My friend reviews monthly on her blog all the books she has read - (how she manages to read so many in a month I don't know!!!). I have loved reading her reviews and it helps me choose books. So I thought I would do the same this year.
So here goes the first one is http://www.amazon.co.uk/Our-Farm-Year-Life-Smallholding/dp/074758897X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264672679&sr=1-3 - I don't know how to put images or photos on this blog yet!!! The book is called 'Our Farm, a year in the life of a smallholding' by Rosie Boycott.
Rosie used to be an editor for the Daily Express and decided to leave it all behind and with her partner go and run a farm. This book is all about how they set it up. They had money to invest in the farm so when for most of the first year they did not make any profit they could make up the money with savings that they had. It was a lovely read. It reminded me how good village life is - and if we can shop locally then we really should as it benefits the local community so much. This was much easier to do when we were living in Rugby, at the moment I do all my shopping at either Sainsburys or Tesco. I loved the tales she gave of the animals on the farm, and became quite fond of a few of the pigs!! One thing in the book that amazed me was when she outlined the chemicals that went on potatoes that we buy in our supermarkets. It was amazing the number and frequency of different chemicals that are sprayed just on potatoes!!! It was scary infact!!! This year I will start my veggie patch off again, but how nice it would be to have an allotment and the time to do it so that all the veg we eat we had grown ourselves without chemicals. No wonder more and more people are getting cancer, Im sure it has something to do with the amount of stuff that is sprayed onto the food we eat.
So all in all a good book, that if you like this kind of read it is worth getting out of the library! (Most of my books come from the library - don't see the point in buying all the books you want to read)
well it has snowed!!!!!!!!! Zak had last Wed and Thurs off school and again today because the school was shut!! Today his seemed to be one of the only primary schools shut - hmmmm!!! Hoping all the snow dissapears before I start work as the school I will be working in does not seem to ever be shut!!!! Still waiting for my CRB form to arrive - could be up to another 3 weeks - crazy!!! Schools tend to shut now as it doesn't then affect their attendance rates - if they open and people cant get in, or decide not to come in then their attendance rates are down which ofsted don't like!!!
Went to the doctors last week for a routine smear test and found out that I have a polyp on my cervix, a (nearly always) benign lump thing. Been refered to gyne to take it off. Not really that worried about it, but it's always at the back of my mind.
Can't think of any other very exciting news! Will try and blog when things come up.
TTFN
We had a lovely Christmas with just the four of us yesterday. We had roast Duck for lunch, chillled, slept, watched films and played games and it was lovely, We also made some yummy ice cream (ice cream maker pressie from my lovley husband). Decided that if we had people come to us for Christmas lunch next year we would need to have done the kitchen to create some more workspace!!
We have no internet for a couple of weeks so hopefully the blog will be updated more often then! Take care and happy christmas.
Lara
"If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are too heated, it will cool you down. If you are depressed, it will cheer you. If you are excited, it will calm you" Gladstone 1865
"There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea" Bernard-Paul Herc
Two events I thought I would document on here!!!
1) Took Zak and Maisey to the library after school on Thursday. I said that they could take out one story CD. Zak wanted Thomas and Maisey wanted Postman Pat - so I put them behind my back and Zak chose a hand - and in the hand was the Postman Pat. Zak cried and cried so the whole library could hear. My parenting skills were tested!!! I said they could only take one CD out - so if I let Zak take out Thomas as well I am going against all that I said. But then Zak is crying at the top of his voice (?) and he has been a bit tearful due to all the move and stuff, so do I give in? Im thinking what to do, but thinking I need to stick to my plan of one CD home. Maisey comes over and says to Zak "Zak put the postmas pat one back and we can take the Thomas one home" - what a lovely lovely little sister Maisey was to Zak - they had big cuddles and it was very cute!!!
2) We popped into asda after the library. As we got in Maisey starts saying "I want something new, I want something Mummy please" Zak told me that Maisey had been the same when she had gone into a shop with Jon the day before - so I explained that you don't always get new things - especially sometimes if you ask for them. She then was quiet and decided that she really did need a new handbag. So after a while she chirps up "Mummy I have a deal for you, either you buy me a new handbag or I will get in the buggy (I had said she could go in the buggy to pick Zak up from school but had to walk home) - you choose Mummy" I tried to explain that I made the 'deals' not her but she just said "So shall I get in the buggy then Mummy" - little monkey!!! We came out of the shop with no handbag and Maisey walking!!!!!!
