Full moon

I saw a lady's naked bottom down by the river in Henley yesterday. Not something I was expecting to see and I am still not sure whether it was intentional or not.

I was strolling along the river with the children (they'd overdosed on ice creams, rides, bouncy castles and the park, so the riverside walk to see the pretty boats was my treat in return). There were loads of sunbathers but one caught my eye for all the wrong reasons. And I wish to dear god she hadn't...

She was in her early 30s, lying on her front, and wearing a short denim skirt with legs apart slightly. And the skirt had ridden up to reveal bottom cheeks.

And it wasn't pleasant. Pippa Middleton she was not, I can safely say.

As I walked on by, I noticed out the corner of my eye that she watched as I passed. Now I am wondering whether it was a weird cheap thrill.

Other than the bottom incident, we had such a lovely time, a train journey to get there, a picnic under a tree, running on the grass; the kids were very well behaved. But alas, I forgot my camera.

But never mind, I have cherry tree treasures to show off. Whoopee!!

I bought this checked shirt for the Princess for £1.25. It was only originally from Tu at Sainsbury's but I love the store's clothes and this is right up a Tom Boy's street!





 As you can see, she is also modelling pink Converse kindly donated by KMMMS at thingslearntthehardway. I also recently bought this book for £1 and I will not lie to you (as Uncle Bryn would say from Gavin & Stacey) but I bought the book judging it purely from its cover. I love the beach, the 1950s and beach huts. It is a love story.

I also bought this pink silk blouse from Barnado's for £3.99. It's originally from Principals. It wasn't creased when I brought it home but a certain little Prince sat on it whilst reading his "choo choo" book.

 I am really thrilled with it. It is so pretty and smooth and feminine and sparkly and...grrrrr. It needs a damn good ironing.

Talking of thrilled, I got an award this week from Ashley at Country Rose and am delighted.
So, facts about myself.

1. When I had  just started going out with the husband, his parents drove us to Whitby (Yorkshire) which was about 60 miles from their home. As young kids in love, we were very hung over from clubbing the night before and to cut a long story short, I felt violently sick and underwound the car window, pretending all was normal, wretched for England and hoped that was the end of the matter as I spewed it all out. But a gust of wind swept my bright pink sick (Watermelon Bacardi Breezer) over my hubby's dad's car AND the car behind (its windscreen wipers went manically). And sadly my father in law had to get his car resprayed as my stomach acid stripped the colour from the car. Bad times.

2. My mum, sister and I all talk in "back slang" when we don't want people to overhear us (ie in restaurants), it is a language my Nan taught us after she and her best friend Bertha picked up the lingo from a box of Cornflakes 60 years ago.  The husband can make out what we are saying and so can the Princess if we talk slowly.

3. I have a major crush on Stuart Broad, England's gorgeous golden boy in cricket.

4. I hate liver. Ever since my brother ate a piece and promptly throw up on his plate when he was about two.

5. I am a serious chocaholic. But I don't like dark chocolate. Or chocolate covered Turkish Delight. That's nearly as bad as liver...

6. I am about to train to become a breastfeeding volunteer helper and will be able to help out on the postnatal wards in the local hospital.

7. I am a freelance writer and copywriter which I somehow manage without any outside help with the children. I am not expecting a medal for this, just want to explain why I am sometimes harrassed/exhausted/ ageing.

8. I have no dishwasher. Ditto the second part of Fact 7.

9. I once got a bit too tipsy at a friend's 30th. It was fancy dress, I dressed as Siouxsie Sioux (but randomly had to wear a Cher wig as the shop ran out of Siouxsie wigs) and serenaded the room with a terrible karaoke version of Shaggy's Oh Carolina. I still cringe to this day.

10. I spotted Mr Tumble (kids' TV hero for those not in the know) in a curry house on my birthday three years ago. I grabbed him for photos with all my friends (there were a few of us who all posed for pics) and everyone else in the restaurant wondered who the hell this chubby man in an anorak was and why all these woman were going crazy for him.

I shall pass on this award tomorrow. I feel I've rambled on....anyone still there??? Zzzzzzzz.



Me and Mr Tumble. AKA Justin Fletcher, 2008



Look at the bemused bloke in the background...

Oh and me dressed as Siouxsie Sioux in a Cher wig? Of COURSE that wasn't made up...

If I could turn back time.....(I'd have got a better, more punk rock wig)

The husband was meant to be Johnny Rotten
but someone said he looked more like Ronald McDonald...

