90 words for Breakthrough Breast Cancer

The lovely Kate over at kateonthinice is doing a fabulous job of promoting charities and their work. If you haven't already joined Britmums do, its a great resource and Kate has very recently just set up a new group 'bloggin it forwards' all centred around charities. Please go and check it out.

This link is a very important one and is for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Kate is looking for looking for 90 bloggers to write 90 words about a woman they admire to help raise awareness of Breakthrough Breast Cancer. They are currently running a simple campaign:

“Pink Ribbon Bingo have pledged to support Breakthrough Breast Cancer all year round with 15% of the gross revenue accrued through online play on the site being donated to the charity. Visitors also have the opportunity to donate a percentage of their winnings directly to the charity. Along with the fundraising element, Pink Ribbon Bingo and The Daily Mail online will be helping the charity to raise awareness by promoting their vital health messages such as TLC (Touch, Look, Check).“

Here is my contribution

This is not about 1 woman but the many women involved in breast cancer research (and men). These people dedicate their lives & careers to finding a cure, a therapy that is more effective, has a longer duration and less toxicity to help ease others. Their ultimate aim is to find a cure. Without their dedication the outcome could be very different. I’m fortunate not to have been touched personally by this horrendous disease but know many who have. The way they deal with it is an inspiration in itself.

Celebrity supporter videos on the Pink Ribbon Bingo website including Jessie J, Melanie C, Tom Ellis, Macy Gray, Sharon Corr and Kelly Hoopen – http://www.pinkribbonbingo.com/ .

If you click on these YouTube links, you can hear Kate Thornton and Tamzin Outwaite’s support.

Kate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brz793lgb_g&feature=youtu.be

Tamzin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCh671wnj2o

Please visit kateonthinice to add your blog post to her linky, help get 90 words and 90 blog posts for Breast cancer.

x

ADHD resources

I am not sure if I am meant to do things like this so I apologise in advance if I am stepping on anyone's toes.

About 2 years ago i started following a great blog for ADHD - Primarily Inattentive ADD.com and have found some really useful help. advice and articles through it. It has been quite a long time since I checked in with it but it has changed a fair bit since then and now includes a forum as well as blog posts. The site is mainly US based which I find a little frustrating as obviously all research, and many articles, discussions on medications are based in the US.

I wanted to share the following link to an article they have just published on the blog which I found very interesting and also to direct others to their site

http://www.primarilyinattentiveadd.com/2012/01/drug-or-non-drug-adhd-treatment-what-is.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PrimarilyInattentiveAdd+%28Primarily+Inattentive+ADD%29

Eventually I would like to include various things on my blog about ADHD as I find there is little out there in the UK, I certainly don;t come across many blogs, or perhaps I am not looking in the right places?

Vacuuming quandry!

I am sure we have all heard several excuses why our other halves can't possibly do the hoovering but this one my husband came out with a few days ago is one of his better ones.

I have had a DC04 Dyson upright hoover for the last 6 or 7 years and I love it. Over the last 2 years we have needed to replace various parts through wear and tear which has been easy to do and not at all expensive - a spring I needed cost £1.99 for instance. My mum hates my Dyson as she finds it too heavy but I love it, it picks up well even after 7 years of constant use and abuse over the last year after walls being knocked down and continued building work in the house. I also find it does the dog hair well.

Image from Google

However, I was caught looking at the Dyson Animal out of curiosity really to see if there was a marked difference with dog hair - the showroom had one of those displays where you could check the suction power.

      

Image from google and Dyson

Less than 2 weeks later, I go away and when driving home form the airport I ring t'husband who informs me he has tried to make the house tidy for my return but can't hoover as the Dyson has all shattered and cracked at the front when he tried to use it. He is not kidding either, I have no idea how he did it but I am gutted to say the least.

Thing is it is now unavoidable - I need a new hoover. I want to stick with Dyson and I know and like them but now I have to make the decision on which one I want - and they are so bloody expensive as well so it has to be right.

