Pie's the Limit.

Warning. I am scowling. And speechless (...for once).

Just been told I look like I have eaten all the pies....by a woman SO flipping obese it's unreal. How very dare she?!

She was trying to get into the charity shop as I was trying to leave it and there was admittedly a bit of a roly poly stand off but it didn't even cross my mind to tell her that she should cut down on her pork life and get some exercise. But oh no, she felt she was in a position to talk to me in the only lardy language I apparently know.

I laughed it off but I was shocked. I admit I look like I've eaten a space hopper, and people are asking if it's triplets (already assuming its definitely twins), but What. A. Freaking. Liberty.

Mind you, she has a point...nearly 29 weeks.

Anyway, look what I am now obsessing about in the cherry tree shop. Victorian furniture. The manager said I could have both for £40. Seeing as it's me and I practically live in there, she laughed.

I just love the little key and door knob. 

I think they are so charming and so bloody pink which I am mad about. They belonged to an elderly woman who lives near Brighton and she has just been put into a home.

Trouble is, while I LOVE the pieces, we want to go with a cool, blue coastal theme for our bedroom which we simply must decorate before baby Bernard/Brenda arrives.

Decisions, decisions. I shall sleep on it. They are reserving them for me until tomorrow. Need to charm the Husband. He is all for shabby chic and fortunately we generally have the same taste in things for our home, but I have a feeling he may not feel the same about these treasures from the cherry tree.

In other news, my birthday flowers are still blooming.

And smell heavenly.....

And the best treasure from the cherry tree arrived on my door mat for my birthday:

Can you hear me gasping and salivating?!

Man, I've been searching for this book in cherry tree shops for six long years. It's sought after as there was apparently a shorter print run.

And my dear friend Kerry at http://www.thingslearntthehardway.blogspot.co.uk/ happened to tell me she'd bought it for herself for an incredible 49p (I was nearly sick on the spot), not realising I was desperate for it.

And you know what? That dear, kind girl sent it to me as a birthday present. The most thoughtful thing ever. I actually squealed! She gave up her beloved Ladybird book....for me!! What an honour. I love this book so much.

Oh and the Prince is finally settling into school although I pick him up after lunch and we tend to hit the beach during sunny afternoons, just to make the most of our time together before he goes full time.

Trousers four sizes too big. Mother can't sew. Disaster.

I am a pie eater after all..........I look like an eclipse!

Just us and some distant fishermen. Glorious.

So now I shall ummmmm and ahhhhhh about the pink Victorian furniture some more.

And then put my feet up. Tired dot com.

(Must be because I have eaten all the pies of course.
 (And the Magnums. And the cheese and biscuits. And the Peanut M&Ms. And the croissants. And the buttered teacakes. And the chocolate Digestives. And the fishfinger sandwiches. And..........repeat until you fall asleep........)

xx

What a complete beach...

Being at a lost end on a Friday afternoon when the kids break up early for Easter is LETHAL in this town. It means all the mums are kicking their heels and wondering what to do.
It then means one of the mums invites everyone to hers and it means everyone drinks Champagne and chardonnay all afternoon from 3.15pm onwards.
It also means I am now squiffy at 7.25pm and my typing is all to pot so I need to keep re-reading what I have written...just in case.
Eight children played in the garden while the mums all sat around the table sipping. Then slurping. It was like a cliche.  We were celebrating the fact our kids all got into the desired middle school. A good excuse.
Yesterday, I pulled an alcoholic tramp on the prom. He told me I had the loveliest smile he had ever seen. He was very drunk so it was hardly a compliment. At least I can still pull, I told myself, as I sauntered past him and flashed him another grin.
Now I feel like a true contender for his wife. All tipsy and ruddy and light-headed - but I have at least showered today...
And today is my anniversary of getting together with the Husband. Sixteen years ago tonight, we "copped off" (as he so politely puts it) in an indie nightclub in Oxford. The following day he came over to the house I shared and everyone was out so we spent all day (and I mean ALL day) snogging on the sofa.
Sixteen years seems such a long time. A milestone. Glad we've made it!
Anyhoo, this week has been pretty dire on the cherry tree front, I've been on the beach basking every day, like a leathered old hag. But thanks to the glorious Sarah at Shabby Chic Sarah, I now have this Ladybird book to add to my collection.

