Fun in the sun. And cherry tree bargains.

Ahhhhh, it's been a totally relaxing weekend. Just for once, there were no child-related dramas, no car sickness, no night terrors, no sleepwalking, and no cooking.

We spent the whole weekend in Whitstable where we were looked after beautifully by my friend Sharease. She and I met in the late 90s and have been firm friends ever since.

She and her beau live RIGHT on the seafront. You literally walk out of the front door and you can see the sea. It's magic.

When we arrived on Saturday we indulged in a little afternoon tea in her garden.

The hostess with the mostess

The children love visiting Sharease. She doesn't have kids of her own, by choice, but she is a marvel with mine and they love her and enjoy their time at the house.

Once the kids were in bed after playing for hours on the beach, we moved onto cocktails (I've discovered a fondness for cherry brandy) and a wonderful spread which we sat and devoured for what seemed like hours, under the wisteria of her beach cottage. L.U.S.H.

Whitstable is very quirky and quaint and famous for its oysters (gip......retch, no, I couldn't bring myself to).

The beach huts are all different colours, where as where we live, they HAVE to be boring white. It is the law. In Whitstable you can do what the heck you like, it seems.

 We passed one beach hut which was kitted out with a 1950s kitchen, gingham bunting, seaside pictures on all the walls and a cosy sofa. How blissful. Couldn't take a pic as all the family were in there, and it felt intrusive.

I went into seven charity shops but didn't find a single thing I liked, shock horror, I am normally very lucky in Whitstable. I also kept an eye out for Noo Noo, the rabbit comforter that we lost there last July but alas, he didn't turn up. I had hoped he might be at the bottom of the toy baskets but alas...

We spotted various birds on our walk into town:

"You lookin' at me?"

Not sure why, but this IS quirky Whitstable after all!

Eat your hearts out The Hoff and Pammy

The shops are gorgeous despite being a little pricey. This shop is one that Sharease and I love:

A bit contrived but still eye catching and cute

I have the "wanties" Nicki! FINALLY!!!!!! Too expensive for my wallet though...

It was a feast for the eye and for Pip fans (nice mugs!)

Thought these were cool and a bit different from the usual stuff

 Then we ate fish and chips in the heat of the sun, watching the yachts and enjoyed a spot of people watching.

My boys

 Les Dawson's love child, wearing his "gobbles"

This morning the lovely Sarah from Annaboo's House fame came over for a spot of crochet and some tea and cake. It was fab to catch up but it's safe to say she achieved more crochet than I did. As standard!

We are planning a few hours charity shopping and veggie cafe cake eating (where I've tasted the best carrot cake ever) soon.

Working on her CAL monkey

Ah, look what I bought for the sitting room, from the West Sussex Horse Rescue Trust cherry tree shop.....isn't it divine?

Of course I didn't buy it, you nutters. Isn't it vile?!

I did get this one free of charge though....not sure why it was free, the lovely lady just said I could have it! Nice!

And I got this one for 25p. I need wet myself with excitement. No, really.

Isn't it just brilliant? Check out those aprons.

I nearly bought this coffee set as I love sunflowers, but then realised that I have no storage space for it. I do love the kitsch design though. Happy flowers, they are.

And that's me done. There's a bar of Galaxy Crumble Cookie in the fridge which I am desperately trying to ignore, but I am not holding out much hope. I've got to take the Prince to Jo Jingles tomorrow morning and I need something just to feel better about going........(have any of you ever been??? Just WHERE do the women get their energy from?)

It's like watching Mr Tumble on speed.......

A quiet weekend

I have bought a fabulous farm from a cherry tree shop. For those who are new to my blog, cherry tree shops are charity shops. I just call them "cherry tree", as it's something my mum, my sister and I always say.

Anyway the farm is originally from the Early Learning Centre and I got it from Help The Aged for £4.50. It is brilliant and the kids have been keeping very quiet and not hassling me as much while they build the farm and sort out the animals. Giving me free time to blog!

