Mother of Two!!

FAB FAB FAB NEWS!!!!

2009-04-09T14:54:00.003+01:00

OK - short version - I don't have cancer!!!!

Longer version - so, went to the hospital, Dunc my lovely yummy hubby came with me for support. We got there early - as is often my wish, not much reading material in the waiting area, a golf magazine, 2 French apartment magazines AND a magazine just about parrots!!!!! Well it made me smile!!!

Eventually went in, think the doc and his nurse were concerned to see Dunc there too - I explained he was there cos I had been so freaked out. The Doctor was lovely, asked me to go through the story so far, and explained he was a mouth and throat cancer specialist. After my long story - he lay me back on the chair - a lot like the dentist chair - and really had a good root around. He was pulling my tongue one way and poking down my throat the other side - I'm very surprised I didn't puke, nearly got him!!!!

And he sat me up and said 'well I can tell you right now, there is nothing cancerous down there, you do not have cancer, you will live to see another day' - I nearly burst into tears with relief at that point, but held it in.

He is still not sure what it is but thinks maybe it's just something from the viral infection I had 5 weeks ago that is just going to take a while to clear up, sadly no medication will help it. If it's not better in 4 weeks I have to go back and have the camera down the throat thing.

But... whatever happens now is OK, I do not have the dreaded 'C' word and was able to walk out smiling - burst into tears straight away but happy tears!!!

PANIC - I'm only human

2009-04-08T10:13:00.002+01:00

OK, so this time tomorrow, hopefully, I should be done at the hospital. I'm quite sure I'll be none the wiser and have to return for tests as the letter from the hospital said this appointment is a consultation appointment only!!!! I know I should not panic, and everything is gonna be fine BUT can' help freaking out too.

I am very thankful for all the friends I have who have sent me texts, facebook messages, cards etc - makes me feel very blessed.

Sooooo... we'll see how it goes tomorrow.

Not so good news

2009-04-04T08:15:00.002+01:00

OK, where do I start - this could be a long one

So, I 've been having throat problems for about a month now, it started with an infection, which the doctors sorted but I went back last week, as she'd suggested, and my throat at the back left was still painful. She had a look down and thought it might be a lesion (???). She took a swab - at which point I nearly puked all over her - to test for any more infections. she told me to come back back in a week, she wanted this sorted. I asked her 'could this be something serious, should I be worried?' at which point her head and shoulders dropped, she had a pitiful look on her face and said 'lets just see what happens next week' - not quite the answer I was looking for, but I know that have to cover their backs.

So I went back this Wednesday, she had another look, and not it wasn't any better. She looked at a form in a folder and said 'well you do tick all the boxes on this form' and then proceeded to put the form on the desk - I stupidly glanced at it to read 'URGENT REFERRAL - HEAD AND THROAT CANCER'. She saw me looking and after I'd said 'OH MY GOD!!' rather shocked she said she didn't want to panic, but knew I would. She really doesn't know what's wrong with my throat but by eliminating cancer they can work down from there. By the end of the day the hospital had already called and I have an appointment next Thursday morning to see the throat and mouth specialist.

So - your doctor says try not to panic, but you've just seen the word - in bold and capitals - CANCER!!!!! I am trying to keep calm, especially round Daisi and Max, but every know and then I walk off and have an ickle weep - I'm quite sure the doc is right and it's just something else, but there's always that doubt in your mind. I do keep trying to think that even if it is the C word, they will have caught it quick and can sort it out - I've even worked out what colour wig I'd want if it came to that!!!!

So there you have it - not great and then 7 days of panic!!!!

Manic Mondays - not really

2009-03-24T08:12:00.003Z

OK, so I had the blood test and then ate a nice big breakfast of weightwatchers bagels and coffee.

Nothing of any great excitement yesterday - bit of a pain, put some laundry out, was busy in the house and hadn't noticed the torrential rain, the laundry is still outside and probably still wet - yuk!!!

Daisi had tea at a friends so that means a nice lazy afternoon with Max.

Nice surprise in the evening, Dunc came home - he was supposed to be in Bath overnight - always nicer to have him home.

Tired Bunny

2009-03-23T08:08:00.002Z

I have a glucose test this morning - I have been having throat infections for a month now and they think it might be connected with Diabetes (my dad has this I had gestational diabetes with Max). So I have the test this morning and doctors appointment on Wednesday.

For the test I have to fast for 12 hours, so from 9 last night I could not have food or drink. Normally fairly easy - but with a very sore throat and cough, it was a killer last night, I just wanted a throat sweet or drink of water, so I came down to sit on the sofa at about 3am, think I did doze off at 4!!!!!!

I'll sleep well tonight

I AM BACK!!!!

2009-03-22T23:09:00.002Z

I decided that I've really missed this little outlet - a place for me to jsut chatter away to whoever cares to read!!!!!!

I haven't blogged for over a year - TUT TUT TUT

In that time, short version...

Holidays to Florida and Spain
Dunc got a new job
I got a VW Beetle
Max started nursery
I turned 35 (!?!?!?!?)
Another Christmas
etc etc

Sad times for family members last October
Happy times for brother-in-law Chris who got engaged

So this year ... few weddings, perhaps a holiday

Max starts BIG school in September, I'm sure you'll hear a heck of a lot about that soon

And in May Daisi will be enrolled as a Junior Solider (an SA thing)

So that's the short version - bet you're glad I didn't give the long version!!!!

Evie Rose Kinsley

2008-02-12T09:54:00.000Z

I am an Auntie again!!!! My brother Lloyd and his wife Becks moved to Florida last year. Becky gave birth to a beautiful little girl on Saturday weighing 8lbs 7oz. Look here if you want to share in our joy. Becks and Evie are now home for hospital and I just thank God even more for webcams and Skype - as I was able to see her and Becks last night. It's only 94 days till we visit - wish it was tomorrow!!! But my mum is going out in 3 weeks so that's the next best thing.

Other than that, not much - had a fab night out with the toddler mum's last night - we went to Ask in Reigate - I forgot the weightwatchers for a night - and we had, as always, a good giggle!!!

I really love the fact that I have 'girl' friends from all areas of my life - its fab.

Awwwwwww

2008-01-22T11:52:00.001Z

Whilst it's yukky Dunc being away - he has been very sweet and sent me some beautiful flowers

Monday is here

2008-01-21T11:02:00.001Z

Slightly sad for a number of reasons this morning.

1) It's Monday!!!!!
2) Dunc is now in China for a couple of weeks
3) Having lost 7 lbs on my last weighing of the body on the scales, i didn't lose anything last week - I know this is down to 2 chinese's and a party on Saturday, it'll be better this week - not gong anywhere!!!!!

Rain

2008-01-17T21:40:00.000Z

Some work days I go into work with wellies on due to the rain and then it's always bone dry on the journey home and I look a numpty.

Today I didn't wear wellies in but boy did I need them on the way home.

Weather forecast is rain tomorrow so the wellies are going on!!!

I'll let you into a little secret...

2008-01-16T19:22:00.000Z

... I've started writing a book. I've sussed out the chapters and written the first 4. But I'm not gonna tell you what it's about cos I don't want everyone's opinions - I'm just gonna do it!!!!

See, I really do have a lot of time on my hands!!!

Happy New Year!!!

2008-01-14T15:58:00.000Z

OK, I know, once again it's been a while - just over 2 months - but honestly Facebook is my life.
So in short what has happened....
- I organised the THQ carol service - it went brilliantly
- I had a birthday, Dunc surprised me with tickets to see Mika that night - we went and it was flipping postponed, we go again in Feb
- Daisi lost her first tooth
- Fairfield, our annual show came and went
- Christmas came and went, Dunc bought me a keyboard that links in with the music package I use to aid music writing
- New Year, was at the Luff's this year, always a good time
- back to school for Daisi, no problems
- Daisi last week turned 6 - OH MY GOSH - she is growing up fast, too fast. Her and I went to see Lion King, we both loved it

PRAYER - please pray for Jane, Matt, Gemma and Janine - The Little Family. Very sadly their husband/dad passed away last week - the world now has one less angel down here and one more up there. The funeral is this Wednesday, so please think of them all.

They're gone - and having fun

2007-11-12T20:47:00.001Z

Well, Lloyd, Becks and Elijah arrived eventually in Orlando, although Lloyds golf clubs didn't make it - I reckon it's someone telling him he really can't play.
I've chatted once with them on Skype and it was the best chat ever. Just sooooo nice to see them and speak to them - as if they were down the road. I tell you, the 'tinternet is fab!!!
If you don't already - Lloyd's blog is the first on my list down the right-hand side

:-(

2007-11-05T09:29:00.000Z

Feeling very odd at the moment - very sad and teary. My brother - Lloyd - his wife - Becky - and their son - Elijah - fly off to the US on Wednesday this week to live!!! On one hand I'm so excited for them, having lived for a bit in the US I know they will love the laid back way of life, all the fab food places, the clothes, Orlando itself - they are gonna have one fab adventure. But on the other hand am unbelievably sad that they are going (see the tears are starting even as I type). I am gonna miss them like crazy - they've been living so much nearer recently and Becks and I have often met up in town to shop and drink coffee. Max adores Elijah and follows him round when they are together. I am gonna miss watching him grow up - when they eventually return back to the UK he will be a totally different little boy and probably won't know any of us. And Becks is pregnant so we really won't know the new arrival at all. We have got Skype ready for regular chats - but I can't quite see it being the same as them being here.
We hope to go and see them earlyish next year, after the baby is born.
I know God will look after them - just wish we could too.
I have a song on my phone called Peace - it's beautiful - I was listening to it on Friday and thought it was perfect for them, and will bluetooth them the song later, here's the words

May peace be with you
May love watch over you
May God always be on your side
May his unfailing love
Be granted you from above
May God supply you with
The things you need
To exceed your wildest dreams
I can see His light is shining down on you

May his unfailing love
Be granted you from above
May God supply you with
The things you need
To exceed your wildest dreams
I can see His hand is on your shoulder
He is near just close your eyes and feel it
Give away the pride that leads you nowhere
And receive
His Love

May peace be with you
May love watch over you
May God always be on your side

Lloyd, Becky and Elijah - I love you guys

Expensive socks!!!!

2007-10-31T12:44:00.000Z

Over the past 6 weeks, our washing machine hasn't' been working. About 4 weeks between my sister-in-law and my mother-in-law I got a huge chunk of the load done. But now it's been piling up. We returned from holiday last Tuesday - I'd done all the holiday stuff out there - and a repair man came on Wednesday. There was a sock stuck in the waste pipe and all was well, we got a couple of loads done and then it broke again - with vomit-ridden sheets from Rueben Luff!!!! Another man came today and there was another sock still in there!!!!! GGGRRRR To ickle socks!!!! The rubber seal is bust, hence the socks getting sucked in - someone is also now coming next Tuesday to replace the seal. We've had to pay over £100 for an extended warranty, hence the expensive socks!!!!
And now I have 4 blue IKEA bags full of clothes to wash - I really am gonna feel like a washer woman. And it would all be fab if this was summer and stuff dried outside - but no!!!! I'm borrowing my mum's airer for the next few days to get more stuff done!!!!!!

Get this - me, twice in a week!!!

2007-10-28T20:09:00.000Z

Well Friday, Daisi and I had a girlie trip to the movie's and saw Ratatouille (or however you spell it), it was lovely to spend time just with my gorgeous girl and the movie was rather funny too!!!
In the evening we had a kinda farewell to our mates Taff and Nicky, who are kinda moving to Philadelphia - well they are moving there but every 8 weeks, they come back for one week - Taff got a fab deal with his work. So it was us, Davies, Lairds, Lairds and Kinsleys (L&B). Fab night, Dunc cooked - I don't do mass cooking - and we all had a good giggle.
Saturday, Taff and Nicky had stayed overnight - Daisi wanted Nicky to come to her swimming lesson. So Nicky did - even though I pointed out to both of them that we wouldn't actually be able to see the lesson!! After Taff and Nicky left, we had a very very lazy day at home.
Today was church - hardly anyone there, think lots are using the half term as an excuse!!!

