Oh I'm so glad that you get to keep Ellie HAPPY DANCE!

What a blessing you two are for each other! I'm sure she's loving living with you as much as you and DH and the boys love her!

Sarah Ann - Well I know New Cross Gate fairly well - My Brother used to lodge in Jerningham Road and go to Goldsmith's College and I have lived in East Dulwich and Nunhead (nice part of Peckham). I do hope you get to keep Ellie - mind you if the owner keeps moving around for work it is hardly fair on the dog, is it?

2Frus - it is good to have the occasional sickie - you feel so much better off for it!

BritNJ - That cream tea is an absolute rip off! I am glad I was not there - I would have complained LOUDLY. Blummin cool whip indeed - exactly how is that like clotted cream. How very dare they!!!!! Grrrr! That sort of things does havoc with my blood pressure.

Chris hope you're feeling better. Stay warm.

It's very mild here .

can anyone recomend removal men in london.. that dont charge by the hour???

grr... looking now as all is going ok with the buying / selling.. so nee to look on logistics!... we moved our selfb4.. but we didnt have half as much stuff and i was a strong ol' chick then before my neck injury.... grr....


yup marmite is a handfull.. he likes to wakes us up when it gets light.. i think he thinks hes going to get let out.... lol.. or at about 5.30 ... becuase he wants his b'fast.. grrr... the waterpistol works well when he scratched on the wardrobe doors... little monkey... then once jen got up this am... she got into bed and laid down right up to me... grrr.. we were AWAKE then!...
no wonder the poor old lady couldnt manage him! might ask the vet tonight 4 tips ..

Lou, any tips for that behavior please pass them on. My cat (Kelly) gets up around 5, cries loudly, and is overall annoying. She wants me to get up and feed her and when I don't she gets on the windowsill and starts banging on the miniblinds. If I have an exposed hand she bites it, it's really ridiculous. Sometimes I shut her out of my room and she just scratches at the door. I love her though.

YAY the weather is better, just ran about 7 miles, it warmed up so nicely today. Weekend is supposed to be great.

Dinners out tonight and Sunday, but both at places where I tend to be good, need to keep the holiday weight off, I'm finally down a bit so I'm happy. I'm waiting for the official weigh in next week to make sure it sticks.

Sarah your news about Ellie made my day She is a lucky girl, Fred and George will be happy.

Have a great weekend all.

the waterpistol works well... it was one from a xmas cracker.. lol.. BUT i think we nee a new one as i seem to get wetter than the cat!

i think ignoring them is best .. as they are being rewarded 4 bad behaviour..

will have a look on teh net.. see what i can find!

Evening all

Well I feel 90% better today and did manage to get to curves and have a good workout...so I'm happy about that.

It did get nice out through the day as well after the low temps first thing...am looking forward to the weekend weather, although now they're saying we could get some early showers and I don't want them as I have loads of washing I want to hang out and only so much line. But I;kk give it a go anyway, I like you Sarah, love washing from the line, especially sheets put back on the beds....best nights sleep ever then.

Wonderful news about Ellie... I really do think she's meant to be with you all. I'm sure if she could talk in words we underdtood, she'd say the same. Glad to hear that your fingers are feeling a tad better. That cream tea sounds so wonderful

Frus, your baking sounds lovely and well done on the crumbs, that's why I don't bake... as well as the fat that I'm crap at it... I nibble too much Have fun at the ballet? opera? with your Mum, take pics so we can all see how glam you look.

CG.. have you been out walking in your lovely weather?

Lou, a behavioural cat... I had one years back that started attacking me from behind doorways when i fell pregnant...he was a beast and was only horrible to me....I didn't use a water pistol, but I have been told by many vets to use them for animal behaviours....so good luck, sounds like you're on the right track.

Peacock, your memory for road names and places is fab, I think my Nan's road was near Rochester way, I know we weren't allowed up that way as it was a 'big road' and very busy....

Well Hannah is sorting out her wardrobe and has asked for my help, so I sahll go and sit on her bed and watch and offer my opinion on where things should go

See you all tomorrow.

Hi,

I finally got a text from Ellie's PREVIOUS owner confirming that we can keep her, so we are having a bit of a party this evening.

