Let the Gem see the Cherry Tree

Well, it's nearly two weeks since we moved to our new seaside town. It's had ups and downs. A few more downs than I was expecting, to be honest, but I am seeing the glimmer that is the light at the end of the tunnel.

We had a few stressful starts; the car became dangerous to drive, settling the Princess in her new school has taken up some of my emotions, I miss my girls from Berkshire etc. And I am rubbish with change (when Coronation Street switched its viewing times a few years ago, I was at sixes and sevens for weeks. Discombobulated, to quote my lovely mum). So imagine me here, on my lonesome most of the time with two kids and no sense of direction.

The cherry tree shops are teasing me. Dotted around here there and everywhere. I can't bear it. The problem is the Prince has decided he HATES me seeking out cherry tree treasures and kicks off every single time I stick a toe through the door of a shop

But yesterday, I was sick of going cold turkey. I needed to go to some cherry tree boutiques. I needed to pick up a bargain. When I saw this book for 75p, I nearly weed my pants.

It even features a gypsy wagon. Gorgeous.

 I then  found this 1983 funky book for 40p. Can't say no to that.

Ooooh bring it on! Can't wait for summer.

 My friend is coming to stay tomorrow for a couple of nights. We always have a right laugh and the Husband loves her too, so it's always fun. He's off tomorrow as working all weekend so the three of us can have a silly night in.

Will be nice to have some company. There's been a lot of this going on.  Me on the beach taking pics of myself. What a doofus.

 I've been on the beach at 9am most mornings after the school run, just walking walking walking with the Prince. I will work off that Christmas chub if it kills me. But look, it's worth it in the bitter cold for this view.

It's been an interesting day today. I couldn't get up this morning, no change there, but then as I took the pushchair outside, it started folding in on itself. Turned out a screw was missing so in haste, the husband (he who graduated from the School of DIY Crapness) wrapped a lot of parcel tape around it and assured me it would last another day until we could buy a new one tomorrow.

Three minutes later on the school run, it started misbehaving. Then we had to cross the level crossing. Only just made it to the other side of the rail track as the barriers were going down.....S.T.R.E.S.S. By this point the Prince was like a squashed frog in the middle of a pile of folded metal and canvas. Fortunately we were outside a cherry tree shop.

I somehow managed to pull the buggy inside and asked if they had a stroller I could buy. I was desperate. I do a lot of walking here and can't carry the Prince after recently recovering from a slipped disk. The chap (Jim) could only offer me a travel system type pushchair (minus the car seat) for £65.

This wasn't an option and I could feel my blood pressure rising (did anyone ever watch Stressed Eric, the cartoon on Sunday evenings a decade ago? I felt like Stressed Eric, the vein in my temple was throbbing). Now what? I couldn't shell out £65 when all I want is a cheap stroller that will get me through the next 6 months.

But I also had to get the Princess to school and then get to a pre-school for a tour.

Jim saved the day, without asking for my name or number, he said I could have the pushchair for the day until I got a new one tomorrow and then return it. And in the meantime he would store my battered one. What a star.

I've bought him chocolates and I might have to make a promise that I will shop there from time to time. Like that will be hard!!!

I've met three lovely mums at school now. One invited me for lunch today with the others. It was lovely. Very easy, chaotic with loads of kids, and I felt so much better for being in the company of like-minded women. There was another girl there I'd not met before and she was really nice.

Then after school my neighbour invited me over for a cuppa as her daughter is the same age as the Princess. And we got talking and I mentioned my blog. "Oh my best friend write a blog too" she said casually.
Oh? I wanted to know what sort of blog her friend wrote.
Turns out it's ONLY the lovely Annaboo's House, the blog I've been following for ages. She and I were hoping to meet up soon anyway but this was one hell of a coincidence!

And this lovely neighbour is the one who gave me her old stroller. Things are looking up!

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!!!!!