Can anyone advise me - does an animal make any difference or are they all as good as picking up the bits as each other? I am also wondering if I should, try a pull along one rather than an upright as it might make the stairs easier to vacuum. Decisions, decisions. We have mainly wooden floors downstairs and then carpet up the stairs and landings/bedrooms.

So do I go for a basic multifloor Dyson again or the animal - is it all a marketing con or is is true and does it make a difference.

I can't even make a simple decision on a vacuum here!

Grooving mums- late entry!

Actually the 'late' bit seems to sum me up entirely. I am late for everything, despite my best efforts and best laid plans, I am always arriving places or doing things by the skin of my teeth and it gets me down, really gets me down and yet it still happens. I think the only reason I can come up with is I am doing so much it is the only way I can fit it all in.  I always do things by the seat of my pants, spend my life running between things, screeching in at breakneck speed, apologising etc etc, so hey why should my participation in a linky be any different. 

Actually my plans for today are no different. It is January the 30th and I still have my tax return to do - if it is not submitted tomorrow I will be fined £100.00. Thing is I am also have a meeting I am organising next week and 12 people to get to it from all over Europe, presentations to finalise, dinners and lunches to finalise as well.  Anyhow wasting yet more time.

I started the week well, things were manic to the extent when I arrived at school on Monday afternoon I had that manic feeling about as I had been doing and still had so much to do. Tuesday was no better, I was meant to pick the boys up, spend some quality time with them, leave and drive to Manchester about 7.00 as soon as their Dad got home, and stay with some friends, so I could leave their house at 4.30am to get to the airport for my 6.00am flight. Ha, in true disorganised, useless fashion, I was still trying to sort work out at 9.00pm and eventually packed and went to bed at 12.30am. I then had to get up at 2.30am, and left the house to drive an hour and a half to Manchester airport. That went smoothly until I couldn't find the car park and somehow managed to get back onto the M56 going back towards home. I got there in the end with 40 mins to spare before my flight.

The flight then flashed up as 1.5 hours delayed and the people behind the desk were muttering things like technical fault etc. I had a connecting flight so things were not looking good. Then they decided infact the plane was OK so we boarded and took off 20 minutes late in the end - all good. Manchester to Paris and we circled and circled and circled, and then the captain announces that due to the plane having a technical fault we would be unable to land in Paris as there was ice so we flew back to Southampton and sat on the runway waiting for a new plane. Meantime my connection to Rome left without me. I eventually got to Rome. A driver picked me up in Rome but I didn't get to my hotel until 5.30pm - I should of arrived at 12.30pm so my afternoon of sightseeing was gone - the only reason I had gone out early. I then logged on to work with my 3 hour Internet card thinking I would just field some emails, skype home and go to bed. By this time I was exhausted and had a very bad headache. 11pm I am still working.

Thursday am I did my sightseeing - I saw the Vatican, lots of ruins, the Spanish Steps and walked to the Coliseum and was gutted when they wouldn't let me in with my little trolley bag suitcase - will have to go back there now. The meeting went well, the food was good and no-one complained about the choice of menu (thank god).

Friday I flew home - no delays this time although I only had 45 minutes between landing in Paris in one terminal and had to get to the other side of another terminal on foot to get my flight to Manchester - I was being called by the time I legged it up to the boarding gate.  I then got royally lost trying to get back on the M56 to go home, ended up going down the M6 and back on myself and then discovered the slip road onto the M62 was shut for roadworks so ended up in the middle of Oldham at 11pm, crying, hungry and very tired with a lack of diversion signs, and a dead mobile. I found a MacDonald's, charged my phone through my laptop and t'husband directed me through Oldham to the M62. I finally got home at 12.30am.

The weekend was weird, t'husband threw a strop over something and didn't really speak to me all weekend, then yesterday acted as if nothing had happened. I can't be doing with the sulking. I wish I knew entirely what it was about - I find it hard to believe it was because the kids wanted to watch a street performer in York and were really enjoying it and he wanted to wonder round shops, surely not?

