AZZY'S BLOG-A-ROONIE!

2010-12-31T23:58:00.000Z

OH..... HELLO THERE.......

WE LIVE IN SOMERSET NOW!!!

2010-10-23T11:55:00.005+01:00

Hi everyone,
Sorry I took so long to do these couple of posts but been enjoying living by the beach! Also, as put in the little message box on the left, it takes ages to load my blog and I won't spend my time sat here waiting when I could be out enjoying myself!

We are two minutes from the beach and five minutes from the local wildlife park where we go regular to watch the canoeing, model boat racing, and feed the swans, ducks, geese, coots, moorhens and grebes.
We also feed the fish, as when we throw bread for the birds, some enourmous fish surface and grab what they can!

Had my stepdaughter (the one I like!) and her boyfriend stop for the Bank Holiday weekend not long after we moved in, that was a really nice weekend.

Me and Little'Un sometimes go to the beach and watch the RNLI doing their training, watched them last night, bit cold and windy but enjoyable.

On a clear day, if you look to the right across the water, you can see Wales (not sure, but think all the bright lights at night might be Cardiff?), if you look to the left we can see down the river Parrett almost to where Big Bruv lives, to the right there are two islands, a big one and a little one (can't remember their names right now) they are the same ones you can see from the beach at Weston.

Little'Un has really settled in great down here, she loves her new school and has made quite a few friends.
I feel a lot calmer down here too, as the pace of life is slower so my smoking has gone from 35-40 a day down to 10-15!!!!! Although sometimes I smoke even less than that.
Went back up to Manchester to visit Mum, Dad, Little'Uns Dad and my previous neighbour and bestest bud Shell in September just for the day, funnily enough, my smoking immediately shot back up and I coughed all the way back to Somerset in the car!

Really looking forward to the firework display on the beach in a couple of weeks. PLUS! The carnival (see video clips in left hand column) passes right under our window as it goes along Burnham High Street, I will get my camera and maybe even my video camera all batteried up and ready to go!

Went to Bridgwater fair a couple of weeks ago, WOW! Biggest fairground I have ever seen!!! Lil'Sis was here at the time so we all went together Big Bruv, Sis'in'Law, Lil'Sis, Little'Un and me, had a fabulous time, went on loads of rides. I felt just like a teenager again, screaming at the top of my lungs and laughing so much my eyes were streaming and my stomach hurt. Almost made myself sick through going on everything but a great time was had by all!

Will try to blog more and also stick some pics on.

ARRRRRGGGGHHHHHH!

By the time I had typed all the above, it wouldn't let me post, it had shut down connection, don't know why, maybe I had lost the signal, who knows????
It does this all the time!!!!
I hate this computer!!!!!

I'll keep trying though, I'm not going to type this all over again!!!

Loadsaluv
Azzy
XXX

I HATE POLITICS!!

2010-10-22T11:13:00.003+01:00

I agree in part to what the Government is trying to do, clearing out scroungers from the benefits system. BUT........ do not tar everyone with the same brush!!!
And not at the expense of the actual sick and therefore innocent claimant!!!

In my post above I have put that Lil'Sis had been for a visit. It was a blummin' good job she did. She needed to calm down and relax plus get fed and looked after by Big Bruv, Sis'in'Law and myself. We were actually frightened for her health!

I HATE POLITICS!

I'll tell you why........

Lil'Sis has high blood pressure and has been on the sick through very bad depression for a number of years now. A couple of months ago she had her yearly medical assessment....What a shambles!!!!
The assessor ticked all the wrong boxes!!! Seems he decided there is nothing wrong with her and stated so on the form, immediately the 'powers that be' stopped all incapacity payments and left her with absolutely NOTHING to live on, she couldn't buy food, she couldn't get her blood pressure prescription or pay any bills.

I HATE POLITICS!

Her blood pressure rocketed to 180 over 120 when it should be 140 over 80 (or something like that?)
She became extremely depressed and ill.

I HATE POLITICS!

She was told to ring the DWP and sort out an appeal and they would then pay her a reduced rate until her appeal got sorted. She did as she was told, sent her appeal then waited for the reduced payment to hit her bank...she waited.....waited....waited....three weeks passed without any money and she decided to ring again to find out when it would come through. Only then did she get told she actually had to APPLY for the reduced rate. So, she applied..... she waited...waited...waited... another two weeks had gone by so she rang again only to be told the DWP had lost all her paperwork and she would have to reapply for everything all over again.

I HATE POLITICS!

The assessor, we think, had got her mixed up with someone else of the same name as in his report he named her doctor incorrectly, gave the date of when she started on the sick incorrectly, and gave idiotic details which were never even discussed in the assessment like...She naps a lot during the day????? She socialises on a daily basis??????? She is not off sick due to any medical reason????? She is off sick due to redundancy????? She goes shopping weekly yet, at the same time, goes shopping monthly?????? WHAT????!!!! Who/what is this guy talking about?

I HATE POLITICS!

Seems she will also be penalised due to coming down here to be fed and looked after by us, (you don't get anything if your family is supporting you!!!) What were we supposed to do, let her starve or let her blood pressure kill her????

I HATE POLITICS!

Poor Lil'Sis is now having to take this to a tribunal to try and get it sorted out, how she will cope with this stress I don't know.

I HATE POLITICS!

SADDLEWORTH SHOW 2010

2010-06-13T19:08:00.010+01:00

Hi everyone,

Just spent the day at Saddleworth Show. Had a brilliant time.
Put a couple of pics on here for you.

There were donkey, camel (see pic) and llama races, falconry displays, dog show (we missed this as it didn't have a time on the programme) a fairground (see pic) screamed my head off on the Waltzers and the Cyclone rides but loved every minute! Should have seen me trying to get off the Waltzers with my dickie knee, the damn thing kept swinging round and I kept falling back into my seat, couldn't get up for laughing!!

There were all kinds of food and craft stalls, my favourite was the 'Hog Roast' YUM!
A duck race, canoeing, a vintage car show, brass bands, a scarecrow contest (free entry if you turned up as a scarecrow!), face painting (see pic) and Morris dancing.
Spent way, way too much money but we don't get to go to things like this often so what the heck, we enjoyed ourselves!
As per usual the heavens opened but at least it wasn't until about 3.30pm so we had a good few hours there beforehand.
I have put their website as a link although I haven't yet been on it myself, after I have finished this post I'll be popping over for a look, just click on my post heading to go see for yourself.

Well, that's all for now, just thought I would pop in and do a post of our great day. Will probably do another post about our local Carnival in July just before we leave to live in Somerset in August, until then, hope everyone is keeping happy and well.

Love Azzy XXX

SOMERSET

2010-04-21T21:57:00.003+01:00

Hello,

Well folks, sorry not been on for a while, been real busy making plans and generally living my everyday life.
Got so much going on right now that I just haven't had time to visit my blog.


Just got back this weekend from a stay in Somerset at big Bruvs, lovely and relaxing and the weather was beautiful, warm and mostly sunny, it did wonders for my dickie knee, I hardly limped and walked for miles (can't do that up here, it's too cold and damp, I'm sure my dickie knee is RUST from all the rain in Manchester!)


We found the perfect place we want to move to. I'm saving really hard for the move, making sure I have enough for my rent deposit, first months rent, administration fees and moving costs with a little extra for any unexpected costs that may crop up, I will have enough by the end of July!!!


Went to see the school Little'Un will be going to, it was closed for Easter but the following week we went back and the caretaker was there so we got quite a few leaflets/information off him, while there we saw loads of properties for rent and visited a few estate agents for details.

Little'Un loves the place, it's such a small town that no matter where in it you live, you are only about five minutes from the beach.
BLISS!

Neither of us can wait and have started packing up bits and pieces already!

Well, that's all for now, hope you are all keeping well and will pop over to a few of you now to catch up on things.

Will try to post a little more often, can't promise though, busy, busy, busy!


Love Azzy
XXX

FIRST PRIZE!

2010-03-04T23:14:00.001Z

Look who won first prize in the school 'World Book Day' competition today.

The kids had to dress up as characters from any book they wanted, if they didn't want to do it, they were allowed to go to school in their pyjamas.

Me and Little'Un really struggled with what to do that wouldn't cost too much as most kids actually buy a costume. (I can't afford to do anything like that, so I usually make it myself. Last year she came second, she went as Princess Fiona from Shrek complete with green skin and sticky-out ears!). Thing was, we were only given a couple of days notice from school about this competition.

Anyway, after lots of suggestions, she came up with the idea of '101 Dalmatians'.
She rooted through her wardrobe and all her drawers to find any white clothes she had and we sat for ages trying to figure out how to do the spots on them without ruining her clothes.

At one point she was crying and said to forget it she would wear her pyjamas, then she went to bed (sniff, sniff). I decided not to give up that easily and stayed up working on the outfit.

With marker pen I did spots on an old pair of white tights, same with the ears (made out of an old pair of socks attached with tape to a black headband) the rest of the spots on her clothes were cut from paper I had coloured black and stuck on with sticky tape. I found some old white and black make-up of mine to do her face and TA-DA! A dalmatian!

She woke this morning to find the outfit laid out on the table and was over the moon. She giggled like mad when she saw her reflection in the mirror.

As expected, some of the other kids wore shop bought outfits, quite a lot had turned their uniform into a St Trinians outfit and most wore pyjamas so I was SOOOOO proud when she came running out after school, beaming from ear to ear, waving her £5 book token prize and shouting "I WON, I WON!"

She had the Head Master laughing when she told him unfortunately the other 100 dalmatians couldn't make it as they were off sick! (Seems I have a little commedienne in the making!)

Not bad for bits of paper a marker pen and a pair of old socks!

WOOF!

Love Azzy.
XX

FISHIES

2010-03-04T22:36:00.001Z

Hello all,

Just thought I would post a pic of my fishies, getting on a bit but still going strong.

The gold one - Goldie (looking a bit worse for wear with a few scales missing due to both fish pushing and shoving each other around the tank, not quite fighting, more like playing) is the only one that stayed the same colour as it was when I got it.

The white one - Patch, originally had gold and white patches. This is the one that survived four or so hours stuck behind a cupboard unit on the soggy carpet when ex-hubby smashed the tank to smithereens when he fell on it and we had to rush him to A & E (see one of my previous posts '999 or 911' for the full story!).

These fish were only about half an inch long when I got them, they are now SIX inches long!!! If they grow anymore I will have to get a bigger tank!

They still keep laying eggs every now and again (don't know which is doing it? or even if both?) but none are hatching. Most of the time I only notice the eggs because they are eating them. Greedy little so-and-so's they get fed twice a day and still scoff hundreds of eggs. No wonder they are so blummin' big.

Thats all for now.

Love Azzy.
XXX

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2010-01-07T01:00:00.005Z

Well folks, hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and wish you all a wonderful, happy and healthy 2010!

Our Christmas was a good un!

Had all the family round at my flat for the day, cooked them breakfast, then we all opened our prezzies, Little'Un had SO many, it took ages! Nothing big or expensive but lots and lots to open!
I did my famous Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, if I say so myself, brag, brag, I do a fantastic Christmas dinner. The local big store had actually ran out of turkeys so I had to get a great big chicken to roast, with it we had mashed potatoes, roasties, mashed carrots and turnips for Little'Un (the only veggies she will eat), roast parsnips, sprouts, roast carrots, pigs in blankets, fried mushrooms, fried red, green and yellow peppers, enormous bowl of stuffing with added onions, apple sauce, cranberry sauce and thick rich gravy. YUM!
Always do way too much but that way everyone can have seconds or even thirds! which they usually do!
I made a plate up for my ex for when he came round Boxing Day. Max the dog and Tess (Lil'Sis German Shepherd) both got loads to eat too. Nobody had room for the Christmas pudding, mince pies and chocolate fudge cake we had got for afters.

Not been on here much due to going on facebook, found quite a few of our American relatives so email and go on chat with them regularly. We visited them in Arkansas back in 1976 and one of our cousins I had been emailing rang Mum on Christmas Day. Mum was over the moon! She spoke to each one of us. Little'Un loved it and was amazed at her real Southern drawl.
Little'Un has been going round saying "Hi yawl, yawl have a real good time y'hear" at every opportunity.

Well, I am now setting wheels in motion for our move down South, aiming for some time in the school six weeks holidays so we can settle in before Little'Un starts the new term at a new school, she is getting excited about the move and a new school. I have a lot flat hunting, planning and saving to do before then.

At the moment Lil'Sis is extremely ill with some kind of viral infection, her gas meter isn't working so there is no heat whatsoever in her flat and with the freezing snowy weather (see pretty picture below) she has had to move into Mums until she is well and the Gas company have been to sort it all out. I said she could have come here but she needs rest and no-one gets any rest with Little'Un around! At first we thought it could be that swine flu but we are not too sure? She has a really bad chest infection so is struggling to breathe, a persistant dry painful cough, can only talk in a whisper and last night came out in a vivid pink/reddish rash from her ears to her toes. We did the pressing a glass to the rash test but couldn't make up our minds about it so Mum rang the NHS helpline, they said it sounded like a viral infection and if she is not feeling any better within 48 hours she is to call out a doctor but if it gets any worse in that time she is to ring an ambulance and get to hospital, other than that, she was told just to rest, drink plenty of fluids and take paracetamols. Fingers crossed that the rash was the peak and she will start feeling better soon.

BRRRRRR! IT'S FREEZING! A foot of snow and everything has come to a standstill! No traffic (cars or buses), hardly anyone out and about, airports closed, schools are closed, are the gritter lorries anywhere to be seen? Nah!
Pretty scenery though!That's all the news I have for now, as I said at the start of this post, hope you all have a brilliant 2010.

Loadsa luv.
Azzy.
XX

FISHY FALSE ALARM!

2009-12-04T13:21:00.001Z

Nothing happened with my fith eggs, they just went all slimy so I had to flush them before they stunk out the flat! Since then, my ickle fithies have laid again, I hadn't noticed at first. Well, it was first thing in the morning and I have to get myself and Little'Un up and ready for school.
By the time I had taken Little'Un to school and returned home, they had gobbled them all up!
Oh well, maybe I'll be a fith Mum one day!
That's all for now, hope you ALL have a fantastic Christmas and a happy New Year.
Love Azzy.
XX

P.S. Lookie, lookie! We splashed out on a new tree! Look at all the presents! Whooo hooo!

FISHY UPDATE!!!

2009-11-12T11:22:00.002Z

Don't think I will be a momma after all, not sure?
Not much has happened but it looks like they are all turning that sort of solid creamish colour!
I will give it a little longer to see if there are any developments but think they may have died or weren't fertilized in the first place? All I can do is wait!

Love Azzy
XX

I'M GONNA BE A MOMMA!

2009-11-06T21:15:00.014Z

Oi! What's all the laughing for?
Wadda ya mean I'm too old!

Stop it!... Wipe your eyes and read on....

The other day I was cleaning out my fish tank, must admit it really needed it couldn't even tell there were any fish in there!
When..... I discovered, stuck to the glass bottom, all over the ornamental pebbles and the ornamental plants.....DAN, DAN, DAAAAAAR!
EGGS!
Hundreds of them!
Arrrrgh! What to do????

I had already scraped some up before I realised what they were.
Well, I decided I might as well carry on cleaning the tank so I then very carefully removed EVERY LAST ONE! There must have been at least 500!