Ellie has already celebrated in her own way - by doing one of her disappearing acts during our walk - I think she probably chased after a deer (again) so I had to stay put for nearly an hour shouting for her to come back... which made me late for work. I hate keeping her on a lead but I think I'm going to have to on work days. I know I should tell her off but its hard to be really angry with her - she doesn't mean it nastily.

Peacock - I was brought up in Waller Road (a turning off Queens Road -the one thats got the fire station on the corner) then, after moving around a bit and just before I moved away from London, I lived in Musgrove Road which is a turning off of Jerningham Road. Chris - My stepfather used to live in the Rochester Way and his daughter still does. Small World!

George & Fred love water but are scared WITLESS of water pistols (don't know about Ellie yet). The summer before last we bought then a big paddling pool and some stuff to play in the water with - including a water rifle thingy - the first time I fired it at George he sort of fell over on his side in the pool and had what I can only think is a doggy panic attack - I thought I'd killed him! After that ever time I picked it up both dogs would run and hide. They don't even like the hose being squirted at them now.

RSG, I'm glad your weather is better.... is this the beginning of your Spring or do you think you'll get more winter weather?

Chris, how nice that Hannah wants your opinion on her wardrobe. I don't think I saw the inside of Vicki's bedroom after she turned 14!

Just sitting here trying to figure out what I've got in the freezer that I can do stuff with for this impromptu party we're having this evening. I don't suppose everyone would be too impressed if I served up a selection of my lovely nutritious veg and bean soups..... I might do a sort of indoor BBQ - just cook it on the cooker instead of outdoors..... actually... I might do a proper BBQ and just eat it indoors. Sorted! I just need some salad stuff and something for pud.

Sarah...YAY for the now permanent family addition. So happy for all of you. Hopefully Spring is here, you never know though. One year we had 2 feet of snow on April 1 and then 60's the next day!!!

Chris- I hope you're feeling better, get outside today

Lou-Last night I ignored the cat, I wanted to get up and feed her so I could have some peace but I shooed her away and then she eventually relaxed. I got up at 8 and she was still snoozing. She's such a pest. I am worried that in her crazy 4 a.m. running and banging on things that she may be waking up the people downstairs.

Just got back from spinning, ready to go for a walk and enjoy the weather.

Have a great day all.

Sarah - that's great news about Ellie, I'm glad it's (finally) all sorted out.

I headed off into the bit of the Dales that's in Cumbria today for a 14.3 mile race. I didn't know quite what to expect - it was on the road rather than a true fell race, but I didn't expect it to be particularly flat! Other than the fact it was probably in the part of the country with the worst weather of anywhere today (I swear at one point it was hail that was hammering straight into my face rather than rain) it was really good and I want to go back next year! There were only a couple of nasty (short) hills, and nothing I couldn't cope with. The rest was just a bit undulating.

It had a bizarre 1pm start (actually, my 20 miler next Saturday starts at 1pm too) so I'd prepared a packed lunch to eat when I finished, but they had free bags of food at the end instead of t-shirts. So I went into a carb frenzy with a cheese sandwich, a scone and a slice of fruit cake instead! I don't think I've ever tasted anything quite so satisfying. I'd earned it though, so I'm not worried about it. When I got back I had some of what I'd prepared for my lunch, and I'm going to sit for a bit, and then have a stir fry before a nice hot bath - I need to get rid of a fair bit of mud from the back of my legs particularly as I've washed my bedding today!

Good evening everyone

Had a good day but eaten quite a bit namely french stick with Lurpak on and lots of yeo yoghurt oh and poached egg on toast this morning.

Met my father for a drink this afternoon. Diet coke for me and Guiness of course for him.

Lovely to hear all your news as usual.

Goodnight godbless
Michele

Hello all,

Sarah, that's wonderful that Ellie is now 100% yours...she's such a lucky lady to be in such a lovely family premenantly Hannah didn't end up doing her wardrobe last night, she got stuck into MH instead, but she's spent all afternoon doing it today, she had all her clothes out in piles on hangers around her room... she has got a LOT of clothes! Hope your BBQ was nice and you and all involved enjoyed your doggy party.