It has loads more animals but the Prince keeps knocking them over and throwing them around his room!

There are more buildings to set up too but I cant be jiggered today

Other news this weekend is that I won an Ebay bid for two duplicate rabbit comforters. Those of you who have followed my blog for a bit may remember the Prince lost his beloved "Noo Noo" (which he'd had since birth and took EVERYWHERE) while in Whitstable several weeks back.

Well, we already had one replacement but it took a while for the second Noo Noo to be accepted. Then I saw a pair on Ebay for £4.99  and I was thrilled. They arrived yesterday. I've washed them and rubbed them against his older one and already done a swap over so that eventually they will all be old and smelly (why do kids love their toys like this, utterly vile if you ask me).

The Prince eyed up Noo Noo suspiciously (after I did the surreptitious swap) and I glossed over it saying I 'd quickly washed him and didn't he look lovely and almost like new? How come two-year-olds are so astute?

I'd also written a story for the local rag in Whitstable in the hope that someone would find the original Noo Noo and return him , but alas, so far it was all in vain. But he got good coverage including a mention on the front page (underneath stories of crime, accidents and vandalism it said "Have you seen Noo Noo?" as if he was Britain's most wanted...) Then he got half a page inside!


We'd had one false sighting a couple of weeks ago and the news editor of the Whitstable Times called to inform me that someone had phoned her as they'd seen an elderly couple place something that look like Noo Noo on a bench outside a charity shop. When I called the charity shop, I got as far as "Hello, my son has lost his rabbit..." and she interrupted me and said "Oh you must be talking about Noo Noo? I think everyone is looking for him, I've already been trawling the streets! I will call you if he ever turns up."

Sadly he wasn't on that bench and has never been found.

But amazing kindness in a seaside town.  And here we go, these duplicate beauties came through the post box yesterday. FAR more welcome twins than Jedward.

"Hello, I'm Noo Noo, and he's Noo Noo and together we are NOO NOO!!"

Spot the older replacement, seriously in need of a wash

Oh ok, I'll move on from Noo Noo now (wonder how many followers I just lost)

The Princess made a frittata for lunch yesterday and did a great job, bless her. We had a lovely afternoon just cooking, stewing apples from our trees and chatting while the boys did the gardening. Autumn is well and truly here, it's time for loads of baking and much raking of leaves.

"Would you like a cherry pie, son?" and this was the response above!

Messing up himself and his father

It's the first weekend where we have just been at home and taken it nice and easy for absolutely ages. Family time is so important isn't it? The husband had this weekend off and it's been lovely. We had a curry and wine last night and watched TV and we have a DVD to watch after dinner tonight. Blue Valentine I think it's called. Anyone seen it?

Tomorrow is the last "proper" day of the school hols as I am at work on Tues and then the Princess starts junior school on Wednesday. I've just ironed all her new uniform, labelled it and we're ready to start a brand new term. Summer went so fast. Sad really, I love the sun.

The Good, the Bad and the Cherry Tree

We all have good and bad days don't we? I have days where I am tearing my hair out with my two children whingeing and fighting, and literally watch all the chores pile up and get out of control.

I have days where it's a miracle that I can fit the lid back on the laundry basket and give myself a high five if I've managed to get to school and the Princess's classmates aren't all sitting down with the register already done. And if I've managed to drag a comb through my hair, it's an added bonus.

It's a bad day if the kitchen table is still full of the breakfast bowls, toast crumbs, spilt juice and squashed fruit at 11.30am. And last night's plates are still in the washing up bowl.

It's a good day if I've already thought about the fact we will be needing an evening meal and try to cook it in advance in a bid to be Miss Organised.

It's a bad day  if we've played after school in the playground and get home at 5pm and I haven't cooked a thing. When the whining "I'm hungry, I want my tea NOW" commences, I know I'm in for a rough ride, especially as the Princess is a fussy eater (she hates so many things it would be easier to list what the heck she does eat).

