2016 is here... Nearly there...

Hello folks! It's been a little while since I published a blog of any sort, let alone in this. So, to update you on what's been happening here since 2013, here is a short list:

• my dad had a stroke
• I'm now 25
• we got married in 2015
• I'm currently 38.5 weeks pregnant with our first child
• we have completely different cars
• we are still as crazy as ever...

That sort of sums everything up from the last two years!

Life is about to change in a very big way for us in the next week or so, and it's a terrifying yet exciting experience. We I have had sleepless nights, we have spent a small fortune on baby stuff but still spent less than many we know, and I think we are as ready as we will ever be for this arrival. The nursery has been set up for a few weeks now, and the door left open to allow the cats to get used to the room and not feel the need to break in and destroy everything. So far, they have been good as gold. They have ventured into the cot and the moses basket but they now realise the two beds are of no interest so haven't been back in since. Phew.

Everyone keeps asking us the same questions: how are you going to feed, do you know what you're having (a foal, I think?), are you all ready? As much as I love answering questions, there is a limit to the number of times that one can be asked the same few questions before you start thinking of more creative answers to them. How am I going to feed it? I was thinking of fish food - do you think that would work? Are you ready? Well, we have everything at home but I was really hoping that it could sort of escape via cell diffusion to save me having to stretch my body to the limits - literally. Are you going to have pain relief? Nah dude. I was thinking of just getting stoned before hand and seeing if that worked. You get the idea.

While I would never do any of the above, it really would be fun to see some reactions to my answers!

One question that really does frustrate me though is: what are you going to do with the animals? As if the expected and only acceptable answer is to say we will be getting rid of them all before the birth. Seriously? As if I could even do that. These pet were my "children" since I didn't think I could have any of my own, so why the heck would I get rid just because we are going to have the real thing? Surely, I would want to keep them and enrich our lives further? Yes, this is going to be a mad house, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I have no choice in this matter either!

Anyways. I'm sorry. I tend to do this without realising. I always said I'd never talk endlessly about children if I was ever lucky enough to have one, and there I go. Oops...

I must go shower before I meet a friend for a catch up - it's been too long! The catch up, not the shower, you filthbags.

Fresh Start v1.0

Tomorrow marks the start of a new me. I need to get myself some decent employment so have made arrangements to phone a well known window company to see if they'd be willing to take me on. I also need to improve my health drastically so am starting a juice plan (no, not a diet or fast) to kick start the weight loss. I will be doing a 3-day detox plan, then moving on to the 7lbs in 7 days plan which also takes you through the next 2 weeks but doesn't make you so dependant on the plan that you fail after you come off the plan. But enough of that!

I also want to get this event company on the go. But, I think we went about it the wrong way. We should use our talents, where our strengths lie. Mine are in music, specifically scottish music. So why don't we organise a ceilidh for charity? It seems like a sensible thing to start with!

However, there is much to discuss and my brain now needs rest. Goodnight folks. X

Gutting, Gutting.

It's been a while, folks, but I'm back. Poor you! Yesterday - or, this week - was all about clearing out the house of our unwanted/unused crap. So, to get the job done right, we have my dad's cattle float parked in front of the house and I've been filling it with all the old boxes, chest of drawers and anything else that shouldn't be in the house. I also cleared the garage today so that I could get the boxes from the storage container into it. It looks AMAZING! The office/art room is slowly coming together and only really needs a final clear, one of the book shelves brought up and the rest of my Ann Summers stuff and stationary taken up. Then hoover, dust and move on to the next room - our bedroom. To say it's a midden is an understatement. I'm even tempted to change which bed frame we're using so that the cats can't hide under it or drag things under. It's like Aladin's cave right now with shoes, boxes, polystyrene and rubbish that they have hauled under.

The plan for today is to clear up the rubbish in the spare room, move my bookcase up and get the final bits and bobs of office stuff into the room, like the guillotine and laminator, and make sure the whole place is perfect. Then, it's on to our bedroom. It needs a serious overhaul to be habitable again. But, my shoe rack can maybe move through to the spare room or go into the hallway, and the rest is pretty much all rubbish. I need to sort out the shelves and maybe steal the small bookshelves again as our DVD collection lives above our heads in the wall-mounted shelf unit. Then the living room needs attacked - rubbish put out, paperwork sorted and a really good hoover and dust. The kitchen needs a total blitz but it won't be able to be fully done until we get rid of that spare fridge. The kitchen will take me at least a whole day though - the cupboards need to be emptied and cleaned, repacked and the use by dates checked. Also, anything we will never use can be put out!

In the space where the fridge used to sit, I want to put some shelves up, making it into a decent storage cupboard. The dog's food can go back in, along with all her toys and my unused kitchen appliances, instead of them sitting around the worktops or on the floor. There's just so much to do! If I can at least get it looking more presentable, I'll be happy.

My schedule for this morning is to go to Balgownie and get a breakaway cable for dads trailer - since it mysteriously broke - then go to the bank to put in some cheques, buy dog food for the mutt and then make up an order for one of my clients. Once I get all the out of the road, it's on with the clear out!

Boy do I feel good! Or... sore...

Luck?

How am I so lucky to have a life this amazing? Ok so I'm not making as much money as I'd like or living where I want to, but I have a great guy, the best friends, the cutest pets and the most amazing family around me.

I sometimes have to wonder what happened for me to end up where I am today. I mean, I'm 23, own a house and (theoretically) 2 cars and am away to start up my own business organising events and weddings. All we need now are some bookings.

