but chat none the less - and had great fun with all Thomas's discarded footballs, rugby balls and hurleys!!

But, today I can say, absolutely, completely and utterly....I am grateful that I am past the nappy stage with my two!!!

Need I say more???

Gratefully yours.
xx

Final rehearsals

Okay, we don't actually do a "dress rehearsal" for the choir, but if we did, tonight would have been it!

We rehearsed in the concert venue - the most beautiful 12th century cathedral, St Mary's in Limerick city.

Our director put us under no pressure at all by reminding us of the wonderful history of music there is in the cathedral, all the wonderful singers and musicians who have performed there, and telling us that we are about to become part of that history!

I think we were all a wee bit in awe of our surroundings, and our resultant singing was not what we had hoped for!

So, today I am grateful for bad "dress rehearsals"!! They almost always lead to brilliant first nights!!!

That's my positive thinking, and I'm sticking to it!!!

Fingers crossed for Friday night!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

St Mary's Cathedral, Limerick

Smile please

As I was walking home from work today, amid a pile of dried, fallen leaves, a little green smiley face caught my eye.

I smiled all the way home!!

Just had to go out into the garden and create a few smiles of my own.

Happy, smiley faces!!

So, Today I am grateful for all the little things that made me smile.

Gratefully yours.

xx

A busy bee

I've had a lovely, busy day.

I was in Lidl doing my shopping at 8.45 this morning - that in itself was a good start to the day! I'm not usually that organised!! - when I got a call from work, asking if I could go in in the afternoon for a couple of hours to cover a crisis.

I always find it makes me feel great to be able to help out if I can. Both my bosses (I work in two shops regularly) are really good to me, when it comes to time off for ill kids etc, so it's always nice to be able to pay back the kindness.

I was galvanised into action!! I came home and put the shopping away in time to go and get my hair cut. then it was home again to make soup for lunch, wholemeal banana scones for my boy and get the chicken gougons and veg ready for him to pop into the oven at tea-time.

Then it was pick up the kids from school and then head off to work for a couple of hours. From there I went straight on to choir rehearsals (which, I have to say, went really well tonight! Looking forward to the concert on Friday now!!).

So today I am grateful that I found energy that I'm usually sadly lacking, just when I needed it!!

The only problem is, I don't know if I can sleep now!! Still hyped!!

Ah well!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Chips

What is it about chips??

Not even "proper" chips! Even oven chips are yummy!

I had dauphinois potatoes in mind for this evening, but when I went to the cupboard, the cupboard was bare!! No tatties!!!!!

So we ended up with chicken and chips for tea....and they were sooo good!!

Today I am grateful to the inventor of oven chips! They have to be healthier than real ones, and are much easier to make!

And, d'ye know what??? We can't have good, healthy, made-from-scratch dinners every night! How boring would that be!!

Long live the chip!!

Gratefully yours.

xx

Check it out

Today I am grateful that I got a whole load of work done!

Quiet day in the shop, so I got stuck into date-checking! Got almost the whole dispensary checked for out-of-dates - none found, but lots of bright yellow stickers used to point out shorter dated stuff.

It's a job that no-one likes doing, there's never usually time for it, but it has to be done. So...today I did it, and I am feeling very smug and righteous!

The, of course, it was home for Strictly!

What a day!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Have your cake...

....and eat it!

Why not??

Today I had the pleasure, fun and enjoyment of making a glorious cake, with the help of my darling Meggie, and then I had the pleasure, fun and enjoyment of eating it - well, only a slice of it! I'm not a total piggy!!

So, double the fun for my money!! Can't be bad!

Today I am grateful for having my cake, and eating it!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

The bake off

Anyone else watching the Great British Bake Off??

I'm getting addicted to it! And now they've started the Great Irish Bake Off!!

I just love the whole thing, from the beautiful tent and the pastel colours to the scrumptious baking that looks like so much fun to do!

Okay, so I guess tomorrow it's out with all the cookery books and a good rake through till I find some interesting baking recipes. Or should I try starting with something really simple???

I mean, I can bake the odd fairy cake - although that's really Meggie's department - and the odd scone, but I feel like a proper challenge!!