I transferred them to my spare tank (I normally put my fish in this one while I clean the main tank) and sent a text to Lil'Sis to give her my news, she is down in Somerset for three weeks at Big Bruvs with her German Shepherd, Tess. She told Big Bruv who immediately went on the internet to find out any information he could for me and got her to text back saying I had done the right thing by removing them from the main tank.
I thought it was best to do that because of the filters, didn't want any eggs or fry being sucked into them.
Later that day, my neighbour called and I told her about it, she said to put them back but turn off the filters. I wasn't too sure about it but she said her ex used to breed fish and I should have left them where they were, so I decided to do a little test and only put about 30 back.
Good job I didn't put them all back, the parents immediately gobbled them all up!!!!

Anyway, some are now a sort of solid light beige colour and the rest are a sort of clear caramel colour, guess that means some are fertilized and some are not????
Didn't even know my two fish were different sexes. How on earth can you tell? Then again, why should I bother what sex they are, it only matters to the fish.

I went on the internet myself to see if I could get any more information about what to do and it seems I just leave them to it now. If they hatch, they hatch. If not, there's not much I can do about it.

I've read that you should mix cooked egg yolk into a paste with water and put a tiny bit in their tank after they have hatched and been swimming about for about three days, so that's what I'm going to do. I also read they can go back in with their parents but only when they are larger than the parents mouth!

Because I have been on the internet for information, I have discovered that they are not just pretty goldfish as I call them, they are 'Veiltails'.

As I say, I don't know if the eggs will hatch or if they do, how many will survive.
They are so tiny and my eyes aren't what they used to be but it looks like there are about 200 or so clear caramel colour ones and about the same amount of a sor of solid creamish colour so fingers crossed. (and eyes and toes!)

That's all for now, I'll keep you updated but think it will be at least another week or so before anything happens. I'll know immediately though as I sit and stare at them for ages to see if there is any movement.

Good grief I need to get a life!

Ta ta for now.
Love Azzy.
Until my next post.

MWAAAAA!

HOORAY!!!! THEN... BOOOOO!!!!!

2009-10-09T06:55:00.011+01:00

THIS IS THE HOORAY BIT!.....

She went to the show!

Her Dad actually turned up and took her!

She came back with candy floss (cotton candy) two crowns with Micky Mouse ears (they came with the candy floss, she got TWO big bags full), she had a flashing wand and the biggest, loveliest smile I have seen in a long time! She then proceeded to tell me and Lil'Sis all about it.
I haven't seen her that excited since we went to Disneyworld, Florida.
All the characters from all the films she had seen were there and it sounded like it was quite a spectacular.

She was still talking about it (and still grinning!) the next morning.

*****************************************************************************
THIS IS THE BOOOOO BIT!!!!!!!.........

Unfortunately, he reverted back to his normal self within days and was back to letting her down.
She had a small part in her school Assembly play and had asked her Dad to go see her.
He refused because I was going! I text him saying he should be there for his Daughter and that she wanted him there. He texted back that he didn't want to be in the same room as me! I replied that the school hall was large enough for him to sit as far away from me as he liked and I couldn't understand why he hates me so much.
I had hoped we could stay friends, had told him when I left that I still loved him but just couldn't live with him due to the way he was treating us both.
I don't make things awkward, I don't ask for money, I let him see her whenever and as often as he likes, and he has got the house! So I can't understand why he is being hostile towards me????

He said, when I left, "Don't go turning her against me!"
Well. sweetie, I don't have to say a word, you are doing that all by yourself!

Anyway. I just hope he starts being honest with her and turning up when he says he will, it is not her fault we split and she shouldn't have to suffer for it! Hope he gets to read this blog sometime and it actually sinks in what he is doing to her because no amount explaining by me helps, seems I'm just a NAG!

He had one hell of a go at me the other week, he rang Little'Un on her mobile (cell) then asked to talk to me, he then proceeded to scream down the phone his usual comment of "GET A BLOODY JOB". And how he wouldn't be in all this debt if it wasn't for me and that I have shirked and ignored my responsibilities by not going to the house every day to walk Max and feed him!!! (I don't have any keys, he took them back!!!!)

He had almost cried when we split (not because I was leaving, but because of Max) he begged me to leave Max with him because he loved him so much, so that's what I did!

Don't think he realised the amount of work involved with looking after a dog. He was only used to coming home from work, patting Max on the head and then going to the pub! Now, he has to walk him, feed him, play with him and put up with the destruction in the house when he is left on his own. (Sorry sweetie, that's how you wanted it, you got your house and you got your dog!!!!)

One of his other Daughters has recently taken him to the Small Claims Court over a loan of £500 she gave him about two or three years ago of which he had promised almost every week to pay her back but she hasn't received a penny! My Mother should do the same! He has owed her £1200 for two years now and has promised her repayment over and over again! HA! NOT A SINGLE PENNY!!

The other day I was bloody livid. He wanted Little'Un to stop over at his as he had a couple of days off work, I'd said OK and she happily skipped off with him. Later that evening there was a knock on my door and there they both stood. He said she just wanted to come home then he left.
Once inside Little'Un burst into tears and told me what had happened....
Seems his girlfriend was there, (Little'Un has met her before and likes her) but this time the girlfriend wanted him all to herself and told Little'Un to go and sit in the bedroom while they 'talked'. Little'Un said she sat for ages on her own just staring out the window until she eventually went back downstairs and asked to be brought home. I rang him the next day saying that that was Little'Uns time with him and that his girlfriend had no right to tell her to go sit in the bedroom on her own, neither should he have allowed it!!!
I told him he can do what he likes with whoever he likes wheresoever and whenever he likes, but not on the times he is supposed to spend with Little'Un!
THAT'S NOT FAIR.
THAT'S HER TIME!!
ARRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!

Phew, I feel better for that.
Sorry, but I needed to scream, good job there is no sound on this post!

Any absent Dads out there, please take note.......
Put your kids first no matter what you think of their Mother. They are the innocents!

That's all for now.

Luv Azzy.
XXX

WE HAVE CONNECTION!!!!

2009-09-21T12:17:00.014+01:00

Whoo, hoo! We now have internet!

Little'Un has a laptop thanks to a brilliant new Government scheme called 'Home Access' that allows struggling families without computer/internet to get online, thus enabling the children to make use of the laptop for study purposes. You receive a set package of a laptop with pre-programmed security and free connection for a year. After which you can, should you wish, purchase the package yourself at an affordable (?) price.
We have had the laptop since early July this year but there was some kind of connection problem with it and the pre-installed security programme was blocking all internet access including its OWN website!
No idea what was wrong, it just didn't work from day one, all we could do was play solitaire. Not exactly educational!
I have spent a fortune over past nine weeks ringing from my mobile (cell phone in USA) as I have no land line, to try and get the issue resolved and suddenly today..... PROBLEM SOLVED?
The computer company actually rang me this morning to see if they could try again to resolve it, I told them it was suddenly up and working and they seemed as surprised as I was!

Anyway, Hello everyone!
It was Little'Uns Birthday on Sunday (20th) TEN YEARS OLD!
Wow, where does the time go!
I had been saving for a freezer but decided to use the money on her present.
She wanted to take a cycling proficiency test they were running from school but the bike she had had brakes that wouldn't have passed the roadworthyness (if there is such a word?) test, they did work but not well enough as sometimes they sort of slipped. Plus she is growing so fast, another few months and her knees would have been hitting her chin as she cycled so I decided to sacrifice my freezer and treat her to a brand new bike. Big and bright pink! She loves it!
I have told her it's her Birthday and Christmas present rolled into one. Though she knows I will still get her something to open on Christmas Day.
I did her a party at our flat the day before her Birthday with six of her friends although it sounded more like forty!
Think everyone had a good time, they made enough noise and mess!
Her Dad offered to go half towards the cost of the bike and I foolishly believed him like so many of his other previous promises/offers of help.
Ha, ha, ha, he gets me every time with these little jokes he plays on me!

Don't particularly mind it myself, I'm used to it. Just hate it! Hate it! Hate it! When he does the same to Little'Un!
He doesn't get to see her tears when she is stood watching out the window waiting for him to visit or pick her up when he said he would, then he just doesn't turn up, most times, she doesn't even get a phone call or even a text of explanation!
Sorry, starting to winge again aren't I?
Just hope he sticks to the latest promise he made her (when he called with a card) that he is going to take her to see Disney on Ice for her Birthday. I will let you know if she actually goes.

It's so difficult bringing up a child on your own, I am terrified I am making a mess of it. How do you manage a balanced upbringing? I sometimes feel I am over compensating for the lack of a Father and she will end up a spoilt little brat but at the same time, I want to make her happy and give her everything! I want her to be independent yet don't want her to think I don't care about her! What if, what if, what if?
Good grief it's hard!

Anyway folks, now we are up and running, I will be posting more often and hope you all get back to me with any little bits of wisdom to help. Thanks.

Love Azzy. XXX

PUXTON PARK

2009-08-03T14:26:00.053+01:00

Yesterday we had a lovely day out at a place called Puxton Park. It was an Alice in Wonderland weekend so all the staff were dressed up as the characters. Little'Un really enjoyed herself, there were all types of farm animals, even alpaca, a petting zoo, things to climb up, on, and over, slidy things and bouncy things, she had a whale of a time. As you can see in photo number 3, that is me being a bit of a silly moo and pulling my face (the things we do when we have kids. Sigh.....!) Photo number four was taken by Little'Un, how it was not blurred I will never know as she was laughing so much due to me being attacked by chickens, they were pecking at my legs and shoes and pulling my laces. Little'Un rode a pony for the first time, which she said was fantastic even though she said it was a little bumpy on her bum.We sat and watched cows being milked. Little'Un (and me to tell the truth) were amazed at how the machinery does it all automatically then drops off when it has finished! Little'Un wasn't too impressed with the smell though. We have ended up staying at Big Bruvs longer than originally planned and will not be leaving until Friday of this week.

We have had a wonderful time and the weather has been perfect on the days we have planned to go out, sunny while we were out and about and only rained when we got back to the house tea time.

We are planning to go to Sedgemoor Splash again later this week, the local pool in Bridgwater which has slides, fountains, whirlpool and a wave machine Little'Un absolutely loves the place. Unfortunately it seems it isn't making enough money and the local Council will be closing it down this month.

Will post again soon.

Love Azzy

SOMERSET RESCUE!

2009-08-01T12:01:00.016+01:00

What a day we had the other day. We were in the lounge when I suddenly heard a thud on the decking outside the sliding doors, when I took a closer look I discovered it was a poor little bird, a house martin, I assume it had misjudged its flight between the houses and hit the wall. Well, there it lay, on its back with its legs in the air looking quite pathetic so I called for Big Bruv to see what we could do.

Big Bruv gently picked up the tiny little thing and sat on a chair outside with it cupped in his hands, positioned over and under the bird so it was similar to the actual nest it makes and with a gap to see from or fly out of.

(SEE PHOTOS BELOW)
The little bird eventually came round but seemed quite happy sitting there, meanwhile the heavens opened and I had to cover Big Bruv with my coat as he was getting soaked, TWO HOURS and one soaked Bruv later, I suggested putting the bird in his minature chimnea on the table under the gazebo cover, thus giving Bruv a rest from sitting like a soggy statue trying to keep the bird warm and dry until it had recovered fully.

Another forty five minutes passed and it had a go at flying but crashed onto the decking then fell where we couldn't reach it. I stretched my hand between the decking and the wall as far as I could and it slowly struggled towards me and hopped onto my hand. We put it back in the chimnea and put the chimnea into the greenhouse for the night as by now it was getting late and we didn't want to leave it to the local cats or foxes. We checked on it now and again and watched as it settled itself for a sleep. Next morning at about 5am, Big Bruv opened the greenhouse door and we just kept our fingers crossed. We were going out for the day and just before we left we checked on it again, this time it wasn't there. We went inside and checked all round to see if it was in there but the greenhouse was empty so we are sure it must have fully recovered and flown away. What a lovely feeling that gave us.

Love Azzy

LOOK WHO'S HERE!

2009-07-27T11:57:00.007+01:00

Hi de hi folks,

YES, IT'S ME!

In Somerset this week staying with my Big Bruv so am taking the opportunity to use his PC. (He, he!)

Wow, didn't realise how long had passed since last time I had been on here!

Guess I'll have to do a lot of blog reading while I'm here to try and catch up with all your news.

Good grief I've missed you all so much!

Been very, very busy and stressed out for a while. I left Hubby in March.

Me and Little'Un have got a little flat just down the road from my Mum and Dad. It's perfectly situated, just a short walk (about a mile) to Little'Uns school and the local pool. Grandparents just down the road. Across the road facing our flat is a general store, Indian takeaway and a Chinese takeaway. next door on the left hand side is a pub where a girl Isobelle (8) and her little brother Alex (4) live so Little'Un plays there a lot of the time.
Our flat is two bedroomed and on the ground floor, it has a walk-in shower rather than bath which comes in handy for me due to my dicky knee (Osteo-arthritis). Not too good with stairs now and more often than not have to use my walking stick.

I am starting to plan for a better future for us now and one of the things on my list is moving to the South, think Little'Un will have a better and safer future down there. People go on over here in England about 'The Friendly North' What a load of ****! You could collapse in the street and they would just step over you tutting! There are a few exceptions of course but they are few and far between.

Anyway, hopefully I will be able to hobble to our local library (as often as I can) to keep up to date with my blog as I don't have a phone line or internet access in the flat.

Going to finish here as I really want to whizz round to all your blogs and see what you have been up to. Plus I don't want to come down to Somerset and spend my time sat indoors typing. Will post again very soon.

Missed Ya!
Loadsa luv.
Azzy
XX

LUCKY DAY!

2009-02-04T22:18:00.004Z

What a great day I had today!

I found out from one of the other Mums that you can purchase school uniform items from lost property some of which are items returned from kids that have outgrown theirs or left for another school.

I managed to get Little'Un two larger jumpers for £1 (50 cents) each!!!
The sleeves actually come down to her wrists and kept her arms warm.
To buy two new would cost £17.00 (approx $8 - $9).

Lots of little things happened that made me feel good today, finding coins on the floor for one, not a lot but I then could buy Little'Un a cake from the bakery on the way home as a treat.

Little'Un will be doing another concert in March and this time Mum, Dad and Lil'Sis have said they will come see her so Little'Un is over the moon about that.

All in all, it's been a real nice day.

Until next time,

Loadsaluv Azzy.
XX

HARD TIMES

2008-12-31T10:00:00.007Z

Hi there everyone, apologies for long gap in posts.

Been busy looking for somewhere to live, it's hard, there are plenty of flats/apartments/houses available but I am having difficulties finding somewhere as not many places want a DSS tenant on permanent sick (DSS = Department of Social Services) even though my benefits from the DSS would cover the cost of the rent. Seems DSS people have a bad reputation here in the UK and even more so if you are a single Mum! Never realised before how hard it is until now!

We have been placed on the Council housing list but only on 'Standard rate'
I could get somewhere quicker if I accepted moving to a homeless hostel in a real bad area which is miles away from where we are now and Little'Uns school, plus we have no transport so I said 'no thanks'. That means we were placed on 'Standard' and it could take up to five years for them to find us somewhere. It took them three years to house Li'l Sis' and all she wanted was a little one bedroomed flat, so in the meantime, I am looking for private rented properties but have a limit to how much the rent can be.