I know - I'm useless

2007-10-25T18:33:00.000+01:00

OK, I know, it's been another month again - but here I am.
And get this - last night we were bit bored, typed in Anita Parker into Google and from over 2 millions hits (obviously not all me) this blog was the first one up!!!! I must be famous or something!!!! We had friends, Julie and Kevin, staying with us who said that some companies pay to be the first on google hits - so any companies who wanna advertise on my blog - feel free - for a large price!!!!!
So... I know work Thursday as well as Fridays - still in the Evangelism unit but just helping out the Mission Development Unit - temporarily - although I'm loving the extra money in the run up to Christmas.
We've just had a weeks holiday in Spain - friends of us, Taff and Nicky, have a gorgeous townhouse that we rented and we had fantastic weather!!! It's half term still and Dunc has had the rest of this week off - we returned from Spain on Tuesday - so it's been nice to spend time together. Last night Julie, Kevin and Sophie came to stay for the night. Today the guys played golf and Julie and I shopped - other friends were due to come over but something came up so couldn't.
My reason/excuse for not blogging as much is still facebook - I thought I was addicted to coffee - facebook has taken over - but it is a good thing, I'm catching up with people I haven't spoken to in years - yesterday I was chatting with a guy I went to school with - don't think I've seen/spoken to him for about 18 years.
My brother Lloyd and his wife Becks had some good news today, they have been waiting for almost 3 years for visas to come through to allow them to work in the USA for a Christian magazine called Relevant - today, their passports finally returned with visas - fantastic news for them, sadish news for us. But thanks to Skype, we shall still speak and see them every week and we hope to go out either Christmas or New Year time.
Anyway - with my new high-on-the-google-hit-list status I shall attempt to keep this going!!!

Sorry, sorry, sorry

2007-09-25T14:31:00.000+01:00

I've done it again and not blogged for a while. I think the problem is still Facebook - I don't really have to think with Facebook - I have to use my single brain cell to do this!!
Well the biggest thing that's happened really is that Dunc and I celebrated 10 years of happy marriage on Sept 6th!!!
We had a joint wedding anniversary with the Spencers and the Mercers at some random pub in London - it was a fantastic night - one place filled with people you love and care for!!
Then the following weekend Dunc and I, with no kids, nipped to Spain for the weekend - as you do. We just wanted to get away somewhere where we could just be the 2 of us - it was fantastic - 2 days just us 2 on a beach, doing nothing but chilling, reading, chatting and topping up the tan. It was fantastic.
Daisi has gone back to school - thankfully - and is still loving it. She is doing so well with her reading that they've moved her to a booster reading group - which I think means she does her reading with the year above!!!!!
We're off to Carlisle this weekend for Dunc to do the Harvest Meetings and Friday night we're at Derby, for a fundraiser!!!!
Busy busy busy

OH MY GOSH!!!! How long has it been???

2007-09-02T11:59:00.000+01:00

OK so huge apologies to start with, for not blogging in over a month - I totally blame Facebook, which is a major major addiction.
Now I have to try and remember all the stuff that's happened in that time.

TMS - fantastic wee, so much better than the past few years and I honestly can't pinpoint why. I was chuffed to bits that the girls chorus sang a song that I wrote - yes little old me!!! Needless to say I blubbed through the rehearsals that we did it, but managed to hold it together for the 2 festivals - yes it was sung a both wed and sat night festival - something that doesn't happen very often. I fab week for me to recharge myself for another year.
Also, the girls Chorus at Northern Summer School sang my song too - thank you Julian.

Dunc's Grandma - sadly Grandma Brailsford passed away. She was the most lovely person I've known in a long time and my biggest regret ever ever ever is that I never got to say goodbye. Family time at the funeral was nice but also sad that it's only ever once in a blue moon that everyone gets together. Please pray for Dunc's family in particular Grandad Brailsford - they'd been married about 64 years - can you even try and imagine what that would be like to suddenly lose someone - I can't.

School hols - stress stress stress, partly cos Daisi just spends her days winding Max up!!! I think he's more than ready for her to go back to school (Tues 4th)

Camping - Bank Hols weekend we went camping in Horsham with the Luffs and the Motts - it's the first time in my whole life I've been camping without rain - I got a fab tan and people now think I've been abroad!!!

Dunc is currently in Zambia and hopefully will arrive back on Thursday morning - our 10th wedding anniversary!! I am dreading him getting stuck somewhere at some random airport - but lets pray that doesn't happen.

OK, I've now got brain ache - I'll try and keep up with my blog now - OK Johnny!!!

What a week!!!

2007-07-22T13:17:00.001+01:00

Well, in short...

Max didn't have oral thrush, he had Scarlet Fever!!!! Tis much much better now thanks to Penicillin.
Daisi, we thought, was getting it too, but so far no rash
Palace - fantastic time. AND THEY REALLY DO HAVE CUCUMBER SANDWICHES!!!!!! WITH THE CRUSTS OFF!!!! Queenie didn't stop to say hi but her Lady in Waiting did and we got to chat to our mate Paul Kent who was playing in on of the military bands. Fab time - doubt I'll ever be there again!!!

Quick one - prayer request

2007-07-16T21:12:00.000+01:00

My gorgeous little boy is very poorly - he has a rather bad case of oral thrush, and if you know Max, you know he's never ill. He's on antibiotics but cannot eat and is not really drinking either. He had this when he was born, but it seems to have come back.
So please pray that my little boy gets better soon - I miss him

Yes, your majesty

2007-07-13T11:26:00.000+01:00

Well, my big big news is that next Thursday (19th) Dunc and I are, after receiving lovely posh invites, attending a garden party at the Palace!!!! HOW EXCITED AM I!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oddly, Dunc really doesn't seem in the slightest bit bothered at all. We've got to wear uniform as we were nominated by THQ, so I guess it's cheaper than purchasing a whole outfit, including hat!!!! But the plus side of uniform is we'll stand out more. There are two military bands there, and I know one of them and that we have friends in them!!!!
So now I just have to work out if it's Mam as in Ham or Malm as in arm!!

If you could say one thing to the Queen - what would it be - polite answers only please!!

2007-07-10T18:49:00.000+01:00

OK, well I'm much calmer now about the whole school issue. After talking to my friend Kate and Daisi's teacher - I'm ok with the teaching world. Not that I could have done anything really, but it's nicer to go into a situation calm!!!!! Wish I could do that with other things in life. Don't you wish you could just talk things through with a couple of friends and everything be ok!!!! If only.

Well on that topic, what subject do you wish you could chat to a friend about, that would then calm you down??

More school stresses

2007-07-04T09:49:00.000+01:00

Now before I start this I just want to thank those who do read this - I know my blog has never been as deep and meaningful as others, and sometimes is just a load of rubbish - but think of it this way - with all the stresses most of you have in your busy work days - my day adds light relief!!!!
Yesterday, lists went up at Daisi's school telling us what class she moves to next year. At present she is in Butterflies and will move to Dragonflies - but then my trauma started. To take you back about a year, the main reason we moved from Thornton Heath to Reigate was to get away from dufff schools. The teachers at Daisi's nursery told us not to send Daisi there as she would never get challenged - and somehow she has turned out rather brainy - must be from Dunc. Well, next year some of her present class, including her will join the younger ones in her year and become Year 1, whilst the rest of the class become Year 1/2. This slightly concerned me as Daisi is actually above everyone else in reading and is the only one to have started spelling tests - therefore I couldn't understand why she was being 'put back'. Having chatted with one of my school mum mates last night and briefly to the teacher - it seems it is purely done on age. Everyone who's birthday is before Christmas goes in the Year 1/2 class - Daisi is Jan 10th!!!! So I'm having a little meeting with the teacher after school, partly cos I was getting upset in the playground this morning chatting with her - and she's so lovely.
Basically as long as she can convince me that Daisi will not be held back I'll be happy. Just wish I wasn't such an emotional person!!!
Any teachers out there?? Feel free to give me more information!!!!

New invention

2007-06-28T12:28:00.000+01:00

If you could ask someone to invent something for you that would help you in your everyday life - what would it be??

These are a few of my favourite things...

2007-06-27T14:32:00.001+01:00

OK, now come on, join in on this...
Favourite....
1) chocolate bar
2) song at the moment
3) colour
4) item of clothing
5) celebration

mine is
1) mint aero - used to be Wispa til they stopped it
2) Lollipop by Mika - Daisi loves it to
3) Black, goes with anything
4) padded bra's
5) my birthday

Your turn!!!!

:-(

2007-06-26T16:41:00.000+01:00

Once again I'm in a bit of pain, I occasionally trap a nerve in my spine. Apparently when I was pregnant with Daisi I carried her in such an odd way that my bottom 4 vertebrae stopped working and haven't since. But every now and then when I'm lifting or something strenuous, which makes the disc's slightly open they then trap my nerve!!! It flipping hurts!!!!!! It works itself out over a week, just painful just now!!! So I haven't done much today other than lay flat on the sofa.
Some proud news, Daisi has just walked in from ballet with a slip from the teacher saying they want her to go up a class in September!!! This means, I think, exams!!!!! Scary stuff.

The rain is not staying mainly on the plane!!!!

2007-06-25T13:33:00.000+01:00

OK, so we went camping for the weekend with the Parkhouse's, Schole's and Condon's - not too far, just the other side of Horsham, but we had a little rain, well actually we had a lot of rain, well actually Noah may have seen similar amounts with his ark!!! However, we still had a fab time, and I'd taken my dad's Gazebo which provided shelter when it was required. All that talk about rain - we also got a fair bit of sun on Saturday so we all came home with rosy noses and cheeks.
It was great fun but perhaps next time it would be better in dryer weather.
We got back yesterday morning and just spent the day around the house. Taff and Nicky came over in the evening.
Dunc had a fab birthday on Friday.
Spoke to Chris, my favourite brother-in-law, yesterday who returns this Friday - I know Daisi can't wait to have him back although I have a feeling we may not see a lot of him once he's back!!!

Sports Day Fun

2007-06-21T14:45:00.000+01:00

Well thankfully it just about stayed dry for Daisi's sports day to carry on. It was a very tense time for a parent as she took part in a fun race and a flat race - the latter just being a normal run. As you can imagine I was the loudest mum there. Daisi came 3rd in the fun race and I think last in the flat race but she didn't seem to care - sorry Chris. She just loved the fact the we, especially Daddy, was there to cheer her on. Max attempted the toddler race but burst into tears when everyone started cheering so I carried him the rest of the way. I chickened out of the mothers race - there are way too many competitive mums about - but Dunc did us proud and won the daddy's race!!!! Daisi was so proud of her dad, she didn't care that she hadn't won!!!

Minutes, minutes and minutes

2007-06-20T19:12:00.000+01:00

I do enjoy my one day a week at work, I really do - but once a month I do Wednesdays instead of Fridays to take minutes at 2 rather long meetings - and that was today. The only good thing is that I'm not back at work for 9 days now!!!!
It didn't help that I had a late night - totally my own fault. I had Singing Company practise and then went back to Kim's for a coffee and mint aero - yes I ate the whole thing and yes it was the large size too!!! We talked about.... well what didn't we discuss is probably the easier. I like my catch-up's with Kim, we both have a good winge and moan about stuff and also a fab girlie giggle!!! But I told her I wasn't staying late but didn't get in till gone 11!! Silly me!!!
Dunc is off for the next couple of days - tomorrow is Daisi's first Sports Day and boy is he Mr Competitive Dad!!! Whilst I spend hours making sure Daisi knows that it doesn't matter if she doesn't win it's the taking part - he has instilled in her that you have to win, or else!!!! Great!!!!! No doubt he'll be the annoying dad tomorrow that cheers louder than anyone else to the point that he embarrasses Daisi - but we'll see!!!!