But today things seem to be under control and therefore a good day. I have washing on the line (and no rain yet!) and none left in the laundry basket and the kitchen is pristine for once. I did the school run and arrived just as the bell rang. Then the Prince and I went to the garden centre for a coffee and a play together and visited the farm shop.

I returned home and made a cooked breakfast for the husband who was just rousing from the late shift. I am now his Favourite Wifelet apparently (like he's Lord Bath of Longleat with loads on the go!!!) as I also made him a lovely packed lunch for later. I like to spoil him at times. At other times I tell him to b****r off and get his own food...again, depending on a good or bad day!

Ooh am thrilled because the Prince is in two newspapers this week in Whitstable over the lost Noo Noo saga. I wrote a new story and both have used it with pics. The husband says Whitstable must be deadly quiet on the newsfront and my brother thinks the world has gone mad for some "lost blanket thing and my nephew needs to man up".

I, on the otherhand,  am so pleased. Now I feel I have truly done everything I can to get the toy back.

Despite saying I wouldn't fit it in, have actually slipped by a cherry tree shop and am THRILLED with these. Who remembers Tasseltip?



£1.99 from Oxfam. I love it because....



I already owned this one (secondhand too)!

And the below book was one of my favourites at school. Most cherry tree shops now have a section for Ladybird books. In a way it's good because I know where to head, but it takes away a bit of the thrill I get in unearthing it from between non Ladybird books. It also means they are so popular and everyone wants them.

The Prince is sleeping so I am blogging and then doing some writing work and have just made some cards.  Only simple ones that literally took seconds but pretty. I used Laura Ashley materials and hand finished some with Stickles, to add a subtle sparkle.

The Prince slept for 12 hours last night, fifth night on the trot. I've waited two years and two months for this...this certainly helps make it a good day!

Silliness and treasures

Never, ever ask a fisherman if he has crabs............it doesn't go down well.

I did this in Whitstable on Sunday morning at the fish market. My friend dared me to do it with a sensible face and no smirking; she knows I love a challenge. I was brave and ballsy but the fisherman wasn't best pleased.

His eventual response? "Don't worry, you'd be safe with me, love."

It was my turn to be speechless.

Still obsessing about my weekend for all the wonderful moments as well as the Noo Noo moment. Am in the middle of writing a little news story for the local Whitstable rag as well as blogging at the moment. I will track that lost toy down, but until I do, I promise not to keep mentioning him. Would hate to lose followers over it...

I bought these beauties for £1 each from a cherry tree shop whilst in Whitstable.

Can imagine a mini knickerbocker glory in these!

NEVER iron tea towels. Ever

Just added some frozen raspberries for a "bit of fancy"

Have my parents coming on Friday so will make individual Trifle Crawfords as the kids and the husband love it.

Wore a £2 cherry tree shop dress today and four people complimented me in it. It's one of those dresses that I think makes me look pregnant as it is quite "balloony" at the front and back (under the bust). But a chap at work loved it, so did a cashier in Waitrose and a couple of mums on the school run.

I really delighted in saying "Oh thanks, it's a cherry tree number" until I realise they have NO idea what I am wittering on about. The only pic I have of me wearing it at the mo is one Cuckoo took in May. Yer tis.

Actually you can hardly see it.
 Will get another pic soon

 Oh and note to self. When you give the children an ice lolly in the garden, in the hope it will buy you extra blogging minutes, never assume they are still slurping lollies whilst you continue to lose yourself in Blogland.

Instead, the Princess decided to dress herself up as a boy called James. One of her favourite pastimes.

 I then heard much wailing as the Prince walked down the stairs. Dressed as a fairy. Sparkle to be precise.



And actually deciding to wear the pink Crocs, rather than his own blue ones.

 He seemed to get over it though and rather enjoyed prancing around the garden giggling like a girl. Must not encourage this though I guess. Will find his rugby ball tomorrow...