The atmosphere at home at the moment is not nasty but not very pleasant either, actually not much has changed since I told him I was leaving, I'm still invisible and he still talks to the dog more than me.
He disappears to the pub or his meetings, I never know where he is or what time he will be back, whether to cook a meal or not, a couple of times when I have and I have told him it will be ready when he returns, he has actually come home with a takeaway or come home first, said he didn't fancy what I had cooked, then gone back out for a takeaway!
He is off work at the moment with 'depression', so I am trying to keep out of the house as much as possible so we don't start rowing, he mainly stays in bed but when he does come down, it feels kind of awkward.

I am still struggling with money trying to find Little'Uns lunch money or buy her things. He doesn't help! The other week (on a Friday) I asked if he could pay for her lunch money for the following week as I had no money, he said OK, I asked for it on the Saturday and he said he would go to the ATM Sunday, I texted him while he was out on Sunday to remind him and he said OK, when he got home that evening I asked had he got it for me and he said "No, I will give it you tomorrow" Monday morning came and I asked for her lunch money for the week but he only gave me £5 ($2.50) he eventually gave me the balance on the Wednesday after a lot more asking or as he puts it 'nagging'!

She needs a new school jumper, the sleeves on the two she has are so short they look like she has them rolled up to her elbows because she is growing so fast, she could do with a decent pair of winter boots too, she is wearing an old pair of mine (two sizes too big but with thick socks they will do) at the moment.
I missed a decent pair at the local 'Age Concern' charity shop last week because my child benefit went into the wrong account and got swallowed up by the overdraft so I was stuck for money, I tried to request it back as it was CHILD benefit, but the bank said "no chance" so now I am down by £78 (approx $37) and I receive nothing until a week this coming Wednesday.

I know, I know, winge, winge, moan, moan! But I'm just sick to death of it all. I wouldn't be in such a mess with the bank if I hadn't agreed to have his wages paid into my account and for me to pay the bills and sort the budget for us.
Which, would have, or should have, been a good thing as I am very, very good at budgeting but unfortnately he then started demanding my cash card as his wages were going in and he needed money to get to work etc. but he would always draw out more than he put in so I then couldn't budget, things stopped being paid on time and I started to struggle, there was not much left of my benefit and eventually the overdraft was horrendous and the rows started really bad. Then... surprise...surprise... his firm kept 'accidentally' paying his wages into his savings account each month instead of my account and I couldn't pay anything at all!!!!!!
The bank charges got worse and worse, he kept telling me he would clear it all up and pay me back and now I'm in severe debt too!

Mum wrote him a nice letter requesting the £1200 he borrowed about a year ago and he wrote a nice letter back promising to start paying her back in instalments starting two weeks ago, guess what?..... he hasn't paid her a penny!!!!

Oh well, guess it serves us right for being so bloody stupid!!!

I'll try and post again soon.

Hope you are all having a better time than we are.

Love Azzy.
XX

BIG THANK YOU TO SANDY!!!

2008-12-30T09:24:00.005Z

This post is for Sandy from Little'Un.
Just to say a great big THANK YOU for the lovely card and stickers.

We received them this morning (Tuesday 30th December).
Little'Un LOVES the stickers and loved the fact that the card was also from all your dogs and cats.
Going to pop over to your blog now so Little'Un can look at the photos of all your animal family.

Best wishes for the New Year.

Love and great big hugs.

Azzy and Little'Un
XXX

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2008-12-29T13:46:00.015Z

Not been able to get on here due to no phone/broadband connection, I have to wait until Neeza leaves his laptop hanging about. He is in the pub at the mo, you know, his second home. (Actually it's his first! This is his second, he only comes back here to eat and sleep).

Sandi, Thanks for your concern. Me and Little'Un will be just fine, I think it will be for the best for everyone. Max is stopping here as Neeza has begged me not to take him.
Well, he had better look after him and take him for his walks!

Neeza finally realised it was Christmas on Christmas Eve and gave me £50 (approx $25) to buy presents (I had told him weeks ago that my bank had put a stop on my card due to his borrowing and never paying back I haven't been able to draw out more than £10 (approx $5) per week in the run up to Christmas and that went on essentials and Little'Uns school lunch money. Not even been able to send out any greetings cards this year)
Anyway, the present Little'Un picked was 'two for the price of one' Nintendo games for her DS, but as it was Christmas Eve, they had all sold out! She did manage to buy a game though but just the one due to it being full price, the remainder of the money (not very much, those games are expensive!), she and I both agreed would be kept for necessities as we doubted we would be getting any more off him. (We were right!).

He then went on to spoil Boxing Day by ringing me, it started off OK with him telling me he missed us but it soon turned into him accusing me of having an affair and shouting at me to be honest, tell the truth and admit it!
He has been asking me on and off for the whole twelve years we have been married, he has even quizzed Little'Un on many occasion, asking her what Mummys boyfriend is called!
Guess he didn't believe we were at Grandma's for Christmas either!
I ended up crying and Little'Un cried because Dad had made Mum cry.

We ended up having a FANTASTIC Christmas though, read on.......

We stayed over at Lil'Sis flat Christmas Eve, then at Grandmas for Christmas, back to Lil'Sis for Boxing Day, Grandmas for Saturday then HAD to go home Sunday. We had a fantastic time over Christmas, I made a great big Christmas dinner for everyone (bought for by Grandma and shopped for by Lil'Sis) and of course, we all ate too much. Lil'Sis did a lovely buffet for everyone at hers the following day and on the Saturday Big Bruv and Sis'in'Law called with boxes of food and presents and Sis'in'Law did all the cooking, a lovely steak in gravy meal with loads of wine and lots of goodies to follow YUM!.

But the very bestest, bestest of all was what me and Little'Un got from Sis'in'Law and Big Bruv -
Dan....dan......darrrrrrr........

WE GOT A Wii !!!!!

Little'Un had been asking can we save for one and I had promised I would try my hardest but she knew there would been no chance this year or even next so she was over the moon, over the stars, over everything, whooping, giggling, kissing, grinning from ear to ear, etc., etc., and has been the same ever since.
I couldn't believe what we had got and burst into tears as soon as I opened the wrapping.

Sis'in'Law and Big Bruv....... THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!
You have made one little girl and her Mum very, very happy at this not very nice time.

I hope everyone has had a fantastic Christmas too and wish you all....
A Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2009.

Loads of Love
Azzy
XXX

I'M GOING!!!

2008-12-05T19:07:00.010Z

Sorry not kept up with my blog, had phone cut off again, it still is but I'm using his laptop while he is out.

I'M LEAVING HIM!!!!!!

Been to our local council offices to try to sort out rented accomodation for me and Little'Un, just waiting to see if they can help with a deposit/bond then I can look for a flat or a little house for us. It's going to be very hard as I am in dire straits at the bank and only receive incapacity and child care benefits but we will get by, it can't be any worse then stopping here.

Little'Un has been quite poorly recently, I'm not sure if it is a tummy bug or if it has anything to do with the situation between me and her Dad. This past weekend she did a lot of crying and asked could we please leave as soon as possible. She has asked to still be able to visit her Dad and I have said of course she can.

Well folks, hopefully I will be able to keep up with my blog from the library or I might even ask if I can take the computer seeing as he has his laptop.

Me and Little'Un are going to Grandma's for Christmas Dinner as I can't afford to buy turkey and all the trimmings this year and even if I could, the cooker broke about ten months ago!

Will blog again when I can.

Love Azzy and Little'Un
XXX

MAKE YOUR OWN MAGAZINE COVERS (SEE MY SIDEBAR)!!!

2008-11-04T10:02:00.012Z

Hi there folks,

Lookie what Michelle Dawn of http://halet1073.blogspot.com/ discovered.
Needless to say, I have pinched the idea!!!

First one is of me and Lil'Sis.
I just love this picture, we look like negatives of each other, me dark haired wearing white against light background, her blonde haired wearing black against dark background, me with drink in left hand holding straw with right, hers in her right holding straw with left!!!
We have always said we are like a pair of bookends!
Amazing thing is, the picture was not a set up or taken deliberate to look that way!

Scroll down to see what other mag covers I have done. He, he.

Have a go, just click on the MagMyPic link and follow the instructions.

I LOVE IT!!!!!

Azzy
X

LITTLE'UN HAS A CONCERT!

2008-10-31T11:46:00.008Z

Hi there folks,

Quick blog.

Just had news that Little'Un's choir group are giving a concert on November 28th at the Baptist Church in Oldham, they have said it will be good practice before the big Christmas concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham in December.

Little'Un is dead excited about it all.

2008-10-30T10:30:00.006Z

..............................

......................................................................

THE CHOIR!

2008-10-02T12:10:00.007+01:00

Well, Little'Un went to her first training and rehearsals last evening.

SHE LOVES IT!!!!!

She discovered there are two other girls from her school (the next year up from her) who are also members so she felt a lot better knowing someone there.
One of their Mums gave us a lift home and said she will take us and bring us home every week thereby saving money for buses and the panic due to the bus taking at least half an hour to get all the way up to Oldham followed by mad dash running through the town centre to where we need to be!
Of course I will offer to pay towards the petrol and if she refuses I will get her some chockies or something as a thankyou.

When I arrived back to pick her up I thoroughly enjoyed listening to all the children in all the different studios singing and playing instruments, I could only hear when they opened the doors so only got snatches of it all but it was lovely. I'm looking forward to taking her every Wednesday and she can't wait either, she hasn't shut up about it since we got home. We are off to Grandma's this afternoon so she can tell her all about it.

She is now talking about if she practices hard and becomes good enough, can she go in for the 'X Factor' when she is fourteen?

YOU BETCHA!!!!!

Azzy
XX

LITTLE'UN MAKES ME SO PROUD AGAIN!

2008-09-27T10:20:00.010+01:00

She has done it again, I'm proud as punch!

First she won the school singing competition and received a certificate and prize (I did a post previously about it) and now one of her teachers has put her name forward for Oldham Girl's Choir. Seems you can't get into this choir unless you are nominated!

Reading all the paperwork that came with the acceptance form, it says they get the full
voice/breathing training, they learn all the varoius singing techniques (the full monty!) they get to travel all over the place, regionally, nationally and internationally, they have previously done radio and television appearances and have released tapes and CD's.

At first, after reading all about the term and uniform fees I explained I couldn't afford to pay for it but when I saw the disappointment and tears I knew I had to find the money, we both ended up crying.

Then...............
"NO I won't have this you ARE going!!
We'll manage it somehow! This is your future"
Hugs, kisses and tears of joy!

She starts her first training/rehearsals next Wednesday and is sooooo excited! (actually I am too!)
Don't know how.,,,,,,, BUT I WILL AFFORD IT!!!!!

I will keep you all informed of how she gets on.

Azzy
X

THE SLEEPOVER!

2008-09-23T04:00:00.006+01:00

Well, Little'Un got home mid afternoon from her first ever sleepover.

At first I was a little bothered that she looked very red in the face until she explained they had been on her friends trampoline all morning since just after breakfast!

She then proceeded to tell me what a fantastic time she had had there.
"We stayed up dead late, I got to pick what DVD we watched, we played on the Nintendo Wii and they have a Karaoke machine so we all sang songs"
"Guess what I had for my supper?"
"What did you have?"
"Anything and everything I wanted!"
"And what was that?"
"Pizza, crisps (chips in USA), biscuits (cookies), chocolates and sweets (candy)!"

"Well, it was your Birthday so I don't mind just this once"
"When my friend is better can we have a sleepover at our house?"
"Of course you can so long as they let us borrow the Wii and the Karaoke 'coz I want to have a go too. But we won't bother about borrowing the trampoline, OK?!! He, he.!"

Later that afternoon, my neighbours little lad came and played with Little'Un for a few hours and we had the same trouble getting him to go home again!

What a lovely weekend!

Azzy
X

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART!!!!

2008-09-21T08:25:00.021+01:00

Little'Un was nine yesterday. (Saturday)
Oh, to have the excitement of a Birthday like a nine year old!

I did her a small party for some school friends, just four of them originally but two of them couldn't make it, so we invited some local kids she plays with and we ended up with a total of seven so it turned out pretty good.

I had decorated the food table with fairy lights and there were lights, banners and balloons all over the place but with the bright sun (yes, it was actually sunny!), they couldn't be seen properly so I blacked out the windows with refuse bags.

They all got stuck into the little buffet, just various sandwiches, crisps, cocktail sausages, scotch eggs, bickies, chockies, and of course the 'High School Musical' birthday cake and then we played a few games.
I think the one they liked best due to all the laughing and screaming, was the one with me jumping out at them from various hiding places then chasing them all around the house trying to tickle them. The noise was amazing!
Then we put on some CD's and had a sing-song and a boogie, didn't do too bad saying I have a dickie knee and I'm a bit of an old fart! Gave them all a good laugh and I actually enjoyed myself.

We were going to have a sleepover but one of the girls has 'croup' so I said it would probably be best for her to stay home to sleep, just in case she had a coughing fit during the night. I could have coped with it, but knowing how kids are when they are poorly I expect she would have only wanted her Mum. Anyway, her Mum took over at this point and said for the girls to have their sleepover at her house. All the smiles returned, especially when she promised to spoil them rotten...and she will!

My next door neighbours boy, the youngest at the party, he's only four, was the last to leave, the girls had already left for their sleepover by this time but he kept hugging me and asking to stay longer (he's the one from a previous post I did, there is a picture of him with Little'Un from when I took them to a little local fair and they had their faces painted), his Mum almost had to drag him home so I guess by that reaction, the party must have been a success.

Can't wait until Little'Un comes home sometime today to hear all about it.

All in all it was a really good day.

Until next time.
Azzy.
XX

THE CREDIT CRUNCH KILLER!!!

2008-09-21T08:15:00.006+01:00

This 'Credit Crunch' wotchamacallit is killing us!

I keep hoping something good is going to happen sometime (it's GOT to at some point!).

Latest problem is Hubs work is making redundancies and Hubs is in the firing line along with quite a few others!!!!!

We have been struggling so much this year already, this will just tip us over the edge!

I'm trying to see it as hopefully, a new beginning as things can only go up when you are at rock bottom can't they?
FINGERS CROSSED (and toes, and eyes and anything else I can cross!)

Hope everyone else out there are fairing a little better than us in these hard times.

Well folks, next post will be a bit brighter I promise!

Love Azzy
X

WHOOOOHOOOO!!!!!

2008-09-18T12:14:00.007+01:00

Hi folks.

No idea what had happened but it seems I'm up and running again.

Totally lost my blog for about seven hours today, could get to my dashboard, receive comments, post, but could not see my or anyone elses blogs??????

I guess Blogger had a hand in the return of my blog and I would therefore like to say a big

THANK YOU BLOGGER!!!!!

Azzy
XX

STILL NO BLOG????

2008-09-18T11:26:00.000+01:00

Hi, I can receive your comments and publish them and I it seems I can publish posts like this one but when I try to view my blog it refreshes to 'ASK' search engine or my AOL homepage??????
I have asked for help on the blogger help group and just hope something can be sorted, other than that, I cannot see my or any of your blogs!!!!

ARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

HELP! MY BLOG HAS DISAPPEARED!!!

2008-09-18T11:25:00.003+01:00

Can anyone find my blog?

It seems to have disappeared and I am also unable to visit anyone else.

Don't know if this will be posted, don't know how I got to be able to do this without being able to get into my blog?????

What??????

Azzy

GUESS WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING TODAY?

2008-09-14T16:51:00.004+01:00

I can't believe I had written so many posts without my signature smiley bits!!!

I have gone through a lot of my previous posts and done them now, phew, that feels better, I knew something had been missing but couldn't put my finger on it.

All's well and back to normal now (well, as normal as I can get, which isn't very much!).

Azzy
X

I'M BEING FOLLOWED!!!

2008-09-12T12:45:00.015+01:00

OOOOH!!!...................... Hello to my very first follower -

Michelle Dawn from Rusin Roundup - http://Kasper794.blogspot.com/

I haven't quite figured out this following thing yet, only just spotted today that I have one so I need to read up on what you do.

Does it tell you if the blog you are following adds a new post? If so, Hello again!
Got to get me some of this! He, he.

Azzy
X
Back again. Yep, it shows everyone's newest posts that you are following. Hey, it's good this!

POORLY SICK

2008-08-31T10:34:00.010+01:00

Hello everyone,

Phew, I'm totally drained, wiped out and dead on my feet!

Don't know what I caught or where I caught it but I've been bedridden for this past week.
I've got what I can only think must be 'Flu'.

At first I just thought it was an everyday cold when I started sneezing last Monday morning until it hit me like a ton of bricks real bad about Monday afternoon. WHAM!!!

Since then I have had a permanent headache (bang, bang,throb, throb) every waking moment.
Plus, I have been extremely ill gastrically too!

If there is someone up there, the guy really has had it in for me this week! Sheeeesh!

Getting a bit sick of my blog of late, it seems to be more of a wingefest! Think it's about time something good happened, don't you?

Then again, there is one good thing that has come out of all this, I have lost another half a stone in weight!! Not bad in six days eh?
I would at this point normally be shouting 'Whoopee!' but I don't even have the strength to do that so you will all have to just imagine that's what I've done!

I promise I will do a more positive post next time, hopefully back to my usual insaney self, think I may have a scout round for a meme I can do. Until then.......Achooooooooo!

Azzy
X

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO?

2008-08-21T11:28:00.011+01:00

I have a bit of a dilemma.

I had been to the Docs for my steroid injection in my knee just after returning from Somerset and was told to take complete rest for two to three days so was unable to walk Max due to this.
By the third day, I decided I felt OK enough and thought I could manage to walk him, we went out but I ended up actually crying with pain in the street (bit embarrassing, people were staring at me).
He is an extremely strong dog and pulls and drags a lot, he has pulled Neeza over totally (all six foot four and fifteen stone of him) before now.
I was then back to square one having to rest again for a few days.
I can't keep doing this or the injections will be a total waste of time! They are supposed to stop the pain and it should last a few months!
After I told Hubs I now couldn't cope with Max, he said he would take over and take him out every day after work and during the day at weekends, poor Max has only been taken out twice in the five days since!

Max is the type of dog that requires lots of exercise and I feel cruel having to keep him in, I know he has the run of the house and back garden but I don't think that is enough for him, he is always crying at the front door to go out for a walk.
I am sorry to say now, that I am regretting even getting him, yes I love him, but it isn't fair for him to be cooped up like this due to my circumstances nor is it fair on me to have to stay in all day, every day!
Plus... since I returned from Somerset and Hubs had told me how good Max was on the times he HAD been left on his own (I can only accept what Hubs tells me) we went out for lunch over the weekend, the first time in about seven or eight months that we have actually been out together as a family! First time I had been out of the house without Max (apart from Somerset!) since we got him in February!
When we got back, he had destroyed my new sandals and toothbrush that I had in a bag in the lounge, he had disembowelled a stuffed toy he found in Little'Uns room and eaten the inside of a pair of Hubs shoes, all the bits from everything were scattered across the carpets from the bedroom, down the stairs and all over the lounge.
Hubs then admitted Max had broken one of my ornaments (actually, smashed it to pieces!) and destroyed more of Little'Uns toys while we were away.

Last night I hobbled as fast as I could to the chip shop to get something for tea (five minutes round trip!) but he had wrecked again by the time I had got back!
How on earth do I manage to take Little'Un to and from school twice a day when she returns to school in two weeks without taking Max yet not having him wreck my house and/or contents??

Max doesn't listen! I show him what he has done and tell him off (at this point I must admit I hit him on the bum with my chewed sandal I was that annoyed and upset) but he must be totally thick! He cowered and his ears went down but within fifteen minutes, WHILE I WAS ACTUALLY SAT THERE! He went and got the exact same pair from near the bin, and blatantly sat chewing and ripping them to shreads, RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!! Then again Hubs doesn't help, when I scold Max over anything he does wrong, Hubs gives him cuddles and tells him he is good!!!!! How do I get out of that! I'm fighting a losing battle here!
I can't sit in 24 hours a day seven days a week for the next ten years or so!

I had promised Little'Un a day trip as a well done for winning the singing contest at school but, unless Hubs has a day off to look after Max, we can't go!
He is past the teething stage so it must just be boredom!

I can't understand? I have had dogs all my life and have been able to train each of them (is it because he is a dog dog? I've only had bitches before). Max just doesn't seem to learn, I've been trying to train him since we got him in February! I thought he was doing quite well but he seems to be deteriorating with his learning since I returned from Somerset. I praise him like mad and give him treats when he has been good and shout at him and show him what he has done wrong when he has been bad but he just can't seem to grasp the difference in why he is being praised or why he is being told off! I think I have just got myself an utterly STUPID dog! Then again it could be an utterly STUPID husband!

I feel trapped! I can't leave the house!

I have tried the 'leaving the house for a few minutes then returning to show I will come back' trick, extending the period of time bit by bit, he used to howl like a wolf and was pleased to see me when I came back in, then I thought once he stopped the howling, I had cracked it!
Unfortunately it seems to have progressed the wrong way now from howling, to being nice and quiet but wrecking within minutes of me going through the door no matter how short or long a time I am out!!!!
At this moment in time I just want to take him back to the dogs home!

I guess I will give him another chance or two and just hope he starts to change and understand. But, I can't give him too many chances, I can't afford to replace any of the things he wrecks!
I'll keep you updated with my decision and how things are going with him.

Any suggestions, training techniques or anything whatsoever would be greatly apprecieated.

Azzy

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE!

2008-08-13T09:05:00.011+01:00

Here is a little quiz for you, see if you can answer this (sorry no prizes for guessing correct)............

Can you tell which is a picture of the sky in Somerset, UK, Sunday 10th July (10am) and which is of the sky in Manchester, UK, four hours later up the motorway (freeway) ?

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Here is a clue if you find it a little too hard, this is a picture of the pavement (sidewalk) in Manchester!

BACK FROM SOMERSET

2008-08-11T02:33:00.029+01:00

Well my friends, I'm back (boo, hoo!)

What a fabulous time me and Little'Un had!!!!

At this point I would like to send BIG HUGS AND KISSES to Big Bruv and Sis'-in-Law for giving us this wonderful holiday and taking us to all the places we went to. WE LOVE YOU BOTH LOADS. THANKYOU SO MUCH!!!!!

.................................................................................................................................................................................. The Sound of Music was amazing. To tell you the truth, it was so good I shed quite a few tears. Sometimes music affects me that way, I'm just a big softie, I cry watching films too!

Little'Un was singing along to all the songs, she was totally absorbed and oblivious to everything else. (I had to poke her quite a few times before she even noticed I was offering her chockies!)
I was as excited as she was about London, it was my first time on the Underground too. I had been to London before but that was when I was about fourteen on a trip from school (many, many years ago). We finished the evening by having a meal at a restaurant just across from the London Palladium. Little'Un had scampi and I of course, had a BLUE steak which was done to perfection. YUM!

Seems Max WAS taken to work and was tied to Hubs chair leg in the office.
Max leapt all over us when we came back, he is curled up by my feet now as I am typing this post.

Must admit, Hubs did well, the cockatiel and the fish are actually still alive!

Here are a few of the many, many pics I took at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire/Wessex UK, (which is owned by Alexander Thynn the 7th Marquess of Bath) actually, I'm quite proud of how they turned out, click on them if you want to see them better.

There is a programme all about Longleat on our UK TV, it shows how they look after the animals and are helping sustain the populations.

By the way, the Ostrich is called Trevor!

The Gorilla (I can't remember his name at the moment) has his own little house on Gorilla Island in the middle of the lake and believe it or not, his own colour TV! We were told he likes watching cartoons best.

They used to have a white tiger but unfortunately it has passed away since the last time I visited, as has the female Gorilla, so the male spends most of his time watching TV (sound familiar?). The photo was brilliant, it's the first time I had seen him up so close and he actually ran at us all slapping his chest! Fantastic!

Visitors are able to feed the deer in the park by hand and some cheeky ones stick their heads right in through the car window!

If you have never visited Longleat, I suggest you do, it's a wonderful experience no matter what your age. There isn't just the grand house and safari park, there are all kinds of play areas and attractions, cafes and shows, which is why we went on the Monday and again on the Friday, so we got to see almost everything.

Love Azzy

GUS

2008-08-10T06:13:00.004+01:00

Talking about Gorillas (see above post)............

Meet our Gus......

I got him for Little'Un about a year ago (OK, I really got him for me) from a fair at our local Animal Shelter, mine was the highest bid, all monies made went to the Shelter so it was for a good cause.

Max absolutely HATES him, I have to hide poor Gus in a wardrobe, I have tried to get Max used to him by letting him sniff him and showing him it's only a toy but he won't go anywhere near him, he growls and barks and the fur on his back stands up, then again, Gus is enormous! He stands about three feet tall!

Cute though isn't he?

SOMERSET

2008-08-07T14:36:00.006+01:00

Ello everybordy, Oi be in zummerzet!
'Avin a smarshin' tyme!

Arrived Saturday night about 10.30pm after about a three hour drive down the motorway.
Big Bruv and Sis'-in-Law had called to pick us up and bring us down here.
Didn't do too much on Sunday, just sat in the sun in the garden and relaxed, later that evening we had a barbeque.

Went to Longleat on Monday, took a walk round Lord Baths grand house, (makes mine look like a matchbox! My whole house would fit in just his entrance hall!) the rooms were enormous, some of the paintings were taller than my walls! Everything was so ornate, mirrors, paintings, carvings even just a door to get to another room was intricate and inlaid with marquetry! Absolutely stunning! It must take the window cleaner months to finish all those windows! Even Little'Un found it amazing. We will be going again tomorrow (Friday), this time to see the safari park.

On Tuesday we all went to the cinema to see Wall-E, (it was a bit dull and rainy that day) Little'Un had wanted to go to see Wall-E from the moment it had come out. Can't say I was too impressed with it, most of the story went over the heads of the kids but it didn't seem good enought for the adults so I was quite confused as to which kind of audience the film was supposed to be aimed for?
The rest of the day was spent playing bowling and tennis on the Wii sports. Whooohoo! Muscles ached that I didn't even know I had! Quite proud of myself, I did quite well even with my dickie knee!

Wednesday we went to Sedgemoor 'Splash' in Bridgwater,
a pool where they have flumes, whirlpools, fountains and a wave machine, had a fantastic time in there, then after we had come out, we did a bit of shopping
and called to a cafe for a snack.

Today (Thursday) is a lazy day, Little'Un is playing on the Wii again, I have just got back from a lovely long stroll along the river Parrett, all by myself! (I can't go anywhere by myself! I always have Little'Un or Max the dog, or mostly both of them, stuck to me like my shadows) it was sooooo peaceful. I sat on the grass for about an hour watching the clouds roll by and the house martins and swallows skimming the surface of the water, sometimes drinking, sometimes catching insects, the only sounds were the grasshoppers, the bees and birdsong - .........Absolute bliss........!

Saturday is the day we are travelling over to London to see 'The Sound of Music' at the London Palladium.

Then Sunday morning we set off back home. Me all the way kicking and screaming....... BOOOO!!! WAAAAHHHHH!!!! SCREAM!!! DON'T WANNA GO!!!!! LET ME STAY!!!!!

Will update this post more at a later date and will add some photos. That's all for now, don't want to waste time sat inside at a computer when I could be out with nature strolling along a river bank.

Azzy
x

DICKIE KNEE

2008-08-01T14:23:00.005+01:00

Just got back from the Docs with some extra strength painkillers as my dickie knee, which I mentioned in a previous post, isn't what I thought it was, I assumed it was Bursitis because of the swelling, and had been trying to ease the pain with just paracetamols.

Seems the x-rays have come back showing I have Osteo-Arthritis and I have been told I will need to go for regular pain killing injections into the knee every so often.
Arrrrghhhhh! I've heard they are not very pleasant and hurt a lot!!! FAINT!
I'm not good with injections, I love CSI, anything forensic or autopsy, even blood and guts, don't bother me, but injections! FAINT!.
I have been told by lots of different people over the years (even a few Doctors) that I should have gone into nursing, but I can't even stand the thought of needles never mind sticking one into someone. FAINT!
I've had loads myself over the years but I still go all icky at the thought especially now I know it will be painful!!! FAINT!

Two good things that have come out of all this though (always look on the bright side of life!) is -
1. The constant pain will finally subside.
2. The Doctor told me I was TOO YOUNG for a knee operation at the moment, whoo hooo, I'm too young!

Still take Max out for his daily walks though, I won't let my little lad have to stay in all day,
responsibility and all that.

Well folks, that's all for today. FAINT!

Azzy
X

SOMERSET ROW!!!

2008-07-23T14:57:00.018+01:00

Had a row with Hubs yesterday, he had asked when I was going to Somerset and said he would take the week off to look after our Max (The Mighty Mutt). I told him we are going the first week of August and he then said I should ring my Bruv and change the date as it was inconvenient!!!!!

I said Max can go in kennels for a week, which I would to pay for plus any innoculations required. then he won't need the week off, he said he won't allow that as Max would be sad!!!!!!And still said I should be the one to alter my plans and change the date I'm going.

(I said...He said....I said....He said....Blah!....Blah!....Blah!)

My Bruv has already bought the tickets for the West End Show and I'm not allowing him to lose his money like I did last year (I previously paid for Hubs coach fare then when he didn't bother to get the coach (he said he doesn't like travelling by coach!) I then paid for his train fares, but each day when I rang asking him when he was arriving so we could pick him up at the station, he kept saying he was too busy although he had booked the weekend off work to come with us, in the end, he didn't bother to come at all!!!!) I couldn't get any of my money back as they were all pre-booked tickets!

A lot of swear words were said yesterday (mainly by me!) and the outcome is......I AM *!&*!@* GOING!!!!

Mum and Lil'Sis have said he will try to palm Max off on them but they are not having any of it as he had the solution with the kennels and it wouldn't have even cost him anything! So, if he said he wants to look after Max then HE should, nobody else!!!