Home & Away

2007-06-19T12:17:00.000+01:00

I used to do nothing but watch soaps - anything and everything. But of recent years I don't watch any of them. With Max's nap time changing slightly I have found myself watching the lunchtime re-run of Home and Away. The daft thing is - I don't know why. Maybe it's all the sunshine and beaches that I can't see anywhere else.
I'd love to be in a soap - I have briefly appeared in Holby City and Eastenders.

If you could be in a soap, which one and what character??

Fathers Day

2007-06-18T10:41:00.000+01:00

OK, for those who care, a little report about yesterdays meeting.
To fill you in on the reason I did the meeting... last year three weeks before mothers Day my CO's mum died, I offered to do the meeting for him as I could not watch him struggle through it. It went well. This year, he managed Mothers Day and did so well, and then sadly the Wednesday after Mothers Day his father passed away. So I went back to him with the same offer for Fathers Day. There are times when good deeds are also nerve-wracking ones.
So I was awake from 6 going through the whole meeting in my head, making sure I'd remembered everything. Of course I also got up to do a bacon sandwich for Dunc and we did gifts with the kids. I got ready - doing one's eyeliner is very trick when your hand in trembling so much.
Got to the hall early, set everything out how I needed it.
The meeting went fine. We gave gingerbread men to all the men in the building - my equivalent of flowers to the mums - although mine were gingerbread angels as I couldn't find a man cutter!! At the end, as I've done with Mothers day too, we had a reflective time, to think of Fathers not with us - this could be fathers who have passed away, or just fathers that couldn't be at our our meeting. It went down well, I think many people appreciate being able to remember those not with us any more - and needless to say I blubbed my way through it - I always do - I see someone cry and I just join in!!
So many people, said lovely things afterwards so although I was unbelievably nervous - it was worth it.

I am still here!!!

2007-06-13T13:56:00.000+01:00

OK OK, I apologise - I have not blogged for ages and this is all the fault of Facebook - I have got well and truly hitched!!

Other than that I'll try and do a quick catch up.

Lloyd is doing really well, read his blog - link on the right - for further catchups and that photo I told you about.

Half Term - we 4 Parkers went camping just near Eastbourne. We had a fantastic few days although dunc and I nearly murdered a nearby cockerill that crowed at about 3.45am most mornings.

Lloyd and Elijah stayed with us for a little again last week.

Our mates Taff and Nicky called us the other monday to announce they'd got married so we are over the moon about it.

Other mates Paul and Miriam gave birth (well Miriam did) to a little girl, Bo Lilly Kent, on Saturday night after a traumatic birth.

I was the Albert Hall on Saturday for the Salvation Army's Gospel Arts Concert. I totally enjoyed my day but I'm a saddo like that - love those kind of events. On the photo, I am on the front row!!!! I should add this was at rehearsal and not the attendance on the night. I was, for ten mins, Electralyte's press officer and took photos

Other than that, Dunc has worked like a Trojan on our garden - it looks gorgeous.

Last Sunday I launched a prayer text network at the corps so I'm praying that goes well. We've had some anonymous nasty texts at corps in the past year or two so I'm hoping this can prove to people at church that you can use texts for good things.

This Sunday I'm leading the fathers day meetings, again - one of those things I wish I hadn't offered to do, but the reason was a good one.

So there's a brief-ish catchup

Another brother update

2007-05-23T19:47:00.000+01:00

He's now back here, as in my home. He is perched on the sofa in pain but doing ok!!!

Brother update

2007-05-23T12:45:00.000+01:00

the op went well and hopefully, after I've called the ward at 1, I should be able to go and get him.
Becks and I went to visit him last night, we had a good laugh - a Lloyd's expense. He was so out of it but every now and then would open his eyes and say really random comments. We left early as it was pointless sitting there!!!!
Becks took photo's of him in this state, the other guys in the ward were laughing and the nurse said she thought that was cruel, Becky's response was - look he has pictures of me an hour after giving birth, this is payback!! So watch this space, photo's will follow - nothing yukky!!

Flipping NHS!!!

2007-05-22T15:14:00.000+01:00

I sit her today at my little brother Lloyd's PC. Last night, after Lloyd and Becks had dropped Elijah at ours, I returned here to spend the night with them. At 7 this morning I was at Ashford Hospital with Lloyd, he is, as I type (or possibly they've finished), having reconstruction surgery on his right knee. I sat with him for the morning, dull but ok times. Nice to sit and chat about anything and everything with him. Occasionally he would play on his borrowed PSP thingy and I would do some more Suduko.
But... why tell him to get there at 7am and not eat, when he wasn't scheduled till the afternoon!!! He got taken about 12.45ish so I'm guessing they should be done now and they'll call some time soon. Why is Becks not doing this you ask - as a teacher they do not give her time of for stuff like this, so she is in her classroom with mobile in hand awaiting any texts!!
We should be able to pop back and see him later.
He should be out be lunch time tomorrow, or there abouts, and then he's coming to stay with me for a few days: we have toilets on both floors, Lloyd and Becks have steep narrow stairs in a maisonette down to the stairs, plus for the reason I've already said, Becks would still be at work. But it's half term next week so she will soon resume the role of Florence Nightingale.
Pray for Lloyd, for healing.
Pray for my mum who is looking after all 3 kids - she didn't want to sit with her 'little' boy - too upsetting!!!!!!

Morbid question - but one we do need to think about

2007-05-18T11:13:00.001+01:00

What song/songs would you have at your funeral? Or music?

I want my coffin walked into Pavane.
I want everyone sobbing.
Have all my girl friends sing together something soppy
And then finish with ' I did it my way'.

Be warned, your answers may be noted down and used when the time comes!!!

The Parker 4

2007-05-17T11:40:00.000+01:00

Here is my and my family - aren't we so photogenic - I taught them all I know from my SP&S Supermodelling days!!!

I'm all Facebook'd out

2007-05-15T21:54:00.000+01:00

Sorry, have had no time for blogging today as I'm ever so slightly hooked on Facebook. It's my first day and I've got 51 friends!!!!!!!!

Want to drive yourself potty???

2007-05-14T17:43:00.000+01:00

Try this, Dunc's sister has it on her blog and it's making me go mad. One of those games that annoys you but you want to finish it!!! Enjoy!!!

CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES, COME ON, WOO HOO!!!

2007-05-10T08:26:00.000+01:00

This is my 100th blog!!!!!!!! Not bad for a housewife!!!!!

Well to mark the occasion, I'll make you giggle. Some time last year we went to a nearby park/lake with the Luff's, it was very muddy and Max didn't understand the phrase 'be careful', this was the outcome...

NICE!!!!

Fab weekend, few apologies

2007-05-09T11:31:00.000+01:00

Am finally feeling a little more human after returning from Sunny Southport and ROOTS. This year I saw a whole different side of ROOTS as I worked as Admin Centre Team Manager No. 2. I absolutelytootly loved it. Very very very tiring, not so much because it was manic, there were manic times, but more just late nights - Sunday night I didn't leave the office till half past midnight trying to find on the internet a helicopter to take Phil Wall to London - don't ask!!!!! I worked with lots of people who I knew to say hello to but it's safe to say I think they now know the real me.
Apologies - firstly, if she reads this, I apologise to Mel Reynolds. Dunc has worked with her and I read and comment on her blog. I mentioned to Dunc it will be nice to meet bloggers but apparently she came to find me and I completely dissed her, even put my hand up in her face - I'M SO SORRY MEL, we had to wear the radio earpiece at all times, I can only assume that someone was requesting something in my ear, which then turns all radio wearers into glazed over idiots!!!! I never saw her for the rest of the weekend, so I still haven't met her.
And my other apology is to those in the office who heard my constant belching!!! I belch like a man, so Dunc says, and I did it quite a bit, I did try and explain that they should feel honoured as I only do it when I feel comfortable with the surrounding people.
Anyway, home now, shattered, glad to be with the kids again - missed them sooooooooooooo much. It was nice to spend a little time with my ickle brother and his Mrs, without us having kids around.
Anyway, Max is napping, so I might too!!!!!

Don't cry, do not ye be upset...

2007-05-02T20:51:00.000+01:00

... but I'm off to ROOTS in the morning so will not be blogging until next Tuesday. Be strong, have courage, you will survive!!!!!

My daughters trauma!!!!!!

2007-05-02T12:55:00.000+01:00

OK, so I'm not the artist I make out to be, and Lloyd would be mortified at my art attempts, but as I don't have a camera here I wanted to share with all those who read this my daughters injuries. It wasn't quite as bad as I was expecting as the school had phoned me, but she does have a very graze around her eye - see naff diagram. She seems to be ok with a bump on the head too!!!! Lovely for ballet!!!!!

Not again!!!

2007-05-01T13:26:00.000+01:00

I had a phone call this morning from Daisi's school. For the 3rd time since she started school, she has again fallen over in playground. The last 2 times she ended up with a nasty fat lip. Today the phone call was to warn me about the huge graze starting above her eyebrow and going right down her cheek - they didn't want me to be shocked when I pick her up!!!!! Great!! And she has ballet today - that's gonna look great!!!! At least the graze will match her burgundy leotard!!!!
I'm getting my head around the plans for the weekend - ROOTS. An Army event held in Southport. We are leaving the kids here with my parents, it's less stressful for us as we are both working and it's not really fair on the kids, dumping them with whoever walks past. We're driving up on Thursday and coming home Monday nightish. This year I am part of the Admin Team in the Office - looking forward to it although slightly afraid of the unknown. Fab thing is I get to see friends like Lynsey and Neil who otherwise I only really get to see at TMS. Hopefully I'll get into some of the main sessions, perhaps see my brother and his wife paint during a service, great talent they have, obviously Lloyd got his from me!!!!!
Singing Co practise tonight, so another hour of shouting and shhhhhhing, and then I'm popping to Kim's for a night of stupid talk and eating mint aero - my favourite chocolate in the world, well that and Caramac!!!
Dad spoke to my Auntie today who is doing ok, she gets transferred to the other hospital on Thursday for the angiogram and then the Doctors will make a decision.

YES, I'M A VERY SAD PERSON!!!!

2007-04-30T09:58:00.001+01:00

Yes, I was excited about my Tesco delivery and to make things even more exciting, it came early!!!!! I know have cupboards, fridge and freezer full of food and some under the stairs as there's not enough room!!!!
Is it sad to enjoy the finer things in life, well Tesco's value things.
Good news - Nick and Lisa have had another little boy, born on Friday, weighing 7lbs 1oz, names Daniel Thomas.
Not so good news - my Auntie Lydia, my dad's sister, who lost her daughter last year, was putting flowers on the grave and felt some chest pains, she took herself out of the cemetery and grabbed a passer-by. She ended up in hospital having had a major heart attack. She has had a stable night but it looks like she needs an angiogram and they can only do that if they transfer her to another hospital, the one my cousin died in - so prayers for her and the family up there in Thetford.

