Arghhhhhhhhh

I'd love to know who has it in for me - the sale of our house has collapsed again and this time I cannot see a miracle buyer appearing anytime soon. This blog is supposed to see me through my amazing 2012 - ha ha that is not going to plan yet. Ok back to square one I'm going to look at this house through fresh eyes, yes it might only be rented but I can certainly make some improvements I might be here for a long time so some small changes might make us all happier - I think a trip to Ikea is needed. I'm getting frustrated that I can't upload any photos onto here - due to a dodgy phone and no lap top, hopefully I can rectify that soon as I think this is boring without some photographic evidence. Blue monkey has to have a couple of days off nursery - possibly infectious - but that's nursery being over cautious so tomorrow me and him are off out. I think pizza for 2 and dough balls are on the menu yummy

I'm ill :-(

Oh dear I've finally got the colds from the monkeys and I feel terrible I'm just lucky that the monkey's dad is just up the road and has very kindly taken them for a few hours - all i've done is sleep. Infact this weekend although we had plans Fri and Sat night we haven't done anything during the days - although today was planned it wasn't my fault it went wrong.... I've had a bit of a kick up my bum this weekend my lovely friend said jokingly "prepared as usual" as I stopped off at her house lady minute to pick something up and she's right it hit a nerve... Time to start getting organised, just unfortunately it'll have to wait a little while until I feel better

Cuddles on the sofa

Yippee my weekend starts here and we've got so many things to look forward to. Blue monkey is a challenge sometimes and tonight he decided rather than just talk to me he'd scream NO a million times - I walked away and left him alone and a few minutes later he came up to me, asked for a cuddle and said "mummy I'm sorry I shouted at you" my heart melted that was the first time ever that has happened I was so proud of him - and I made sure I told him. We ended the night watching telly cuddled up on the sofa, blue and pink were both being loving and I just thought how lucky I am to have them and how lucky they are to have each other.

50%?!

I got the extra penny.... Oh so pathetic and childish but on the 50% split I was awarded the extra 1p from the house split it made me smile. Had a girls night round at my friends but still early enough to bed to enjoy a bit of a lie in!

Being grateful

I love my iPad I couldn't have survived the past year of singledom and rented house without it but I don't like how I can't upload pics easily on it - I've got some great pics to put on here I think no pics makes my blog boring and pictures can say a 1,000 words. I found out one of my friends isn't very well at the moment - but she's a tough cookie and I know she'll be on the mend soon. Today I'm grateful that i've reached the half way point of my working week relatively unscathed and that I had a lovely lunch with the girls. Pink monkey us being a star at home and nursery and blue monkey is back loving Gnomeo and Juliet - so that makes me happy too.

3 weeks and counting

Yippee if all goes to plan then I could be moving house in 3 weeks I'm starting to get excited again - i've even chosen wallpaper but by the time I move I'll have changed my mind again. No complaints about today - survived work, monkeys were good, and all is calm. I still haven't thought of a sewing project - deep down I'm a domestic goddess but unfortunately it's just a bit far down!!!

Southern monkey!!!

It's been a lazy but satisfying Sunday so far. I enjoyed a nice lie in (oh not to be woken at 5am!!) then made banana loaf - I'm getting back into my baking mode, and I need to make some cup cakes after a special request today. Off out for Sunday lunch - J who says I need to mention and give a nickname too so Southern monkey hope that suits!! - made the best roast beef and extras then pulled out a ginormous chocolate cake, she's a domestic goddess. Off to mum's for a brew then back home for feet up. Got a few hours till bedtime I'm thinking of getting my sewing book out and planning a little project - no idea what, I need some inspiration - anyone have any ideas?

Beautiful

Stupidly expensive ice cream yum

So last night was as good as the day - phew!!! Now I've had a very lazy day - braving tesco was as stressful as it got. I've treated myself to some calorific stupidly expensive ice cream which I'm going to eat watching Bridesmaids. After the week I've had some down time is needed. Yesterday I took this lovely pic of pink monkey - her fringe has suddenly got too long so for the first time she's got a clip in. Oh I'm struggling to upload the photo - stupid iPad I'll do it another day

Another week done!

