one step at a time.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

another siesta

I'm off again shortly. There's been so much going on this week - it's all been a bit of a nightmare. Happily everything is now fine and we are both well. However the stress has left me shattered and I have not time to catch up on rest and sleep.

The upshot of this is I'll be absent for a bit longer!

Monday, April 27, 2009

Hyundai Getz - a mixed bag

I have a Hyundai Getz. It's a little car and it's done us proud, having clocked up a huge mileage in it's six years with us.

However I think it's life may be about over. So far it's cost a lot of money over the last few months, with a replacement clutch and new power steering tubes.

Today I was picking my boyfriend up from hospital (cardiac unit - there's another story! He's fine now) and we were driving home when there was an almighty 'BANG' as our rear windscreen exploded. It just shattered as I was driving along. There is no sign of a stone in the car - and I didn't see anyone throw anything at us. I have no idea what went on. Whatever it was it was pretty scary.

So now - after a stressful 24 hours - we are waiting for someone to phone us to make an appointment to have it replaced!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Brownies

This week two of our oldest Brownies moved up to Guides.

For their last week I thought we could do picture frames and put a group photo in. After our opening pow wow we got them into two lines and made them say silly things so they laughed. I managed to get a good shot of them all facing the front.

I had my laptop and printer there, so while I printed copies off for the kids, my assistant got them doing the frames. We used A4 card folded in half - The top bit made the frame - they built up edges with balls of yellow crepe paper glued down, and added some stars and Brownie logos.

We then got them to sign the inside and pass each card to the person on the left - until all of the cards had been signed by all of the Brownies.

They loved it - and they came out looking great. Success.

Time for a quick game of Splat Bang, then we finished with the presentation of our Changing the World badges and one moving up got her Adventure badge with an I love Brownies patch and a little Brownie photo holder thing.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Summer

Puting pressure on oneself is easy to do. This year during the first couple of terms I let pressure build until I was grumpy and stressed far more than I would have liked, with an enormous mountain of unfinished tasks to tackle over Easter.

I didn't do any of them.

I went away and chilled out. I saw friends and family. I now feel great - much more able to cope with my stupid schedule and job-juggling lifestyle!

Who cares that I have no guarantee of a job after Summer as the council has cut budgets so hugely that they are reducing the teaching staff by a third? Who cares that my private teaching has dropped with numbers at the school going down (recession) so it's harder to get kids to sign up for lessons as there aren't many new ones to get!?

GENUINELY - at the moment I really don't!

Monday, April 20, 2009

sisters

while I'm on the sisters subject - my boyf's sis arrived today for a few days visiting. Wishing I could think of something exciting to do with her tomorrow!

Holiday no2

After Loch Awe I hopped on a plane to Cardiff to see my wee sister.

The sun shone the whole time. We went to the beach and had a barbie. We went out to pubs and she cooked me canneloni which was deeeeeeeelicious.

Fab- thanks lil sis x

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

So much to say

I have had two holidays.

Last Sunday my boyfriend and I went away to a lodge near Loch Awe, Scotland with some of our friends. It's a very beautiful place and our lodge was a log cabin overlooking the lake.

The lodge slept 8, with a double room, a twin and a room with bunk beds as well as a sofa-bed in the lounge. The kitchen-diner was huge and there was a sauna and exercise room, plus 2 bathrooms.

On the balcony there was a large table with benches and a brick bbq with chimney, so you could sit out late even on a chilly day.

A couple of days before we left, one of the friends phoned in a bit of a state as she had been asked to look after her sister's two children for two weeks due to an emergency. She was worried about our holiday and worried about looking after them and the situation behind their visit.

We all said that she should bring them as we really wanted to see her!

The boy was 8 and the girl 5yrs old. They were lovely - very funny and very sweet. We had a great time, especially as they got up when we woke them up and went to bed when we asked them to go to bed. AMAZING....

We also got to do things we might not have otherwise done, like visit Inveraray Jail (again) and go to Kilchurn castle.

Kilchurn Castle Pictures, Images and Photos

In the evenings we chilled out after shattering days, sitting on the balcony with a glass of wine or cup of tea in front of a lovely fire chatting into the small hours.

It was a brilliant holiday which was relaxing and loads of fun! Leaving was tough but the fact that I was heading straight to Cardiff to visit my sister made it a bit easier.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Good Times

I'm visiting my wee sister just now - hence the lack of blogging.

She does not tend to embrace technologies such as this. More accurately - she doesn't see the point of blogging. So it's not likely that I'll be on again until I get back to Glasgow.

It's sunny in Wales! Yesterday afternoon after a morning of shopping we headed out to the beach with books from the charity shops in Cardiff. We read them sitting in the sun with a drink beside us. That has to be the most relaxing it can get.

I wish you all a Happy Easter in advance and have lots of stories to tell you when I get home.

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Black Book

I am watching a film about WW2..... Im thinking it won't end well and I don't want to see the bad man win.

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

The Boat That Rocked

We have been to see The Boat That Rocked today and we loved it!

You should DEFINITELY go to see it.