I bet he was laughing

2007-04-28T09:40:00.000+01:00

Well got into work and turned straight round and with Andrew Blyth, headed off to Keith Lloyd's funeral. And as I've said, I bet Keith was laughing, there we were all standing in summer uniform awaiting his arrival and it was freezing. Lots of people commented on how he would have found this scene very funny. As funerals go it was a good place to be, tonnes of people who loved him, who's lives had been touched by him, and people like me, there to support the family members. His wife Madeline did so well and his three daughters did too, his youngest Gillian, give a brief tribute but we all knew how they felt about him as a father by the end of it. It makes you think about your own situation and how you would cope. About 11 years ago my dad had a heart attack, so it make me look back at what he would have missed out on over these past years had he not been so lucky. But, thank God, dad is still here, pains and aches too!!!!
Back to work after that, still in uniform so I got tonnes of comments about was I doing another SP&S shoot!!!
Home, to pick up Max, then Daisi from her school friends and then on to the Luffs. We put the kids down at theirs and had a fab meal, I'll be pinching the starter!!!!! Home to sleep.
And now we sit, Duncan-less as once again he is working on a Saturday. So shortly Daisi has her swimming lesson, Max and I are gonna splash around in the other half of the teaching pool, and highlight of my week - my Tesco home delivery arrives tonight - how totally sad am I!!!!!

Got a bath running...

2007-04-26T19:51:00.000+01:00

... so I gotta be quick.
Yesterday became a little manic, with Lyndon and Lloyd taking a trip to IKEA turns into Lyndon's car blowing up, me going and getting Lloyd and Lyndon stuck in his car for hours waiting for the RAC. Never-the-less Lyndon and Lloyd have worked so hard over the past few days that even Carol Smilie would be impressed. Basically, as of now the whole house has been painted, glossed, carpeted and curtained. Lisa, Lyndon's girlfriend, will get the shock of her life tonight when she returns from working in Egypt, she thinks he's done a couple of walls in paint!!!! I took up all the curtains in the house and, again changing rooms style, I used the off cuts from the curtains to make a tablecloth and 6 placemats!!!! How clever am I!!!!!
Tomorrow, I have work but also have the morning off to go to a funeral. I told you about my friend Kate's dad passing away last week, well the funeral is in the morning so please keep the Lloyd family in your prayers tomorrow.

'Oh what a night...'

2007-04-25T10:08:00.000+01:00

Girlie night our for Kim's birthday - great giggle. Can't really list who went as two of them skived songsters to be there and I wouldn't wanna blow their cover. Food was eaten, gifts were exchanged enough said - eh Kim!!!!!
Prior to that - Singing Co, Denise wasn't well, so with not much notice I took practise. Did all the songs I wanted to go through plus the ones Den needed doing. Singing Co would be such a fab hour if it wasn't for a couple of unbelievably rude little boys - again I'm not naming names. It's not that they talk, most kids do, but when you ask them to be quiet they actually argue back. Denise must be much stronger than me, if I had that every week I'd ask them to leave, she doesn't. Annoyingly, if that's a word, they are two really good singers and I know we have 48 others that can sing but they attempt to sing a part so I guess they are needed and as the song says 'Jesus loves the little children'.
Well, Daisi had a bad dream this morning so she came down this morning in tears. In her dream I had climbed to the top of a Fire Engine and said I was never coming down. I tried to explain that mummy doesn't like heights so it was never gonna happen but she was really upset by it. She obviously has my genetic disorder of dreams - I dream every single night and 9 times out of 10 they are completely off the wall. Sunday night I dreamt I was PA to Robbie Williams and the hotel we were booked into was disgusting so I took him and the entourage to an Army hostel, he thought it was great!!! YES I AM A COMPLETE LOON!!!!!!!

Terrible Two's

2007-04-24T12:51:00.000+01:00

Well as with Daisi, Max has hit the terrible two's slightly early, oh my children are so advanced!!!! He hates being put in the car, pushchair, shopping trolley or anything else that restrains him. So the school run can be a nightmare and I'm fed up of mums who laugh when I know they must have gone through the same thing!!!
My day went fine with the two boys. The Starlings came round and I did Joe's piano lesson. Then, once Dunc and his brother Chris arrived, we had a farewell curry for Chris who today flies to the Congo for the final leg of his IHQ internship.
Today, got Elijah again. I've taken up one pair of Lyndon's new curtains. Would be so much easier if the thread on the sewing machine didn't keep snapping half way through. I think he needs another 3 pairs done - before Thursday!!!
Tonight, Singing Co and then I'm out on the town - will a Chinese buffet in Coulsdon for Kim's birthday...
Happy Birthday Kim!!!!!! Should be a good girlie giggle night, and much needed after an hour of singing co.
Oh oh, forget to say the other day. On Friday at work I was handed a large manilla envelope and thought now what. To my absolute excitement it was volume 14 of Sing to the Lord, the book The Army publish for Singing Companies - and my first composition is in there - how chuffed was I!!!! I'm finally famous for something other than being Dunc's wife or Lloyd's sister etc.

Weekend update

2007-04-23T12:16:00.000+01:00

Well I had work on Friday, followed by Daisi's school disco - I'm a member of the PTA, how ancient does that make me sound, so I go to help.
Sat morning Daisi had her first swimming lesson, I was so proud of her, she was fantastic, and I nearly boo-hoo'd at the side of the pool. Next Sat Dunc is working, yet again, so I shall be taking Max in the other end of the teaching pool - the joys of motherhood.
The rest of Saturday was spent visiting people.
Sunday, Army - I got myself worked up, same thing I always do, and if you wanna know, read back over the months of my blog - HAHA that's a challenge. I just need God's help BIG time to keep calm and try and ignore the things that stress me, one shouldn't be stressed in church.
Then back to ours with mum, dad and Lyndon for lunch. Dunc and I then went to Lyndon's new house to help painting.
Daisi off at school today and I've got Elijah for the day so Lloyd can help Lyndon paint - obviously he must be better than me, I'm only good for glossing as it's apparently a girls job!!
Friday - one of my best friends Kate's dad passed away. He was being treated for a huge mass on his kidney. He was a fantastic friendly guy who always seemed happy, so please pray for their family as they deal with this loss. Today is Kate's daughter Alice's 3rd birthday - but Grandad would have wanted everything to go on as normal. Still hard though.
Other news, Lloyd (my ickle brother) and his wife Becky and son Elijah are soon off to sunnier climates. They found out last week that Lloyd's work visa had finally been approved to go and work in the USA, just near Orlanda for a Christian magazine Relevant. So they go off at the end of the summer. It's one of those bits of news when you're both happy and sad - over the moon happy for them, it'll be a great experience, but boo-hoo sad as anything that they'll be so far away. I'm sad that I'll miss some of Elijah growing up. Hopefully, thanks to SKYPE, we'll still see them regularly and we've already started looking at flights to go out - but again, prayers for them all.

Very frustrating!

2007-04-19T14:36:00.000+01:00

Dunc had last week off work and over the last few weeks we have had some decking done in the back garden. Dunc worked on the rest of the garden, including grass seeding some areas of the garden that were looking a little bald. BUT, now we can't walk on those seeded areas and I cannot, for love or money, get Max to understand that. So it means in this glorious weather we are stuck indoors until the grass grows GGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!! The local parks could be used but are also a bit yukky and not nearly as nice as playing in one's own garden. Ah, well, hopefully not long. And then it'll snow!!!!

Tuesday thought no 2

2007-04-17T11:56:00.000+01:00

Have just watched the Malteser advert where the girl doesn't feel naughty enough so she flashes the office guy - what would you do???

I think you've all forgotten me!!!

2007-04-17T11:55:00.000+01:00

Just because I didn't blog for a while, I have not stopped all together, please let me know you are all still there

Tuesday thought

2007-04-03T09:40:00.000+01:00

If when you die, the only thing they are allowed to put on your grave stone is a Mr Men or Little Miss Character - who would you like people to put on - you can make one up if you like.

Mine would be Little Miss Friendly

Have ya missed me????

2007-04-03T09:20:00.000+01:00

No real excuse for my absence, just busy with the kids. Max has learnt to escape from his cot - I have video'd it (yes I'm a sadistic mum) and if I can suss out how, I'll share it with you all - it's worth watching and might earn me and Max £250.
Other than that not masses of excitement - we now have decking out the back of the house, nottotallye finished as our decker - Dunc's brother-in-law - is now in Spain on holiday for two weeks.
What else??? I offered to do the Father's Day service at the Army. Last year, 3 weeks before Mothers Day our CO's mum passed away and I couldn't watch him struggle through a Mother's Day meeting so I took it off his hands. He did really well this year for Mothers Day and then sadly in the week following his father passed away. So I gave the offer again and am now also doing Father's Day. Already got it sussed, very organised as I am, and got someone else to do the sermon - to me that's the hard part.
Easter Holidays for 2 weeks, lots of winging Daisi as she gets very bored, gotta go out lots!!!!
Dunc's brother Chris surprised us on Sunday by returning, we knew he was back for Easter but thought it was maybe the end of the week, so that was a lovely surprise. He noticed a huge difference in Max who is now saying a lot more than just gobble-di-gook!!!
Lent - I've given up chocolate and Dunc's given up coffee, he had headache's at first and I just can't wait till Sunday!!!
So, I've decided to copy my brother who has a Thursday thought, I'll have a Tuesday one!!!

Giving anything up for lent????

2007-02-21T12:00:00.000Z

I was going to give up chocolate but under instruction from my husband, I'm trying this. Only give up chocolate that is not fairly traded. Best of both worlds!!!!

Joy Webb.... step aside!!!

2007-02-21T10:03:00.000Z

I'll get to that bit in a minute. Wed was Valentine's Day - I felt very poorly, and between you and me the feeling poorly part scared me. Just after we got married I was ill for years with mild M.E. - not nice - and Wed morning really felt like it - to be honest I still don't feel right but every morning I pray that it's not M.E. and ask God to get rid of it. Anyway, Dunc was off for the day, we just had a nice family day together and later, Dunc cooked me a lovely meal. This was also the first night I slept with my contact lenses in - I got new lenses on Monday that are continuous wear so you leave them in for 30 days.
Thursday - we didn't do much in the morning but in the afternoon, we went over to my mum and dad's. We were all having a sleepover. My mum has to treck over to mine every Friday morning, very early, so as it was half term I thought it might be nicer for her not to have to do that drive. We had a nice time. And my eyes were fine when I woke!!!!!
Friday - work, spent the day typing minutes up - there was hardly anyone in, what with TYB/TYC and half terms. Went home to my parents, had some tea - then popped in on Dunc's parents. Joan, my mother-in-law, gave both Daisi and Max their first ever hair cut - yes it's Daisi's first cut even though she's five. So of course I have kept all the hair for their baby books.
Saturday - Daisi had her usual kick-boxing lesson and then after lunch, we went for a drive down to Brighton - it's only about 30 mins from this house. Had the obligatory fish and chips on the beach and hot doughnuts off the pier!!!! Yummy
Sunday - Dunc was out the house very early as he was doing the morning meeting at Bristol Staple Hill. We went to Croydon - I led the Singing Co - they sang beautifully. Came home and then our walking group met and did a lovely walk around Priory Park - as Dunc was away I had Max in the back pack - I thought I was having heart failure carrying him up the first hill. Then most of the group came back to ours for coffee and it was timed well as Dunc was back home.
Monday - Daisi back at school so life back to normal. School run, laundry etc.
Yesterday - pretty much the same as Monday with the added fun of pancakes. I think pretty much anything would taste good inside a pancake, well perhaps not the testicles of a large hairy animal, but I preferred maple syrup - tonnes of it too!!!!
OK, so to my music news. Can't remember if I've mentioned it before but I have written a song inspired by the friends I've made at TMS (Territorial Music School). Last week I finally loaded Sibelius onto my laptop so have now put the song down on paper - well the screen. I'm extremely pleased with it - so much so that I sent the first version to the ISS leader, my mate Dorothy, who leads the girls chorus at TMS, and told her I won't be upset if she doesn't want to use it, but thought she might wanna see it as it was written with girls chorus in mind - she replied saying it would work well for girls chorus - so I think that means she might do it!!!!! There's no stopping me now!!!!