I think what I really fancy is bread. I think I might enjoy the kneading bit!

Anyway, today I am grateful for the inspiration provided by the Back Offs!

Tomorrow....who knows! I will keep you informed!

Gratefully yours.
xx

The Fun Factor

"What do you do for fun?"

I was asked that question at a party a couple of years ago, and, at the time, I had no answer to give.

It has stuck with me, though, and made me think quite a bit about it.

The dictionary definition of fun is "a source of pleasure, amusement, diversion".

That definition actually puts cleaning house and even ironing into the "fun" category, because, as I have been discovering lately, these things do give me great pleasure! Mind you, it's not the "doing" that is a pleasure, it's the looking round at a clean, tidy house!!

Choir is definitely fun, as is going for a walk with Megan. Sudoku is fun! I even quite enjoy helping K out with the odd word in his crossword! It's the challenge, I think, that makes it fun. Getting lost in the other world of a good book, or sitting quietly making cards is fun....the above definition shows that fun does not have to be energetic, noisy or chaotic!

So, you see, today I am grateful to be starting to recognise the myriad sources of fun in my life.

What do you do for fun???

Gratefully yours.
xx

Blog-block

It's a bit like writer's block.

I'm finding it hard at the moment to find anything even remotely interesting to write about.

Today I'm grateful to K for being there for me to "vent" to. I know I am very lucky to have him.

Guess it's just one of those days!

Gratefully yours.
xx

A proud moment

Oh, you would have been proud of me today.

I was proud of myself!!!

Having done my food shopping, I carefully chose my checkout queue. I don't queue hop anymore, because I usually find that when you do, your new queue ends up being slower than the one you hopped from in the first place, thusly leaving you even more frustrated than you would have been had you stayed put!

Anyway, I started unpacking my trolley onto the conveyor belt. There was enough room for about half my stuff, and I very soon realised that the conveyor was no longer moving. There was a problem with a voucher that the lady before me had handed in. I did vaguely wonder why they were at the voucher stage when half her food was still on the conveyor.

In the end, I waited there for a good 15 minutes, right beside the end-of-till chocolate displays! I lost count of how many times I reached out for a bar and then changed my mind!

In the end, not only did I smile sweetly at the assistant as she started on my shopping, but I didn't - I repeat, I didn't - give in to the temptation of the chocolate bars!!!

So, so proud!

Today I am grateful that I was able to stay in control of both my temper and my craving!!!

It turns out that my supermarket are doing a deal where you get €10 off your next shop when you spend over €50, and the assistant was stopping every €50 worth, taking the money, vouchers etc, giving the €10 voucher for that €50 then starting again as if it was a new customer! I think the woman in front of me must have been shopping for a very large family!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Communication

How wonderful is Skype?

I know I've said it before, but it really is amazing!

Today we saw our wee niece waking up for her evening feed.....in Australia!

She is a gorgeous wee thing with a shock of fluffy black hair. She looks very like her mum, and her doting big brother and sister.

But how wonderful to be able to see, not just a photo, but to actually see her moving about!

It just made me think about how important it is to be able to communicate with those we love. We are, none of us, alone....and that's good to know.

Today I am grateful for all the ways we have to communicate.

Gratefully yours.
xx

All that glitters.....

Yes!

It's that time of year again!

Strictly is back!

Long, hard, busy day at work. Followed by steak and chips, glass of Blossom Hill and Strictly!

What more could a body ask for??

I'm grateful for all those involved in making my evening a joy!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Happiness is....

....a beautiful, tidy bedroom!

Cleaning, decluttering and tidying really are the root of true happiness.

But do you think this knowledge will make housework any easier??? I doubt it!

Anyway....I was in the zone today, and the results are wonderful to behold. (Am I a really sad person to get this much happiness from clearing Meggie's bedroom???)

I am going to make a conscious effort to keep this ball rolling round the whole house over the coming months, so that by "spring cleaning" time, there will be nothing left to do!!!

Today I am grateful for energy and determination.....and I humbly ask for more of it!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

moccachoccalatta

Two things that go very well together are a nice cup of mocca coffee and a Thorntons chocolate.

They must be savoured. Nice and slow. Made to last!!

