Favourite Things On A Friday

I've been a follower of MimiandTilly's blog for a while now and when she came up with the brilliant idea of posting about her Favourite Things on a Friday and asked for people to share theirs, I jumped at the chance !

There are quite a few of us so hop on over and have a look see ! ...........

Here's mine for this week :0)

Finding a nice little tea room that you didn't know existed .....

that also sells lots of goodies as well as .............

the most beautiful home made victoria sponge and a bottle of ginger beer .......

plus a comfy chair to sit on .......... what more could two girls want who've just returned from the Dentist !

We're off on holiday to search out the Beast of Bodmin Moor tomorrow so have a good week fellow bloggers !

I look forward to catching up with everyone when we get back xxxx

Testing, testing ......

Thank you for all the comments about the new header, it's where we live :0) ...... (In the old days of course!)

So, who broke the weather !!! It's heaving down here :0( At least the garden will get a good water I suppose.

The news I was looking forward to yesterday never arrived ........ my first born baby girl took her driving test (it was all a bit hush-hush) but she failed it. Bless her little cotton socks, she was sooooooooo disappointed ! A huge cuddle from mum was in order and a quick dash down to the shops for a big box of girly chocolates cheered her up a little bit.

In her defence she had an examiner in the car, an examiner examining the examiner (!) and her driving instructor ! If that's not enough to make you nervous then I don't know what is ! She only failed on a couple of things that are rectifiable so we're going to get her out and about and driving lots over the next couple of weeks - she can share the driving to Cornwall on Saturday too.

Today will be spent doing a bit of this .......



and some more of this ........



and definitely some of this to take with us ......



What keeps you busy on a rainy day? xxxx

Perfect timing ...... NOT !

I've just been signed off work for a week (initially) ...... just 3 days before I go on my hols which means no holiday pay and having to let work down when they need me most ! The manager is already off on her hols and we're a staff member short as well, so having to phone in and explain I'm not going to be in for the next 3 days went down like a ton of bricks !

Don't get me wrong, work are great but I just hate letting people down (I'm a bit of a workaholic on the quiet !)

I'm also banned from driving for the foreseable which isn't good either! It's all to do with medication and it causing a very slow heart beat and risk of fainting - eeeeeek !

However, I'm not going to dwell on it. I'm going to enjoy my holiday and hopefully a change in meds will stop the permanent 'drunk' feelings !

I may have some good news to cheer me up later but I can't reveal anything just yet ............ watch this space !

The Lost Guide to Life and Love ........

is a book I've just finished reading. It's a good'un so I thought I'd try my hand at a book review (my first so bear with me !)



'In a packed nightclub, a glamorous model leaps from a window and escapes into the night. Food writer Tilly Flint, on a rare date with boyfriend Jake, is the sole witness. Little does she know the events set to unfold ...'

This book is a bit of everything, chick-lit, mystery, romance, intrigue and family history. The many characters each have their own 'story' to tell and throughout the book you get a bit more insight into their past lives. As Tilly moves on with her life, so do the other characters with some surprising outcomes ! I'll not reveal too much !

A good book, easy to get into and a nice style of writing. I shall be on the lookout for more of Sharon Griffiths' books !

Next book -



"A book that dwells on the fragile, yet binding relationship between a mother and her daughters. It is an enchanting novel about an idylic wild childhood and two girls who, in spite of everything, love the woman who gave them life".

What book(s) are you reading? xx

Car Booty (again!)

I was up at the crack of dawn this morning (actually it was still dark !) for the Car Boot.

It was drizzling but I took my chances and went anyway.

I made a nice few £££s (to counteract the Matalan trolley dash yesterday!).

We chatted to some lovely people both on the stalls next to us and had some delightful customers.

And the sun came out !

Plus I went with a boot full and came back with less than half of what I took.

All in all a good day :0)

Here's what I wore (in anticipation of the sun coming out!)

Matalan pink vest top (£1), Tesco white vest top (£2), Matalan Skirt (£3), Balerina Pumps - Charity shop (£3), New Look Bracelet (£1), Necklace - Car Boot sale (50p)

I'm at work all day tomorrow but I don't mind Sundays, a 6 hour day and it's lovely and quiet so I get lots done.

Tomorrow evening will be spent deliberating over what to pack for our forthcoming holiday to Cornwall, I think it might be a case of ..................... !!!!

Cheap As Chips.

It's school hols time and trying to keep the kids occupied is still no mean feat even though they are teenagers ! I do love the long break though, being able to spend so much time together is great and finding new places to visit and things to do is great fun. Obviously, it has to be cheap !