Toot toot

2007-02-15T16:30:00.000Z

Bored?? Want a little giggle??? Try this

Packed weekend

2007-02-13T10:38:00.000Z

OK, well just to make sure Meghan isn't too bored - I'll fill you in more of my doldrum life!!!
Friday night was YP Annual prizegiving/quiz night. I certainly had a giggle with the people in our team and for the first and second rounds we were winning, don't know what happened after that.
Saturday - Dunc was working, again, at the Youth Rally so I took Daisi to kick boxing, entertaining Max while it was going on, then we went straight on to Mia Laird - our Goddaughter's 4th birthday party. Bouncy castle's, hat making, shaving foam pictures and food - what more could a child ask for. Then after a slight technical hitch at Pizza Express the gang - Lairds, Luffs, Parkers and King/Davies went back to the Lairds for Pizza. Home and kids both asleep in car - just how we like it.
Sunday - YP Annual - Daisi sang with the primary, dressed as a surfer singing 'Give me wax for my board keep me surfing for the lord' - very cute and her and Max got prizes. We then shot home as Nick and Lisa and Joshua and Bump Hanover were coming for lunch. By the time lunch was done and eaten they had to go. We popped to the Luff's to drop a van of then home for lots and lots of second series 24. Dunc bought the first series for me when he was away, but we've seen that one so on his return he swapped it for the second series and we are watching about 3-4 episodes a night.
Monday, Dunc was due to be off for the day but late Sunday night he realised he had an hours meeting with the General in the afternoon - me not a happy bunny. But can't be helped I guess. He got up early and took Daisi swimming to make it up to her! And he was home early. Last night, a few more 24's
Today. I'm going shopping with my mum soon, need to find something different for Dunc for Valentine's day - any ideas. He's not really a chocolate person so it's kinda tricky to buy for a guy. Singing Co tonight and as Denise is at TYB I'm taking the whole practise. I'm gonna run through 4 new songs with the kids fro Hillsongs Kids - very easy and they just need to sing with a DVD!!! I'm sure I'll have no hair left tonight - I get stressed with some of them taking just one song, but to do a whole hour!!!! If I don't ever blog again, you'll know I forgot my safe and sound stuff and got angry!!!!!!!
Well have a good day, Meghan, get on with some work!!!!

The family art work

2007-02-09T12:59:00.000Z

The snowman!!!!!

Chick chick chick chick chicken!!!

2007-02-09T09:30:00.000Z

OK, so Tuesday - slightly manic day, well for me anyway. School run as usual, then it was my turn to do the ballet run - which was good as Dunc met me near the church where the girls do ballet, tea and then off to singing company- which in itself was a trauma but I'll not bore you with that one.
Wednesday - work, yes I know it wasn't Friday but once a month I do a Wed instead of a Fri to take minutes. Took my minutes and got severe brain ache!!!!
Thursday - SNOW AGAIN, yuk, got Daisi to school even though apparently on the local radio it had said her school was shut, but I assure you I did not leave her in an empty building. Went to my toddlers, and my brother Lloyd and his little one Elijah also came. They came back to mine for lunch and Lloyd with a little help from Elijah built a fab snowman, while I made lunch. However, the snowman fell over in the afternoon due to the rain.
And today - Daisi has an inset day so her and I are still in our pj's and it's 9.30am tut tut. I have a feeling her glitter fairy craft stuff might be out later - and so begins half term.
With reference to my singing co trauma, the other day my daily reading read as follows...
Jack London's classic story, White Fang, is about an animal, half dog, half wolf, who learns to live among men. White Fang loved chickens. Once he raided a chicken-roost and killed 50 hens. His master, Weedon Scott, who White Fang loved, told him off, then took him into the chicken yard. When White Fang saw his favourite food walking around in front of him, he did what any half dog half wolf would do and went for them. Immediately he was called by his master's voice. He stayed in the chicken yard quite a while, and every time White Fang made a move toward a chicken his master's voice would stop him. By doing this he learned what his master wanted - he learned to ignore the chickens. Weedon Scott's father said 'you couldn't cure a chicken killer' but Weedon challenged him and they agreed to lock White Fang in with the chickens all afternoon: 'Locked in the yard, White Fang lay down and went to sleep. Once he walked over to the trough for a drink. He calmly ignored the chickens. As far as he was concerned they did not exist. At 4 o'clock he did a running jump and leaped to the ground outside, where he sadly wandered back to the house. He had learned his lesson. Because of love he wanted to do what his master wanted and White Fang overcome his natural, inborn tendencies. He may not have understood the reason, but he chose to change what he wanted to do in place of what his master wanted. Life's full of chickens. What are yours?
OK, maybe a bit OTT, but I know what my chickens are and I know I need to listen to my masters voice who is telling me to try and ignore the stuff that gets to me - its very very hard and I'll never 100% manage it but I am only human.
What are your chickens????

The eagle has landed - well my husband!!!!

2007-02-05T18:56:00.000Z

OK, so Friday at work - not bad EXCEPT I found out that my boss has got a new job, so to speak, he's going to the training college!!!! Seems no-one in the dept really knew and then they announced the move at THQ prayers!!!! Ah well. Anyway, it was a fun day at work.
Came straight home, picked Daisi up and we went to her first every school disco. As a member of the PTA, yes me, I was there to help. I also was the only mother who boogied all night, the others just couldn't keep up. And then to treat Daisi, and to make up for the fact that Daddy was away for another day, we got a Chinese takeaway so that, in her words, we could eat like Daddy has been!!!!! Not quite sure he had number 54 and 41 but we shall say no more.
Saturday, again my brother Lyndon took Daisi to and from kick boxing - she loved it, Charlie's Angels better watch out!!!! Then after some lunch we zoomed into Croydon for her to go to Kristen Nielsen's 7th birthday, held at the Bear Factory!!! Zoomed home, got changed, wolfed down some tea and then mum and I headed for the Training College for the Retirement of Alex and Ingeborg Hughes. Long but good night. And our band were on duty and I have never been more proud of a band in my life. They have a new leader, Mark Ingram, and there have been a few move around in the band, but they sounded fantastic. Got home very late.
Finally, the day arrived. Dunc got home about 6.30. He woke Daisi up and we got lots of nice pressie's and goodie's. He also eventually got Max up who seemed very happy to see his daddy. We skived the Army, sorry God, and went for a walk in Priory Park and fed the ducks. I went to the evening meeting - not something I normally do but the singing co were on duty. Trevor Caffull did the meeting and it was a good old fashioned army one, I wore my dad's burgundy sweater with a huge crest on the front, there was only me and 2 others wearing them but a few bonnets seen too. Sad as it sounds, it was a fab meeting.
Today - Dunc was off work so he took Daisi to school and then we went on a walk around Reigate Hill area passing our reception place - good fun. Popped into Redhill briefly, but ended up getting my eyes tested and new contacts, and changing bank accounts!!!!!
As I type, Max is asleep and Dunc has taken Daisi swimming as a treat!!!!
So life is pretty much back to normal - hectic as usual!!!!

As if things weren't bad enough (in my eyes)...

2007-02-01T16:09:00.000Z

... I found out this afternoon after some texts with dunc, that he doesn't come back till SUNDAY morning not SATURDAY - I'd got the wrong date down for some reason!!!!!!

My little angel!

2007-02-01T13:32:00.000Z

I was at Daisi's school yesterday for a parent consultation. To start with if felt yukky going alone as Dunc has always taken time off for these kinda things. Anyway, the teachers did nothing but praise Daisi which made me feel like the proudest mother ever. Makes you question why she can be such a beggar at home sometimes - I guess every child is the same.
But then Daisi woke me at 2am, very upset, not wanting to go to school as one of her best friends is too bossy - I'm not sure that is the case, I think they are both very similar in temperament and so clash slightly - but still it was not nice to console her. She seemed ok this morning until we got to school and the child in question was being a bit yuk to her. Daisi got a little upset and wanted me to go into the classroom with her - some mums do this every day, but I never do. Needless to say, as a mother, and probably one that wants her husband back and is therefore slightly more emotional than normal - I stood at the window to her classroom blubbing. I want to go in and sort everything out for her and make her happy and take away any sadness. As I walked away still blubbing all I could think of was - flipping heck she's only 5, what I am gonna be like in 10 years!!!!!
Anyway, went to toddlers early and sorted out my puffy eyes and carried on with life. Hopefully when I pick her up in a bit she'll have had a fab day!!!!!

Can someone help???

2007-01-31T11:12:00.000Z

Previously, you could only add a comment to my blog if you had your own blog - I think I've tried to change it. So can someone who doesn't have their own blog please attempt to add a comment, to see if it works - thank you!!

How blonde can I get!!!

2007-01-31T10:06:00.000Z

Well past few days ok - Singing Co ok last night but me big disaster happened yesterday lunchtime. I stupidly managed to hair straighten my earlobe!!!! I was straightening my hair, and happened to notice the little old lady who lives next door coming up the street. I watched her to make sure she was ok and in doing that managed to put the straightners on my ear and not the hair - it flipping hurts!!!!! It now looks yukky and stings, it's fine as I have long hair to cover it up but Sunday, with my hair up for uniform, it's gonna look nasty and scabby. Only I could manage that!!!!
That aside - things are ok, severely fed up, want Dunc home, but other than that - ok.

Flipping BA

2007-01-29T17:45:00.000Z

OK, since my last post I've got stressed with Tesco and BA.
Tesco were supposed to deliver my month's worth of shopping on Thursday night - the driver called at 9pm and was sitting outside my old house!!!!! Due to us being in a different delivery area, I did not get my food till late Friday night, and was there anything to compensate me for my trouble - NO!!!!!
BA, due to the possibility of strikes Dunc's flight this Saturday was cancelled - the strikes haven't even happened but the flight is still cancelled. Thankfully Dunc's travel guy has got seats reserved on a Virgin flight!!!!
Friday at work was good - had to take minutes in the afternoon for a board that I knew nothing about and half the board members didn't turn up to anyway!!!! Then in the evening Emily Mingay - the other ID WAG that's been left behind - came over for dinner. It was lovely just to have someone to talk to! And she's a BB Fan!!
Saturday - Daisi went for her first kick-boxing class. My brother Lyndon took her there and back - it's his girlfriend who teaches the class. She loved it and showed me her moves when she got home. Then after a quick lunch we went to the hall for Joe - Daisi's cousin - birthday party. We then stayed the night at Dunc's sisters - Ali - we had a Chinese takeaway too.
Sunday, Army in the morning - it was Homelessness Sunday, I took the Singing Co and they were fab, we sang People Need the Lord - nearly made me cry. Then I was at the Parkhouse's for lunch. So all in all we were very well looked after this weekend.
Back to evenings alone this week - on no Big Brother!!!!!! Other than read, Johnny, what am I supposed to do!!! Might have a few early nights - yeah right!!!

Another question

2007-01-25T08:29:00.000Z

Big Brother Viewers Only!!!!!! So, if you were to nominate this week, who would it be???

Mine would be Dirk and Jo

Random Question

2007-01-24T17:53:00.000Z

You are having dinner with a magician and he tells you that because you cooked such a lovely meal he will tell you the secrets of how to do one, and only one, magic trick... which one do you ask him to divulge?????