Hubs even complained saying, because of me, he will now HAVE to take Max to work with him !!!! WHAT!!!! Who takes their dog to offices in a building company???? What's he going to do, tie him to a desk? Has he never seen 'Turner and Hooch'? Max would demolish the place! Plus pee and poo all over.

As you have probably guessed I am not in too happy a mood today.

That's because, not only was there this row about Max but the cheeky git asked me for a tenner (£10) to get a taxi to work this morning as he had got up late (although I had set the alarm for 5.45am!) he told me he didn't have any money but,..... on opening his wallet to put in the tenner I gave him, I saw he already had a tenner (maybe more, I couldn't quite see!!!!!) He then lost his temper at ME because I had seen it!!! And shouted at me to keep my bloody money!!!

Ooooooooooooooooooooh!!!! I'm piggin' fumin'! What a bloody mug I am!

That's it for now, best finish before my piggin's and bloody's become stronger words!

Love
Piggin' peed off Azzy

P.S. Anyone thinking of getting married to their beloved (beloved - Ha!) DON'T DO IT!!!!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY - NOT!!!!

2008-07-22T08:38:00.007+01:00

Well, Sunday just gone was our Wedding Anniversary, twelve years.

Did we go out anywhere together?......Nope!

Did we celebrate in any shape or form?......Nope!

Did I even get a card?...... Nope!

Did he remember at all?...... Nope!

Oh, come on, how are you supposed to remember your Wedding Anniversary when every year a bloody carnival parade passes your house with drums and trumpets blaring, majorettes dancing, streamers, balloons and whistles!!!!!

I said "Thanks for remembering our Anniversary"

He said "I thought it was last weekend"

I said "Oh, that's alright then, that explains why I didn't get a card last weekend then doesn't it?"

I think the guilt must have got to him as he went straight out and bought me a striplight for the kitchen, (he took my bank card to get the money for it though) I have only been waiting for one for about four years or so, so I can't complain!!!!

Roll on first week of August, I'm off to Somerset to stay at Big Bruv's with Little'Un, Hubs has insisted I don't put Max in kennels while I am away, he will take the week off work to look after him. LOOK AFTER HIM!!!! He never thinks of feeding him (unless it's chewy treats) and water! He never checks his water bowl, (I refresh and fill it every morning) in fact, he put his water bowl outside yesterday while I was at the hospital for xrays (got a dickie knee) and at two this morning poor Max was screaming at the door, when I went to see what was wrong and let him out, the poor mite drank gallons! I had no idea his bowl was in the back garden as it is normally in the kitchen with his food bowl. I will have to leave daily pots of fish food out and hope he remembers to feed them, same with the cockatiel, I will have to leave post-it's reminding him to give the poor bird water and seed. I can see I'm not going to relax as much as I would like to on this break. I'M WORRYING ALREADY!!!!
Mum and Lil'Sis have said "You know what's going to happen don't you? He will get fed up of Max and try to dump him onto one of us so he can go out drinking, he won't last the week!!"

Anyway, got to try not to worry. Really looking forward to Somerset and our visit to London to see 'The Sound of Music' in the West End. All together now........"How do you solve a problem like Hubby!!!!"

That's all for now. Hope you all have a great week.

Love Azzy.
X

LOCAL ANNUAL CARNIVAL

2008-07-19T14:44:00.016+01:00

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Well, this weekend just gone was the local carnival and fair and needless to say, the heavens opened!

Everyone in the parade and everyone out in the street watching got soaked in between little bursts of sunshine.

It is such a shame, all the majorettes were dripping wet throwing their batons in the air and trying to smile and dance, the brass bands were soaked (I expected to see water shooting out from their tubas and trumpets every time they blew down them) the floats weren't as bad as the kids were under cover more but the carnival princesses and rosebuds were either huddled under umbrellas or sat inside the cars so you couldn't see them properly.

It has happened like this for a number of years now, although I still remember when it used to be glorious in July!

There was a fair at the local playing fields but going off the weather we have been having for weeks and weeks now, it would have just been a mud bath.

I usually take Little'Un but didn't fancy trawling through mud up to your knees eating rain sodden candy floss (cotton candy) and hotdogs and getting a wet bum off every ride you go on. Nah! think we'll pass.

Anyway, thats all for the moment. Hope you are having better weather where you are.

Love Azzy

SUPERSTAR!!!!!!!

2008-07-16T19:10:00.009+01:00

I'm soooooooo proud!!!!

I have a SUPERSTAR for a Daughter!!!
Little'Un entered into a talent competition at school, all her own idea, she decided what to sing and she rehearsed every night for the past week or so.
She stood on the stage in front of the whole school and sang 'The Sound of Music' without any music!
All the other singers had backing tracks and there were 28 acts in all, singers, dancers, clowns and magic acts.
Unfortunately it was only for the kids so parents weren't allowed to go and watch and due to stupid school rules nobody could video it!

BUT......SHE WON!!!!

FIRST PLACE!!!!

She got a 'St. John's Got Talent Winner' certificate (see pic) and a massive art and craft set as a prize.

I can't stop smiling!!!

I have promosed to buy her a microphone which is what she has always wanted so she can sing to her heart's content and I will be taking her for a day trip to 'Eureka' in Halifax, a hands-on science museum in the next few weeks as another treat.

I couldn't have done anything like that, I have no confidence at all.

Seems she was so good, her teacher has asked her to join the choir and to sing at another teachers wedding in August.

I'm going to burst!!! I am so proud of her!!!

ANOTHER LIL'SIS QUESTION FOR BABA DOODLIUS

2008-07-10T13:54:00.005+01:00

Been over to Baba Doodlius blog with yet another question from Lil'Sis to the great and wise bird.

Lil'Sis

Now wants to know -

How come...

If zero equals zero, zilch, nada, then why do numbers increase when you add zeros to the end???? One becomes ten when you add a zero and one hundred if you add two zeros, yet zeros equal zero?

She has put it to his wonderousness and wishes to know - if she transfers six or so zeros from one of her bank accounts (which wouldn't cost her anything as they are zeros!) to another account, would she then be a millionaire????

Hmmm, this may be worth really testing out!

DAY AT THE FAIR

2008-07-07T12:37:00.011+01:00

Hi there,

Just a quick blog about our Sunday outing. There was a little fair in our local park today (Sunday) best thing was, everything was free!!

Hubs of course didn't bother coming with us as per usual, it's always been just me and Little'Un!

There was a bouncy castle, face painting, an educational bus, padded sumo wrestler outfits so you could have a wrestle, a big blow up thingy where you had to try and knock each other off a platform with a large inflatable club, some poor young woman in the stocks you could throw wet sponges at, and loads of other stalls.

Unfortunately it wasn't just the woman in the stocks that got soaked, the heavens opened, lightning flashed and thunder roared but everyone still seemed to have a good time. The weather cleared up by later in the afternoon but we had set off for home by then.

I had taken Little'Un and next door neighbour's little boy we all had a great time.

Take a look at the pic of the two of them after having their faces painted, Little'Un's mouth has healed now thank goodness. I'm surprised the paint was still on though after all the sweets, hotdogs and drinks!

Soon it will be the six weeks holidays, hoping to be able to afford to take her on day trips here and there.

We will, of course, be going down to Somerset to stay at Big Bruv's sometime during the holidays and are going on a trip to London with him and my Sister-in-Law to see a west end show (this was my fiftieth Birthday present from them), Little'Un has picked which she wants to see (The Sound of Music) and we have all agreed we all want to see it too, she has got her dress, shoes and jewellery already sorted for wearing to the theatre, I'm surprised she hasn't packed her case already! Really looking forward to it!

Well, that's it for today, the weather is terrible rain, rain, thunder, rain, and surprise, surprise, more rain!!! It's still very warm though so you either get soaked trying to stay cool or cover up to stay dry but are boiling hot!

Have a great week.

Love Azzy

LITTLE'UN HAD A FALL

2008-07-04T12:20:00.019+01:00

Look what happened the other day!

Little'Un, me and Lil'Sis all went to visit Grandma and walking home Little'Un tripped, (it wasn't through not looking where she was going, she wasn't messing about either, just walking by my side) there was a large dip in the ground followed directly by a raised grid, her foot went down the dip, she lost her balance, her other foot caught on the grid and she fell face first onto the kerb edge. Luckily her mouth was shut at the time (a very rare event!) or her teeth could have been knocked out which was my first thought on seeing all the blood!

I have written and sent pictures to our local councillor showing the state of the road and the mess it made of her face, I'm not expecting anything to be done about it though! I feel like suing them!!!

I also wrote to our local newspapers to thank some teenage lads who dropped their bikes immediately and rushed into the local shop to get tissues for mopping up all the blood from her face and from where it poured all down her hands.

Poor little mite couldn't eat for three days, everything had to be liquidised and drank through a straw. What a trooper though, she still went to school the very next day and was on stage in a little play in her assembly, she struggled to talk properly (sounded a bit like she had just come from the dentist) but didn't miss any of her lines and said them as loud and clear as she could even though she later told me how much it had hurt to do it!
I am SO proud of her!

She's fine now though and back to her non-stop chattering.

AS I SAID PREVIOUSLY, NOTHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT AND NO COMPENSATION WILL BE OFFERED! (SHE NOW HAS A SCARRED TOP LIP FOR LIFE!!!! THANK YOU OLDHAM CONCIL!!!!!)

GRAHAM'S PHOTO CHALLENGE JUNE - THE MOON

2008-06-09T12:54:00.008+01:00

Here you go Graham my pathetic attempt at your photo challenge for this month....

THE MOON.

Not having a great camera (no zoom or fancy bits to attach, just a basic digital) this was the best I could do.

The view is of the moon from my bedroom window early one evening this weekend.

Visit Graham's blog (worth a visit!) at http://grahamettridge.blogspot.com/

BYE BYE LITTLE SQUEAKY!

2008-06-01T20:04:00.003+01:00

Squeaky our Guinea pig passed away about two hours ago, I had spent the day with him in my arms, stroking him and talking to him. Being Sunday today there were no Vets open but I don't think they could have done anything for him anyway, it was just his time. He was four and a half years old, mainly black with sandy and white patches and a funny little mohican bit of hair on top of his head, he was named Squeaky for reasons you can probably guess, non stop! He also used to do a sort of purr when I stroked him.

I had noticed on Friday that he hadn't seemed to be eating but then again he always picked up his bowl and threw it around the cage so I could never check how much he ate as it was all mixed up in his straw and shredded paper (he was a good size though).
By Saturday afternoon he was just sleeping a lot and I tried him with sweet peppers and carrot but he wouldn't eat anything and I gave him water in drops into the side of his mouth, by Saturday night he just lay there very quiet.
Sunday morning came and he was moving about and squeaking, he seemed to have got a little better so I cleaned out his cage, trimmed his claws, changed his food and water and gave him a cuddle, when I cleaned out the cage though, I noticed he hadn't dirtied it at all, that's when I knew something was wrong. I had hoped he could last until I got him to the Vet first thing tomorrow morning but unfortunately he didn't.

At least his last day was all kisses and cuddles of me and Little'Un. He has had a lovely little burial in our back garden in a pretty little box but we have had to place an extremely large and heavy plant pot over the top to stop Max digging him up.

Little'Un had a cry, then like most kids, she asked what we were getting to go in his cage!
In the space of about 9 months we have lost a budgie, two fish, a dog and now a Guinea pig all may I say, due to old age.

We still have two fish a cockatiel and Max the Mighty Mutt. Think that is enough for now!

I now have a giant cage Guinea pig/Rabbit size plus a large bird cage both with all the accessories to figure out what to do with. Might just donate them to the local animal sanctuary.

God Bless, little Squeaky, you will be missed.

Love Azzy
X

MORE... HOW COMES????

2008-05-31T18:24:00.006+01:00

Lil'Sis

Was off once again the other day after I told her about putting her questions on my blog.
She said "Here, here's another two for this Baba Doodlius friend of yours to try and solve, they have been driving me mad for years!"

How Come?.....

1. When the sunlight is so bright it hurts your eyes, how come it doesn't hurt anymore if you shut just one eye?????
(Bet you are all outside looking up now trying this one out!)

2. Man nipples? How come men have nipples? Lil'Sis, not having researched too extensively into this says she thinks only humans and primates have man nipples, but why? Why hasn't evolution eliminated them by now as they are of no use whatsoever!

Over to you, Baba Doodlius!

HOW COME?

2008-05-28T17:17:00.015+01:00

My Lil'Sis

Threw a couple of questions at me today. It really got me thinking!

She asked....

How come almost every animal on the planet can swim by just nature and instinct, yet we humans have to be taught?
New born babies seem to manage just fine without lessons!
Is it because we are told we can't swim as we get a little older and therefore believe we can't until we have lessons?

The power of belief!

Hmmmmm!

She then went on to say...

Does that mean we shouldn't believe what we are told about anything?

In which case, take for example, The Law of Gravity.

The Law of Gravity must be so, as nobody can tell an apple or a leaf whether or not to fall to the ground. But, if we decide not to believe it, will we be able to float or fly? (Like our dreams seem to portray on many occasion)

Hmmmmm!

Think I'll have to pop over to The Great and Wonderous Baba Doodlius http://doodlius.blogspot.com/ and put these questions to him.

OH NO.......FIVE OH!!!!!!!

2008-05-16T13:36:00.008+01:00

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Image by FlamingText.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEEEEEE,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR AZZITIZZ SLOOPY DIPPINDOODLE,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

HERE, HAVE A.......... AND A .......... ON ME!

CHEERS!!!!

BY THE WAY, TAKE A LOOK AT MY LOVELY BIRTHDAY POEM FROM MY SISTER, NEXT POST DOWN.

WHOOOOHOOOO! JUST BEEN ON MY DASHBOARD AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS POST FOR MY FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY, IS ALSO THE HUNDRETH POST FOR MY BLOG! HAPPY POSTAVERSARY TO MY BLOG!

BIRTHDAY POEM!

2008-05-16T10:13:00.002+01:00

Here is this year's Birthday poem for my FIFTIETH!!
written by my Lil'Sis which was in a fantastic singing card!

THE BIG FIVE O,
WELL HO, HO, HO,
I BET YOU NEVER THOUGHT IT.
NO LONGER YOUNG,
ALL YOUR FLINGS BEEN FLUNG,
OH!.......TO DREAD ONCE AGAIN BEING FORTY!

NO LONGER GO OUT,
STAY IN AND DO NOWT,
JUST SIT IN A CHAIR AND FESTER,
WITH MEMORIES GALORE,
OF THE CLOTHES THAT YOU WORE,
OH!......TO RE-LIVE THE YEARS OF YESTER!

NOW ON A GO SLOW,
NO GET UP AND GO,
TO GET OUT OF BED IS A TRIAL,
BRUSH YOUR TEETH, BRUSH YOUR HAIR,
THEN CHECK THERE STILL THERE,
OH!......FOR THE DAYS YOU DIDN'T FEEL VILE!

BUT DO NOT FORGET,
DO NOT WORRY, DON'T FRET,
DO NOT THINK OF IT AS A CURSE,
'COZ ONE THING'S FOR SURE,
THERE ISN'T A CURE,
AND NEXT YEAR YOU'RE GONNA FEEL WORSE!!!!!

AM I GRATEFUL - MEME.

2008-05-13T12:32:00.010+01:00

Just found this and the one below, in one of my comments boxes from Mel and thought I would join in, I won't tag anyone but if you wish to be included, go ahead.

