x rated

well lizzie and i did manage to return from our tall ships adventure all in one piece - though bruised and drained!

it was jolly hard work, we met some lovely people and saw some amazing places - the trip round montserrat was one of the highlights of the voyage for me - but who on earth would want to go to st. maarten's???

on the whole it was exacting, exasperating, expensive (!!), exhausting, extraoardinary, excruciating but, ultimately, exhilerating

and i rate it x out of x

back home

hello!

i am home!

really i need to get my thoughts properly in order before i say too much - there is much to do before i can simply sit and relax

will be back with thoughts another day

pampered chefs

tonight i went to a pc party at carol's house (it's a bit like tupperware - but not plastic and the gadgets are to help with cooking rather than storing)

it was the first one i have been to - think it may well become quite 'big' over here (it's american!)

i thought it was very expensive - so you'd have to go to a lot of parties and buy things gradually - but the stuff did seem of excellent quality

stella has been to a few of them and likes the goods - which was handy as i was able to get her a belated birthday present that i know she will really like

sadly, i had to miss my reading group - this month's choice had been 'star of the sea' - joseph o'connor - this has been on the bestseller list for ages but when i looked at it briefly in borders i thought it looked a bit of a hard read - i couldn't have been more wrong! - fairly whipped through it - very well written, excellent 'story' and full of interesting detail of life in ireland, england and life on an emigration ship in the 1840s - it was the sort of book that could be reread a number of times and find something you hadn't considered before (i'm sure i've missed heaps of clever references!) - only sorry i wasn't at the meeting to find out what everyone else had to say

mothering sunday

had a really good day!
fran arrived soon after 9 with a lovely card and beautiful gifts (including a super pair of jim-jams from marks and sparks - just what i need for my hols!!) - and while i'm on the subject i must mention the beautiful card kpie made and the dodo travel log which stella sent yesterday - all these holiday requisites!! how lucky am i to have such super daughters!!
then fran and i collected cat and zoomed up to o and g's - eric jane and peter had already arrived - and we all went out for a special mothering sunday lunch for oma at the romer arms - splendid!!
we were a jolly crew - making more than enough noise for 80 let alone 8! - then quickly back to o and g's for a coffee and then home
fran had to go home to do preparation for tomorrow and i had minutes to type up so have been on the computer for the rest of the evening
but here's the funny thing . . . stella came on messenger and i was 'chatting' to her - and she was telling me about a forum she is part of in which the women tonight were complaining because their husbands - that's right their HUSBANDS!! - hadn't bought them anything for mothering sunday!!!! - if boogs had ever given me a present on mothering sunday i would have been INSULTED - i was his WIFE not his MOTHER for goodness sake!!!
no!! - it's an attitude i can't even bgin to understand!!

a bit about work

i have been in my 'new' job for a few months now - 3 and a half months mornings only and helping out in the 'old' office in the afternoons - but since tuesday it has been full time in the new place

it's very different but i am beginning to feel more 'at home' - the other staff are friendly and lively - and the old place is just round the corner so have popped in every day to see them - and help finish off the munchies from the 'close down' party on monday evening!!

the entire service is in a state of change - many offices are moving location - its a bit like musical chairs - well!! quite a good simile actually because each section seems to be convinced that if they don't grab a room somewhere - anywhere!! - they will find themselves camping in the corridor!! - am not too sure where our little team of 8 will end up but i hope we get it sorted soon - will keep you posted!

busy busy busy

this last week has been soooo busy that it has addled my brain!
some good things have happened - like trisha coming round for a chat last friday evening and staying till almost 12 - trish and i haven't done that for ages!
and aywl at liz and david's was interesting - lovely people!and certainly lots of thoughful insights!!
but having arrived home from l and d's at gone 10 i then had to help fran write her essay on maths (i think it was maths - like i say my brain addled now) and then last night it was help her write an assessment on science! - so some of my 'busyness' has not been a bundle of laughs!! - and anything else i can remember doing has been home or housework related - ah me!
it has been very cold too - snow every day but mostly not settling - i managed to cut the grass sunday afternoon though it was FREEZING - then just as i had finished and went back indoors it started to snow - what happened there? - not usually so fortunate!!!
i went to the bushey wool shop (having been inspired by some jolly good knitting blogs - though all in canada and the states - come on english women get yer needles out!!!) and was impressed by the really interesting new types of wool which is being produced nowadays - didn't buy anything as i had other business to conduct but i will be going back so watch this space
that's it for now - i'm sure other things have happened too but like i say my brain somewhat poorly at the moment!!!