Thursday 25 July 2013

Affairs of the heart

So I've not been here for a whole month. I'd love to tell you I have been busy on a paradise island sipping cocktails (non alcoholic of course, due to being 20 weeks pregnant). I would love to tell you I spent four whole weeks draped in a hammock, reading dozens of books.

But oh no. No such luck. I've been mainly saving my hanging baskets from destruction, after the kids decided to use them as basketball nets (my poor fushias will never be the same again), trying to work out how we will fit another baby in this house (I fear my dreams for a dressing table in the bedroom window are shot to bits as now we will have a cot in its place...gah!) and....oh....well, trying to get over a brief love affair.

A love affair that I should never have begun, and one that is coming to a swift end.

His name?

Instagram.

I could never fathom why bloggers were turning their heads to Instagram. Sure, he was alluring, I eventually got sucked in myself, but all the time I knew it wouldn't last, no matter how intense it became.

At first I just flirted with Instagram, just here and there when the kids were in bed or the husband was at work. It felt wrong. I was cheating on Blogger. I loved Blogger with a passion - I still do - but Instagram tempted me with the fact he was so easy. There was little effort involved and it showed me a world I didn't know existed.

Instagram introduced me to new people. New things.

But after a while, my heart stopped beating every time I met up with Instagram.

The new things became the regular things I saw. Trends developed. Nothing seemed original anymore.
I got bored seeing the same things he showed me. And I realised Blogger had always been a loyal companion with more depth and character. How could I have temporarily dumped Blogger just for someone's looks? I felt ashamed and dirty.

There was also a misunderstanding somewhere down the line and so I eventually came to my senses and am calling it a day with Instagram. He will understand I am sure and will end up lulling some other person to his lair. I wish them all the best.

So Blogger understands. I have explained everything to him. My heart lies here and I am so much happier for realising this.

And now I've got THAT off my rather ample chest, here's what's been going on.

OK there was a bit of lounging around on the beach...

Admiring pretty beach huts

Enjoying a bit of icy happiness

Bringing Home & Away to the UK south coast

A little light evening reading on the beach

Had a wonderful day when KMMS came to see me

We spent the day charity shopping, lunching by the sea, paddling in the warm waters,  and catching up.

I bought this for £2.99 from British Heart Foundation
(originally Fat Face)


It needed a matching necklace and woo!  £1!!!


Love how the necklace matches the stitching



Tried to fathom why the Prince was a fairy......

Love this moment of tenderness

Bought this for 10p a few weeks ago at a charity fete!

Picked this up in Dorothy House charity shop while in Bath.
£2.99! Perfect.

Finished my breastfeeding course yesterday and "graduate" on Tuesday.
Can't believe how much we had to learn! Then I shall be a Coastal Peer Supporter!
And here is me at 20 weeks pregnant. I am loving this pregnancy. Yes I'm boasting a big bump but to me, it means my baby has cushioning! He or she will have far more space in my tummy than when he/she joins our chaotic family!



See you soon Blogger and no, I won't sneak back to Instagram. Hand on heart.

15 comments:

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

I AM SO GLAD you fessed up, dumped the scoundrel and have decided to come back to your loyal fans that LOVE YOU! GEM!!!!!! You are gorgeous and the kids have grown so quickly! Look at the prince in his little wet suit, the princess with her ice cream cone! INSTAGRAM is a cheat! He does not allow you your freedom as Blogger does, and that's why I stay devoted.

So good to see a post from you! And that lavender beach hut....OH TDF! Come visit me if you want to splash in the water with a CALIFORNIA GIRL - me.

Anita

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

OH I SEE YOU VISITED MY OLDER POST! Gem, stay with us my dear, STAY! I've missed your view on life, your kids, your purchases!!!!!

Your writing always sails me away to England, a land of mystery for me. We speak the same language, yet I would love to learn more about your culture, world view and hopes...and this I do learn when I visit you.

Thank you for leaving a comment! Anita

Sarah Jane said...

Aw, look at you all radiant with your bump. Looks like pregnancy is agreeing with you. Did you have any sickness at all? I love Tootles the Taxi and those yummy scales xxx

Anonymous said...

I've never been interested in instagram. The connection and interest comes with the words. Pictures are random and faceless,I mean you can just google and get oictures, so it always makes me sad when a blog I like abandons writing just for the pictures. I love the pictures yes but the words are so necessary if I am going to be interested.