I AM GRATEFUL (WELL SORT OF) THAT THE BLAZING ROW I HAD WITH MY HUBBY THIS WEEKEND ENDED WITH JUST A LOT OF SMASHED CROCKERY ALL OVER MY KITCHEN FLOOR (OOH, THAT FELT GOOD!) AND THAT I DIDN'T ACTUALLY STAB HIM WITH THE SCISSORS I HAD IN MY HAND AT THE TIME! ACTUALLY, THINK HUBBY WAS MORE GRATEFUL ABOUT THIS THAN ME!!!

START COPY*

In order to be able to achieve and maintain happiness we need to, actively, be able to do two things:
Complain and then let go (Dump the baggage, the roadblocks to happiness.)
Openly Express Gratitude (The open expression of gratitude promotes happiness.)
After all, everyone has something to be grateful for and/or something to complain about.

If you would like to accept the challenge, please follow the appropriate link and do so: "Are You Grateful?", "Complain Complain Complain."Contributors to "Are You Grateful?" & "Complain Complain Complain" are:

1-Attitude, the Ultimate Power 2-Max 3-DianaCA's Metamorphoses 4-Mental Poo 5-My Thoughts 6-Baba Doodlius 7-Wake Up America 8-Life is a Roller Coaster 9-Life and Me 10-pinay mommy's love blog 11-My Happiness Haven 12-And Life Goes On for a Filipino Mom 13-Blessed Sanctuary 14-Expressions And Thoughts 15-Memories by Jenn 16-Reminiscence of My Adventures 17-In the Life of Mne 18-Juliana's Lair 19-Pinay Wahm 20-Lucid Creativity 21-Winged Words 22-Irresistible Fascinations 23-A Little Time 24-See Me For What You Will 25-Greatest Reviews 26-ETC ATBP 27-Gandacious 28-We Are Family 29-Journey to this thing called LIFE 30-http://www.rajeshrana.net/ 31-http://www.rajeshrana.com/ 32-BaReFooTeD Me 33-Uncomplicated 34-Points of View 35-Pride & Prejudice 36-Colorful World 37-Nora's Notes 38-A Daily Walk With Bill & Gina 39-Strange but True 40-Everything Under The Sun ( Beth Rebokon ) 41-Kaleidoscope 42-Fil-Oz Blog 43-http://oscar-vg.blogspot.com/ 44-Comedy Plus 45-Blogging by Sandee 46-Soul Meets World 47-Mae's Memoirs 48-Beyond the Rave Reality 49-Amori, poesie, arte, chat by Hanna 50-Attached at the Hip 51-Carver's Sight or is that Site? 52-Empress Reviews 53-Simple Pleasures In My Heart 54-Lourdes' mia 55-A Grateful Heart 56-Majorsleepyhead 57-Scrappy n Happy in Ohio 58-CHOC MINT GIRL 59-Extraordinary Things 60-ZOOROPAZOO 61-BeNolSatuEm 62-As The World Turns 63-Your Caring Angels 64-Life Is Wonderful To Know Everyday 65-Sugar Magnolias 66-Little Peanut 67-Creative In Me 68-Me and Mine 69-Pea in a Pod 70-the diary of the Pink & Brown Wedding 71-good thoughts, good trades, good life 72-My Blog - all things me 73-Rainbows 74-Little Corner of Mine 75-Me, Myself and I 76-My Planet Purple 77-Amel's Realm 78-A Handful of Surprises 79-A Detour 80-Something Purple 81-Vanity Kit 82-Are You Grateful? 83-A Simple Life 84-BlogTips.Com 85-Balitang Kalye 86-Mariuca 87- Emila Yusof 88-A Total Blog 89-My Life in this Wonderful World 90-MommyAllehs 91-Things That Suck 92-A Mother's Stuff 93-Princess Vien 94-My Inner Thoughts Revealed 95-Roxiticus Desperate Housewives 96-Apples Of The Eyes 97-Nita's Random Thoughts 98-Nita's Corner 99-Thomas Digital Services 100-A Mother's Thoughts101-Meltwater. Torrents. Meanderings. Delta 102-My Perfect Escape 103-Vanidosa. Marie 104-Confessions of a Supermodel Wannabe 105-Lynda's Loft 106-Listening..Learning..Living 107-LadyJava's Lounge 108-The Painted Veil 109-Poeartica 110-Maryannaville 111-the life of a psychotic weirdo 112-CARPE DIEM 113-Turn-u-Off 114-asian mutt international 115-Petty Ramblings of a Petty Queen 116-LIFE IS A ROLLER COASTER 117- YOU

*END COPY*

YAY, A MOANING MEME!

2008-05-13T11:55:00.002+01:00

This is the same as the one above only this time it's for a right good winge.

MY WINGE IS THAT I AM RUNNING OUT OF CROCKERY!!!!!! (SEE ABOVE POST)

*Start Copy*

In order to be able to achieve and maintain happiness we need to, actively, be able to do two things:
Complain and then let go (Dump the baggage, the roadblocks to happiness.)
Express Gratitude (The open expression of gratitude promotes happiness.)
After all everyone has something to be grateful for and/or something to complain about.

If you would like to participate, please follow the appropriate link and do so: "Are You Grateful?", "Complain Complain Complain."Contributors to "Are You Grateful?" & "Complain Complain Complain.":

1-Attitude, the Ultimate Power 2-Max 3-DianaCA's Metamorphoses 4-Mental Poo 5-My Thoughts 6-Baba Doodlius 7-Wake Up America 8-Life is a Roller Coaster 9-Life is Beautiful 10-pinay mommy's love blog 11-My Happiness Haven 12-And Life Goes On for a Filipino Mom 13-Blessed Sanctuary 14-Expressions And Thoughts 15-Memories by Jenn 16-Reminiscence of My Adventures 17-In the Life of Mne 18-Juliana's Lair 19-Pinay Wahm 20-Lucid Creativity 21-Winged Words 22-Irresistible Fascinations 23-A Little Time 24-See Me For What You Will 25-Greatest Reviews 26-ETC ATBP 27-Gandacious 28-We Are Family 29-Journey to this thing called LIFE 30-http://www.rajeshrana.net/ 31-http://www.rajeshrana.com/ 32-BaReFooTeD Me 33-Uncomplicated 34-Points of View 35-Pride & Prejudice 36-Colorful World 37-Nora's Notes 38-A Daily Walk With Bill & Gina 39-Strange but True 40-Everything Under The Sun ( Beth Rebokon ) 41-Kaleidoscope 42-Fil-Oz Blog 43-http://oscar-vg.blogspot.com/ 44-Comedy Plus 45-Blogging by Sandee 46-Soul Meets World 47-Mae's Memoirs 48-Beyond the Rave Reality 49-Amori, poesie, arte, chat by Hanna 50-Attached at the Hip 51-Carver's Sight or is that Site? 52-Empress Reviews 53-Simple Pleasures In My Heart 54-Lourdes' mia 55-A Grateful Heart 56-Majorsleepyhead 57-Scrappy n Happy in Ohio 58-CHOC MINT GIRL 59-Extraordinary Things 60-ZOOROPAZOO 61-BeNolSatuEm 62-As The World Turns 63-Your Caring Angels 64-Life Is Wonderful To Know Everyday 65-Sugar Magnolias 66-Little Peanut 67-Creative In Me 68-Me and Mine 69-Pea in a Pod 70-the diary of the Pink & Brown Wedding 71-good thoughts, good trades, good life 72-My Blog - all things me 73-Rainbows 74-Little Corner of Mine 75-Me, Myself and I 76-My Planet Purple 77-Amel's Realm 78-A Handful of Surprises 79-A Detour 80-Something Purple 81-Vanity Kit 82-Are You Grateful? 83-A Simple Life 84-BlogTips.Com 85-Balitang Kalye 86-Mariuca 87-Emila Yusof 88-A Total Blog 89-My Life in this Wonderful World 90-MommyAllehs 91-Things That Suck 92-A Mother's Stuff 93-Princess Vien 94-My Inner Thoughts Revealed 95-Roxiticus Desperate Housewives 96-Apples Of The Eyes 97-Nita's Random Thoughts 98-Nita's Corner 99-Thomas Digital Services 100-A Mother's Thoughts 101-Meltwater. Torrents. Meanderings. Delta 102-My Perfect Escape 103-Vanidosa. Marie 104-Confessions of a Supermodel Wannabe 105-Lynda's Loft 106-Listening..Learning..Living 107-LadyJava's Lounge 108-The Painted Veil 109-Poeartica 110-Maryannaville 111-the life of a psychotic weirdo 112-CARPE DIEM 113-Turn-u-Off 114-asian mutt international 115-Petty Ramblings of a Petty Queen 116-LIFE IS A ROLLER COASTER 117- YOU

*End Copy*

SLOOPY DIPPINDOODLE!

2008-05-09T12:52:00.007+01:00

Just been over to Si's blog at http://wilkonews.blogspot.com/ and discovered his post about silly names. Working off his list, my name comes out as..

.......Sloopy Dippindoodle!

Big Bruv would be Dipsy Gizzardbutt and my Sister is Dorfus Farkletush!

Go give it a try, it's fun!

Love Azzy
X

HEATWAVE!

2008-05-07T18:53:00.006+01:00

Good grief, there is a big hot ball of light in the sky! The sky is actually blue! I had forgotten about that as it is usually a sort of permanent slate grey colour.

I will give it another two days at most then we will be back to grey clouds and rain.

Us English have a thing about the weather, it seems to be our main topic of conversation no matter who we are talking to or where we are. We are always complaining about the rain and the cold but then you get a few hot days and everyone complains that they are too hot!!!

Unfortunately, it can change quite suddenly from one day being cold and wet to the next dry and hot, therefore we are always catching colds and flu due to the sudden fluctuations in temperatures.

Yes, the Seasons are nice, but not all in one week!!!

I would normally, instead of being in here on my computer, be making the most of it and sitting in my back garden now but since we got Max, there isn't much of a garden left to sit in! I suppose I could sit in one of the many holes he has dug.

Hey, guess what I am going to have a go at..................writing a murder mystery!!!!!!
I had this brilliant idea for the perfect murder about a year ago (Neeza has this type of affect on me!) and was, at one stage, thinking of sending the idea to the producers of C.S.I. my favorite programme to see if they could solve the murder, how it was done and by whom? But thinking about it, it could be worth a lot more by making into a book. No harm in trying is there? If it doesn't get published I would then try C.S.I.

I'll keep you all posted with my progress but will give nothing away about the story so don't ask, you will have to buy the book. Mwa, ha, har!

That's all for now.
Love Azzy.
X

THAT'S BOUQUET!

2008-05-03T13:28:00.010+01:00

Hubs won the local election!!!!

I'm now a Councillors wife......La de bloody dah!
Yeah, I'm proud of his winning but I'm still me and still going to slouch round in my jeans, trainers and sweatshirt, it don't make me any better than I was, so why should I change who I am (I've always been a good'un), or conform to what I am expected to look like, couldn't afford to even if I wanted to!
Still got leaky radiators, rotten woodwork, broken light fittings, a door that we have to open with a screwdriver to get out and debts up to the eyeballs!

I'm an 'Onzlo' and always will be an 'Onzlo' - This is a character from an English programme called 'Keeping Up Appearances' about a woman called Hiacynth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet!!!) who is quite the snob and is always trying to show she is above everyone else.
Onzlo is her Brother-in-law married to her equally slobby Sister Daisy, Onzlo always looks like he needs a wash, slobs out in front of the TV and slouches round in his string vest but they both have hearts of gold, Hiacynth is always telling him to put a shirt on. Then there is Violet the other Sister of whom Hiacynth is always boasting "she lives in a big house with room for a pony!"
And last but not least is the other Sister, Rose, she's a real slapper and goes for anything in trousers.

Anyway, I'm me and I like me, I'll just not bother going to any of his get-togethers with his Council buddies. Wouldn't know how I was supposed to talk or act with any of them. They would probably all look down their noses at me! Don't have anything decent to wear anyway!

That's all for now, best finish this post before I get cut off again!

Loadsa love.
Azzy.
X

I'M BACK!!!

2008-04-27T13:57:00.005+01:00

Hi there everyone,

Once again, we got cut off by the telephone company and I haven't been able to get back on line until now. Really missed you guys!

Hopefully, now we have Debt Management sorting out our main big financial problems (I would like at this point to thank all who suggested this solution) we should be starting to get back on track and be able to keep up with general everyday bills like utility. We were a hair's breadth (or is it a hare's breath?) away from having no gas or electric as well as no phone and internet!

I have worked out a budget and if it is stuck to, we should start getting back to having a little spare cash (and I mean a little!) by about August or September this year.

Anyway, going to have a flit about and see what you have all been up to while I have been off line. Glad to be back.

Love Azzy.
X

GRAHAM'S PHOTO CHALLENGE MARCH 2008 - 'DESTRUCTION'

2008-03-31T09:55:00.010+01:00

This is my entry into Graham's Photo Challenge for March headed DESTUCTION at http://grahamettridge.blogspot.com/

Today is 31st March, so I only just made it!

This photo represents 'DESTRUCTION' as it used to be my lovely lawned back garden until Max our new pup decided it is more fun to turn it into a mud pit, filled with all sorts of chewed up things, rope, fence, bicycle inner tubes, hula hoops, parts of my hose pipe, flower pots, toys, etc. etc..

You can go see our Max at his own blog at http://mightymax-azzitizz.blogspot.com/

BRRRRR!!!!! HAPPY EASTER!!!!!

2008-03-23T07:42:00.034Z

Easter Sunday 5am!!!! .........SNOW!!!!

I took some photos of Max (they are on his blog) and Me and Little'un made an Easter Snowbunny in the front garden. 6am!!!!!................................................................................................................

Here are some pics of it.........OUR EASTER SNOWBUNNY

DON'T YOU DARE!!!!!!!................................................................

Little'un also decided to do a snow angel, she must be mad!!! It's freezing and she will be soaked!!! What the heck, who cares!. We have now come in to get warm and dry, the time is 7.30am and I'm off to make us all a proper English breakfast. Hope you all have a lovely Easter. Don't overdo the choccy Easter Eggs! Yum!

Love Azzy. X

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

2008-03-23T07:39:00.001Z

YUM!!!

KNOCKED FOR SIX!

2008-03-17T16:22:00.003Z

Hi folks,

Well, I have been well and truly knocked for six this weekend, spent most of it in bed, the rest of the time running to the loo! Don't know what caused it, seems there's been a bug going round, it's similar to gastro enteritis, I had no idea it was going round and tried to think what I had eaten to have caused it. I have lost about half a stone due to it (wipeeeee!) but I wouldn't suggest it to anyone as a diet aid!!!

All in all, within the last month, mainly due to Max dragging me all round the town twice a day then this bug I have lost a total of one and a half stones in weight, carry on like this and I'll end up disappearing altogether!

I was quite happy with the stone I lost due to Max and would rather not have had the illness to lose the next half a stone but, there you go. Can't afford a new wardrobe of clothes just yet so am walking Max holding the lead with one hand and my jeans up with the other.