I am really feeling my groove has deserted me, work overload, tiredness and a lack of confidence in myself are all thrown into the mix, I am feeling pretty low at the mo and know I need to pick myself up and dust myself off but wonder how many times you can do that.

Anyhow to the questions and challenges:

1. Body - This week, there is a campaign about eating a healthy breakfast for 5 days. http://shakeupyourwakeup.com/challenge

Not done so well on this as being away and in hotels there isn't always the best choice of food. I don't eat cereal but do try and have fruit most mornings and a slice of toast. I can take or leave breakfast but do try and have something.

2. Mind – It is Chinese New Year and I have just opened my fortune cookie. What I want you to think and/or blog about is if you had a guarantee that the fortune in your cookie would come true in the next 12 months, what would you want it to say? You can do something down to earth, humorous or something obscure and Confuscious like. It is entirely up to you.

I have no idea - I think we make our own luck although I also believe in fate but I do live by 'what will be will be'. At the end of the day life throws curve balls at you and you just have to catch them and deal with it. I would like my head sorted out, i would like to feel sure about things again but I am not so sure this is an easy one to tackle for various reasons.

3. Spirit – Sticking with the Chinese New Year, what animal are you? If you don’t know, look it up for fun. Does the description of the animal you are ring true? Which animal would you like to be and why? You can find all the information you need here http://www.life123.com/holidays/new-years/chinese-zodiac/chinese-zodiac-signs.shtml

The Tiger: (Birthdays in 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010) Tigers exude power and passion, and embrace impulsive decisions while stimulating others to action. Recklessness, foolishness and selfishness can also show up in Tigers.

Well, I think people would agree I am very passionate about things and can be very impulsive. I think I am a fool yes -  but disagree with the selfishness but as if I was more selfish perhaps I wouldn't feel like I did - I bend over backwards for everyone and anyone and never think of me.

4. Blogging – Have you heard the wonderful and rather exciting news? What do you mean “Yes, I have as Kate just won’t stop going on about it!” I am now a member of the Britmums team with a great initiative that will make a real difference too. Read all about it by clicking here http://kateonthinice.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/have-you-heard-the-news-i-have-a-new-and-exciting-role/
Your blogging challenge this week is to join Britmums if you have not yet done so and then join the Charity Connections – Blogging It Forward group on there. Don’t just join but get involved in some of the already fascinating discussions taking place on there. Have your say at http://britmums.com

I joined Britmums last week and also the charity group x

5. Special Days – As I have already mentioned special days in this post, my challenge to you is to make one day this week really special. How you do that is up to you. Will it be a day out? Some one-on-one time with your partner? You decide.

I wanted to make Saturday just gone a special day having been away which is why we went to York with the plan of taking the kids to the cinema to see Puss in Boots as a treat which I ended up doing by myself and t'husband opted to go off by himself, so although the kids and I enjoyed it, it wasn't the family day I had intended

6. The Big Question – This challenge is the one that is aimed at making you think deeply. Of course, the big questions come to me in all sorts of ways. This one came whilst watching Dancing On Ice on the telly because I am a very deep philosopher lol. Take it in whatever way you see fit. Let it mean what it means to you as an individual. So the question is, have you lost that loving feeling? Whether that is for yourself, your partner, your child, your job or whatever. Reflect on it in a way that is meaningful to you.

Yes I have lost that loving feeling - for myself and lots of things other than my boys. To be honest I don't want to spend time reflecting on this as I get my knickers in a twist and have too much work to do today to be upset and consumed by it. I have no idea how to regain it or what to do.

I'm a winner!

I am feeling really, rather chuffed right now. Before Christmas I answered something on netmums about Lego and the prize was a LEGO Creationary, LEGO Champion and LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Game. I couldn't believe it, I rarely win anything. The only catch with this one was there were 5 prizes and they needed to hear from all 5 winners within a certain time period for you to receive the prize.  They did say it would probably be February before I received anything and as yet I am still waiting so fingers crossed they turn up.