I had tootles the taxi. I loved it :) You look great in your picture. Very well and happy.

thriftwood said...

Love your way with words Gem! I like Instagram, but my heart belongs to Blogger, could never go to Instagram full time, tis just a part time love.

You look fabulous and congratulations on your new qualification ...

Enjoy the sunshine my lovely

Love Claire xxx

Cuckoo said...

LOOK at you! You look so splendid. Ahhhhh! I can't wait to grab that bump.

Bravo re the breast feeding course, you're going to have your hands full with that (boom boom) and the babba. How clever of you you do produce an offspring so you can show people how it can be done!

Instagram is revealong a lot of cloning. I think there is a lot of that in blogland too but blogging isn;t so accessible and so we dont see who is copying whom. I'm getting a bit fed up with all the "Happy Friday/tuesday/whatever" text pics. And the giveaway reposts that hunt for new followers. I don;t like that IG is becoming more like facebook where people are either whinging and seeking sympathy or bragging. It used to be much more about beautiful pics. I've become swept up in that, I need to take a step back, but I do so enjoy touching base with my cyber buddies on there.

Love that photo of tenderness. Your children are so cute (especially Prince Fairy) I bet they had a lush time with The Skarratt gals. How on earth did you go charity shopping with 4 excitable kids in tow. Am in awe.

I feel your pain with the hanging baskets. My boys run through mu borders brandishing sticks bellowing "Off with their heads!" "Off with your bleedin'n heads if I catch ya!" I shrill back.

See you soon dear girl.

xxx

moleymakes said...

Gem, you look positively blooming in that picture. I loved being pregnant, sadly that's now a thing of the past.

So pleased you're not abandoning your blog. I don't often comment but just had to speak up.

Far too many bloggers have deserted their blogs for Instagram. Essentially it's microblogging with images. There's no real substance to it. You can't go into detail, it's like it's just the filling to a sandwich. I like proper sarnies with bread and filling, godammit.

Words and pictures, that's what I like. Plus as the lovely Cuckoo quite rightly said, it's just full of clones and giveaways. Pleeaase, how many times can a person see the same giveaway shared. Oh and it's starting to get bitchy on there too. Not nice. So much nicer in Blogland.

Annaboo's House said...

Loved catching up with you t'other day.
Am spending a few brief minutes with a cuppa, doing some blog-surfing (before getting ready to go shopping. In Brighton. On my own.
Need to escape the madness and find some peace (and it's only a few days into the holidays... Gahhh)
See you again soon eh? Xxxxxxx

Missy said...

OMG!
I go away for five minutes... well ok, a few months then and you go and get yourself with child. Massive congratulations to you and your family, mrs!
Now I'll have to keep checking to keep up with your news. New house, new baby they reckon and it's darn well come true for you!

And another OMG. The Prince looks like a Big Boy. He has really grown up since the last time I poked my nose in here. He looks all growed up and boyish and has lost that baby look.
As always your post has made me laugh and I'm really glad I looked in and saw your good news. Chuffed to mintballs for you!
xxxxx

Unknown said...

Looking flaming gorgeous at 20 weeks pregnant. You'll be able to do some live demos now with your breast feeding support ( ha ha, I joke of course. At our NCT class the lady got out a crotcheted nipple to do a demo. Very funny. She didn't seem to think so).
Good to hear you're back to Blogger!
Nelly xxx

Vintage Coconut said...

You look absolutely gorgeous Gem!
Very glad you are back. =D

Sharon said...

Looking radiant girlie! Good to see you back X

Jay said...

That's a lovely bump you have there! You've got some brilliant charity shop goodies too.

kmmms said...

I want to get back to blogging properly too... at least the summer hols are giving me some writing ammunition.

Had a gorgeous day with you! Imagine if we had had all 4 kids with us, wouldn't have been quite the same would it?!

Look how your necklace looks green in the first picture.. you didn't buy two did you??

I had Tootles The Taxi too, still got it in fact.

V proud of you re the boob course, so great that women like you want to help other women out at such a tough time. Hats off!
xxx

Anonymous said...

Hi Gem, Your looking blooming wonderful. congrats on completing the breastfeeding course . I ve missed You over here and glad Your back. Great charity shop finds, Wow on Tootles the taxi ,a rare find. Take care Lovely ,xxxxxx