You should, preferably, be sitting somewhere very comfortable, with your feet up, a nice cool breeze floating around you, and have nothing even remotely more important to do.

If you figure out how it's possible, give me a call and let me know!!!

No seriously though.....eating chocolate should be a very mindful experience. What could give more joy??

Today I am grateful to the chocolatiers of Thorntons for their lovely Summer Chocolate collection.

What's your favourite chocolate?

Gratefully yours.
xx

The Forth Road Bridge

And the clearing out goes on!!! And on....and on!!

Oh, but it is cathartic! (just looked cathartic up in the dictionary - a purification that brings about spiritual renewal, or release from tension.....yep, that about sums it up!!)

I was in Meggie's room today, and boy, did it need a good clear out!!

Tidiness is not one of our Meg's talents. She is getting there, but there's just too much clutter in her room. She just gets overwhelmed by it.

Well....no more! I got about half her room done today, so roll on Friday!! Let the catharsis continue!!!

And after that, it'll be down to Meg to keep it tidy!!!!

Today I'm grateful that I have plenty to do in the house to keep me busy, and give me purpose!!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Close you eyes

I have an experiment for you....

Close your eyes for a few minutes and think about the far left hand corner of your garden.

Can you see it? Can you see what plants or ornaments are there? What colours can you see?

When you have time, go out there and have a good look around. Is it as you remembered it?

 Touch the plants, the hard landscaping, the grass! Smell all the plants, the earth. Enjoy every sensation.

Peace is in the tiny details. Take notice of every single thing.

Today I am grateful for the details.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Smiley, happy people

Driving home from work this evening, I noticed a very smiley car coming towards me. I smiled back!

Then I started noticing all the car "faces", and noticed that they all have their own personalities!

It certainly brightened up my drive home!

It's amazing what you see when you open your imagination!

Today I am grateful for  my vision.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Right on the button

Today I am grateful that the Meteorologists got it right.

We've had a lovely, dry, warm, dare I say even sunny weekend!

However grateful I am for the changing seasons....it's always nice to get a bit of extra warmth and sunshine, don't you think?

So now we can all head into the winter months knowing that we wrung that last little bit out of Summer!

It's always nice to think that you've got that little bit extra for nothing, isn't it??

Gratefully yours.
xx

Job done

I got all my ironing done this morning.

The stairs have been hoovered and the downstairs is looking tidier than it has for months!!

I'm grateful to have my mornings back to myself again.

It's nice to have a tidy house!!!

Order is good.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Cosy glow

They are promising an Indian Summer weekend.

Not sure I either believe it, or want it!

Autumn is definitely here, and I am glad to welcome the changes it brings.

I love the Autumn nights. Cold outside, and dark, but cosy and warm inside, with the lovely glow of the soft lights. I like having the kids in and the doors locked.

The pace seems to slow down too. Less hectic, more time to relax in the evenings.

I'm grateful for the changing seasons.

And on a professional note.....lots of people with colds at this time of year, with the changing weather. Great for business!!!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

A bit of an effort

I'm not good with people I don't know.

I know this to be a fact, and I have no desire to deny it. But it can be troublesome at times.

I know one girl in the choir, because I knew her previously. I sit beside her in the choir. It is easy just to sit beside her and have no need to talk to anyone else. Yes, I am a woosy coward when it comes to mixing with people!!!

Anyway, she wasn't there tonight, so I had no choice (well, other than sitting through the break in silence, while everyone around me chatted) but to make conversation with someone I don't know!!! Horror of horrors!!!

But I did it! I now know the names of four more girls at choir! And, what's more, they know mine!

It's a start!

Today I am grateful for making the effort.

Onwards and upwards!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Curry-ing favour

What better way to use up the left-over chicken than making a nice, hot curry!

The only problem is, the whole house smells of curry now!!!

It's been a great day for left-overs, actually! I had the left-over roast veg and gravy for my lunch, and then the aforementioned curry for tea!

It's a no-brainer kind of day, food-wise, which I like hugely! Wish I could come up with left-over teas more often!

So, I guess today I am grateful for yesterday's dinner!