It's snow business

2007-01-24T13:31:00.000Z

Unlike most, I hate snow. I admit it's lovely to look at but not nice when you have to get a 5 year old to school. Today, for the first time ever, I drove in the snow - not nice. Bit slippy. I was sad too as Daisi wanted to make a snowman and Dunc wasn't about to help her. So all wrapped up with numerous layers we finally made it to school.
Yesterday was a little manic - Daisi has gone up a class at ballet which means a change of day. So I picked her and her school friend Carla up, raced to ballet, tried to entertain Max for the 45 mins duration, took Carla home and then treated the kids to a heart attack in a box, or more commonly known as a McDonalds!!! Once we were home we only had 20 mins before I had to rush off to Singing Co. Still that's the hectic day over with.
Duncan sent some flowers today too, not necessary but very very nice.
Anyway, Daisi was hoping to do the Snowman thing after school but it's all melted!!! So she won't be too happy. Can't please everyone I guess.
Well, back to hum drum life.

Life of a ID WAG!!!!!

2007-01-22T13:14:00.000Z

I am now living the life of an International Development WAG - me and Emily Mingay, as Dunc and Graeme are in China. It's the first time he's been away since we moved so night times are not nice as I hear sounds I've never heard before - I'd got used to the sounds in the old house. Never mind, it's only for 2 weeks - we've done a lot worse before!!!
Weekend was ok - we spent most of saturday doing lots of family things together, Dunc didn't go till Sat night. We picked up from NEXT, 2 child seat things for the back of bikes. But when Dunc tried to fit one on my bike, it just wouldn't work - waste of time that was. Sunday was ok - went to mum and dads for lunch.
One good thing with Dunc away, I can watch Celebrity Big Brother without all his sarcastic comments!!!! Lets just say he can't stand reality TV!!!!!
Well nothing major planned today, Daisi's at school and once I've picked her up, I teach my nephew piano - then baths for the kids and then silence and tv for me!!!!
Ah well, as I said, the life of an ID WAG!!!!!!!

Bless them...

2007-01-17T13:56:00.000Z

Last night was Singing Co practise, I only took one song but they did so well with it. At the end of the month in the Army world it is Homelessness Sunday, so I'm taking them singing People Need the Lord - I think very apt for that subject. I led it years ago so a lot of the little ones didn't know it but they sang it so well. Why is it that some children, who really are nothing but pains in the rear end, can then open their mouths and sing so beautifully that it makes you want to cry.
Normally after singing co I have to race home as Dunc and Darren play squash at 9pm, but they weren't playing this week so I went back to Kim's for coffee. I'd like to say we chatted but it was more that I chatted and she listened, but I guess that's what friends are for, sorry Kim.
Got to bed very late and for some reason I couldn't sleep. So everything I've ever thought about came through my head, not a clue what time I really got to sleep. Early night tonight, which is fine as Dunc is out. He goes away to Hong Kong and China on Saturday for two weeks, don't like it when he goes away but am kinda used to is. Just have to do lots of things to make the time go quickly.

Lego Church

2007-01-15T19:12:00.000Z

Pinched this off my brother and trying to be clever!!!! If you like lego and you like church, you'll love this

Do not panic

2007-01-15T19:06:00.000Z

My earlier post - I was just blowing off steam. I'm sorry if I worried anyone - my stress is just a silly girlie thing that is just lots of things bottled up. Have no fear, Croydon has not lost me!!!!

Nice weekend indeed

2007-01-15T13:48:00.000Z

Friday night - Dunc and I had a date. My parents had Daisi and Max Friday and Saturday night due to us going to a wedding on Sat, so we took the opportunity and had a curry and then watched the bond movie. I am now well and truly in love with Daniel Craig, he can sit with me in the shower any day. I'd seen his picture before and not thought all that much, but seeing him in action, and fab blue eyes!!!
Sat - After a small lie in, I had a hair cut!!!! Haven't had that in over a year as I was growing my hair, just had some shape put into it, forget out expensive it is!!! Then me, Dunc, Taff and Nicky headed up to Northampton to the wedding of Louise Purkiss to Garryl Willis - absolutely fantastic day. It was sooooo good to see 2 people so definitely in love and especially Lou. We had a good time at the reception as the people on our table were all good fun. We were named the noisy table by most - well, you gotta have a laugh every now and then. Lou looked stunning, as did all the bridal party.
Sunday - Army in the morning, home, ironing for 3 hours!!!!!!!!!!!! Max helped Dunc wash the car today - you can see the bits that Max did, very dirty still but he had a whale of a time. Later on my brother Lyndon and his girlfriend Lisa came round and we got a Chinese take-away - haven't done that in ages.
Yesterday morning at the Army, it was commitment Sunday - and I will hold my hands up and admit, I hate that day. Can't really explain why but I always end up quietly weeping in the meeting, feeling guilty about whether I am committed enough or not. Does God look down on me and smile or would he rather I was doing a little more. I know I am not the worlds best Christian, at the moment I have one particular issue I really need to deal with, the only person that's getting stressed by it is me, and no-one can really change it - can't really give details, but some of my friends may suss it out. My New Year's resolution was not to feel so stressed about this situation but even before the end of Jan 1st I'd blown that!!! I guess we are only human, but I do keep praying that I'll calm down a little on it - failing that, I'll have to change corps - extreme resort and will never ever happen. Yes I know - I'm a drama queen - but just trying to dump some of this onto whoever gives a monkeys!!!!
Anyway - Monday... school run, laundry etc - usual day!!!!

Just for you Julian!!!

2007-01-11T19:17:00.000Z

Here is the world famous cake - its was supposed to have beautiful piping all over, don't think I put enough icing sugar in and it just splurged everywhere, so it became this. I think Delia's job is safe!!!!!

Nice word exchange

2007-01-11T16:38:00.000Z

OK here's today bit of fun!!! If you can be bothered, leave a comment with one nice word that you feel describes me best. Here's the exchange bit, you leave one for me I will respond with one for you!!! Come on, what have you got to lose????

JB tagged me

2007-01-10T13:36:00.000Z

On checking friends blogs, I believe a gauntlet has been thrown to me by Johny Laird to share 5 things you don't know about me... thing is I'm quite an open, sharing person so this could be tricky...
1) I would love to be a children's tv presenter - or the LINK DVD presenter!
2) I would love to be in the ISS or ISB but Dunc would kill me if I did either
3) I once peed my pants waiting for my mum and dad at a parents night at school - and I'm talking senior school here
4) A couple of times I have been a very very bad girl - I've ordered an outfit from NEXT, worn it to a wedding, then taken it back the next day
5) When I was training to be a nurse, I was in on a minor op and fainted - I blame the face mask, it made me very very hot.
So JB, I've done it.
So I now tag...
Julian Bright
Darren Luff
Ian Wilson
Kate Hardwick
Duncan Parker - he doesn't read my blog so that'll never happen!!!!

My little girl is 5!!!!!

2007-01-10T13:20:00.000Z

Today is Daisi's fifth birthday!!! Makes me feel scared - am I responsible enough to have a child of five - I think not!! She's had 2 party's - one on Saturday for family and close friends and one yesterday for all school friends. Today after ballet we'll take her somewhere nice for tea - she wants McDonalds!!! She got tonnes of lovely pressies - in the main they were all pink!! Our mantlepiece is now adorned with lots of pink cards, she's a very lucky girl indeed.
Daisi started back at school last week and has got straight back into the swing of things. Max was a little bewildered last Thursday, he kept walking around looking for Daisi and Daddy. Sorry mate, you're just stuck with me.
Am looking forward to the wedding I'm attending on Sat, two people so very very much in love.
Not much else really.
You got any New Years Resolutions??? I've already broken mine!!!!

I blame Duncan

2007-01-03T20:58:00.000Z

Until looking at the date of my last blog, I hadn't realised that I hadn't blogged in a long while. And then I sussed, Dunc was off work from the 15th, for some subconscious reason I don't blog when Dunc is around - there may be some hidden meaning in that.
Anyway, do not fear, I am not gonna attempt to recap every single day - just highlights.
On the 16th I had a hen night to go to in Northampton for Louise Purkiss - fab night. She had made all her family and bridesmaids swear that they would not do anything - what she didn't bank on was her sister asking me to take over where she was not permitted!!!! Therefore, fun games were played, willie shaped items, edible and otherwise, were presented to the most definitely blushing bride-to-be and we all wore purple pants over our jeans at the restaurant - a brilliant idea I thought, until I realised upon arriving at the restaurant that it was a buffet style Chinese, so we all had to show our pants many times!!!! Anyway, it was a fab fun night, sadly a few of her mates pulled out at the last minute, very poor if you ask me, but all I could say to Louise was - the important ones are here!!!! She marries Garryl Willis on the 13th Jan - I shall be there, swinging my purple pants and all - not whilst wearing them I might add!!!
We Parkers shopped and did the usual prep for Christmas Day etc. And yes for those deeply concerned, I finally iced the cake - final thing was not as it was meant to be but was ok. Photo will follow.
Christmas Day was spent at Dunc's sisters with all his family and Boxing Day was at ours with all mine. Kids had lots of lovely pressie''s from Santa, as did mummy and daddy!!! I got a nice dark pink bike, the idea being for us to go on family bike rides, but we've yet to buy Dunc one.
27th Dec my usual trip to the Next Sale - however, normally I go at 5am, and am in and out in an hour, decided this year as I was taking my sister-in-law Becky for her first venture, we would go a little later - HUGE MISTAKE. Shopped for about 30 mins and then queued for almost 2 and a half hours to pay!!! I got what I wanted thought - jeans in my new slimmer size of...... like I'm gonna tell you!!!! and a dress for Louise's wedding.
New Years Eve we went over to Taff and Nicky's with the Luff's and the Lairds, this year there was also Janet's family and the Starlings. Bit busy and hectic and noisy but still fab fun with friends. New Years Day we went on our cell groups walk - our area of outside the M25 people, have started a walking group instead of a sit down cell group, others can come, so we had a lovely walk and even walked past the venue that we had our wedding reception at!
So today - tree and decorations came down, car went in for a service and my laundry duties recommenced. Dunc starts back at work tomorrow and Daisi back at school. With Daisi's 5th birthday next week, we are having a little family thing for her on Saturday and so begins another cake saga!!!! Last year I had to make a huge cake - Snow White asleep on a bed - major trauma to me!!! Tonight she's told me she wants Rapunzel marrying Prince Stefan - fat chance!!!
Well, I am back. I'll do better in this year - 2007.
New Years Resolution - always break them but need to keep calm about certain situations in my life, close friends will know what I'm on about. Lots of deep breathing - perhaps I need to bike ride those stresses away.

Cracking nuts!!!!

2006-12-14T15:18:00.000Z

No, nothing smutty, I am sitting cracking walnuts etc from our usual Christmas collection!!!
Well Monday night my brother Lyndon came round with my birthday and bless his heart I got what I asked for - Ugg Boots!!!!!!! Must have cost him a fortune but I didn't wanna argue and tried them on with pride. Have since then bought a water and stain protector so I can wear them outside!!!! How chuffed was I!!!
Tuesday - Daisi returned to school telling everyone that she hadn't been ill, her mummy said she could have the day off - thanks Daisi!!!!!!
Tuesday night I took a lovely jaunt around IKEA with Helen, christened my Ugg Boots, making sure I didn't stand in any puddles. Helen and I then went on to Songsters, the leaders last one, and I was led to believe that loads of past members would be going - it was pretty much just me and Helen!!!! Still, Mark seemed to appreciate it!
Yesterday - had a friend from my new toddlers round for coffee in the morning and spent the afternoon writing out invitations to the whole of Daisi's class for her party in January. There are twins in Daisi's class, Carla and Daniel, and the party is joint with them, so I was not alone writing the invites - their mum did them too. Ironed all night
Today - Helen and I were going to treck up to THQ with the boys to see people etc, but Max has been poorly as has Joshua so we sacked that idea. So I've stayed in doing laundry, getting loads of poorly-boy-hugs from Max. As I write this Daisi is at a friends for tea and once Max wakes from his second nap of the day, we will go get her.
For those who read this often - you'll remember my little dilemma the other week about who I should be, well once again, my trust daily reading book two days ago told me that God made me as I am so don't be ashamed to be it!!!!! So there!!!!!
Work tomorrow - no boss, which possible means not much work!!!
Question - what is your favourite part of Christmas?? Dinner, pressie's, family, carol service, time off work, cold weather.....? I think mine is having Dunc at home!!!! AHHHHHH!!!!!!