Anyhow, me, who rarely wins anything, never lucky on raffles or the lottery - in all the years I have done the lottery I have won about 3 £10.00's and that's it, but anyhow I am digressing, KateTakes5 was running a competition to win some Skylanders which my boys are obsessed with and I can't believe it, she has emailed to say I have won some! My boys (hubby included in that) are going to be so chuffed as they are the new characters Hex, Dino-Rang and Wrecking Ball! Only think that might be difficult to explain is where I won them  although as I've said before I suspect t'husband reads this blog anyhow or at least knows about it.

I feel all, well I don't know, I think its because I never normally win things (and yes I do enter, its not because I don't actually enter!).

Anyhow best get on with the ever mounting pile of work before I have to pack to drive over to Manchester later tonight to catch the 6am flight out to Rome x

Scanning moan!!

THIS IS NOT A SPONSORED POST FOR ONLINE SHOPPING OR MYSUPERMARKET>COM – IT IS SIMPLY THE MOANINGS OF A CHEESED OFF WOMAN (I am that way inclined today).

I always shop at Sainsbury’s. In our old town it was about an equal distance between Tesco and Sainsbury’s, and I use to use Tesco, believing it to be cheaper until I heard about the mysupermarket.co.uk website which allows you to do an on-line shop using the supermarket of your choice – I think its Sainsbury’s, Tesco’s,  Asda, Waitrose or Ocada and it will compare the prices for you in all 5 supermarkets, so if one of the ones you are not shopping at comes out say £10.00 cheaper, you can swap and do your shop with them.

I used this website a couple of times and discovered each time that infact Sainsbury’s was coming out as best value for money so I started shopping there. I love supermarket shopping, and hate on-line grocery shopping. I get myself a coffee and my trolley and happily amble round the isle, browsing. I don’t often deviate from my standard shopping list but I do enjoy the browsing, seeing what there is, rummaging on the sale racks of clothes or looking in the home section, so although I have done on-line it has only been in times of needs when ill, or after Mini Man was born or timed for a return from a holiday.

Since moving North, we are now equal distance between Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s but I still favor Sainsbury’s. I also love the fact Sainsbury’s lets you self scan. It is much quicker and allows you to see how much you are spending. One thing I really like is the fact any offers are not deducted until after you go through the till so you think your shop is say £78, and then it comes up as £73.00 or something.  Only downside is you sometimes get a re-scan to check your shopping and honesty.

Recently I have re-scan after re-scan after re-scan. I have been to customer services about it as when you are doing a full weekly shop; it gets a bit much every time, or when you have 2 very bored, small boys with you. Customer services showed me that a few times in a row I had had discrepancies in my total and the re-scan one, but then admitted that 1 occasion was due to the purchase of a game which can’t be scanned and I said I had put through some veg on the belt which I had forgotten to weigh. Customer services agreed it was abit much as my many other shops had all been fine so apparently did something to try and stop them, but no, I am still getting them with every shop. Today I got yet another and of course there is going to be a difference as my mushrooms and bananas refused to scan so there’s 2 items extra already, plus the 3 reduced items I had, and I have been advised not to scan them either as they can trigger the re-scan system. I am now totally fed up, to the point that I am going to have time off from using the supermarket and use the on-line thing instead, and if another supermarket comes out on top, I will try them. It has made me feel like a thief!

Edinburgh Rock and Roll half marathon

On April 15th I am stupidly running the Edinburgh half marathon. This is the woman who finds or rather found running 100 yatds a challenge!

Running has always been one of those things I have struggled to do. I hated it with a passion in school and would dread those dreary, windy days when PE was a cross country run. I kind of found the whole breathing thing an issue! Minor problem.

2 years ago, after years of continued congestion in my nose I was eventually referred to a consultant who within 5 minutes told me had a collapsed septum between my sinuses and it had probably been like that from birth. It can be corrected with surgery but it is a 2 week recovery time. My surgery came through 3 weeks before our 200 mile move up north and when t’husband was already moved so I would have been alone with 2 kids and as much as I love my mum, I couldn’t cope with her fussing while trying to recover, so I canceled it and to be honest have now lost the bottle, but at least I now know why I snore like a pig and can’t breathe through my nose.