Mornings are usually a breeze as they're still in bed but the afternoons prove a little more difficult, especially when hubby is on nights and we have to be quiet as a mouse until he gets up.

I was feeling a bit lazy so thought a portion of chips on the beach would do very nicely for lunch and kill a bit of time along the way. The littlies managed to sneak in a chocolate dipped ice cream too ! I do like to spoil them occasionally :0)

Tomorrow, we're off to do a car boot sale to try and make a few pennies again. It's supposed to be a glorious day but I think an early start will be in order - they queue at 5am for a 7.30am start at our local one - yikes !

Today's outfit is a real cheapie ! Matalan have a sale on and a quick jolly over to Bognor today for some shoes for my eldest, ended up in a two hour shop-a-thon ! My ebay winnings are depleting fast !

Tunic (no label so I have no idea who it's made by) £1.04 (ebay). Trousers DP (£3 in the sale), Sandals (Matalan sale £5), Bracelets (Matalan sale £1.50), Earrings (Matalan Sale £1), Ring (Matalan Sale £1.50), Headscarf (New Look Sale £1), Necklace bought for me by my darling hubby on valentines day xx

Excuse the really poorly painted toe nails - I can't find my varnish remover !!!! I promise next time they will be pristine and presentable!

Total outfit cost - £14.04 if my maths is right?!

There are more goodies from Matalan too but I'll save them for another day x





20 questions ......

I've pinched this question/answer thingy-majig from Danni (hope you don't mind Danni !) who in turn borrowed it from Sophie .

I figured it might be a bit of a 'get-to-know-me' post and maybe get me a few more followers - I seem to be a bit of a 'billy-no-mates' !!!!

What is bothering you right now?
The fact that I have to have an ECG tomorrow as my heart murmur is doing funny things to me !
Do you like celebrity magazines?
No not really, but I'd read one if I was bored enough.
When was the last time you were ill? Why?
Ermmmm that'd have to be Boxing Day with that blasted norovirus, I thought I was going to die!
Do you feel you belong in a different era? 
Not really, I'm happy to move along with the times and embrace the future.
Who owns you? 
My kids, I'm a big softie and give in far to easily when it comes to them.
Favorite country in Europe? 
I haven't visited many but of the few that I have been to, I loved Turkey.
Did you skive off school?
School? No. College? Yes.
Ever played an instrument? 
Nope.
Favorite alcoholic drink?
G & T
Do you follow fashion?
I do but don't necessarily dress to the current trend unless it's something I like.
What colour are your eyes? Do you like that colour? 
Green, I've often been told I have cats eyes (not sure if that's a good thing or a bad !) I'm happy with my eyes :0)
What is the furthest you have travelled from your home? How far was it?
Turkey. Told you I'm not very well travelled !
What is the coldest temperatures you have experienced? Where were you?
That would have to be helping out on one of my son's school trips to Butser Farm 2 years ago. Sub-zero temperatures, the toilets had frozen so the kids had nowhere to pee and we were outside all bloody day ! I've NEVER been so cold !
What is the hottest temperatures you have experienced? Where were you?
I think probably here in the UK!
Imagine you have three wishes. List them. (A million more wishes doesn't count)
1. That my children grow up to be happy, healthy and kind and appreciate the good things in life.
2. Straight hair without having to get the blasted irons out every morning!
3. A huge boat, you know the kind, one of those yacht thingys with all the fancy leather seats, round beds, bar and all the posh champagne. I'd sail around the world !
Are you keeping a secret from the world? 
Maybe? But if I told you it wouldn't be a secret, now would it?!!!
If you could go back in time and give advice to yourself ten years ago, what would you say?
Enjoy the kids because they grow up too bloody fast.
How have you changed in the past 10 years?
I've gotten smaller to the tune of 5st. I'm still lacking in a bit of self-confidence, but blogging is actually helping I think. I think I'm a bit wiser too, don't take any bulls**t off anyone like I used to!
Is abortion wrong? 
No, everyone should have a choice.
Do you like long train/car journeys? 
Train? Don't go on many. Car? Yes, but oddly enough, only if I'm in the driving seat.
Have you ever considered writing a novel?
No, I don't have a very good imagination.
Have you ever punched someone in the face?
No.
What is your sense of humour like?
Quite dry. I do have a (bad) trait of winding people up while remaining deadly serious and letting it run for a few days ! I do love a good can't-get-your-breath laugh :0)
Are you a good person?
I like to think so, others tell me I'm kind so that's good enough for me :0)