Ok so I missed my daily blog yesterday - I was too busy eating yummy tapas and drinking copious amounts of wine with L (our Wed nights are becoming regular) and all that on a school night - bad heads this morning but worth it. Finally got sign off on a new piece of analysis at work - really pleased we all pulled together and got it sorted - nothing like a bit of team work to cheer up my day. Booked another holiday this time we're off to Lanzarote for a week and taking Nanna with us - a week in the sun is exactly what we need I can't wait to take the monkeys onto the beach and into the pool. 2012 is really becoming the year when normality comes back into our lifes.

Positivity?

So I must be able to think of one positive in my day...... I'm wracking my brain..... The kids both went to bed really well!! It's been one of those days culminating in total meltdown from Blue monkey, I want this to be uber positive but I cannot lie blue monkey is in a word "challenging" he is a wonderful, clever, loving little boy who at times is far too clever for his own good, he pushes every single button and tonight was one of those times. Luckily one of my friends came round to help me put him to bed and to have a cup of tea - so there's my positive, salvation on the end of a teary phone call (thanks C) Tomorrow is a new day it's early to bed for me I need lots and lots of sleep

Blue Monday?

Apparently today is the most depressing day of the year - but not in my house. A miracle has happened we've resold the house and got a bit more money for it - I couldn't believe when we got the call this morning. Finally something is going right - maybe all this positive thinking is paying off. I'm not the greatest cook, I love to bake but that's because I love cakes, but last night I forced myself to make a tuna pasta bake for tea tonight, and I'm glad I did as both of them ate it all, with Blue monkey saying it was yummy. Made me feel like a domestic goddess - for once. Work is as hectic as ever but laptop has been left in the office and tonight I'm going to relax with my book - every girl needs some feet up time now and then!!

Oh baby

Another weekend over and looking back (and ignoring the house situation) it's been really nice.

Blue monkey helped me to make soda bread this morning (the hat stayed on for as long as it took to take the pic but he looked cute) he told me when he grows up he's going to make cookies - yesterday he said he wanted to be a fire engine I tried to explain that he meant fireman but no he was adament he's going to be a fire engine!

One of my friends came over with her 2 monkeys this morning - we're both lucky we have a blue and pink one close in age to each other so the blue's headed upstairs to play with lego and trains and we attempted to keep the pinks downstairs - easier said than done with stair gates still not in place (it is on the to do list...). L made me smile by bringing me a present ( I wonder why it made her think of me - it was very nice to be thought of)

Then this afternoon we went to a christening, I knew a few people to say hi to but that was it and we still had a lovely time. The monkeys were so well behaved I was such a proud mummy - pink monkey looked beautiful in her new Ted Baker dress (thanks L I love these clothes bags you pass on!) - even though her cheeks were bright red

And blue monkey was the kindest best behaved boy I could ask for - plus he decorated a mug so nicely - apparently it's for Daddy - so I'll keep the one pink monkey decorated. I think you'd pay a fortune for such abstract works of art.

Back home we were all in our pjs by 6pm having a carpet picnic of our home made soda bread with jam - then early to bed for the monkeys they were shattered. I've made tea for tomorrow, got clothes ready, done some work and after finishing this am heading off to bed myself. I've promised myself I'm going to read more this year - last year I managed 1 (!) book and thats an awful number, so some early nights to enjoy some good books. I make my life sound so exciting..... but I also know I am a very lucky lady.

I'm mad about a .... house

Why did I think 2012 was the year to start a blog? Well the past few years have been a bit more down than up - apart from my brilliant monkeys of course - I really saw 1 Jan as a clean sheet I felt positive about the future and I thought if i blogged for 365 days just about the positive side of things then I'd have something good to look back on at the end of the year. On 1 Jan I thought by now I'd have bought my new house but 14 days in I'm in the middle of a restructure at work and my house sale collapsed right at the last minute so from thinking I had 2012 sorted I am now in a position where once again I don't know what is round the corner. But 14 days into this blog it has also made me think about the good. If I need to write something positive then I need to think/do something positive so instead of dwelling on the bad - for at the least the length of time it takes me to write my daily thing I'm thinking happy thoughts.

