I once knew a man who's tongue fell off in his sleep

 Hi,

Had no idea what to call this post....lol

So - since my last post what have I done? I spent a week at Helen and Pauls house dog sitting whilst they went on holiday.  They are looking after our place and cats so we can go to Italy in September! whoop!!! We are going to Milan, Venice, Rome and Naples!

So I actually really enjoyed staying at their place and taking the dog out everyday - we went on some coastal walks and the weather was great! Everybody was happy apart from Andy who was left in this big old house on his own!

All the fresh air and walking, was awesome and has made me want to do more exercise - so last weekend me and Andy took our bikes into the Quantocks Hills to do a 8km trail that I looked up.  We drove up to the carpark and set off.  It was 34 degrees, so I froze a couple of bottles of water for us, so it would be lovely and cold when we drank it.  This was the plan.  

We followed the trail, and then it went VERY steeply down a hill, so much so we were pushing our bikes rather than riding on them, and were slipping and falling...then one of the trails disappeared into the undergrowth so we climbed over the wild growth to get to another path - it continued down and down and I was very worried about getting up again - hoping the way back would be less steep.  Then we lost the path again.  By this time we were very worried - we had come such a long way down the only way back was going to be up!!  The frozen water would not defrost!! It was boiling hot - but ice would not melt - so when we were gasping for a drink - we had a few drops of water at a time.  We eventually went onto google maps and found the road way back - about 2 miles uphill!!

It was not fun anymore, I was worried about my own health - and even more worried about Andy - much bigger guy who was sweating so much more than me and losing so much water - and all we had was ice that we couldn't get to!  Eventually andy stamped on his plastic bottle to break up the ice so we wouldn't die out there!

In the end we did 11km - in over 3 hours, and it was a nightmare...all that pushing the bike uphill, in a heatwave with little or no water...we were exhausted!

So....Andy lost 9lb that day (went down to 7lb) I lost 1lb which went down to 0.4lb....story of my life.

We have had a heatwave that has lasted for ages - we have a drought, and all our grass is dead lol.  It's been great really, although often too hot - definitely too hot for me to go into the attic to sew or into the workshop to work!  Just starting to cool down a bit now - think the temp is now about 25 degrees and we are getting rain and thunderstorms.

I am starting to think about decorating the downstairs bathroom...so might have another project on the go again soon!

anyway - bye for now

sewing and woodworking are my new things!

 Hi!

So firstly - Lissa is pregnant again and it is another girl - due in December!

Adam is getting married in just over 2 weeks - and Andy has just been asked to perform the ceremony!  (they already got married in a registry office - this bit is the celebration)

Connor just moved house and moved in with mates - still in Cardiff and as always still hates his job!

I have been sewing - I only wanted to make cushions but it escalated! and I am currently wearing a dress I made.  I am not very good at it though to be honest - but I'm hoping it is a hobby that will continue!

So we have had a workshop built so I can get all the tools out of the house and have somewhere to made stuff!!!

The picture above shows it half way through being treated - I have stopped for a few days as it was giving me headaches and making me feel sick!

Yesterday was the first day I actually started moving tools in and started making a workbench - waiting on a delivery today from B&Q so I can finish it...

Since I last posted on here - we have been to Cardiff and watched Ed Sheran which was awesome! Andy got VIP tickets so we had access to a lounge with our own table - inclusive booze and food, which made the experience even better! Ed Sheran was amazing!  We enjoyed it so much we did it all again and saw the Stereophonics!!!

In other news - my Mum has a boyfriend called err....I forgot....Pete?  She is totally smitten and I am finding it very weird.  She is happier than I have ever known her to be which is obviously a good thing - but I'm still not over losing my Dad and don't think I ever really will be, so although I am happy for her I also find it distressing....

I drove to Bridgnorth a week or two ago - just so I could take Andy's Dad - John - to a hospital appointment - his parents are really struggling at the moment - they don't have a car and he has an extremely painful ulcer on his leg so he is struggling to walk and has to go to docs 3 times a week to have dressings changed.  Was really nice to be able to help out - just wish they were not so far away!

Andy has started his new job with IBM - but is just doing training course after training course atm.

Okay - think that is me done for now! 

Bye for now!

I'm Free!!!