I think it is psychological as I am now really getting into running, have accepted I can’t breathe through my nose and have been convinced by a friend to run a half marathon. I love a challenge. T’husband is registered to do it with me but he isn’t going to – he has been for about 3 runs in the last 2 months and has now all but given up. To be fair he has had groin strain but he is so knackered from work he can’t face then running.

As for me, I continue to amaze myself. I have built up slowly but can now run about 3.5 miles without stopping – OK so I know I have another 10 miles to go to complete a half marathon but all in good time!

I am planning on doing a weekly update on how the training is going to try and motivate myself and keep a log of how I am doing.

I have just had 3 weeks off as I hurt my knee and then got flu. On Thursday night under the cover of darkness I did a 2 mile run and it went better than hoped. Today I ran with the dog and although the route was 4.8 miles I didn’t run it all as I ran 2.4 miles to the football field where Mini Man was doing football, stopped for about 10 minutes to watch and then walked the boys back to the car, then I ran back but some of it was too muddy to properly run. I did however make it all the way up this massive hill which I have been trying to achieve since December so I am very chuffed (and the dog was off his lead so didn’t pull me up!).

So from this week I hope to do a run every other day – I am in Rome Wed – Fri so hope the hotel has a gym and will do some on the treadmill.

Running nightmare today though was a new pair of running trousers. When walking the bit to the football field a couple of cars did slow and the men driving seemed to be having a good look at me – I was strutting along thinking I obviously looked good from behind. Once home I was hosing the dog in the garden, bent over him, t’husband came out and nearly spat his coffee out and was ‘Jesus Christ wifey, they are a bit see-through aren’t they’ and proceeded to take a photo, then made me stand up and take another one. I am absolutely mortified with the photos – I may as well of been wearing my thong on the outside of them it was that obvious.  Worst bit was I saw mum’s and dad’s from school on the football field and in the woods bumped into my old Biology teacher who stopped me as he recognized me from 20 years ago (this is the man who I can credit with the reason why I am doing what I do today and loving it – him and his belief in me, he inspired me and showed me I could do science and love it). Needless to say I have already been to town and bought some proper running knickers to now wear as well.

Thank god it's Friday

At the moment I feel so busy that my feet don't feel like they are touching the ground. It is mainly work which is a good thing (especially when i do my invoice :)) but trying to juggle the amount of work round school hours is proving hard some days. Trouble is as I never know from one week to the next how busy I will be I refuse to pay for regular childcare.

Anyhow before Christmas I had a bit of a problem with 1 lady I regularly work with and everything I did, I got wrong - she even threw her dolly out of the pram and went to the agencies managing director and complained that she needed better work from me - bypassing me which quite frankly really pissed me off! Managing director was lovely though and said this woman was well known for doing it and I had done well to of made a year without her complaining. Thing is when you work for yourself you are very conscious that if you make too many mistakes/miss the brief/muck up, then they simply don't need to send you anymore work and that's my regular work gone, so I was very, very het up and stressed over it.

This week I have had to turn around 3 different things for this woman and got my knickers in a right old twist. I did one today under a lot of pressure having run out of time to do it, so literally just had to blast it out. By the time I did school pick up I was actually feeling quite hyper and manic from being so busy and not having a moment to breath.

This week though I have 3 emails back all saying things like 'well done, good piece of work', 'well done very tidy job' and just now on the last minute piece 'very well summarised, identified all key points, please send to client when ready' - No edits WOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOO.

I am on a weekend high! I am not going to worry I had to work the day I took as holiday to do my tax return or the fact it still needs doing, or about other stuff, it seems I am back in favour with this lady. it really has made my day as I hate doing a bad job and get far too hett up about it.

Bring on the weekend, football with Mini man tomorrow, a long run, long walks with the dog and some good family time and NO WORK!

Injections

Last week Mini Man was called in for his flu jab. I think he qualifies due to his heart condition. I didn't tell the boys why we were going to see the nurse, just told Mini Man she would give him some medicine. Little Man was with me.