I got a lot of letters off the tax man today which is normally not a good thing but woo hoo apparently for the past 4 years I've over paid tax so I'm getting a rebate it's a few hundred pounds so I'm now just waiting for a cheque to land - fingers crossed that comes soon.

It's been an average Saturday we've been round to a friends this afternoon which kept the kids entertained just thinking about what we can do tomorrow - I'm thinking I should show blue monkey how to make soda bread, he loves baking.

And now that I know we aren't moving for the time being I'm going to do some jobs which I was putting off - tomorrow I'm installing stair gates that should make things so much easier with pink monkey.

So another Saturday night in but when the monkeys are tucked up safely upstairs a night in doesn't bother me at all. Last night I actually avoided the wine I decided to save a glass for tonight so my curry for 1 is in the oven and I'm off to pour the wine.

Maybe this blog wasn't such a bad idea after all.

Oh no Friday 13th

Normally I'm not superstitious in the past I've flown on Fri 13th and for someone who doesn't like flying that's no mean feat, but today the curse has struck. The house sale fell through right at the last minute, but it turns out someone else may be interested and they are viewing the house tomorrow so we'll keep fingers and toes crossed but for the time being I'm staying put - looking at it rationally it's not the end of the world what will be will be, i've got a roof over my head - and for a rented house it's not bad at all - I think my job is safe and the kids are happy, life could be a whole lot worse.

Going to tidy up after the kids normal Fri destruction then sit down with a nice glass of pink wine watch some tv and relax....

Fast asleep

I really should be in the land of nod but I've just finished working and now I've got some tidying to do - such exciting stuff.

I am very proud today though pink monkey got star of the day in her nursery class for counting 1,2,3 - she's a very clever and content little girl. At bedtime I told blue monkey all about our holiday with our friends - his face was a picture he's so excited, roll on summer. He goes to nursery with one of his friends who is also going the pair of them will talk non stop about it - my ears will hurt!!

Blu - not me

Another Wed kid free night and once again L and I headed into town for a bite to eat - this seems to becoming a regular thing but that's a good thing we always have a laugh whilst putting the world to rights. I now feel very very full and very tired I think it'll be an early night for me - last day of the working week for me tomorrow and I can't wait.

So very tired

I have so much work to do hence the reason I'm still plodding through spreadsheets at 10.30pm, and today some man thought it funny to get a dig in that I work 4 days and leave 15 minutes early every night - I was fuming he knows nothing about me but when I was driving home to pick the monkeys up and was able to sit down and have tea with them I thought how lucky I am to be able to do both. I have a job that challenges me but I have 2 brilliant kids who I am bringing up - yes it's hard juggling and sometimes a ball might drop but most of the time I do ok and when work gets to much a trip out for posh coffee gives me a ten minute break and the caffiene soon kicks in.

This morning pink monkey said very clearly "purple" copying blue monkey - it's made me smile all day the sheer randomness of the word.

Happy Mondays

I slept badly last night I'd heard rumours of an announcement at work and I thought it would be just my luck to add redundancy onto my list of disasters, well there was an announcement and unfortunately a few changes but for the time being my job is fine and tonight I will sleep well, so that cheered me up along with the fact the announcement took less time than expected so I managed to leave a little early and pick the monkeys up early which was great.

I've just had a phone call off my friend asking if the monkeys and I still fancied a few nights st a Haven caravan park this summer - oh yes please!! How times have changed I've been on Carribean cruises but this year Haven in North Wales and I cannot wait, hopefully there will be 7 of us "grown ups" and 7 kids - madness but fun.

Driving into work I listened to xfm and every song was brilliant so when I got home I showed some of the videos on utube to blue monkey and he said "mummy these songs are really good" the boy has taste (and for anyone interested the songs of today are The Maccabbees - Pelican and The Wombats -1996)

I've survived

I've done it - my first weekend of the year with the monkeys at their Dad's and I made no plans - I proved to myself that a quiet weekend in is not the end of the world that my own company is not too bad, I even did it without wine (I think I was turning into a bit of a lush at the end of last year ops)

So today I did the weekly shop - and after going through the cupboards and writing a meal plan I spent the grand total of £24.98 - unbelievable, even more unbelievable if I stick to the plan and don't crack and give kids cheese on toast after nursery one night.