 

Hi,

So since last time, I handed in my notice and finished work - my last day was Friday! I was told I'd have to go into the office once a week - at first I thought it was going to be everyday which is what started the conversation about me leaving...then I found out it was just one day but we had already spoken about me leaving and going back to working on the house and being more organised with keeping on top of cleaning, cooking etc.  It is not like cleaning a normal house - we could do with a house keeper really.  So - I took the plunge and...well....left!  I did feel bad leaving, because I did enjoy the job and the people, and I was invested in my cases, but he pull to leave was stronger....  Claire my boss came around on Friday - had a look around the house and then we finished up work stuff - she brought me gifts too! Flowers, chocolates, earrings and a £25 B&Q voucher lol - will definitely come in handy!

So - we have just had a bank holiday weekend - and today is the first day that I would normally have been in work :-) So....today I got up and put washing on and tidied the kitchen, then I started sanding another section of the games room floor - and went on to paint the base coat and 2 top coats.  I also made a curry for tea, changed Andy's bed and did more washing! So I feel my first day went well!  Living the dream again!

OH! Erika had the baby!!  6lb 9oz - River Roy Andrew - so touched and think that it is amazing that they names him after my Dad and Andy!! So much so, that I can forgive them for not using Sam (again!) lol, but Lissa is having another baby (due in December) so the name Sam has another chance!! lol.

Chubsy face!!

Not sure when I am going to visit - but hopefully soon!!!

So...we have ordered a workshop - to go into the bottom of the garden - 20ft x 12ft - so a substantial size - so excited about that! We can get all of the tools out of the house - they are everywhere! and I can properly set up everything like my mitre saw and circular saw - and hopefully new stuff - and then start making things - like cabinets in the back porch, a fire surround, shelves in the bathroom cupboard, panelling in the upstairs loo - and I want to upcycle stuff.  I've also signed up for an upholstery course, and I've had my sewing machine out and made a cushion with piping and a zip - and a box cushion (I want to make seat cushions to go into the window seats that we have!

In other news Andy started his new job with IBM today!

Helen & Paul have covid!!  Helen got it first and is apparently really ill....I am a little worried but she is vaccinated.  Its not like it was 2 years ago....but I really feel bad for her - she says that she is really ill - flu symptoms and dry retching! Paul has only just got it so not sure how he is going to be - poor Eloise - she is bound to catch it!!

Until next time....

2 year anniversary - losing Dad

 Hi,

It is Wednesday - my day off and I was supposed to have a haircut at 10.30, but it was cancelled as the hairdresser has hurt her back! 

So, I'm sat here procrastinating until I get myself up, have a shower and meet Yvonne and and kids at 1pm :-)  I haven't seen Yvonne for ages - since I last saw her she will have lost loads of weight as she had Gastric bypass surgery, and i have put on a ton of weight (because I'm a lazy foodie).

She lost her step-dad George on 15th April (same date as Dad died) he wasn't old, and was a lovely guy - we met him at her wedding and during that week. Apparently it was cancer and was very quick - such sad, sad news.

I got sad on 15th, when I realised it was two years since that awful time, and I decided to go back and read my blog - I read a couple of paragraphs and had to stop because it was too upsetting.  I have tried not to dwell on it - it is better to think of past times with him rather than the end...

At the weekend I went to Manchester as it was two years since my Dad died, and Joanne (sister) arranged a memorial/get-together.  Long drive to Manchester, with Connor who came over Friday night to travel with us.   It was at Brackley Conservative Club - somewhere I'd not been before.  We got there a little early which was good because Bev, Joanne and Mum were there so I got to say Hi (and have a bit of the whiskey I took for the toast).  Lissa, Ada, Adam, (a heavily pregnant and struggling) Erika and Rory and Rudy turned up, as did my Helen, Paul, Eloise and Zack, my brothers Andrew & Antony and their partners and Andrews kids, my cousin Claire and her kids, and my Aunty Elaine, my Dads remaining brother Ronny, my Dads best mate Steve Lawrence and his wife, and many others came.

Joanne did a moving toast, which made me cry - there were pictures of my Dad everywhere....it was sad and at the same time really good to see all the family.

I proceeded to get quite tipsy - and tried to chat to everybody there.  It was a really good event.

Me, Joanne, Bev and Helen ended up chatting for quite a while - I love getting together with them - we never struggle to talk constantly and laugh a lot!  It was great just to spend time with people at different times, including our kids! Not enough time though!!