That's all for now, sorry I don't post as often but I seem to be spending most of my days trying to stop Max destroying my garden, the furniture, any shoes not hidden away, Little'uns toys, jumping at the cockatiel cage every time the bird speaks or whistles and generally muddying up every bit of the house plus me. (But I love it!!!)

Love Azzy
X

MAX HAS HIS OWN BLOG!!!

2008-03-07T13:17:00.008Z

Baba Doodlius from http://doodlius.blogspot.com/ suggested that Max should have his own blog so he can tell you all about the mischievious things he gets up to every so often, so thinking this was a pretty good idea, I have said he could.

You can find Max's blog by clicking on this posts title.... 'MAX HAS HIS OWN BLOG!!!' above,
or typing it in as http://mightymax-azzitizz.blogspot.com/
Hope you enjoy reading all about life from HIS point of view.

Love Azzy.

SORRY, BEEN REALLY BUSY

2008-03-03T16:57:00.009Z

'Mad Max the Mighty Mutt' on one of his (not too often) quiet times!

Hi folks,

Sorry not been keeping up to date with my posts of late but what with our Max taking over every minute of my day plus life (100 miles an hour!) in general, I've not had much time to blog.

My once beautiful back garden is now a demolition zone thanks to our little addition, he is destroying everything, he adores playing out and I love to watch him, he zooms round and round, brings rocks, stones, bits of fence and various twigs from my plants into the house, my furniture is constantly covered in muddy paw prints (as am I!) but I love it!

I need to get to the doctors this week as I am suffering from Bursitis, it feels like my kneecap has been dislodged, it's something to do with fluid on the knee (extremely painful!) but it isn't stopping me from taking Max out for his two walks per day.

He is a quick learner and is doing quite well at walking to heel and stopping at every road we have to cross. We walk Little'un to school every morning, Max loves going to school, all the kids know him now and all come over to stoke and play with him (he adores the attention he gets plus he meets quite a few other dogs on the way and also in the playground) we then go to meet up with my Sister and her German Shepherd 'Tess' and carry on walking for about another hour or so, Tess and Max absolutely adore each other and sometimes we go to their flat where they have a mad half hour playing together while me and Lil'Sis have a coffee and a natter, other times we go to Mum's where the same thing happens. Then in the afternoon we have another walk back to school to pick Little'un up again.

After all that walking and playing in the garden, he usually zonks out for a few hours.

He eats like a pig! He will scoff anything you put in front of him, he is really good though when we are eating, he knows if he sits quiet and waits, he will be saved some.

Anyway folks, that's all I have time for at the moment, it's feeding time for my zoo, Squeaky the Guinea Pig, Paddy the Cockatiel, Patch and Goldie the fish, Mad Max the Mighty Mutt and of course us humans.

Have a great week everyone.

Love Azzy.

ANOTHER AWARD - PASS IT ON!

2008-02-20T14:10:00.011Z

RULES:

1. Write a post with links to five blogs that make your day.

2. Acknowledge the post of the award giver.

3. Display the “You Make My Day award"

4. Tell the award winners that they have won by commenting on their blogs or emailing them the news.

THANK YOU SINDI FROM http://spiritifelici.blogspot.com/
FOR THIS WONDERFUL AWARD
(Actually, I should be giving this to you, not you to me!)

The 'You make my day' award is received with many thanks and I would like to pass it on firstly to Graham (yes, I know, I always mention him) because he is such a good friend and an all round nice guy, his blog is fun, interesting and is full of the most beautiful scenic photographs, you can find him at http://grahamettridge.blogspot.com/

Next is the fabulous 'all seeing, all knowing' Baba Doodlius at http://doodlius.blogspot.com/ Yes, OK, he's a bird, but come on, he knows everything there is to know, how can you not think he is wonderful, his revelations have made me both laugh and gasp!

Then we have Pauline from http://dysfuncdiva.blogspot.com/ who has the BEST and most inventive ideas for getting rid of problems, I LOVE her blog! (Mwa, ha, har!)

Of course we then have Cathy at http://litcor.blogspot.com/ Pauline's Sister, very inventive, a funny blog yet can also be deep and intense.

And last but not least, there is Alex the cat's owner, Saint Nick of http://saintnicksbytes.blogspot.com/ A warm, funny man with his blog full of fun and laughs.

YAWN!!!!!!!!

2008-02-12T09:30:00.003Z

Told you our Max was going to be a good'un, this is only his third day with us too.

He woke me this morning at 3.08 with a big sloppy kiss then ran to the bedroom door, so I took him downstairs and let him out and he piddled and pooed in the back garden.

Me? I stood in the back garden in my jammies and bare feet freezing cold but proud as punch that he has realised he has to go out until it dawned on me that it was 3.08 then I wasn't so happy. Then again, I would rather do that than find a not so nice little surprise on the carpet.

He came charging back in for his 'good boy' treat, wolfed down about five doggie choc buttons then ran back to bed, by the time I had locked back up, reset the alarm, turned off all the lights and gone back up, he had jumped on the bed and pinched my place! We then had a wrestling match about who goes where and I, eventually, after lots of hysterics won, or did I? he slept stretched out on the bed with his head almost on the pillow, good grief, I'm a soft touch!.

OUR MAX (MIGHTY MAX THE MUTT!)

2008-02-11T16:50:00.003Z

Well, folks, meet Max, our new addition to the family.

We got him yesterday (Sunday 10th February) from Manchester Dogs Home, he is a 'Goodness knows what' breed.

He is only eight months old and christened my carpet with a pee and a poo already but that was yesterday, today he has realised we have a back garden and he can run and play and pee and poo as much as he likes there and gets a little treat every time.

Little'un picked him, it was love at first sight (I'm sure the Dogs Home played 'Love Story' on speakers in the background)

He seems a little timid as he cowers when you raise you hand (not that I would hit him! I just showed him my empty hand after giving him a treat for being good).

He doesn't seem to understand being praised for being good either but he will.

He had been in the home since November when he was about six months old.

How can someone give their dog away? I don't understand, I cried quite a bit while I was there, there were some that had been really badly treated and I wanted to bring them all home!

As I say, we only got him yesterday but he is fitting in great here, he is going to be one happy spoilt little scruffbag. I think he is a bit staffy, a bit GSD and goodness knows what else, he is about the same size as our previous dog Sally but then again, he is only 8 months, he could grow into a monster, I don't know? He does have enormous paws on the end of his stumpy little legs.

He is one lucky doggie to have come to live here and is kissed and cuddled constantly, WE LOVE HIM TO BITS!

OUR MAX

MY BEST FRIEND'S VISIT!!!!!!

2008-02-01T11:56:00.003Z

WOW................Guess what happened today!!!! (Friday 1st February 2008)

I was sat here at my computer getting the Big Bang tag up to date, proof reading it and letting Mel know he had doubled up on a couple of numbers and actually had more on his list than he thought, when.........................
WOOF!, WOOF!.

Neeza, who was downstairs at the time, as he is off today due to a hospital appointment for an ECG, shouted "Did you hear that!!!!!" I shouted that I did and that I knew she would still be around.

Neeza being Neeza said "I didn't know our neighbour had a dog" I said "None of them have!" he then asked if it scared me because of what we had heard and I replied "Why should you be scared of your own dog coming back to say hello?" He thinks I am mad but he heard it too! (It sounded exactly like her). Spooky or what?

Neeza didn't hear me but I said "Hi, Sal babe" back to her. I'm now sat here grinning from ear to ear, I knew it! I knew it! she is still with us. What a fantastic experience!

MY BEST FRIEND, GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN!!!

2008-01-24T13:38:00.005Z

Well, after eleven fun filled and loving years, my bestest, bestest friend in all the world, Sally (my dog) had a stroke on Tuesday morning.

It was as if she had waited for the right moment, as on a normal day, Sally would have been on her own when she had the stroke as I usually take Little'un to school and then go straight round to my Sisters and Neeza is usually at work but today both me and Little'un were poorly and Neeza said he would stay off to help, so we were all here with her.

The vet said there was internal bleeding somewhere and if I wanted, he could have tried to find it and stop it with operations but at eleven, I didn't want to put her through all that and anyway, there was a look in her eyes that told me she was quite happy to go now, thankyou.

I bawled my eyes out as I stroked, kissed her and told her she was a good girl and it will all be better soon, they injected her and in a matter of seconds she was gone.
The house is so empty without her. I still automatically go to let her out for her night time piddle and still keep the scraps from meals to one side for her before it dawns on me she isn't here any more.

Neeza says he doesn't want another dog as none could replace our Sal, Little'un wants one straight away. Me, I think it's too soon to say yes or no to anything.

Sally and Little'un Christmas 2007.

Missing you with all my heart, bye, bye baby.
Love ya Sal! XXX

ANOTHER MEME!!!!

2008-01-09T14:01:00.001Z

1. At what age do you wish to marry?
Already am, still think 37 was too young to get married!!!!

2. If you had the chance, what would you probably say to your beloved one?
Beloved? Waaa, haaa, haaa! Wouldn't be able to say anything for laughing at that word!

3. If you were to be stranded on a desert island, who are the 3 blogging buddies you would take with you, Why?

Graham from http://grahamettridge.blogspot.com/ because he has a lovely soothing voice and would keep me from panicking, he has travelled all over, isn't afraid of bugs and therefore would be good at doing the tarzanesque stuff (hunting, fishing etc.)

Sandy from http://spiritifelici.blogspot.com/ because she is a lovely lady who doesn't let anything get her down (well, not for long!) and I would love to sit and hear all her stories about her wonderful family and her life.

Baba Doodlius from http://doodlius.blogspot.com/ because he would keep my brain ticking over with all his fabulous revelations and, if ever we run out of food, he's a bird! Yum! (Only joking!)

4. Where is the place you want to go the most?
Gosh....just one? Whale watching in Canada, swimming with dolphins, swimming with manatees, going to see the Northern Lights, Madagascar, Galapagos Islands, Australia, doing a David Attenborough and being with Silverback Gorillas, I could go on and on, there are too many places I want to go.

5. If you can have one dream come true, what would it be?
To be young again, learn by my past mistakes, stop worrying, get out there more and enjoy being alive!

6. What the best compliment you ever received?
Don't get many but I guess my favourite is comments on my food, I just love to feed people.

7. What are you afraid of the most?
Heights!!! Arrrrrgh! (Yet, funnily enough, not flying, it's only when I am stood near a high place???)

8. If you won $1 millon what would you do?
Make sure all my family were financially secure, IF any was left over, I would try to do the things in question 4.

9. If you meet someone that you love, would you confess to him/her?
You HAVE to! Life is too short to miss out on any opportunities, especially love, even if it doesn't last, it is brilliant while it's happening.

10. List 3 good points of the person who tagged you?
I wasn't tagged, it was a free for all, open to anyone who fancied having a go but I found it on Graham's blog so, number one...I think he is a great guy and any woman who eventually captures his heart, is one lucky girl. Number two...He has a lovely calming and charming proper English voice, (ooh, melts your heart) and number three...there is a real quirky sense of humour there but we haven't been allowed to see it yet! Are you blushing yet Graham?

11. What are the requirements that you wish from your other half?
That he wouldn't make promises then let me down any more, that he would stop drinking and that he would show both me and Little'un that he actually wants to be with us!

12. Which type of person do you hate the most?
Lying, deceitful and selfish with no sense of humour!

13. Are you the type of person who will forgive and forget easy?
I can forgive to a certain extent and will let a lot of things go, but I will NEVER forget!

14. What is the thing that will make you think he/she is bad?
See question number 12!

15. Christmas, who do you like to celebrate with?
All my family!

16. What do you think is the most important thing in your life?
Little'un most of all, my family and being happy.

17. My question......Are you racist?
Not at all, I don't understand how the colour of someones skin could make any difference to the way they are treated? I actually can't see what the big deal about colour is? We are all people, some I like, some I don't. I actually don't notice the colour!

18. Which actress or actor would you like to be?
I wouldn't want to be anyone else or pretend/act like anyone else, I'm me and I like me!

19. 2008 do you have a new year resolution?
Nope, I'd only break it then get annoyed at myself for not sticking to it, so why bother!

20. Do you have any plans for tomorrow?
Yep, get up, live my life and see what happens next!

NEW YEAR

2008-01-09T12:52:00.001Z

Howdy folks,

How's New Year going with you all?

Little'un is now back at school. Yipeeeee! Every time she puts her new Nintendo DS down, I grab it. Sorry now I didn't get the other one by mistake now, I'm hooked!

It's freezing cold here but no sign of snow yet which upsets Little'un, she's dying for it to snow!

Got a brilliant prezzie off my big Bruv, it's a DVD-ROM with every issue of 'MAD' magazine on it dating back to the 1950's. That's why I haven't been blogging lately, spending my time reading 'MAD' or playing on Little'uns Nintendo. You wouldn't believe I am going to be 50, YES 50! This May, I'm just a big kid.

Fifty sounds too old! Then again, once you reach this time of life, age just becomes a silly number, it doesn't mean anything, I sort of feel no age at all, just know that I don't feel like that number, I'm just me, not me of a cetain age if you can understand that. (I'm waffling aren't I? Guess it's my age! He, he.)

Well, I'm trying to talk my Lil' Sis into starting a blog at the moment, she is real good at art so I said why not do some pics and I'll stick them on a blog, being unemployed and on the sick, it will give her something to do in her spare time, not that she has much spare time what with always helping Mum and Dad with their day to day life in general and walking her German Shepherd rescue dog for miles every day but when she does have time, it would keep her occupied rather than sitting alone in her diddy flat.

Anyway, I am going to have a think about a meme that Graham has done and might just have a go at it myself, as not much else is happening here at the moment.

Decided to keep working on Neeza about moving down South. Good grief I'm stubborn! I don't give up easily, I'll eventually wear him down. He, he.

That's about it, told you not much was happening.
Bye for now.

BIG BANG 1000 LINKS (PART 1)

2008-01-01T00:02:00.008Z

THIS IS A FREE FOR ALL, Mel from http://mondaymorningpower.blogspot.com/ is trying to reach a target of 1000 tags and going off the list below, will achieve it real soon. Go to his blog to copy the latest list and add yourself in his comments box.

(YOU KNOW, AFTER HAVING A QUICK SCAN DOWN THE LIST OF BLOGS BELOW UP TO 410, I REALISED I HAD ONLY ACTUALLY BEEN ON TWELVE OF THEM, GUESS I HAVE SOME CATCHING UP TO DO!!!!!!!)

*Start Copy Here*

You do not have to be tagged to play along.
This game is simple and so are the rules.
1. Copy from *Start Copy Here* through *End Copy Here*
2. Add your site(s) to the list. Just be sure to post at each site you add.
3. Tag or don’t tag, your choice, however, the more tags you create the bigger the list will grow.
4. Let me know your blog’s name and url by leaving me a comment HERE. I will add you to the master list. (If you would like the scroll box code, leave me your email address and I will email it to you.)
5. Come back and copy the master list back to your site, often. This process will allow late-comers to get as much link benefit as the first ones in.