I sat down and turned him to the assumed position at which point he looked worried and asked what was going on. The nurse indicated that she was going to go for it. Little Man at this point was on the other side of the room playing with his Lego men kneeling on the floor so he could play with them on the medical bed. As the nurse approached Mini Man she was explaining to him he would feel a sharp scratch and then it would all be done.

The moment the needle touched the skin he howled and loudly. Little Man whipped his head round, saw the needle sticking out of Mini Man's arm and shot under the medical bed right to the far corner and started screaming at the top of his lungs as well which then subsided to sobbing and him repeating 'mummy I don't like her hurting *' over and over.

The poor nurse didn't know what to do. I was stuck on this chair with a sobbing 5 year old clinging to me, trying to calm him while trying my best to convince Little Man to come out from under the bed and come to me for a hug and to see Mini Man was OK. The nurse tried to get him out as well, and looked a little shocked when I had a little giggle to myself. It was one of those situations though where it was a case of laugh or cry! I was just sat there thinking how funny it would look to an on-looker. The giggle in fact made Little Man stop his repeating and look at me, come out from under the bed and come over to see what was funny. Once he saw that there was barely a mark on Mini man's arm, he then calmed down.

The nurses room is upstairs above the doctors surgery, so when we came down and all eyes in the surgery turned on us and the receptionist asked if I was alright, it was fairly obvious everyone had heard both boys screaming in unison - opps.

I just didn't even think about how Little Man would react. Hind sight is mans best sight as they say!

Reasons to be cheerful

I am tyring to be alot more positive about everything, I let things really grind me down before Christmas and it didn't put me in a good place so I am determined to get back on top and do everything I can to stay on top. I have to relax a little more, be easier on myself and take more care of myself. I started the latter by trying to be in bed earlier. I am 7 years very sleep deprived and kind of felt that no amount of early nights would make any difference now so didn't bother. I am happy to report though that a couple of weeks of trying to be in bed before 11pm which 70% of the time is working is have a good effect, so life is improving!

Reason's to be cheerful this week:

1. I am feeling better after a bout of flu or something so tomorrow I am going to try and do a short run during the day with the dog and get back into my running. Despite both myself and my husband both being registered for the Edinburgh Rock and Roll half marathon he has all but given up on the idea of running it. I do not give in on a challenge and intend to get back to my training and make a serious effort now.

2. I am going to Rome in less than a week. It is a work trip and I don't like being away from the boys (they don't mind it as they get 'boys nights' with daddy which normally involve pizza or hot dogs and long, messy, fun baths). I have booked to go out a day before the meeting so I can see some of Rome and I am stupidly excited about it. I have never been before so would love to get to see as many of the sights as I can, ohhh I am getting all excited just thinking about it!

3. I got asked if I would go and cover another meeting in February - this one was a bit harder to make the decision on as it will mean 4 nights away, is long hall and means I am away for the wed/thurs/fri of half term. However, the money is not really to turn my nose up at, it is more work coming in and there will be the work after the meeting as well as a result and it is to - Miami! I am not getting too excited about this one though as I went to Vancouver for the same company in the summer and got 1 hour outside of the hotel in the whole 4 days I was there and didn't see anything but the windowless meeting room - so I suspect this will be the same.

4. I have made the decision that enough is enough on the state of the house and come hell or high water I will get the bedroom stripped (trying to removed woodchip which was welded to the wall about 50 years ago and has about 10 layers of paint over it is proving challenging) and re-decorated by the end of Feb, this then means all the new furniture which is in boxes in my office can be taken out, the bed standing upright against my filing cabinet can go back down again and I get my office back!

5. My boys are growing up, everyday they amaze me and me laugh and it is that ability they have to make me smile which makes me realise that everything else is pretty trivial.

Pop over to Mummyfromtheheart and see everyone elses reasons to be cheerful.