I hardly saw Andy - especially as he didn't have to keep me topped u with drinks as we drank the wine/whiskey provided for the toasts!  My Mum and Hilda and another couple did a couple of ballroom dances, and then George (Nephew - Bev's son) got up and danced with Hilda as he does competition dance.

Afterwards (because we had the room from 1pm - 6pm) we had arranged to go back to my Mums with the kids - but loads of people went back there (apart from Bev, Megan and Aimee - and they are not speaking - although Bev was approached about going and said she would go - a step towards peace - but my Mum said NO WAY).

Again it was great fun at my Mums with all the family there - just love being around them all! I might have got a little too intoxicated, and i did wake up the next day hoping I'd not said anything stupid or offended anybody!

Me and Andy got a lift back to the hotel from Erika - and I felt a little guilty because I really didn't want to get a taxi and Erika had struggled all day being so heavily pregnant...

Lissa & Adam both managed to get a babysitter (their Dad) for the night, so that must have been great for them!

We woke up really early so we made an early start on the journey home...dropped Connor off at Bristol train station - and I ended up sleeping on the couch for a while!  All in all - a great family time - for a very sad reason.

Sunday morning...hoping WW3 is not on its way....

 Hi! 

Yet again -months since my last post....just read over my last post looking at what I said and what has changed etc.

Covid - never really read about it now and life with regards to covid is very different to 2020.  We have all had 2 vaccines and a booster...from 24 February 2022 all restrictions were lifted and people testing positive no longer have to isolate - they are advised to isolate but are not being forced to.  I am worried that I will be made to go back to working in the office...really don't want to do that.  I reduced my hours slightly so I finish at 4.30pm and at the moment, as soon as I finish I immediately get changed and start decorating (painting games room dark green!). If I have to have travel time in my day - this will change a lot of things.  Depending on Andy's job and our finances if I am forced to go back into the office I'd be very tempted to leave....

In other news.....

So - Russia has decided to invade Ukraine! The last few weeks it has been on the news because he was gathering his army around Ukraine's border, Putin was saying it was a training exercise and at one point said the army was leaving - but then he made an announcement that he was making two area's of the Ukraine independent states and he was moving his army in for 'peacekeeping' purposes! Nobody believed this and it was very worrying...then he made an announcement that Ukraine was committing genocide against their people (with no evidence whatsoever) and that he was going to de-nazify Ukraine.

Since then (only a few days) it has been war! Ukraine are not a member of NATO (otherwise it would be full on WW3, with NATO fighting Russia) but instead countries are sending weapons to Ukraine and imposing financial restrictions against Russia.  Ukrainian's are fighting! Citizens have either fled or have agreed to fight and are being given guns and are being advised to make Molotov cocktails - which they have been doing.  Normal looking everyday people - women and men have been seen queuing up to collect guns and have been since in large groups making the Molotov cocktails.  Lots of people went into the underground stations and basements to stay away from the bombing.  On the news/Twitter etc. we see reports of the fighting.  One tiny Island (snake Island) had just 12-13 people on it - were approached by a Russain warship who told then to lay down their arms and surrender or get attacked...they replied (all over loud speaker) F**k you Russian war ship! unfortunately they were then bombed and killed.  

Last night was the worse so far with Ukraine's 2nd largest city Kharkiv, seeing lots of bombing and fighting and a gas pipe being blown up.  We watched nothing but the news, webcams and trawled twitter last night and about 2am (their time) you could hear the fighting in the distance from one of the webcams - it sounded scary and I cannot imagine what that would be like to live through.

There are reports that the Ukrainian's are doing well defending themselves - but I can't imagine it will end well because it is Russia after all!  I don't think the Russian soldiers want to be there, there is footage of Ukrainians laughing at Russians after they ran out of fuel and were stranded on the road - Ukrainian's saying - do you want a lift back to the Russian border? lol

The Ukrainian president Zelenskyy is coming across as a hero - going out onto the streets with a gun and urging his country to fight!  Putin will want him dead and he knows it - I hope he survives - as well as his country!

If Putin makes any move against countries on the outskirts of Ukraine, which are members of NATO then it will be war! He has very dangerous nuclear weapons so its very worrying right now...

Russian's are protesting about the war against Ukraine - many of whom are being arrested (about 2000 I believe), there are demonstrations all over the world against Russia - because its a war without a cause!

