I picked this up off my blog buddy Mel's blog and thought it would be fun to find out each family members fav's for 2010 - always good for a laugh when you go back in years to come and read your answers....so in the interest of posterity here goes:
Food : Crumbed pork chops and chips (very fattening, but ultra delicious)
Drink : Bulmers (which is cider for those outside the UK)
Reading: Anything by Lesley Pierce....I ADORE the way she writes
Mags : Don't really do mags, seem a bit pointless to me
Hobbies : Blogging and Photography
Actors : Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Jude Law, George Clooney, Matthew Maconaughy (spelling?????)...yes I am completely shallow and it is all about looks, don't have time for deep involved movies anymore ;0)
Actress : Meryl Streep
Band / Music : I don't get the chance for much music anymore....man that is sad :0(
TV : The Biggest Loser, Weeds, Judging Amy and Gossip Girl
Guilty pleasure : Chocolate in any form at all, with a glass of icy cold milk to wash it down mmmm
Movie : I am a romantic comedy kinda girl at the moment as anything more is too taxing on the brain - LOVED Mama Mia
Peeve : People who take other's for granted
Sport : Yuk
Loving : having the chance to live a completely different life at 36
Hoping : my husband will find the peace he is searching for
Thinking : how lucky I am - been counting those blessings
Needing : to find a way to bring in more income
Grateful : that all my family are healthy and happy.
Planning : our trip to Spain later in the year (yipppeeee am sooooooo excited)
Monday, 18 January 2010
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Sunday 17th January 2010
After a fairly chilled weekend spent predominantly at home due to the cold rainy conditions which have now set in, the children and I went down to the Brighton Center with the Cuckfield Brownies to watch this year's Holiday on Ice (thanks to my friend Catherine who is their Brown Owl) - what a spectacular and something I am so glad I have been able to experience....the children were absolutely enthralled and the 2 hour show literally flew by in an extravaganza of daring skating and breathtaking costumes....WOW WOW WOW!
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Wednesday 13th January 2010
Is it possible to have too much of a good thing?
Definitely, or at least that is my opinion after another heavy snowfall last night crippled West Sussex and left my family snowed in once more. I think if you live in a country which is prepared for this much snow and each home is equip with the right tools for digging out cars and tyres are fitted with snow chains then it is okay, but little England simply isn't ready for this, and totally understandably too as it was in 1963 that this much snow was last seen on our beautiful island.
The schools are totally unprepared and the staff are simply unable to keep the campus's clear and safe for the pupils let alone warm the classrooms to a livable temperature, the train are running, but only to major centers and the shops are really battling to keep up with the demand for essential such as bread and milk.
We have built our snowmen, raced our "Lindaboards" and had about as many snowball fights as one family can have and now we are finding the weather cold and miserable and the grey skies with their foreboding of yet more snow are no longer a magical sight.....all that said however I have LOVED every minute up until now, but it is time for it to all go away for another year at least.
Definitely, or at least that is my opinion after another heavy snowfall last night crippled West Sussex and left my family snowed in once more. I think if you live in a country which is prepared for this much snow and each home is equip with the right tools for digging out cars and tyres are fitted with snow chains then it is okay, but little England simply isn't ready for this, and totally understandably too as it was in 1963 that this much snow was last seen on our beautiful island.
The schools are totally unprepared and the staff are simply unable to keep the campus's clear and safe for the pupils let alone warm the classrooms to a livable temperature, the train are running, but only to major centers and the shops are really battling to keep up with the demand for essential such as bread and milk.
We have built our snowmen, raced our "Lindaboards" and had about as many snowball fights as one family can have and now we are finding the weather cold and miserable and the grey skies with their foreboding of yet more snow are no longer a magical sight.....all that said however I have LOVED every minute up until now, but it is time for it to all go away for another year at least.
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Random Ice photos
While digging the car out on Saturday morning I was struck but the number of wonderful ice formations all over the garden - didn't take me long to ditch my broom and grab my camera :0)
It would seem that the central heating causes the snow to melt but the air temp is so low it literally freezes while it drips causing these amazing icicles.
It would seem that the central heating causes the snow to melt but the air temp is so low it literally freezes while it drips causing these amazing icicles.
Monday, 11 January 2010
Monday 11th January 2010
There is nothing like the sound of children screaming in pure delight and that is exactly what mine where doing this afternoon in Victoria Park. Phillip returned to school this morning and was very put out that Megan's school was to remain closed....the deal if he went quietly was that I would take him out "lindaboarding" after school.