Thanks my shabby pal. 

See the reason I've not been cherry tree shopping is because the sun had his hat on all week didn't he?! So not only did I not set foot in an Oxfam, I also achieved NO house work.

No siree, I was way too busy strolling along the prom prom prom..

Resting my hot, weary (and scarily veiny) feet on the beach...

Can't get over how weird my feet look in this pic.

 Spending precious time watching the Prince adapt to his new life by the sea...

Reading my new library book by Jojo Moyes...

I am really enjoying this. Think it's going to be sad though

It's a quick choice seven day loan though. Pressure's on!

Setting the scene. A book, some peace, utter bliss.

 The Prince has had umpteen picnics this week too. But has eaten more sand than food (yet it's a mainly shingle beach)...

 I cooled those veiny feet in the sea, in a bid to make them look less veiny...

Everyone hates Crocs. But you know what?
I walk everywhere and they are very comfy so I couldn't care less!

And I have decided to try another giant granny square blanket. I have started a couple but never get far in before putting it down. This time I am going to mention that I am starting a new one in my blog, so that I will hopefully keep going with it. See how I get on. I am hoping it will motivate me a little.

The Blanket of Glory that Julie made me has become part of the family so I felt I needed to give it a sibling.

It will be finished when the Prince reaches puberty but hey ho!

We have been busy watching a few people brave the sea for the first time this year...

Took another pic of myself, like a weirdo, on the beach. The Prince lacks the essential photography skills you see, so I have no choice...

Coo-ee!

 On Wednesday, the husband had the day off, after working six days in a row (including the entire scorching weekend) so after school, we headed down to the beach. It was bliss. The kids went off and played and we sipped coffee in the blazing heat.

It hasn't all been fun of course. I've been fighting a virus for the past week - aching limbs, sore throat, sinus trouble and feeling drained. This means I missed Book Club which I was gutted about. Apparently they carried on til 2am (on a school night!) so it's just as well I didn't go.

I think a few early nights will sort me out.

Finally (still with me??? No? Oh......) the husband is running the Reading Half Marathon on Sunday, to raise money for the Brittle Bone Society, a horrible condition that one of my best friends was born with. Seven of them are running for the charity while dressed as Superheroes.

If anyone would like to sponsor these brave, good-hearted souls, please click on this link: http://www.justgiving.com/superheroes7  it really is a very good cause.

To be beside the sea

When I need a breather from the trials of life, I take to the sea. The air fills my soul with clarity and energy. It works wonders for my perpetually blocked sinuses and blows away the cobwebs. I feel at one with the sea. The waves mesmorise me, calm me, heal me. I watch it bring in the new and spit out the old. The sound, the feel, the motion....so soothing.

So we were expecting cool, windswept weather for mid October when we hit the beach yesterday, but alas, it went a little something like this. Yippee!

Oh I do like to be....

So quiet for a hot day

Tempting huh...no?

Still not interested?!! Hmmm?

A chip fit for a Prince

A total beach babe

A bit of sauce at the seaside, naturally

I took this for my bro - the ultimate Beano fan

Who could those three lovely people be?

Ah! My greatest achievements!
(Look at the sea, like diamonds dancing on the waves)

Solid as some rock...

Mad sea hair and 100 per cent cherry tree outfit on me.
(The husband has no hair, thanks to the photo skills of the Princess)!

How can this be October?!

But now it's definitely getting chilly. I'm feeling it within my bones. I LOVE the sun so was thrilled to get one last blast of it this weekend and can now accept that autumn is well and truly here.

PS. Going off on a total tangent, as only I do best, look how proud the Prince is with his 95p Vacuum cleaner I picked up in Help the Aged. Just wish it really worked!