After trying S's homemade soda bread on New Years Day I made some myself today - it looks ok just waiting to see what it tastes like when I have some with jam for supper.

Ironing pile has gone down, garage has never been so organised so maybe not the most exciting weekend but I really feel like I've achieved something -which can only be a good thing.

Tomorrow is going to be an interesting day - but whatever happens I get the monkeys home and for that I cannot wait

Update: soda bread was so yummy it's added to my regular receipe list

Peace

Oh I really am trying to stay positive but things are getting thrown at me left right and centre. I will however step back and look at what's been good about my day. Another thing has been ticked off my ginormous to do list - ok it was nothing exciting a trip to the tip but I could only do that because my friends helped, so looking on the bright side I have friends who will help me do boring jobs not just the fun things. I managed to get done a complicated spreadsheet for work - again not exciting but felt good for finishing it one less job for the Monday morning stress. Now tea is in the oven, Take Me Out is starting soon and I can have a nice quiet Saturday night in. I spent Nov and Dec what felt like constant partying I craved a night of peace and quiet so I really should enjoy it.

Friday Feeling

So fingers crossed my Christmas tree came down by the 12th night deadline so hopefully I'll not be hit by a lot of bad luck in the next few weeks. Had some better news on the house - still no definate confirmation that the sale will go through but so far it hasn't failed so I'm staying positive. The kids have gone to their Dad's for the weekend - I know how much they all love this so I have to look on the good side (kids happy make me happy). I have no plans except sorting out my house which should make me feel back on top of everything after the Christmas madness.

And when I go to bed tonight I know I won't be woken before 6am so I get a proper nights sleep which is brilliant

Weekend has started -well for me anyway

Phew I've survived the first week back at work - although it has been a hard at times. Lucky for me I only work 4 days and as Monday was a bank holiday I've only had to work 3 days. I am shattered but am very happy that in a few minutes I will be tucked up in bed and tomorrow I get to have coffee with my friends and spend the day with the monkeys. Thank goodness for Fridays!

Mmmm food glorious food

It's the wettest coldest day and it seems that my house sale (long rubbish story) is about to collapse so I could have come home from work and lay on the sofa and cried, BUT L suggested going out for tea so after heading through the rain I had a very yummy tea at Tampopo plus a good gossip about work (unfortunately conversation always comes back to that!) and lots of other things.

I'm now home wrapped up nice and warm and have decided what will be will be - no point worrying about something completely out of my hands.

Back to work

A new year same job, but today on my desk was my own personalised 2012 diary with all the work calendars, phone numbers, little facts and space for pictures of the monkeys that I could ever need all put together by one of my very lovely and kind friends at work, she had done one for each of us over the Christmas break and we all loved it. It is definitely true that time given is better than money spent (most of the time!)

And I survived the first day back, my to do list is very very long but I'm staying calm and as my broken mug says carrying on!

Cakes & sleep!

What a great day - 7.30am wake up from both the monkeys (that never never happens, probably first and last time for the year)

A full day in the house normally ends in carnage, but not today,not one visit to the naughty step - this too is a miracle (a very very good miracle)

Then we made cakes to a specific request from blue monkey - chocolate cakes with pink and green glitter on top. Your wish is my command - someone was very happy when they were ready to eat

And finally I now have my freeview recordable box up and running thanks to 2 brilliant friends and 2 trips to B&Q!

Oh what a lovely day - back to work tomorrow!!!

New Year New Start

Today is the first day of 2012 - after a few years of more downs than ups I really believe that this is going to be a good year for me and my 2 monkeys. Sometimes all the good things - the everyday things - get lost, I thought by recording them somewhere I can remind myself of what I have to be happy for.

New Years Eve was spent drinking champagne, eating the yummiest homemade pizzas and laughing with friends who really care about me.

Then I got a much appreciated lie in - before me and the 2 monkeys headed off to a fake family (you know the ones, not blood related but been there forever and ever) party, even more laughter and 2 happy and tired kids now tucked up safely fast asleep in their own beds.

Bring on 2012