The speed on these slopes is amazing - the children ADORED it
The loooooong climb back up the hill
Nicholas and I had a couple of runs on Catherines childhood sledge - Catherine took this clip without realising it, hence the dodgy ending lol
Megs also enjoyed riding the slopes with her baby brother....Phil was much too busy off being a stuntman
Phillip found this homemade contraption discarded in the park and couldn't resist a ride - my shattered nerves :0) (Sorry it is the wrong way, pesky zoom again lol)
Catherine and her children joined us for the afternoon and our 1 hour quickly became 2.5 hours - such fun fun fun....am really LOVING this weather.
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Thursday 7th January 2010
I don't think I would be exaggerating if I said that today was honestly one of the happiest I can remember. Si and the children were still all home due to the snow, and while talking to Linda bemoaning the fact that I still hadn't managed to find a toboggan and that my kids were really sad she mentioned that in February they had used boogie boards to go down the slopes and I suddenly remembered the children's skimmer boards which have been in storage since the end of summer.
I raced downstairs to pull them out of my boot (no we don't have much storage space lol) and it didn't take long for Megan, Phillip, Lewis and I to pull on our snow suits and hit the small slope in our back garden, it was some of the best fun I can ever remember having and the boards literally flew across the snow even carrying my weight and we spent literally hours racing and seeing who could get the furthest. I don't get a lot of opportunities to play with my children in the true childlike way of shrieking and running and falling but today was one of those days and I will hold it in my heart forever.
In the afternoon once Si had done some work we again dressed up snugly and took a walk through the wood to a meadow near our home which has a wonderful steep slope - we ALL took turns flying down the hill and as there were at least another 10 children there playing it was lovely and festive and the laughter could be heard for miles I am sure.
Ever the daredevil Phillip just had to give me 50 fits by going down the slope on his feet
Megs and Phil where very proud of their skimmer boards (now christened Linda boards in honour of Aunty Lin and her BRILLIANT suggestion) as they outraced every toboggan on the slope and we have all decided that they are by far the best device for tearing down the hills at breakneck speeds. Little Nicholas even got a chance to go down the slope with his dad on Lewie's toboggan, he loved it and said MORE for the first time when they got to the bottom of the slope.
Such an amazing, wonderful, special special day - thank you my beautiful children for sharing it with me!
Showing off Mr Frosty...who is very solid btw, know cos I "Linda boarded into him a couple of times lol
I raced downstairs to pull them out of my boot (no we don't have much storage space lol) and it didn't take long for Megan, Phillip, Lewis and I to pull on our snow suits and hit the small slope in our back garden, it was some of the best fun I can ever remember having and the boards literally flew across the snow even carrying my weight and we spent literally hours racing and seeing who could get the furthest. I don't get a lot of opportunities to play with my children in the true childlike way of shrieking and running and falling but today was one of those days and I will hold it in my heart forever.
Playing with our "Linda Boards" - me in our garden, Megs on the big slope out in the meadow
In the afternoon once Si had done some work we again dressed up snugly and took a walk through the wood to a meadow near our home which has a wonderful steep slope - we ALL took turns flying down the hill and as there were at least another 10 children there playing it was lovely and festive and the laughter could be heard for miles I am sure.
Please excuse the poor quality of the shots but the light was very low by this point
Ever the daredevil Phillip just had to give me 50 fits by going down the slope on his feet
Megs and Phil where very proud of their skimmer boards (now christened Linda boards in honour of Aunty Lin and her BRILLIANT suggestion) as they outraced every toboggan on the slope and we have all decided that they are by far the best device for tearing down the hills at breakneck speeds. Little Nicholas even got a chance to go down the slope with his dad on Lewie's toboggan, he loved it and said MORE for the first time when they got to the bottom of the slope.
Phillip having a turn on Lewie's toboggan....not nearly as fast as the "Linda boards"
Such an amazing, wonderful, special special day - thank you my beautiful children for sharing it with me!
As the sunset - such a perfect moment
Ice crystals hanging off the roof of our home
Showing off Mr Frosty...who is very solid btw, know cos I "Linda boarded into him a couple of times lol
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Wednesday 6th January 2010
The forecasts appear to have been right and by this morning the snow was as deep as the bumper of my car. Schools were closed and the train system came to a standstill so the family were all home together again to enjoy the magical weather. While Simon logged on remotely to work and Nick Nick had his morning nap Megs, Phil and I decided to take a stroll into Lindfield to see what the weather had done to the village.