Don't worry, I've not vanished

2006-12-11T20:32:00.000Z

SORRY - to all those who are having withdrawal symptoms - I am still here, just been so busy busy busy!!!!!
OK since I last blogged...
Went to my first ever PTA meeting and am now a member!!!!!
Had a fab housewarming party - we had open house a couple of weeks ago for about 4 hours on a saturday afternoon and at one point had about 50 people here, extremely manic but fantastic to be surrounded by so many good friends
Our Singing Co sang at the Albert Hall for the Army's big Carol Concert. Very long day, but I think we did very very well. Any parent or husband of a singing co member should be very proud of what we did that night. Even I had a very exposed part - singing part that is - which I believe I sung rather well!!!!
The next morning(1st Dec) my alarm went at 5.20am as usual for a work day, where upon Dunc told me he'd booked the day off for me as we were flying to Rome for my birthday (3rd Dec)!!!!! We had a fantastic weekend. My parents had Daisi and Dunc's parents had Max. We stayed in a nice hotel just round the corner from the coliseum. We walked everywhere but saw everything we wanted to see. Very nice, very surprised and very 'Rome'antic!!!!!!!
Last Wed I had a slightly wasted day as I went into work to do my day of taking minutes and by half nine they had both been cancelled!!!! But that night I was a very very proud mum as I went to see Daisi in her first school show. She was a Sun-dancer and was on stage for all of 3 seconds but I was still teary eyed!!!!
Saturday was a surprise party for Dunc's Grandma's 80th birthday - held at Sunbury Court, she was completely surprised and it was a nice family occasion.
Yesterday was a long day - our Corps do a show at the local concert hall - Fairfield. Always a very long day for the sections. Dunc was helping out the band on drums, which I think he enjoyed as it was a lot of 'funky' stuff. Daisi was a mouse in the primary item and did very well. I was singing in the singing co of course - and then, the daft part... 13 years ago our band and senior timbrels appeared on the Generation Game. They re-did that and I was the dolly bird assistant to Gerry Boniface's Bruce Forsyth - it went ok!!!!
Today, me and the kids have had a pyjamas day, Daisi could not wake this morning so bad mother that I am, I kept her off school. We sat and watch Santa Clause the movie and she finished writing her school cards.
Two Corps announcements have occurred over the past weeks - Mark Ingram is to be our new bandmaster and Lisa Lyne is to take over as Songster Leader - don't know why I never got asked!!!!!!
My brother had his knee op the other week, it turned out to be both cartilage and ligament stuff so they've fixed one bit and he has to return for the other.
Well that's all for now, I'll be better this week, I promise.
For those interested in our cake saga - Dunc has baked it, I have still to ice it!!!!!!!

How much???

2006-11-21T12:29:00.000Z

Dunc has had this brainwave that between us, we'll make our own Christmas cake - he'll do the cake I'll ice and decorate. You would not believe the quantity and cost of making it!!!!! If around the 26th Dec there is a huge food poisoning scare in the Reigate area, that'll be us.
Yesterday - not much. School run, picked Dunc up from station, tea, kids to bed, Dunc was watching some weird movie, so I had bath, then Lemsip then Sudoko in bed!!!!!!
Singing Co practise tonight - major overload on Christmas stuff at the moment - we're singing at the Albert Hall next week and then we have our Corps usual concert at Fairfield. Most of the kids are fab, there are some very mischievous boys, we had to separate them last week - I don't understand them, we've even threatened that if they don't behave they might not sing at the Albert Hall - they just kept giggling. Boys!!!!!!
Ah well, back to laundry!!
PRAYER - for my ickle man Max, think he's teething but feeling proper poorly over it.

Two questions

2006-11-20T12:21:00.000Z

ONE - For those who have similar blog things to me - I keep getting a message telling me I can change my blog to Blogger in beta - whatever that means - has anyone done it yet and is it worth doing it???
TWO - Morbid question again, Dunc and I watched a drama thing on TV last Thursday - can't remember the name but it has Brits in the USA, something to do with the Enemy of the State - anyway, a guy was on death row, about to be given a lethal injection - he was allowed one last meal of his choice - what would you have???

Have no fear - I'm back

2006-11-20T12:11:00.000Z

OK, quick catch up - Dunc did a Youth Retreat for the youth of Derby Corps this weekend. It was in a fab posh hotel - The Palace - in Buxton so me and the kids tagged along. We didn't take part in his weekend as such, didn't want to interrupt the good stuff that was going on. We left Friday morning and returned late last night hence the lack of blog.
If you've been a regular reader (if not you'd better look back a couple of weeks to know what I'm going on about) you'll know the other week I struggled about who I was. In my morning daily reading thing this morning it was perfect for me. The verse was Proverbs 17v22 - "a cheerful heart is good medicine". It talked about having fun with others is all God's doing and that some people are just given the gift to have more fun than others - I'm taking that all for myself!!!! Not often I beam when I do my morning reading on the loo - best place to get peace and quiet and I never forget to do it!!!!
Think Max is teething, this weekend he has well and truly dribbled for Britain and I don't mean in a football way. Last night he woke at 3am screaming the place down - I guess we shouldn't complain as that's the first time in 15 1/2 months!!!!!! After a huge trump, he settled down!!!! He's being very clingy today - which is not really like him but in a bizarre way I am liking.
Met up with a new friend this weekend who has recently taken her husband back after he strayed a little. Think she is having a hard time from Corps folk who tell her she'd stupid. I told her that bottom line is, it's no-one else's business - she seemed very happy. Seems a shame that if she can forgive and forget, why can't Christian friends do the same.
Well, back home life is as usual - laundry, dishwasher etc!!!
PRAYER - For this new friend - that life becomes more comfortable for her.

Question ONE!!!

2006-11-16T20:24:00.000Z

My cousin died recently and at her funeral 2 Robbie Williams tracks were played.
If you were sitting writing your funeral plan, who and what would be sung?

Busy day - for a mum

2006-11-16T20:18:00.000Z

School run, coffee at my school-mum friend Julia. Then toddlers at the Baptist Church. Back home, Max down for a nap, Helen, Joshua and Ruben came for lunch - it was nice and Joshua is a fab little boy with a huge gorgeous personality - must get it from his mum!!!!! They went, Max woke. School run - Julia and her daughter, Daisi's school friend, Jasmin came for tea.
Very nice.
That's about it.
My brothers blog occasionally has bizarre random questions for readers to comments on - I feel I shall start that!!!!
PRAYER - of thanks for new friends made in the Reigate area

Not much again

2006-11-15T11:24:00.000Z

Nothing much Monday or Tuesday, the start of I'm a Celebrity - one of those reality programmes that we all kinda hate bit still get hooked!!!! Bizarre mix of people in the show - so I'll see how long I stick with it.
Other than that, usual school stuff and Singing Co last night.
Had a fun morning this morning at Tesco buying stocking fillers for the kids - oh what fun.

Fresh air!!!!

2006-11-13T10:48:00.000Z

Sat became a little hectic. Dunc finally arrived, we went to mum and dad's, had lunch, brought Max with us and drove to Guildford, to pick up 2 friends of Dunc's from Hong Kong, he worked once with the guy in China. They've been on holiday over here and were staying with us for one night.
Dunc had a very very lucky escape. On Friday night we'd gone out for a curry, and he hadn't realised that his wallet had dropped on the floor, in the road, when we got back in the car. A guy found it on Saturday morning in a right mess - it had been rained on all night and was yukky - but bless him, the guy found a bank card, called American Express and said I've found this man's wallet can you tell him to me meet me at this address and he can have it back. So when we were on our way to mum and dad's, we called on this guy and bless him, the whole wallet, sopping wet but all there, Â£20 cash included, was still there. See, there are still decent people out there!!!
Sunday - Dunc had to to help the band out at the communityremembrancee service - he left the band a couple of years ago, but they have no percussionist now so he helped out. Jeremy and Yvonne - the Hong Kong brother and sister, came with me and the kids to the corps. For another year I have spent the 2 mins silence out the back - kids!!!! We then stayed at the hall for soup and bread lunch. Our Corps have started up one Sunday a month for small groups andtheree are quite a few of us now that live outside the M25, so our small group started yesterday - a walking group. It was great. And a few others from inside the M25 came too - but that's ok. There were about 9familiess and it took almost 2 hours but it was great. So this is our new small group. We stopped at a tiny little church on the walk and spent time together in prayer. I think this group and the people in it will be great for all of us. Some of us are already friends and others will soon become better friends.
We eventually came home, Dunc took Jeremy and Yvonne to Gatwick and then our friends Taff and Nicky came over for food.
Very hectic but great weekend.
PRAYER - that our small group will be of great benefit to all involved

What a bizarre night!!!

2006-11-11T12:21:00.000Z

Work yesterday, which I know it's odd, but I do like my day in the office. My boss, Captain Norman Ord, was in interviews most of the day so I didn't really see much of him. Just muddled on with my work. Went to lunch at Nando's with Rob Moye and Dean Jones, that's the 4th week running I've been to Nando's for lunch - I shall become such a lardy cardy!!! Nothing else major happened. After work, I had to wait around for a couple of hours, mildly boring. Finally the time came, I'd got changed into my footballers' wife outfit, and went with Dunc, Graeme Hodge and Emily Mingay up to Regent Hall. Dunc and Graeme were talking about anti-trafficking at a quiz night! Emily and I, as we often are become the appendages known as the International Development WAGS, hence my outfit. I don't think the evening had been well advertised, as including us there was 17. But the odd bit was how it panned out - you'd have quiz stuff - our team was called The Betty's in fondness of our Mrs TC. So, we had fun and laughter with the quiz and then Dunc would get up and talk about anti-trafficking, then more fun with quiz then Graeme would talk out anti-trafficking - kinda almost ruined the atmosphere. Never mind - Emily and I, when we got there, decided to go for a walk - London scares me. I'm now used to leafy Reigate were no-one rushes and everyone smiles. People were squashing me and pushing past me - we didn't stick it out long and headed for Starbuck - I had my usual Caramel Machiatto - yum!!!!
After the evening, we drove to Wallington and went to Asif Curry house, our fave Indian, we know the manager. Nice food and after dropping them at Emily's we headed home, way past my bedtime.
The kids were at my parents for the night, and this morning Dunc was up and out early for more anti-trafficking work. I had a teeny tiny lie in and then have spent the morning cleaning the house top to bottom as we have 2 friends of Duncan's from China are staying tonight. I am now sitting watching The Lord Mayors Show but have missed the Army band.
I know just wait for Dunc to return and we'll go over to my mum's, have lunch, pick Max up - Daisi is having another sleepover on her own, and then we go to Guildford to get this couple!!!!
Busy busy busy!!!!

What do you mean - don't talk about the army!!!