Tomorrow we are moving into Uncle Robs. We lived with Rob last summer when we moved to Rugby before someone offered us the house we have been living in for the last year. People are waiting to move into this house - so tomorrow off we go back to Robs, we will then take the next week moving all of our stuff out of this house either into Robs or into storage. I hate the hassle - all our stuff in boxes, in different places - will be amazed if the kids go to school with all the right 'bits' on Monday!!!
Taking kids to soft play this morning then into the office to finish off my work bits and tidy my room. Its been a lovely lovely place to work over the past year and has been a fantastic introduction back into the working world. I have made the office two lovely cakes to eat today.
Was reminded again in Church on Sunday that 'time is in his hands' ie God does know what he is doing - just wish he would get a move on and sort out this house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Right time to get dressed!!! Yesterday I bought a lovely top in the Charity shop for £3 - trouble is it looks like a giraffe so Zak and Maisey pointed out!!! And yes it does - brown with yellow pattens!! So today I might go out dressed as a giraffee!!!
were Zak's words as he was playing today!!!
Well - life never seems to go to plan!! The house that we were ment to complete within 28 days on (request from the seller) will definately NOT be completed within 28 days. Goodness knows when we will now move. The 28 days should have taken us to the Tuesday after half term. The latest from our solicitor is that it might take up to 6 weeks - 6 WEEKS! I just want to be in my own house with my own stuff around me. Also we have to move out of the house we are in, so we will be living with Uncle Rob again until we can get in our house. Zak bless him doesn't know if he is coming or going - he thought he might be starting his new school after half term - but no!! My job finishes on Saturday so I will be job-less. Im going to volunteer in Zak and Maisey's school whilst Maisey is in Nursery though every morning - means I can get my school experience up to date and seems silly to walk home to spend an hour and a half at home before I go and get Maisey.
Maisey had her pre school boosters today. She didn't even cry - she was amazing!!!! She did have a sore arm though when she got home and has gone to bed dosed up with pain killers and a very very tired lady.
Im just hoping and praying that this house does not fall through. I have to trust its all in Gods timing though although I don't have a clue why!!!
TTFN
Yep it has been ages and ages and ages since I last blogged. Part of the reason being that our future has been all up in the air and it was hard to write on here as some people knew some things and other people knew other things and some things some people couldn't know. All confusing I know.
Our Audley house completed about 2 weeks ago. Lots of crying as we said goodbye to our wonderful next door neighbours. Our house search for a new house has been a long one!!! we decided to move to Coventry - that was always the plan once our house had sold. But we have been so happy in Rugby that it is hard to say goodbye and move on. I have had a wonderful job here and the kids have enjoyed school and nursery and are now both in the same school. Our house search started in Binley, then moved to Canley where we put in an offer on a house that got accepted, but after the survey had come through we decided it just wasn't the house for us. So we have looked at loads of houses - but have found a lovely one just into Tile Hill. It has three double bedrooms, a nice garden, two rooms downstairs and is lovely. On Friday we vistied the two schools near to the house and found a very lovely school to which Zak is booked into go after half term. So its all go, but at last our own house. Looking back this year in Rugby has been amazing, Ive managed to work and get us some money and its been lovely living around close friends. I've learnt to give thanks whatever situation I am in, and to remember the most important things in life such as family and fun. If all goes according to plan we will be in just after half term.
Kids are good, growing up fast and continuing to provide Jon and I such pleasure and giggles. Zak has just been nominated by his class to be a school counciller which he is very proud to have taken up! Maisey has started swimming lessons - she loves being in the water but is normally in her own little world!!! Zak can nearly swim 25meters (so i guess he can swim about 20meters!!! - just the badges go 10m then 25m) Will now try and blog more often now that things are not so complecated!!!!
Take care xxxx
Our lovely house in Audley has sold - well we have accepted an offer and all is going ahead!! I feel happy as we need to sell it, but all my other emotions are everywhere. It was the first house that we have owned and it was a lovely house with a fab garden with lots of fond memories and the best ever neighbours in the whole world!!
We went on holiday in Cornwall last week with some friends, had a fab week, weather was mixed but okay on the whole. Then its Jon's brothers wedding on Saturday and New Wine next week. Zak and Maisey have been talking about the wedding for a very long time - I wonder if it lives up to their expectations!!!!!
Will blog more on my return!!!