I knew when I was cooking it that it would turn out to be a winner, I just thought it would be yesterday!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Chicken dinner

I was just taking the chicken out of the oven, about halfway through the cooking time, to check that the veggies weren't sticking (they were in the tray with the chicken!), when I remembered that I was going out for dinner with the girls from work!!!

Talk about disappointed!! The chicken smelt gorgeous, and the veg looked as if it was going to be crispy and delicious!!!

Anyway, in the end I had a lovely dinner!

The restaurant comes highly recommended! It's in the back of beyond, but is very popular. Most people who eat there stay the night. It's a big old country house, set in beautiful grounds. The perfect place for a special night away! And not bad for a night out with the girls from work either!!

So, one happy camper! And guess what? I just checked in the fridge....guess who's having leftovers for lunch tomorrow???

I am grateful for good food!

Gratefully yours.
xx

PS. the restaurant was The Mustard Seed, in Ballingarry, county Limerick.

Good or bad

Sundays can be good or bad.

I tend to find that if there is nothing planned for the day, it just kind of runs away with itself, and you're left wondering what happened!

I know that some people find Sunday a very long, and often lonely, day, but I find that I can't settle to anything with everyone else dotting about the house doing bits and pieces of nothing much!

I'm really not good at free time!. I am good at relaxing. I'm good at doing nothing much....but only if that's what I've planned to do!

So, I think I need to come up with a Sunday Plan. It will need to be quite flexible, to accommodate last minute changes caused by husbands and children, and it can't be too arduous (well, it is Sunday, after all!), and it must be totally independent of weather conditions!!!

I'm grateful that something useful has come out of this wasted day!

Looking forward to a new week.

Gratefully yours.
xx

Work/home balance

Okay, we now know that order makes me happy.

That knowledge was reinforced today at work.

I am definitely happier at work when everything is organised and order is maintained. I'm happier when I can get on with one job and get it done, before moving on to the next.

So, how come I find myself trying to do to many things at once, at home, and ending up not getting anything finished?????

I'm obviously not getting myself organised at home!!

Did I mention that I need a new note book??? Great things for helping you get organised!!

I'm beginning to see a pattern here!

I can see some major de-cluttering and re-organising on the horizon!

I'm grateful today that I am feeling optimistic about the impending clear-out! How unusual!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Order

You know, it's true what they say in all these de-cluttering and Feng-shui books. Order is good. Order is peaceful. Order is happiness!!!

I was most disappointed today, because I couldn't get all my ironing done!! No....don't panic and start phoning the paramedics...I'm okay!!!

We've had no sun for the last few days, so my utility room's been a bit cool. So....half the washing on the clothes horse wasn't dry and could not, therefore, be ironed!

Last Friday I got the utility cleared. The ironing basket was emptied. All the washing on the clothes horses (yes, I have two of them!!) was ironed and put away, and the clothes horses were folded and tidied away! Space!!! How wonderful! Who knew that my utility room was so big???

But, alas, no such luck today! And I was looking forward to it!

Still, I am grateful that we had some sun today, to warm up the utility room and dry the remaining clothes!

Roll on Sunday (I'm working tomorrow). I will finish the job and I will see my room empty again!!!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Food for the soul

I have decided that cooking makes me happy.

Of course, it's better when the food you cook is enjoyed by those you are cooking it for....but hey, I can't have everything!

The challenge is to find things that K and the kids all like. Difficult, I hear you say! But then it wouldn't be a challenge if it was easy!!

The internet is a great source of inspiration, but I still can't help myself buying cookery books and magazines! It's lovely just to look through them, drool over the lovely photographs and imagine how delicious the meals would be!

I am grateful for the food we eat every day, and all the beings involved in getting it to our table.

I am also grateful for the opportunity to do something that, not only makes me happy, but sustains the family I love, every day.

Gratefully yours.
xx

The Happiness Project

My sister, Lindsay, recommended a book to me over the summer, and I finally started it today.

It's "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin, a best-seller in America for the past couple of years.

I guess, from what I've read so far, that it's a kind of blue-print for how to figure out what makes you happy, and how to maximise your daily dose of it!

There are a couple of things that spring to mind immediately for me, having done them both today!

