Well, Halloween was a distaster in our area! We do not celebrate it ourselves, but usually have loads of lil kids banging on the door... of course we turn the lights out and pretend we aren't home hehe But this year there was only ONE group of kiddies... was it too cold I wonder??? Money too tight to make costumes??? Hmmm... I wonder...
free stock photo used
I have a date with Daniel Craig this weekend! Can't wait to see the new James Bond movie. Daniel Craig and Sean Connery are my favourite Bond actors.
Well, I guess it had to happen... hubby has given me his stinking cold! Thanks for the anni gift dear! It is so cold outside, there is no way I am venturing out now, especially with this cold. Eyes are watering, voice is crackly, throat is sore, lemsips are bountiful.
I called the 3 kids parents who I should be looking after today and let them make the choice of whether to bring their lil ones today. I look after their kids when they have colds, so it's not bad enough to have off sick... but I would prefer they make the choice to take the chance of having a child with a cold this weekend... (of course, I would not charge were they to say they would prefer keeping them home).
Of the three, two are still coming in, which is fine... and, dare I say, I am a tad relieved, as the third child is the most active and is a newbie and doesn't know the rules of my home yet.. and opens every cupboard, fiddles with everything etc. He has to learn, so I am not worried about him, but today as I am not feeling 100%, it has made things a tad easier for me, him not being here. And I don't have to go round to all the cupboards and put the child lock on ;)
free stock photo used
It's bally BRRRRRRR outside, and inside!!! Hubby has a cold. A man cold. Bless. He got this cold on the evening of our anniversary... so dinner et al were out of the question... hmmm. He went to bed early as he was so bunged up... all romance flew out of the window (and promptly froze no doubt as it's so bally cold!). Hoping he is OK by Friday's dinner. He is quite bunged up! Him retiring early to bed left me with no choice but to finish the chocolates! Welll they were for me anyway... and I could hardly leave them out in the cold now could I?
Then early this am I had an asthma attack. the worst I have ever had in England (in 6 years) :( Thankfully pumps and nebuliser were on hand. Hubby had taken some TCP and it triggered my asthma. Cleaning materials/perfumes/deodorants etc. do it. Hubby has to wear dove deodorant :blush: around me due to this!
So am a little shaky this am to be honest. Tight chest. And the cleaners come this am, so there'll be smells and dust flying around... oh well, gotta be done! Will lock myself (and the kids) in the playroom ;)
Outside it is very cold today (although not as cold as New York - that was the COLDEST I have ever experienced in my life!!!!)... it has even been snowing in some London areas last night and this am. I hope it snows here! We have only ever experienced snow in London at the end of December and in January... the coldest months here, so October is VERY early! But holding thumbs it snows here :) Will take the kids out then and take photos/video of them in the snow.
I have been strict with one parent before, but that's because they had the money but were always just *forgetting it*... and it was a paper voucher too, and the school made a mess up too often with payment! So I had to wait eons before I got the actual payment... they were short term clients thankfully.
I have never charged a late fee, but with one parent I think I might - she is my most ditsy parent and kinda thinks everything revolves around her... she must think I buy food for her child with monopoly money...
Well, 7 years ago today I was getting married, to the man I hold dear... my heartbeat.
We married in a little stone chapel in a forest in Cape Town, with the beautiful Cape mountains as a backdrop.
Our reception was held at the Hout Bay Manor, which is a national monument... a lovely colonial styled building. We had a high tea and a first dance with Lonestar's 'Amazed by you'.
We then honeymooned at three different national parks, Addo Elephant, Tsitsikamma and Wilderness. It was a surprise for me... we popped in the car early in the morning, and he asked me to bend down and take out whatever was under the seat.. which I (being the dutiful wife already!haha) did!
It was a gorgeous book on wildlife in South Africa, and inside he had earmarked three pages... three of the national parks!!!! I asked him whether I should guess which one we were going to?? He replied that no, we were going to all three, and that I should guess in what order.
And that was the start of our big adventure!
We have been through a lot... emigrated, tried to become parents, travelled and much more these past 7 years... but through it all, we have held on tight to eachother and the Lord, and continue to grow closer each day.
My London page has loads of other London pages alongside it on VT, but my experience of my city is different to others. Different members focus on different aspects of a city, and each page is unique in their own way. And the same dinner sat with a VT pal, can have two varying outcomes (and tips) as to our personal experience.
My pages are for me first and foremost, I LOVE reading about places I went to years ago, chuckle at funny occurances etc. When reading other members' travel pages, whether big or small, if a page interests me, it interests me. Due to time I probably will only read two sections of it in one sitting. You can get 100 useless tips and 10 fabulous ones on 2 different travel pages, but you can also get 100 fabulous tips and 10 useless ones on 2 different travel pages.
Read mine... what do you think? :)
My London Travel Page
We have been trying for 5 years to have a lil one and the last two years have medically done so much, to no avail. Having one together, short of a miracle, seems to be out of the question. Then it's donor/adoption route.
Have looked into adoption here for the past year but do not see it being an option for a couple of reasons, one being I have to be off work for 6 months - 1 year... plus we want a baby and they won't consider our application unless we state we are willing for older kids (7 and up). They have black babies avail but do not consider cross-race adoptions sadly.
So...to cut a long story short... if the donor option does not work, we then will head back to SA and adopt there in 2 years. Already chatted with social workers there months ago, need to be resident there first. We emigrated here 6 years ago and its a huge move to then go back and restart everything, but we will do it if it means we can adopt. Unless we won the lottery we just couldnt afford to adopt here.
We have done our homework and have looked at every option, and are basically ticking off the boxes these last couple of years... those boxes are getting fewer. I am a firm Christian though and know that God does perform miracles... so am still praying for 1... or 2... or 3 ;)
Lance is ok, went back to work on Monday. His recovery has been good. We are both pretty tense re the surgery results, we get them end Nov. At least we'll know what's what for sure tho.
My excema is bad, and Lance says I am grating my teeth at night and scratching my skin, which is not good! But I do this when I am stressed. My nails are all gone too (what's new!). I am trying to be upbeat but have to say I have never felt as low as over the last few months.
My dad's death in July, Lance's op, trying to have a baby for so long, my excema and probs with ankles hasn't helped matters I don't think. I keep giving myself a talking to... just gotta soldier on and put a brave face on. We hardly socialise at all... have become like hermits to be honest. Too tired and just don't want to see people, and pretend we are fine, when we are not, not till we know what's happening.
We have also found out we will only be able to apply for British citizenship in a year's time, not NOW, as we thought we could. Bally frustrating! The bloke at the SA consular told us today - we could not believe it! We had other docs from the British Embassy, spent many ££ etc. to get this far, and now this (crucial!) info we weren't told about... anyway, will chat with the British Embassy on Mon to clarify things finally, but am pretty sure we have to get yet another visa, and fork out another £500 for it... wait a year and then apply for citizenship. At east we have passed the test which is good... but we'll have to redo the letters from the various places/embassies so the dates are cirrent. Groan.
Anyway, such is life and we have so much to be grateful for (like our JOBS and a roof over our heads!) in this current climate... we celebrate 7 years marriage next week and I am so grateful for him... he is my heartbeat.
Have you done your Christmas shopping yet?? I have :)
I have a 12 month old, a 15 month old and a 16 month old on one day every week... getting around is tricky, so I keep things very local. They get on well though and all is going fine :)
I have 1 x 3 yr old, 2 x 2 yr olds and 3 x 1 yr olds... mixed and matchd throughout the week. All works fine, just needs planning and forethought logistically.
This is Monday to Thursday - Fridays I keep for my graphic design work... I need ONE sane day a week ;)