Town and gown

I absolutely love this cherry tree dress that I bought the Princess. It is orginally from Next and I bought it for £3! I love the fabric and when she grows out of it, I may have to learn how to be crafty so I can reuse the fabric.

This is a hasty post as have the Princess's sports day in an hour and I have chores to do beforehand as entertaing a few ladies tonight. God that makes me sound like Hugh Heffner!

Few glasses of vino and nibbles, hopefully out in the garden but it's feel rather chilly at the moment. The sun has gone in.

I am still thinking of the lovely day I had on Tuesday.  I had slept at my sister's house in Bristol the night before after the Bon Jovi gig and we got up early and headed to Bath. Where we spent the whole morning at the Thermae Bath Spa.

It is gorgeous. I've been to a few spas in the past but this stood out for its fab city centre location and rooftop pool. Very odd but pleasant feeling to feel the cool, chilly air on your face while the rest of your body is submerged in warm water.

We left Bath and then headed to my home town for a little look around. I grew up there when it was considered uncool.

Not anymore. It is full to bursting with wonderful shops - a burlesque shop, a wool shop where you can buy everything for your knitting/crochet needs, a bead shop, brilliant cherry tree shops, great and unusual clothes shops, fab pubs and a street with a stream running through the middle.

It has never been so cool, which is helped by the nearby Babington House  which is renowned for being a celeb hangout. According to my sources, Beyonce and Katie Price were spotted (not together) drinking in one of the pubs last week and Johnny Depp is moving in.

Pearl and Daisy Lowe bought a house there although I believe they've now moved to a nearby village and one of the McGann brothers lives there too.

My favourite parts of this Saxon town?

A lamp post....

The fact Johnny Depp could soon be seen driving out of here.

Apparently his new home once the building work has finished. I am seriously considering moving back purely to knock on his door and say "Hi, I hear you've just moved in. Do you need a cup of sugar?"

I love this street with its stream and cool shops.

Spot my sis!

 Then we left Frome and went home. To see my parents at their home To me it will always be My Home. I love it. Every bit of it.

They salvaged Bampy's old tin bath which they found tucked away after he died and have given it a new lease of life. I found that healing. Life goes on, but we still have our memories.

We sat in mum and dad's garden for ages, drinking tea and catching up in the sun. Not done that for years without my husband or children. It was lovely.

Mum and Dad wanted us to try out their new bed. Never thought I would get bed envy. THE most confortable bed in the world, ever!

Being very silly indeed.

Sometimes I wish I still lived at home. Life seemed so much simpler then. Ooh, I've just realised I am wearing cherry tree linen trousers in the above pic, £2 from Sue Ryder. They are not at all flattering but tres comfortable.

Must dash, I am aware I haven't posted on other blogs for a few days, been hectic but will catch up soon!

xx

Thankful for lovely people

Isn't it funny how some days are destined to be bad days (ie waking up at 8.30am when I have to do the school run at 8.30am and then forget packed lunches and miss the train that I needed, it's pouring with rain when I didn't remember the raincoats etc etc.)

But then in return, some days are destined to be good days and I think today is the day of fine things!

Firstly, the postman brought me great joy, even if he is not so full of joy himself. A beautifully wrapped package from Pink Milk, which was the prize giveaway I won this week.

I am a person who is naturally easily pleased at the smallest things, so imagine my excitement when I opened this little beauty. I nearly spontaneously combusted.

I love the gorgeous packaging

Getting tres excited

Never has there been a truer phrase

I have always been mad for the colour pink. Always!

"Oooooooooh!"



The nicest thing to have arrived in the post for ages!



The piece de resistence

Utterly stunning (note to self: use handcream more often)

Heather added a couple of extras including this gorgeous ring

So that was a beautiful start to today. I then opened a letter containing a cheque for some freelance work I wrote in April and hadn't been paid for.  It finally arrived after weeks of chasing.

And THEN my sister called to tell me that we are hitting a spa together on Tuesday as a little treat! I have Tuesday to myself all day after the Bon Jovi gig the night before. The husband has the kids and I have time, I love the sound of that word, to myself. We are then going shopping and then having dinner at our parents' house and my lush Dad then said he would drive me all the way home. He is brilliant, always willing to go the extra mile (literally this time!).

I am feeling a little jaded today though. My beautiful friend Missy came to stay last night from Somerset with her little boy. Our children were born on the same day and although she was in the year above me at school, we only met properly through our children.