Ukraine president Zelenskyy

The poor Ukrainian's - having Covid like the rest of the world and as it eases they get invaded!

Saturday morning in my PJs

 

Its cold in this house! I've just got up and have a jumper on and am sat under a blanket in the living room, and I thought to myself - I'll update my blog!

I cannot update everything because it has been ages! 

Oh, I think there might be a bird in my chimney....I can hear something!

So as a little catch-u I might do little categories - erm....coronavirus, work, family, house?

Coronavirus

Well, it is obviously still a big part of our lives, most (sensible) people have been vaccinated and now we have boosters 6 months after our last jab.  Andy has just been called for his booster but I think I have to wait until February.  Life feels a little safer since vaccinations....oh god there is a bird in the chimney! 

Sorry - yeah life feels a bit safer because although the vaccination does not stop you catching covid, it has seriously reduced the level of ppl in hospital and dying - although people are still dying...let me find the latest figures....

5,163,433 deaths in the world so far

143,716 deaths in the UK

Germany are currently going back into lockdown - they had 39,000 new cases in a single day and are on their 4th wave - this is apparently because of the large numbers of un-vaccinated people.  Why are people not getting vaccinated? I guess some have genuine reasons, but there are still conspiracists - some crazy things out there such as the government are injecting trackers etc. well in my opinion if you believe that and then get covid you might think - erm...maybe a government tracker would have been better than this! 

I watch very little news really on it - I used to be glued to it, but I find it depressing and there is not much that is new anymore - it is more a way of life.  Life in general is much more 'normal' than it was.  I had to go to HQ the other day - the motorway was really busy and I thought to myself, the last time I drove here was right at the beginning9 of the first lockdown - and there were barely any cars at all on the roads.  In fact I resented the fact that I was one of the few people that had to leave the house because I had just got a new job and had to turn up for a weeks training - it was during that week that my dad got taken into hospital.  Wow - that was such a stressful, terrifying and awful time in my life.

At the moment in the UK the group with the highest levels of covid are kids - then they are coming home from school and passing it on to their parents.  As we approach winter/Christmas levels are rising again and we suspect another lockdown might be headed our way. Boris Johnson is trying to avoid a Christmas lockdown again...

Work

So I am still in the fraud team - I work from home I am extremely happy to say and it will probably be this way from now on.  I go into the office when I have an interview or something, but mostly I get up and go up into the attic (and Andy goes to the basement) and we work there all day.  We often meet in the kitchen for lunch lol - but other than that we may as well be in different work places.  Took a long time but I now feel that I have settled into the role, I feel part of the team and it feels quite normal.  Such a difficult, depressing start to working in this job and that on top of losing my dad and the coronavirus being so terrifying - it nearly broke me.  Now I work mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri - 10 hour shifts and I work on the house mostly on Wednesdays and at the weekend.  Frustrating though because I cant just get stuck into a big job like I used to....

We had a team day the other day (that's why I drove to HQ) and I met some of the wider fraud team for the first time - including Niki who was my mentor for quite a while, and I have been in this role for a year now!  We all did lateral flow tests before we arrived and wore masks (mostly), but other than that it was fairly normal - or pre-covid.  I really like the people I work with so that makes life easier - nothing worse than having a crap boss!  Would still like to be my own boss again though and just do DIY and look after the house - but hey-ho....

Family

So, I dont see the kids as much as I'd like - but we all live quite a distance from each other - I am always trying to persuade them to move here but they won't....

The three grandkids which were born in the height of the lockdown are doing well! All just about walking and starting to talk -they are all amazing and I adore them!! I get constant videos and pictures so feel in some ways that I have watched them growing up.  Adam and Erika are expecting another!! Another boy lol.  I had missed calls from Adam one day and he complained to Andy who passed on the message that he had been trying to get in touch.  When I checked my phone I saw the missed calls and a message which said Erika is pregnant! I did not believe this - even slightly, I assumed he was after a reaction from me because I had not responded to earlier messages so I replied saying, Oh that's nice, I'm decorating the hallway!  Then I called him and realised that he was serious!! He later admitted that my response had really pissed him off! I never would have responded like that if even a part of me thought he might be serious! hahah Anyway - after the shock of it - and the fear of how they would cope - I think they have now got used to the idea - and I can't wait to welcome another one into the family!!