After eating snow :0)
Playing in the snow - note how deep it comes up Megan's arm
The Local allotments totally covered in snow
The Witch Inn - a local landmark
There is such a festive feeling in the air when it snows and neighbours were all out chatting and walking and everywhere you turned there was another child shouting with glee as their parent ran along pulling a toboggan behind them (admit to being rather please at this point that I hadn't been able to purchase one lol). We had a stunning stunning time and it was so lovely to see our picturesque little village looking even more like it belonged on a postcard.....the children even insisted on the tv interview clip below so that they would remember this day forever...enjoy!
Sunte Avenue round the corner from our home - pavements no longer distinguishable from the road
Megan couldn't resist licking the fresh snow - watch the holly leaves Megs!
After eating snow :0)
Playing in the snow - note how deep it comes up Megan's arm
The Local allotments totally covered in snow
Across the frozen pond in the centre of the village
The Witch Inn - a local landmark
There is such a festive feeling in the air when it snows and neighbours were all out chatting and walking and everywhere you turned there was another child shouting with glee as their parent ran along pulling a toboggan behind them (admit to being rather please at this point that I hadn't been able to purchase one lol). We had a stunning stunning time and it was so lovely to see our picturesque little village looking even more like it belonged on a postcard.....the children even insisted on the tv interview clip below so that they would remember this day forever...enjoy!Tuesday, 5 January 2010
A little piece of useless information
I never realised that when the first snow starts to fall all the churches ring their bells to herald in the weather and warn the community - this evening as I walked down the road to fill my grit bucket in the gently falling snow watching my world turn white and enjoying the special kind of silence snow brings I suddenly heard the bells and it brought me to tears it was simply so beautiful.
Magical moments that I am so so so grateful for!!!!
Magical moments that I am so so so grateful for!!!!
Tuesday 5th January 2009
If the weather reports are to be believed we are in for a freeeeeeezing next couple of days and the supermarkets are almost empty of many items as people stock up in anticipation of the forcast 25cm of snow over the next two days....to say I am annoyed I didn't buy a toboggan the other day when I saw them in stock is an understatement as of course today there isn't one to be had in the whole South West of England......watch this space as I will def be documenting the coldest winter in 100 years with loads of photos.
To my blog buddies in the UK I hope you stay warm, that your gas and electricity last and that you have FUN FUN FUN - see you on the other side ;0)
To my blog buddies in the UK I hope you stay warm, that your gas and electricity last and that you have FUN FUN FUN - see you on the other side ;0)
Monday, 4 January 2010
Saturday 2nd January 2010
After all the grey rainy weather we had before Christmas the perfect blue skies of 2010 are a welcome change and a wonderful excuse for a long walk up at Devil's Dyke. Unfortunately it turned out to be too cold for most of the party and only Lin, Meg and I managed the full 2km round trip while the others snuggled by the fire in the pub drinking hot chocolate and coffee.
It didn't dampen our spirits though and it was stunning to wander along and chat amongst ourselves and as no walk with Linda and I would be without it's nonsense it wasn't long before we were having a laugh out loud photoshoot at the bottom of the hill while the British quietly made their way down the track....South African's are very noisy ;0)
Britian's Next Top Models lol
A warming and very much needed hot chocolate with the others was followed by a very quick picnic lunch in the fort before scurrying home to marvelous central heating and defrosting. Philly had a birthday party in the evening so the girls got themselves dressed out and went off to movies in Burgess Hill whilst the grownups enjoyed a visit with Kerry and Rob - it was lovely to see two of my dearest families in the world all merged together and it is such a source of joy to me that we all get along so well. A very very late evening chatting before bed, but such therapy for the soul that it was worth the groggy body the following morning.
All that coffee drinking was clearly to energetic for them ;0)
It was about -4 in the wind on top of the hill
It didn't dampen our spirits though and it was stunning to wander along and chat amongst ourselves and as no walk with Linda and I would be without it's nonsense it wasn't long before we were having a laugh out loud photoshoot at the bottom of the hill while the British quietly made their way down the track....South African's are very noisy ;0)
Britian's Next Top Models lol
A warming and very much needed hot chocolate with the others was followed by a very quick picnic lunch in the fort before scurrying home to marvelous central heating and defrosting. Philly had a birthday party in the evening so the girls got themselves dressed out and went off to movies in Burgess Hill whilst the grownups enjoyed a visit with Kerry and Rob - it was lovely to see two of my dearest families in the world all merged together and it is such a source of joy to me that we all get along so well. A very very late evening chatting before bed, but such therapy for the soul that it was worth the groggy body the following morning.
All that coffee drinking was clearly to energetic for them ;0)
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