We get on very well and don't stop laughing from start to finish. The children all stayed up until 9pm and then Missy and I drank a leedle bit too much wine, scoffed waaaay too much bad stuff and had a generally silly time.

The Princess and her birthday twin

On a school night too, tut tut. (Her son has inset day today though)

Very sober. Very very sober.

Getting our second wind

Missy: "Let's smile nicely for the camera, Gem"

Very silly. It looked so much funnier last night...

My dear girl

Still quite sober, I am a terrible lightweight.

A rather messy end for somebody. Who drank far more than me!

And finally, onto my favourite topic. Cherry tree shops. I have picked up this Laura Ashley cardie for the Princess. £3 from Helen & Douglas House Hospice. It is so cosy and she loves it.

This weekend I shall mainly be watching Glastonbury on TV, although secretly part of me is wishing I still lived so close to the festival site that we all got cheap tickets. The weather is going to be scorching, mind you I don't fancy all that mud.

The reason Missy came to stay last night is because her son's school has an inset day today due to the festival. So many are going, it's not worth opening the school apparently!!! How hippy is that?!

I've just heard it's over knee deep in parts. Yuk. Been there, done that, think the comfort of my sofa is more preferable this year!

It's raining. Men!

I cannot cope with this weather anymore. Came home this afternoon soaked to the skin. Yuk.

But good things have happened today and I swear it's karma.

I went out shopping with the Prince this morning after the school run, to let the husband sleep off a hangover as he went out in London last night. I came home at lunchtime to find him about to leave the house and walk to the train station to head into work. In the filthiest weather. He doesn't own a raincoat and left his umbrella on the train (again. This is the fourth time). What a silly man.

So I drove him to the station. Where he announced "Oh god, I've left my wallet and phone at home" (sometimes I feel like slapping him, he is soooo forgetful!). So I have given him my bank card and if he loses that I'll punch him.

Then I got home to discover he'd left his packed lunch in the fridge. Despite me leaving a note on his bag to remind him. It really is like having three children sometimes.

ANYWAY, he was totally thrilled when I arrived in the downpour with the car, offering him a lift, and he's just found out we've got great Olympic tickets. Never seen him so excited!

The sole reason I went shopping is because I am seeing Bon Jovi on Monday night (and yes I will be mentioning this every single day) and wanted to buy some tattoo sleeves to look REALLY bad!!!

I'd seen some on Amazon for £4.99 (plus free delivery) but they may not arrive in time and I wanted to go to the shop which I knew sold them. I got the train in, hit the cherry tree shops where I picked up the following Ladybird books for 50p each in the British Heart Foundation.

I then headed to the shop for the tattoo sleeves. The staff were rude, couldn't be bothered to show me where the sleeves were, and then I discovered they were £7.50. For the same pair as the ones I saw on Amazon. Rip Off.

I refused to pay it and walked off disgruntled towards the train station and bumped into a mum from the village, who I only really know to say a quick hello.

She was getting the train home too so we were talking and I told her I was desperate for tattoo sleeves.

She looked at me and said "Oh I've got some you can have. Brand new. My husband was given a load at work."

Just like that! She gave me her address and I picked up the car, dropped off the husband and fetched the tattoo sleeves. Let Us Rock.

I am officially the world's saddest blogging rock chick

Look who loves it more than me (so baggy!)

And if all this wasn't exciting enough, I THEN got a text from Cuckoo to say I'd won Pink Milk's giveaway. I am beyond thrilled. Utterly overjoyed and so I raced home to log on!

I am chuffed to say the least. Thanks Heather, can't wait to see it in the flesh. Wish I could make fab things. I just don't find the time. Between raising children, working and blogging and all the housework, I don't seem to find time.

I barely even sit in the front of the TV anymore. Except for Made in Chelsea, naturally. And Embarrassing Fat Bodies, but not when I am eating sausages.

Just visited my neighbour who has a seven week old yellow Labrador. Very cute. The Princess BEGGED me for one. I have asthma which is triggered by animal fur and so the answer is a definite no.

But she is very cute and furry. And I succombed. Then I got all tight chested and wheezy. I never learn. Ever.

Just adorable. A good day, despite the horrid weather.

Hope it picks up tomorrow, I am meeting a new friend in the morning. Then I have an old friend coming over to stay the night with her son, cannot wait for a catch up. Haven't seen her in ages and ages.