I was talking to Mum today and asked her if the road up from my nan's was Rochester way and she confirmed that it was, she had to cross it in her youth, before it was a motorway to walk to school... they lived on Orchard Rise West... I love that name.

I feel miles better today, went to curves and sweated something chronic, so hopefully that got all the horrid toxins out of my body. I spent all the time chatting to Mum (over 2 hours) this morning outside sitting on the deck too, it was lovely out with just a sweatshirt rather than a coat. Got two lines of washing dry too....

Have been very with food today, I've started myself on a protien shake now after curves and it's not bad...and surprisingly filling for liquid.

Sonny boy is on the train down to NJ to his girlie, Dave and I are betting wheter or not he'll phone us when he gets there as for once neither of us told him to, he is 20 now after all... but I would like to think he'll call... otherwise I'll lose the bet.

Michelle, glad you've had a nice drink with your Dad...you must be so good for one another how's he feeling?

Helen, sounds like a good run apart from the weather luv, hope you got your mud off and enjoyed your soaky bath, you've got me hankering for fruit cake now....

I e-mailed the tea shoppe place last night and they're open all weekend, but they didn't write back yet after my complaint, some ladies at curves were talking about going today and having scones and that fabulous cream, so I told them that they're just eating cool whip not clotted cream and they've been decieved I might have been nicer if I'd got an e-mail, but now I'm not saying a good word about the place....

OK, time for a nice cuppa and maybe a Saturday night film. See you all tomorrow.

My doggy BBQ went quite well ... considering its March - heavens only knows what our new neighbours next door but one (they only moved in on Friday) thought when I hammered on their door and invited them to a BBQ (in March) because my dog can stay with me. They probably think I'm nuts... and rightly so. I consumed rather too much wine and I've got a cracking headache today!

lol ... we invited our new neigbours round too last night.... well they moved in just before xmas... anyway.. there ar up to their eyes in decorating & thoguth they could do with a break... 2am they left.. just about able to stand up... lol....

jen got out the absinth.. (70%.. evil vile stuff... i quote from black books tv series "one dring & u will want to die" this is quite true). .... tequila gold, and 2 others.. lol.. hummm + wine/ beer etc..

yup.. not too pretty today... they are trying to lay flooring & we have spent most the day in bed haha.... i wasnt too hungover as i dont drink much these days.. actually last weekend was the 1st time id had a drink in about a year...


MICHELLE... need to get your dad some guinnes marmite... oooooooooo its yummy... much milder than normal marmite..

oo our marmites abscess thingy.. was in fact a um scab .... fell right off .. the little monkey wouldnt let us touch it haha... !


just trying to sort out some quotes for moving... gettin ppl round to see how much stuff we have etc.... all fun... the survey on new house was done yesterday.. so we await the results eeek!...

right off to watch tv or something not requiring any effort lol

Hello everyone

Glad your feeling better Chris. The weather was lovely here today. Sarah glad the bbq went well. That dog is loved from here to America and beyond.
Lou I've never heard of Guiness marmite I wouldn't mind trying it as I am a marmite kind of girl but my father would say feck that now. Hope your feeling a bit better by the way you old drunk!! Hello Redsox girl.

Today would have been my brother's 38th birthday. I took flowers to his grave and cried my eyes out. He was born at home and I can remember so clearly my father carrying me into see my mother and show me my new baby brother. I would have been almost five at the time. He was huge almost ten pounds. The midwife sat at the end of the bed and smoked a cig after she delivered him nice eh.

My mother never mentions my brother even today when she knows its his birthday. My father can speak a little bit but finds it very difficult. My other two brothers still get choked when we speak of Mark. A light went out in my father when he died, and he got ill not long after his death.
The sun was shining today and the cemetary was peaceful, full of flowers and windchimes blowing in the breeze. Ocassionally I dream of my brother and he is always smiling and in this life he wasn't always happy, life could often be difficult for him his illness prevented him from forming relationships and I think he often felt quite isolated. He was failed by the mental health services as many are. My brother was a special and extraordinary boy and I shall miss him always.

Sorry for this maudlin post

Take good care everyone

Michele