One is being creative. I could sit for hours, pouring over my photos and figuring out ways to use them.

The other is singing....choir practice is now on a Wednesday night!

But....I'm getting ahead of myself! Better read on a bit more and see what's what!!

I'm grateful to Lindsay for her recommendation, and I can only say....

.....watch this space!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

The notebook

I think I need a new notebook.

How else am I meant to keep track of how I'm doing with my new resolutions??

Any excuse for a new notebook really!

I love notebooks! They have to be beautiful though. Not too big, but not to small either! Preferably hard-backed, with a mix of plain and lined paper.

I always start them with great intentions, but fizzle out way before they are full! I've always been like that! I can remember doing "projects" when I was young, and I never finished them.

Hmmm....a character flaw!!! Flighty. Never finishes anything!

But the fun is in starting something new!!!!

It's a lack of focus, I think, that prevents me doing something till it's done. I believe I may have mentioned that failing before!!! No change there yet then!!!!!

Ah well. We can't all be perfect! I'm very grateful for that fact!

How very boring life would be if we were!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Resolutions

I was thinking about my New (school) Year's resolutions today. Feeling quite optimistic about it all actually!

Here's the list (it is, of course, not definitive!!)

Walk more
Drink more (water)
Eat less
Sing more
Dance round the kitchen (especially when the kids have pals round!!)
Put on my make-up
Choose being happy
Be more mindful
Don't miss an opportunity to spend time with people I love.

I'm grateful for the chance to make new resolutions, and the fun involved in trying to keep them!

Please don't hesitate to let me know if there's anything important I've missed!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Hair today.....

.....Gone tomorrow!

No, I'm not getting my hair cut tomorrow!!!

Meggie asked me to go up and dry her hair for her before she went to bed, and, though I would rather have been sitting on my bum watching a film I had already seen, I went up to her.

It was only when I started brushing her hair that I realised how long it had been since I last dried her hair! She normally does it herself these days, but I hadn't actually copped on to that fact until tonight!

Where does the time go?

My babies are growing up so fast and I am at risk of blinking and missing it!

Definitely time to slow down, catch my breath, and try to up the mindfulness!!!

So, in the end, I took my time drying and smoothing her hair, enjoying the feel of it and the beautiful shine of it.

At the end of the day, I can watch a film anytime....but my bubs are only young once!

I am grateful for the reminder that I need to slow down, smell the coffee, and not miss a single moment!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Family fun

Oh, how nice to have a Saturday off and not waste it!

We decided to "do stuff" en famille, so, after some long deliberation, and a few tantrums, we decided we had time to do not one, but two fun things together!!

We headed off to our local castle, which was recently re-opened after extensive renovation works. It was great!

I had been to it in the past and was very disappointed in it, but, thankfully, they have done a splendid job on it, and we all had a fab time.

After lunching on lovely soup and soda bread, we headed to our second venue, an eco farm not too far from home.

Farm = animals....so, of course Meggie loved it! There was a crazy golf course made with ancient farm machinery (more crazy than golf!!) and lots of indoor games, which was just as well with the rain coming on and off every 5 minutes!!

All in all a great day! Lots of photo opportunities!!!

I am grateful for family fun days.

Already deciding where to go on my next Saturday off!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

Peppa and George....yes, really!

A rather beautiful tractor seat!!

Fulfilment

Who would have thought that ironing could be so fulfilling?

I got two and a half episodes of Game of Thrones watched and got the ironing basket emptied! I also managed to fit in a walk to the shops for a few bits, and a chat with Mam and Jude on Skype....and all before the kids came home from school! I am quite pleased with myself today!!

I am, however, grateful that the ironing basket will take a while to fill up again! I'd quite happily wait before I have to iron again!!

I really must find a way to change my way of thinking about ironing!!!

Gratefully yours.
xx

The best way...

...to start the day!

Today I am grateful for a beautiful walk to work today.

It was a bit colder this morning and there was some fog. Walking along by the river was beautiful. You could see the fog hovering just above the water. Everything had that dreamy quality to it.

It did eventually turn into another beautiful, bright day, but I rather enjoyed my misty morning walk.

Gratefully yours.

xx