Groovy mums

My blog has been non existent over the past month other than 1 post last week where I said I had been seriously thinking of giving up on the blogging for the simple reason of time. Its only due to time and there not being enough hours in the day that things spiralled and built up to the point I was sinking and a few things had to give, one being my blog. Infact for the whole Christmas week, I did nothing. I made myself take a step back and I didn't miss any of it to be fair. Its only been in the last week or so that I have been really missing the blogging community and this link up.

I am gutted I have missed quite a few of them because up until mid December I took part in everyone from the beginning and really found them helpful, they really made me focus on me and see positives in me, and these little challenges that Kate sets are really helpful - so this weeks challenges / questions to think about are as follows and my responses:

Do you feel like shaking things up a bit?  Here are some challenges that might help you to try new things, think in different ways or just have a sense of personal revival.

1. Body - How are you sleeping?  Do you qualify as sleep-deprived?  Are you a mum to a baby who just isn't sleeping through yet?  What toll is that taking?  Do you have older children creeping into bed with you?  What does your bed look like?  Is it comfortable and supportive enough?  Could you give your bed a makeover in some way perhaps with scented pillows or a colourful bedspread?  Could you have a nap at some point in the day?  How can you ensure you get better quality sleep?

Now I love my bed, it is one of my favourite places in the world! A few years ago we bought a new King size bed and with it got a proper pressure relieving mattress and it is sooooooooo comfy. When we sold our house in 2010 it got fully redecorated and I obviously wanted to make it look the best, so I did the bedroom in cream with the wall behind the bed in a pecan colour. I then themed our bedding to be mainly cream with the a small amount of the same pecan/chocolates in it, and got one of those sets with the spread for the foot of the bed and matching cushions.

Our room in the new house has not been decorated since about 1970 I think and before Christmas we choose our new colour scheme (cream and a deep plum this time) and started the awful job of trying to strip 50 year old woodchip off the walls without removing the plaster. We are still only half way through this. The new bedroom furniture is still boxed in my office, the current chest of drawers has all but collapsed (the bottom 2 drawers are off the runners and don;t shut properly now), there is a pile of dustsheets in one corner and every time I go in there I hate the room more but again time is a problem and actually finding the time to devote to it is proving impossible. This is one mission - I am determined to try and get it done by the end of Feb.

However despite having the nicest, comfiest bed in the world - sleep HA HA HA, my children think sleep is for the faint hearted - who needs that? My eldest son didn't sleep for his first 4 years and I clearly remember being in and out of bed like a yo yo and actually thinking 'my god, I've had 2 hours solid sleep, things must be improving', on average I was surviving on 3 hours of broken sleep. A sleep diary showed him getting up over 46 times on a regular basis. Sedatives from the consultant had no effect and when I say we tried every sleep technique going, I mean it. Even the doctors gave up in the end and usefully said 'he obviously doesn't need much sleep'. No shit Sherlock, however mummy does! Mini Man was a very poorly baby and fed during the night until he was about 2 as he couldn't eat very much at one time. Although both boys now sleep pretty well and 7 o clock is now the time to rise, I am now so sleep deprived that I feel no amount of sleep will get me out of that tired feeling. Since January though I have set the alarm on my mobile to go at 10.45 and when it does I go to bed now and most nights it works. 8 hours sleep is something I haven't had for years and although I have yet to feel the benefit, I am enjoying it!

2. Mind - Our children have reward charts and get stickers when they do well?  Could you play with this idea and create your own chart or adapt a child's one?  What are those things that you know you should do but don't seem to get around to?  How can you motivate yourself?  In my continuous attempt to get mums to say good things about themselves, why not tell me what you deserve a reward for?

The things I should do more of is housework!! I should also take more time out for me and I am trying to do this with my running. I also got a kindle for Christmas so I am trying to read a bit more.

3. Spirit - Is the spirit willing? You can respond to this one in whatever way you see fit.

Not quite sure I understand this one (sorry I am a bit dim!) - If you mean my spirit yes it is willing and is fighting to get out!

4. Blogblogger event?  Have you met any bloggers in the flesh?  Would you like to do?  Why is that?  I am speaking at Britmums Live so I hope some of my lovely Groovy Mums will be there to hold my hand.