Lissa has been arranging her wedding for next year - i went wedding dress shopping with her - which was amazing because so is so gorgeous so looked stunning in the dresses!  She messaged me yesterday though saying she might put the wedding back because she really wants another baby and doesn't want to wait - so who knows right now what she is going to do - but i could end up with another 2 grandkids next year!

Connor moved back to Cardiff, and is living in a shared house and working in a warehouse - he has apparently recently ended the relationship he was having with a girl called Holly, he wasn't 'feeling it'.  I worry about him but he assures me that he is doing well, and is DJ on a regular basis somewhere - he does drum & bass stuff

My mum seems to be doing really well considering she lost my dad last year.  I'm sure it is not all good for her and she has some very difficult times, but over-all she is doing well.  She is going to get the train here on her own in a couple of weeks and that is a big step for her and I am proud of her for doing it.  She realises that unless she takes this step and is able to travel, she will really be restricted and wont be able to visit me or Helen.

My mum is coming here for Adams birthday get-together - it is his 30th! I'm going to be the mother of a 30 year old! wow. Stressing a bit because I have no idea what to get him!! But should be good having everybody here for a party!! Hopefully there will be no lock-downs to ruin it - and I will ask everybody to do a covid test before they get here!

House

Have to mention where we are up to here! We got the driveway done as per my last post - but the gates we were getting have turned into a nightmare because the guy properly let us down! The gates are in place but we can't use them, they do not have the electronics fitted or the security and codes to let us in etc. cos he kept lying about turning up, or telling stories about why he was putting us off, then told us he was going into liquidation but he would not let us down - then just stopped answering out messages.  So - screw him, asshole! Can't seem to find somebody to come and finish a job half done...

Got somebody coming today because the roof is leaking in 2 places.....

I have decorated the upstairs and downstairs hallways now, I stripped the paint off the front door and I am going to try and darken the wood so it matches the stairs...I have plenty to do still!!  I really want to do the games room soon but damn work gets in the way! It is so frustrating - I really would like my old life back.  I'd love to just take 3 months off work to get stuck in again, maybe next year I will see if that is a possibility.

Just remembered I need to chase up a guy who has the window frame my dad built - he is going to be doing the window in the annex that has caused me so much stress.  One of the last things my dad said to me is - I need to do your window! I remember finding the frame in them garage at my mums when me and Helen stayed there at the time he died - and I went to pieces....so it has been an emotional issue for me.

We got the house valued a while ago - and were very pleased with the valuation - they said when it is finished - which is still quite a way off really - then it would be valued at 1.3m - but who knows what we would actually be able to sell it for! I don't want to move though - still love this place.

Can't think of a heading

In general life is okay - not pre-covid, pre-going back to work okay - but okay.  We are healthy and managing and getting by - and I don't cry every time something reminds me of my dad like I used to, but it is still awful to think about what happened to him, and I miss him so much!  Life still feels like we are in some kind of limbo though.  There is always the worry about covid whenever we leave the house.  It feels a lot like it is work/eat/sleep/repeat.  I am definitely not as out-going as I was and I can be quite anti-social now.  I don't like going off somewhere - I don't really like having to leave the house.  I have put on so much weight and got so unfit, that it feels like a different 'me' and I am not at all happy about that!  I keep trying to get the motivation back to look after myself and I don't know why I can't seem to do it.....oh making myself feel depressed now....

Today - I think our first job when Andy gets up is to release the bird in the fireplace - then we are going to go out and do a food shop - that is a rare thing indeed! It has all been online for so long! But had to cancel shopping as hadn't edited the order and we didn't want all the stuff they class as our regular purchases - such as all the vegan stuff Connor used to get!

We might go out tonight for food - the plan is we go out and make plans - plans for the house, for Christmas etc.  We did it a few days ago - but ended up not even mentioning the plans lol - we were having fun chatting and eating.  It is good to have the option now to go out and do that kind of stuff after so long not being about to do anything like that!

Okay I think that is it for now! Hopefully I wont leave it too long until my next post!

Renovation of front driveway!

 So - time for some more before and after pics! Such a long time since I have been able to do this - and it is a sign of a little normality!

So - some before pics...hard to find actually considering how many pictures we have of the house!

and now for some progress pics......

might just skip to the completed pics....