Bye Bye Noo Noo, Noo Noo bye bye...

Had a lovely relaxing weekend in Whitstable, staying with friends. It didn't last long though. The relaxation I mean. Does it ever when you have children?!

It started so well. I totally rocked the cherry tree shop look and as you will see from the below pic, I am in a 100 per cent cherry tree outfit. The skirt, top and cardie. The glasses were £1 from Primark and my bangles were Sainsbury's. I think the entire outfit cost just over a tenner.

The Princess is wearing a t-shirt her uncle sent over from Hawaii and some cherry tree shorts which were originally Boden.

We walked past my favourite beach hut in Tankerton.

 And then walked past the one the Princess prefers.

 The Prince tucked into an ice cream after falling on his face. Oh such dramas. Again. It got worse for him later though. Sob. Sniff.

And then I fell in love with this gorgeous, quaint cottage on the seafront in Whitstable.

 My friend lives in Tankerton and we walk a mile on the beach to Whitstable which is one of my favourite places ever. It is quirky, cool, vibrant and full of vintage shops, cherry tree shops, clothes shops and lovely one-off shops filled with all my favourite things.

My favourite shop is Vintage on Sea. Two mums run it as a joint venture and sell stunning vintage dresses, jewellery and bags.



That's my lovely friend browsing the dress section which were made from fabric with vintage print



I bought this vintage ra-ra dress. Love it.

I also bought the one in the middle. Oops!

 Then we went to the below sweet shop and spent a fortune (or rather my friend did) on the Princess. If she has any teeth left by the end of the week, it will be a miracle. We ALWAYS go to the sweet shop in Whitstable. It's the law. We scoff chocolate covered honeycomb, fizzy cola bottles, Wham bars, all the old-fashioned boiled sweets. Delish.

And this is such a pretty shop below which sells the hugest cupcakes I've ever seen. Utterly stunning too. The window display is to die for.

The Street was visible when the tide went out. It is one of my favourite things to walk on. It amazes me every time and the kids love it. I feel a bit like Moses, is that weird?

Then disaster struck. Shortly after the below photo was taken, the Prince lost his beloved Noo Noo, seen lying on the table in front of him. My boy loves that cuddly rabbit comforter more than I love Jon Bon Jovi.

  

Last sighting of Noo Noo. Very much missed. Anyone out there in Whitstable??? Please look for him. Our home isn't the same without him...

 It is one of these blue rabbits from Jojo Maman Bebe (see below link). We have a duplicate but it's not the same as the old, raggedy one. I actually feel really upset about it too, something the husband doesn't understand.
http://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+Baby-Toys-Rabbit-Comforters+B6497

I have emailed all the nearby pubs and am so annoyed that I can't just nip over there to retrace all our steps. It happened when my friend and I were in the vintage dress shop and the husband kindly took the kids for a stroll. But now I understand he retraced all footsteps except the ones when it was just him and the kids. You know, the CRUCIAL steps. It's when he lost Noo Noo. I have deduced this from the photo above. Noo Noo was lost soon after we left the restaurant.

The restaurant staff are on to it for me, but I don't hold out much hope. Their Lost Property box is empty.

I feel utterly bereft. This is as big a deal for me as it is for the Prince. I'm obsessing about it. It's all I am thinking about. I am so frustrated. WHY didn't I notice Noo Noo was in the pic then I could have worked out when we lost him. Grrr.

The Prince and Noo Noo were best friends from day one

Kisses for mummy whilst still holding Noo Noo

Any time the going got tough, Noo Noo helped him through

On a brighter note, the sea was warm enough for the kids to splash around in. I didn't want to leave as I watched the late afternoon sun beating down on the sea. Can't wait to go back. I bought some cherry tree treasures which I will blog about tomorrow as time is ticking on tonight!

Guess who was still in the sea at 6.30pm on Sunday night. A school night. NAUGHTY!!!!!