I have only met one blogger in the flesh and she is the one who got me doing this in the first place - thanks BareNakedMummy but we go back to Uni days. Other than BNM no-one else knows I blog so I haven't done any events or met anyone else.

5. It is the creator of Winnie the Pooh's birthday this week.  So, as a bit of fun, why not work out which Winnie the Pooh character you are most like and why?  It might help you to discover what is great about you and also the things that you could usefully change.

I think I would actually be Winner the Pooh as he is described as a 'bear with little brain' which is quite apt for me! I have little common sense and people sometimes stare at disbelief in some of the stupid things I say (like thinking an sir strike was the same as a bus or train strike and not getting it meant bombing - durhh). However, I am a very loyal and always think of others, I also think (hope) most people would describe me as friendly and thoughtful.

6. The Big Question - How is your sex life?  Oh, I know we are not supposed to talk about religion, sex and politics but you know me, I like breaking the rules.  So how are things in the bedroom (or your venue of choice)?  Has sex become a chore? Do you find it difficult to make time for sex?  Are you too exhausted for sex? Have you managed to spice up your love-life?  Be brave and reveal all on your blog or just do some quite reflecting on this issue.

Ah well hem, yes all of the above. Strange that this one should be asked as I was only contemplating this the other day - when it does happen it is good, but its not the same, it sometimes just feels so same-y and we do need to do something to change it, make a difference - thing is what (without feeling like a complete prat and getting all self conscious). I hold my hands up in saying I am not at all confident in the bedroom department which doesn't help.

As for other things to help get my groove, next week I am going to Rome for a meeting and have booked an extra night so I can see some of it and I am very excited. Then I have also been asked yesterday if I would like to attend a meeting in Miami!!!!!!! I will probably not have time to go outside the hotel which is what happened when I went to Vancouver but even so, I am very excited. A big bonus and the main driving force for me taking these trips away is also the money aspect!

I think that is enough, think I have made up for the last months of missing this as I have said so much!
 Pop over to Kateonthinice if you fancy taking part or just reading how everyone is getting on
http://kateonthinice.wordpress.com/how-to-be-a-groovy-mum/

Reasons to be Cheerful 2012 week 2

I think I will launch straight in with my first reason to be cheerful this week which is this post

1. This post is my first post in a month - I had a touch time leading up to Christmas and some things had to give, one being my blog and keeping up with other people's, but I now feel back on top of things and able to spare at least a bit of time to blogging so I feel really happy about this. I had been debating not bothering anymore due to time but it would be really sad to leave the blogging community even though I don;t have the biggest number of followers, i don;t care, I am constantly amazed at those who do want to follow me and my ramblings!
2. My Little Man who has fought against all odds and been about 2 years behind at school due to his memory and concentration issues and has worked so hard that in 1 term he has not moved up just 1 level in reading but yesterday got moved up a second level. I am beyond proud, I am bursting with it. I think it has eventually clicked, we are suddenly making progress in leaps and bounds. My clever Little Man.
3. I managed to get tickets this morning to see John Bishop when he comes to do a charity event in our town in June - apparently the tickets were sold within 10 minutes so I can't quite believe I was fortunate enough to book 13 for a group of us to go.
4. I am going to Rome for a works meeting at the end of this month and have booked an extra night so I can see a bit of Rome and I am very excited!
5. I have been feeling pretty rough this week with what I think is a virus which has taken me to my bed for the last 2 days which is pretty unheard of for me and my mum and dad turned up this afternoon insisting on picking the kids up from school to give me a break and it really made me appreciate being back home - for the last 7 years I have had no-one to ask for help other than t'husband who would of been at work anyhow so I kind of forget and find if hard to ask for help now it is at hand but I think my Dad gets that which is why they turn up like they do.

Despite feeling ill and feeling like work has piled up and feeling a mild panic about some of it, I am feeling pretty cheerful. if you want to check out other reasons to be cheerful, pop over to Mummy from the Heart and join in, its good for the soul!