2006-11-09T12:38:00.000Z

Didn't get round to bloggin last night, we were watching a Movie on DVD - The Terminal, slow but good.
Not really much at all yesterday, Tesco, school run, ballet, home, tea!!!!!!!
Had toddlers this morning, very nice then Helen, Joshua and Ruben came for coffee. They were coming for lunch but the Luff's are having building work done and there is some problem with the upstairs electricity so she had to go.
With reference to John's comment about talking about the Army, why shouldn't I talk about the Army, it's a huge part of my life - most of the time it pretty much runs my life, so how can I sit with a Christian friend and not talk about it???
Ah well, a mothers afternoon - Max asleep and when he wakes it will be time to pick Daisi up from school.
Work tomorrow - as daft as it sounds, I do love my day in the office.
PRAYER - That I can let people know about the 'Army', without making it sound like a cult!!!

Not much today

2006-11-07T22:42:00.000Z

Did coffee this morning with a new friend - a mum from the new toddlers I now go to here in Reigate. This is a very sad statement to make, but it's very tricky to chat with someone who's not Army - you have to explain so much, what does that say about the Army!!!!!
Singing Co tonight, slight stress for me, giving out tickets to people who had ordered them for the Albert Hall, still can't please anyone and even had an officer call me after I'd got home to have a right royal winge about which seats I'd given him!!!!! Nice!!!
My family today decided to do the same as we do with Dunc's family at Christmas and just spend Â£5 on each other at Christmas, none of us are mega rich and it's really getting to the point now that we're all running out of ideas for each other. I'm easy to buy for, for both my birthday (Dec 3 hint hint) and Christmas I ask for NEXT vouchers and then spend them at the NEXT sale at 5am!!!!!! So for those of you who know my family, if you have any sensible suggestions, I'll be grateful to hear them!!!!!
PRAYER - a prayer of thanks for my 2 beautiful children. I'm sitting typing this looking at Max's toddlers photo and Daisi's first school photo. My daily reading the other day pointed out that God likes thank you prayers too, he possible gets fed up with panic help prayers, so a huge thanks for Daisi and Max and everything they are and mean to me!!!!!

Just another manic Monday...

2006-11-06T20:35:00.000Z

... except it was all quite calm. School run, no major hassle's there. Then drove for coffee at Janet Lairds - very nice indeed. I was so well fed that I didn't need lunch!! Came home, Max slept for the afternoon while I did mummsy laundry type things. School run, came home, taught my nephew Joe piano, they went, cooked tea, ate it, Dunc came home.
See not really another Manic Monday!!!!
Today I got a text from a female friend - see I do have them - who told me it was ok to be loud!!!!! Feel much better about the whole thing as I value her words!!!!
PRAYER - to keep people like me calm and not to change!!!!!

... and I didn't cry

2006-11-05T19:53:00.000Z

Today was a big day for me, well this morning was.
Firstly last night - fireworks were fab and nice to spend time with family!
Anyway, this morning at the Army, my church, I was leading the Singing Company, with them singing the song I wrote - now we have sung this twice before but not on home ground, and not with Dunc and my parents listening. Also, I wrote this song when a lady in the corps died, I guess you could say as a tribute to her, her 3 granddaughters are in the singing co and her daughter comes to the corps, so all family has heard it, but the CO found out from my dad, thanks dad, that there was a story behind the song and had asked me to introduce it, pee your pants time. I wanted to get it right and not burst into tears because Granny Myra, the lady who died, was a huge part of the corps. Well I managed it, just, and the kids sang fantastically, the oldest granddaughter started to blub during it, I nearly lost it, but it was good. So I'd better get on with another. If I can work out technology tomorrow, you might be able to listen to it if you're interested!!!!!
Then we had lunch at Dunc's parents, and then his dad and him watched rugby (snore) and we came home. As I type this Dunc is out in the garden with his own little bonfire, not really in honour of the 5th of November, it's more that he totally chopped down an apple tree and needs to get rid of the stuff, and tonight he can get away with lighting a fire!!!
Today at the Corps I struggled a little with some folks who were getting upset about stuff that to me seems pointless getting upset about - something I guess I need to work on.
PRAYER - that when you have something that winds you up, just breath lots and get over it!!!

Remember! Remember... a day early

2006-11-04T17:06:00.000Z

Well not much happened for the rest of yesterday or last night!!
We got up earlyish for a Saturday this morning and drove to Sunbury Court - Dunc was presenting something to the Territorial Advisory Council for all of 15 minutes!!! We went to the nearest big Tesco, bought the usual, hat for me (it's gonna be freezing tonight), sparkly shoes for Daisi and new stuff for the bathroom in chocolate brown!!!! Also, bad move, they had a Krispy Kreme stand and whilst I like to look after my figure, one just can't help!!!! I got a box of 12, but not all for me... read on. Picked Dunc up and went to see my brother, his Mrs and my nephew Elijah - hence the large box of Kripsy Kreme's!!! Lloyd has a very poorly knee and is having to use crutches - please no references to Her Flick of the Gestapo!!!!!! We shared doughnuts and eventually with Becks mum and dad, we shared lunch too. I checked my e-mails. Haven't worked out if this next bit proves someones point or I should just accept it and shut up... Since my rambling on the other day, I've had on comments or e-mails friends telling me not to change - however, they're all guys!!!!!!!! I shall just accept that not many girls read this!!!!
Came home, I went to bed and slept for 2 hours, feel a little queer - not in the biological sense!!! Have now woken and am doing this. Off to a firework display at my other brother Lyndon's rugby club soon. So I shall be wrapped up like an Eskimo and probably not match, please no fashion police in attendance!!!!! It'll be Max's first firework display - last year he was so ickle I kept him inside, it could be we end up in the rugby club house within 5 mins, ah well, the chores a mother has to do!!!!!!!
PRAYER - Lloyd's knee, he is to have surgery at the end of the month, but it must be tricky as they live in a maisonette kinda thing!!!!!

I hate the playground!!!!!

2006-11-03T10:26:00.000Z

Just when I finally thought the playground was again a fun place to be, it all changes. Before half term I actually enjoyed hanging around with all the mums before and after school. But yesterday I felt a bit on the naff side. I found out that some of the girls had gone out the other weekend - not that I would have gone with them, but I wasn't asked. And then it seems some of them have organised a mum's Christmas Dinner and again, I'm not invited. I know this will all sound extremely pathetic to most, especially guys, but this is what my blog is for, me to let off steam!!! I'm not forcing you to read it (Mr Hardwick!!!!) Anyway, its all bizarre, it's worse than actually being at school!!! I attempt to be friend with all, no taking sides, and believe me there are a lot of silly politics in the playground, but I've not let myself get drawn into them and just talked to everyone. Nothing I can do about it all I guess. Just frustrating as I've gotta put up with these people for 7 years!!!!!
Went to toddlers yesterday at the Baptist church around the corner, it's nice to be there with Max. I've stopped going to the toddlers at the Corps, partly petrol and travel time, partly cos it messes up Max's routine and partly cos I'm happy at the new toddlers. It's nice to go to the new toddlers and just spend time with Max. Got his first proper photo's back from toddlers, what a handsome fella!!!! Very cute indeed!!
It's now Friday and I'm not at work, now that's a nice feeling!!!!!!
PRAYER - Playground politics die down!!!!

How thick can I possibly get???

2006-11-02T13:16:00.000Z

I haven't blogged for weeks because having finally got our broadband connected I was having password problems so still couldn't blog. I cannot believe that today, I've finally sussed out the problem - it wasn't the password it was the username. Sad as this sounds I was typing in my username for the CBeebies Parents Message Board!!!!! I can't really even blame it on blond hair any more!!!!!
So what have I been up to - way too much to remember it all.
Some stuff has been going on for me, mainly in my head though which now I feel better about I feel I can share. At the beginning of November I was at Sunbury Court for a conference for children's leaders - I'm the assistant singing co leader (junior choir) and there were different workshops for music leaders. Anyway, during the course of the weekend many people, who know me, happened to make comments about me, you're loud, you talk a lot, we can always tell where you're sitting and the worse one of all, you're a terrible flirt. Now I'm quite aware that most of it's true and was said in a joking fashion, but there is the saying 'many a true word said in jest'. So by the end of that weekend I was mortified and thought that this was not really a good example of being a christian and that I should totally change who I was. My normal every day to day stuff was not much difference but on the Friday I went to work, a bit in a state before I got there - partly cos most of the comments were made by people who I work with. I decided I needed to me quiet, demure and sit and my desk and do nothing but work - it kinda helped that I did actually have work to do. Where upon lots of people asked if I was ok, one person in particular was very kind, bought my toast for me and kept checking on me. Any way, I struggled with the old teary eyes all day and felt it was a really crappy day. Anyway, this weekend just gone we were up at the Northern Congress in Harrogate - in Army event for most of the silly billy's in the Army. Anyway, someone there, who I e-mail alot, said it was nicer talking to me in person and then said one sentence that almost gave me a little lightbulb-over-the-head moment. He said that a christian can minister to others just by friendship and fellowship. I suddenly thought - that's me!!!!!!! I am not able to quote bible left right and centre, I would never be able to preach a decent sermon, I am quite sure I'll never bless the masses, but I can and do talk to everyone. So that's that - I'm God's little talker!!!!!!
More good news for me, can't remember if I mentioned that I wrote a song for the singing co, well we sang it at Sunbury and Kettering and we're singing it at Croydon this week - well it's being published in next years Sing To The Lord - a book published for Singing Company's. How chuffed am I!!!!!!
Can't fill you in on every single detail but just be glad that I've sussed out my technical hitch!!!!!!
PRAYER - for friends of Kirsten, one friend lost a baby at 22 weeks, and a mother on Ian's barracks died in a car crash leaving 3 kids

Friday again

2006-09-29T14:30:00.000+01:00

Well last Saturday was busy. We'd had Mia overnight as Janet has had a very very bad back. Nick and Lisa Hanover, and son Joshua, came over for brunch and to have a nosey at the new house. When they'd left, after a brief trip to the park, we went to the Luff's house for Joshua's 2nd birthday party. Very nice grub. And then the Condon family came round for coffee.
Sunday - Army, Dunc went collecting - I don't go out, I could all the money!!! Then he and Daisi sorted out the front garden while I ironed!!!! Very domestic!!!
Tuesday, Daisi came home from school saying she had kissed a boy called Fergal (!!) in the playground, he went very red in the face and now she's going to marry him. Daddy was not best pleased - he's told her she's not to date till she's 30!!!
Wednesday, I picked her up from school and she had a huge purple fat lip. She had tripped over in the playground, bless her - perhaps it was Fergal in anger, perhaps it was another boy!!!!! Anyway, I then had to take her to ballet, looking more like a kick boxer!!!!
Last night, as soon as Dunc got in from work, Daisi and I popped to Tesco. While we were out, Max started having a nibble in the kitchen - on a garlic clove!!!!! Which apparently he seemed to enjoy - what have I produced!!!
Tonight we are going out for Graeme Hodge Surprise 30th Birthday meal, tomorrow night we are at Bromley for an evening of prayer for Anti-Trafficking!
PRAYER - For Deb and Phil Condon again - just pray!!!!

In brief...

2006-09-22T14:57:00.000+01:00

... since I last wrote... we went to Adam and Gemma's wedding - fab day
- have been to new toddlers at baptist round the corner - lovely building and started to make more friends this week
- making very very nice friends in the school playground, daunting place you know
- Ian and Stacey gave birth to Meghan Faye and we visited yesterday, she is gorgeous and their new house is lovely
- work today - and peeing it down (Can I say that??)
- totally settled into new house, love it love it love it!!!
- started the song I wrote at Singing Co this week, went really well
PRAYERS - Our very close friends Phil and Debs, going through a duff time at the moment.