1-Attitude, the Ultimate Power 2-Juliana's Site 3-Rusin Roundup
4-Grow Rich Along With Me 5-Comedy Plus 6-lynda's loft 7-Amel's Realm
8-MAX 9-Speedcat Hollydale 10-Mariuca 11-Complain Complain Complain
12-Mariuca's Perfume Gallery 13-Life Is A Roller Coaster 14-Sugar Queen's Dream
15-First Time Dad 16-Life 17-My Life 18-The Painted Veil 19-My Thoughts
20-DatCurious.com 21-Little Aussie Cynic 22-A Nice Place in the Sun
23-DatMoney.com 24-The Down Side OF Up 25-Ladyjava's Lounge 26-Cat Tales 27-moms.....check nyo
28-Colorado Baby 29-It's a Woman's World 30-ENLIGHTENED BITS
31-My View of "It" 32-My Reviews and Finds Along the Way 33-Our Hep Chat
34-Rantings of a Woman 35-The Callalily Space 36-Mom Knows Everything 37-Hazel
38- Chronicles and Tales Unlimited (RED) 39-From the Mouth of Jabber Jaws
40-Sunny Side Up Foodie & Lifestyle 41-Carmel Corn 42-Daily Stock Picks
43-The Whole New World 44-Wifespeak 45-Slavery Bliss 46-Rooms of My Heart
47-Unpredictable Life 48-My Life, My World 49- At Your Service 50-All About Ebay
51-Everything Amazon 52-Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out 53-My So-Called Site
54-New Wife Blog 55-Tendre Poison 323 56-Nick's Bytes 57-My Scratch Pad
58-Choc Mint Girl 59-Life Is Just Around the Corner...
60-Amori, poseia, art... virtuali by Hanna 61-Maryannaville
62-monaco - monaco's 63-Nyumix's Blog 64-read my mind - my keyboard monologues
65-Shower You Children With Love - The Right Way 66-Secret Agent Mama
67-Pinaymama's Diary 68-Answers to the Questions 69-Work of the Poet 70-A Total Blog
71-My life, my hope, my future 72-NORTE 73-A Window to Our World 74-Life as a Mom
75-FIELD OF DREAMS 76-lisgold 77-See Me for What You 78-Caught in The Stream
79-Pinay Mommy Online - My Home 80-I'm Running To Win Two 81-CRUEL VIRGIN
82-Garden of Moments in Blog 83-So Cute 84-Love Everlasting 85-WeLcOmE To My CriB
86-WELCOM TO PINAYSMILE'S JOURNEY 87-Ice's Icelog 88-Jenny's Wandering Thoughts 89-Hobbies ans Such
90-Sweet Paradise 91-Mommy's Gibble Gabbles 92-Rusin Review's
93-My Small World 94-Little Peanut 95-Online Ramblings 96-My Mood My Feeling
97-BLOG it with ALLEN 98-Entertainment World 99-Let's Go Singapore 100-Firelynx
101-Catsy Carpe Diem 102-Every Beat Of My Heart 103-Always Da Fresh Princess
104-Listening.. Learning..Living 105-All About Mars 106-Syii From Afar
107-Some Thoughts I Have 108-From Here and Beyond 109-My Paid To Blog
110-Scholarship Corner 111-Cell Phone Review 112-"Apples of the Eyes" 113-It's All About Play 114-The Luttrull Journey
115-RennyBA's Terella 116-Unchained Melody 117-Out of the Blue 118-The Lure Of the Unknown
119-Maricel's 120-my blog 121-Spiff, the Spaceman 122-Living Well 123-The Dog Log 124-Catnip Corner
125-A Piece of Idea 126-Observations From the Back 40 127-Poetry by The Redneck Gypsy 128-Odd Facts 129-Juliana's Lair
130-My life is murphy's law 131-lisgoldsmemoirs 132-My memories, as time goes by 133-Somewhere over the rainbow
134-Blogging by Sandee 135-Our Journey to this so called life 136-Idaho Daily Photo 137-Memories that Never Fades..
138-Anything goes 139-Your Caring Angels 140-Little Paces 141-Laketrees 142-PoeARTica 143-fracas 144-Just FraCas
145-Archies Archive 146-Growing Up Together 147-A Woman's Diary 148-Mother's Got A Dot Com 149-Close To You
150-Hot Shit Form Here 151-Astro Galaxy 152-Detector 153-Beauty is in the eye of the beholder 154-My Life is Peachy
155-The Down Side of Up 156-Magical Milestones 157-In Search of Life 158-RebelationsdotNet 159-Jen Jen's Place
160-Mimi Writes... 161-Strange but true 162-Depois de minha viagem 163-Your Perfect Wedding: 164-Make Money Online
165-Primitive Ornies and Bowl Fillers 166-Vegetarian Diet Lifestyle
167-Looking Out For You 168-BENOLSATUEM 169-OtherSide 170-Hacko's Site 171-where was I 172-Making Money Resources
173-text's Site 174-Movie Corner 175-Rahasia Bisnis Internet 176-Online Dating Tips
177-Beauty Kissing Tips 178-Forex Trading Tips 179-Singapore Tour Guide 180-PPC vs PTR 181-Indonesian Film
182-Adsense Success Stories 2008 183-Bali Tour 184-Paypal Indonesia 185-Review Bisnis Internet 186-Blog Daniel Scardua 187-Much of a muchness 188-Gagiers Amazing World 189-Clumsy Mommy 190-Leaotheblogger
191-PBDesigns Reading and Crochet Blog 192-Gagiers Striking Zone 193-DrowseyMonkey
194-Yesterday Today n Tomorrow 195-Auntie Dar's Life 196-Sky Windows...
197-Filippino Life Abroad 198-Leao the Blogger 199-Zoop's Rantings on Life 200-My Journey 201-A Sweet Taste of Life
202-This is a Miracle 203-Lavanderia Virtual 204-COLORADO COWGIRL IN UPSTATE NEW YORK 205-Dating Profile of the Day
206-my wooden robot 207-My World 208-urban : trendy : lifestyle 209-Lucel Juliana's Library
210-Cooking Momster - My Life Journal 211-Anggie & Jeremy boy Online Journal 212-'Doc Doc Doc' 213-Transforming My Life 214-Gratitude Journal 215-Simplydunn.net 216-emila's illustrated blog 217-AZZY'S BLOG-A-ROONIE!
218-MAMABLISS' TREASURED MOMENTS 219-The Sky's the Limit 220-PROJECT HEAVY TRAFFIC
221-just another ordinary story.. 222-Samuel Rolo 223-The end mission! 224-R S S Submissions 225-Laice's Pics
226-Health and Fitness 227-Brainybimbo 228-Journey with WaterLearner 229-Zoop's Rantings on Life (at Blogspot)
230-Ivan Girl 231-Tour the Tabon Caves 232-Book Calendar 233-Love me. Hate me 234-Everyday health and beauty
235-BLOGANDO & ANDANDO 236-Memoirs.:*CRoSs mY hEARt*:. 237-The Chic Shopaholic 238-CK Go Places
239-Red Empress: Hell Flavored, Taste like Valentine 240-QUEENBEE 241-Le bric a brac de Cherie 242-jaqqq in the blogs
243-Heart of Rachel 244-Bijoux & Banter 245-When Silence Speaks 246-MadTomatoe's Blogging Tools and Widgets
247-Conceptis addict 248-Madamoiselle 249-My Wooden Robot Blog 250-A Simple Life 251-It's a dog's life
252-A Technocrat's Blog 253-Misty's Words 254-My Dogs Keep Me Sane 255-New England Lighthouse Treasures
256-NoDirectOn (not: NoDirection) 257-Additional BlogLOve 258-I am DZOI 259-Caroland's Breathtaking Adventure
260-Blur Ting 261-Rojoy's Daily Update 262-Down River Drivel 263-Momhood Moments 264-Real World Mom
265-REALWORLDMOMUNPLUGGED'S WEBLOG 266-AngrianiWorld 267-Marketing•Review 268-sejuk sesangat
269-Everything and then Some..... 270-Gbex...reachingOut 271-Heart of Rachel 272-The working mom / Finding balance...
273-Madamoiselle ver.2 274-Latest Keyword 275-Tanny's Blog 276-Pay to Review 277-Happy Life 278-Pet Haven
279-Teratak Nurani 280- A Melhor Novela de Todos os Tempos do Ãšltimo VerÃ£o 281-TYNIE World
282-Wanmus's Blog-get cheapest web hosting 283-mokkikunta 284-BLOGHIT, POLIBLOG, TOP TOPICS
285-none of your business 286-Expat Travels 287-The Poor Mouth 288-GIRLIEGEEK.ORG 289-Tau Tau 290-Points of View
291-kimf3's Blog 292-Bing-My Treasures 293-Everything Green 294-The Pipeline Fixation
295-~Menempuh Arus Masa-Life-Photography~ 296-Pea in a Pod 297-{Me and Mine} 298-Beblan Anak Tukang Jahit
299-How Bourgeois 300-Julie's Blog 301-Emphbone 302-Simply the Best 303-Euroangel Graffiti 304-My Daily Nourishment 305-the worldwideweb addict 306-(¯`·._.· PalavraS ArticuladaS ·._.·´¯) 307-The Big Life 308-Wild Borneo
309-Failure is the Key to Success 310-The muxic box's memories 311-What Goes Under the Sun 312-Cronaca di Gatteo
313-Angelika's other blog 314-So Real 315-Jaque 18 316-Overtime 317-When Life Becomes a Book 318-On the Bricks
319-Central Perk New York 320-The Simple Life of a Baghag 321-BlogBlast For Peace: The Official Site 322-Miss Cellania
323-Miss C Recommends 324-homeschooling.teacherjulie.com 325-belolats.com 326-The Original Blue Ribbon Bloggers
327-No nonsense Internet Tips 328-Its Not a Weekend; Its a Lifestyle 329-myfavehangout.com (Rich Valla) 330-Blog District 331-Official Travel Guide 332-EMJEI SAYS 333-www dot project rasso dot org 334-Work At Home Opportunities
335- VirusHead 336-Gracie de Guzman 337-Jollyjo 338-Jollyjo.tv 339-Ev Nucci's THE CAREER STRATEGIST
340-Ev Nucci's Resource Economics..Grease your brain 341-MARKETING MYSELF 342-NORTE 343-ACROSS THIS BRIDGE
344-STRUGGLING PARENTS 345-Read Between the Lines 346-Internet Lifestyle 347-THE SLEEPING TURTLE ART GALLERY
348-HIDUP BIAR SEDAP 349-BLOG ABOUT RICH 350-7101 Islands 351-Binding Ink III by Ndp the Poetress 352-mutiara hati 353-GreenBucks 354-Istilo Pinoy 355-Sweet and Complex Living 356-Angelika 357-my thoughts in writing
358-sharingplatform 359-Just the way it is... 360-LUCID CREATIVITY (Nelle-MyVirtualWorld) 361-TEACHERJULIE.COM
362-Bits and Pieces 363-Confessions Of A Breathing Tote Bag 364-My Joys 365-Fiction Earth 366-... My Precious ...
367-MY VIEWS ON MY SO CALLED LIFE 368-A Reality Bite 369-Cobb Community 370-Angelea's Blog
371-Janeth Vicy's Life Journey 372-NinaRepublic 373-Peaceful Mind 374-ME, MYSELF + 2
375-Mommy Jane and Little Sophia's Fasion misADVENTURES 376-ONKNEES - ITS NOT WHAT YOU THINK..... 377-SHEENISM 378-SAILIN' THRU LIFE (ASecretPlace) 379-Project Management Tutorial 380-Labindalawang Piraso ng Kokomban
381-Gorgeous Traveller 382-Sharing Gifts and Ideas 383-MUMBLINGS 384-Because Life Is Fun 385-PsychPatient MD
386-Everything Is Free 387-BRAINY MOMMY 388-Simply Unique 389-precious moments 390-Pearly Scripts
391-LIGHTNING AND THUNDER 392-Rayani Friends 393-WORK CULTURE 394-Psychology 395-Gold News
396-Applied Psychology 397-Scientific Psychology 398-Backwoods Drifter 399-New Beginning 400-Life in General
401-Life Is Like That 402-Life With Roxxymetal 403-SEXY MOMMA 404-The Z Files 405-I'll Never Forget the Day I Read a Book! 406-DOODLE PAGE 407-Escape Hatch 408-The Official Afterslaughter Weblog 409-Lavaderia Virtual 410-MALTED MONKEY 411-MOM AND THE CITY 412-Life with the Two Crazy Dogs 413-the joys (and pains) of being a woman (My Untamed World)
414-Making Cents-Sense of Technology 415-USER GAME REVIEWS 416-Write Shy 417-DOMANTYS.net 418-ZWANG
419-ANYTHING GOES! (my world, my place, my views...!) 420-Matt's blog (World of Insanity) 421-Lifestyle chronicles
422-The Alien Next Door 423-CMAQUEST 424-The Mascot 425-NARUTO ADDICT MANIA 426-Friendster Layouts
427-borneo tatoo...the original body ink 428-DOMANTIX 429-CULTURED SHOCK 430-EuWorx 431-HUBPRIME
432-STAR SURFACE 433-MY KALEIDOSCOPE WORLD 434-luckycharms 435-John's Blog - Maybe I Am Joking?
436-NEW WORDPRESS THEMES 437-WEB VIDEO HITS 438-TOP MUSIC VIDEOS 439-TEXT MESSAGES 440-Homemade Haven 441-TAGMEMEAWARD CAT 442-Coriander Dreams 443-BrainLoops 444-Soul Meets World 445-Speak The Speech
446-The Tall Poppy 447-My Day Off 448-Internet Business Promotions and Opportunities 449-Gage's World 450-PIXY ROSE 451-John's Cynical Blog 452-Poliblog 453-Techcheck 454-RoseateMarketingTips.com 455-RUSTYGANGSTER
456-Napaboaniya's Music Videos 457-EZINE PRIME 458-Prime Scrolls 459-FactMundo: World of Facts 460-CHAE
461-GOLDFINGER 462-OnlineBiz and Resources 463-ASTRO GALAXY TRAVEL 464-The Singapore Housewife
465-Climate of Our Future 466-Anorexic Queen 467-Eleanoreblog 468-Turnip of Power 469-Old Life 470-Shiphire Dustbin
471-POSTCARD HEADLINES 472-crazyblog 473-V.Col 474-Simple Life, Simply Me 475-Rasso Photoblog
476-Bagwine Ruminations 477-The Travel Bug 478-Short Stories 479-OPENGIGA TECH 480-Yogatta Dot Com
481-Net Diary of Rasal 482-WORDPRESS MEME 483-divaness 484-Thinking Tunnel
485-My decisions, my mistakes, my feelings, my LIFE 486-E-News (Gossip, Scandals, Movies, Music, etc)
487-FRAPPUCINO JOWN 488-MAYBELLE DOODLES 489-And the Legend Lives 490-In His Time - Endless Frontier
491-Travels in Time 492-Money Making Reports 493-MY HAPPY PLACE 494-The M&M Online BloG 495-Carol's Corner
496-http://individualathome.blogspot.com/ 497-Confessions of a Social Climber
498-Moderately-Confused Pinay In Deutschland 499-BLOGSILOG 500-DigiScrapz: Captured Memories

End Copy Here*

TAG....

http://grahamettridge.blogspot.com/

http://doodlius.blogspot.com/

http://kasper794.blogspot.com/

http://wilkonews.blogspot.com/

http://dysfuncdiva.blogspot.com/

YOU'RE IT........!!!!!