I admit, we need to do a lot of training but it is only to develop our existing skills, of which we have many combined. Our aim is to provide a unique service offering all our clients a complete bespoke service to rival all others in existence. We will be abls to provide everything from food to flowers, table dressings to bridal dresses.

It is the most exciting thing I have ever tried to do but we are both so excited to get started!

Anyway, just thought I would give a brief update on our plans!

Over and out! ♡

New Year 2013

Happy new year folks! It's that time of year again where I rave on about new years resolutions and all that jazz. Or it normally would. However, this year is going to be different. Along with my friend, Sarah, I'm going to lose some weight. I've started on the healthy eating regime, cooking recipes from the Hairy Bikers book - How To Love Food And Lose Weight. It's a GODSEND!!! I've already cooked the golden vegetable soup (which will be finished later), the paprika chicken which I just had for my lunch (yumm!) and also made the chicken and mushroom risotto last night. It was amazingly creamy, light and certainly filled a hole! I might even have to reduce the quantity I make for myself and put some veg on the side or something like that. Just to be a bit different.

I don't know why, but I feel this attempt at losing weight will work. Sarah and I will be going to the gym regularly, I'll still be walking the dog but I might manage to start running with her, and I have the power of healthy food that really fills me up and is super tasty! I think that's a major downfall for me - food. I like rich flavours and textures, and without them, I was simply craving them all the time meaning that eventually I'd lose the will power battle and end up binge-eating and making things worse. I also need to look at the fluids I drink. At work, I'm going to start drinking more water as it's bottled and ice cold. At home, it will be diluted sugar-free juice as I hate the tap water and I'm not about to pay for bottles of water. So little steps and I'll get there.

I even have a zumba game to tackle on the Xbox. Ooft! As well as a few light dumbbells to increase my resistance when I'm doing the game. It might even help build my joints up again since my elbow has now stopped working properly. Trust me!

So yes, happy new year.

THIS IS MY YEAR.

2012 Review

I thought it was about time to do a quick review of this past year. Let's just say, it's been bloomin' mental! Since January last year, I've changed my job, my car, bought a dog, got hold of a replacement fiddle, and and am now considering buying a different car as the Ibiza is simply not big enough for Sasha, the big fluff ball I got. She's nearly 8 months old but she's already bigger than Glennie ever was. Oh, we lost him too. That was a very sad day :( But there is now Sash in our lives and what a character she is. A dog with a sense of humour is never a good thing, and she has bags of that. She's hilarious, has a very cheeky grin and treats everything as a game, including when we give her into trouble for eating things she's not meant to, like egg boxes, tights, pyjamas, shoes, socks, shirts, towels, sponges, hoover filters, the list is endless........

But we love her. It's just a shame the house and car aren't big enough for her now. The beast is going to cost me a fortune one way or another. But thankfully (although, not happily) I have received part of my inheritance from Ian's estate. It's of a substantial value and I'm incredibly grateful for it, but we'd all rather have him back. But since things like that can't be changed, this is the next best thing for me. Not that I'm a gold digger, I just need money to be able to live. I have a mortgage, you know.

I suppose, since it's nearly Christmas, it's about time I did a review of the year. So much has happened since January, and I'm still trying to make sense of it all. I've completely changed as a person, and changed for the better, I hope! I'm more independent, I'm much more confident and I'm happier in myself. Although, I've put on a lot of weight, which has a limited time to disappear. I'll explain more about why in another post sometime. But let's just say next year is going to be so stressful but exciting!!

So, January met me with 8 paws. I rescued two kittens on Christmas Day 2011 and they were still settling in during the new year. By February, I was becoming very unhappy with my job. I wasn't being paid enough for everything I was doing, I was being taken advantage of, I was being put down for the knowledge I possessed about horses and I just felt rubbish. March brought more stress on my job and relationship but things were going to get better by the end of April. I found another job, applied, got it and then told my boss that I was moving on to pastures new and was excited about my new venture. I still think about the place, but then again, I think about a lot of things. In May, things were about to get interesting. I bought the new car - a 2010 Seat Ibiza - which was great until the end of June, when I bought Sasha, our Malamute puppy. She brought a spark to the house! She also chewed through everything in sight but oh well. There's not much we can really do about that now, is there...

At the end of July, I went to the Dufftown Games, letting Sasha meet everyone possible, allowing her to experience crowds for the first time. She was quite good after a few hours but she was just so hyper and exuberant that she nearly had me and my aunt pulled over... And she was only 10 weeks then. What fun we have coming up!

By the end of August, it was time for the festivals again so we headed to Kirrie in September, had a few drinks, I won competitions (I have no idea how I did it) and then we went home to rescue David from the Sasha monster. October brought revelations. After going to Shetland, teasing committee members about guesting and just having a really good time despite being ill, the rest of our holidays disappeared in a flash which meant Glenfiddich was just around the corner.

I felt that I played the best I possibly could, I was ready and really enjoyed it. But I wasn't placed. And you know what? I still walked out with a huge smile on my face, because I made the audience happy, which is what really matters to me. I'd rather make them smile than the adjudicators.

And then the stress kicked in. It was time to plan our Young Carers Christmas Party. The less said about the organising part, the better. I've hardly slept yet and I'm just so tired, although relieved it's over. I digress. By the end of November, Sasha could no longer fit in my car, I was racing across the shire, facilitating groups to around 80 young carers collectively and just generally being a dogs-body. However, come the Christmas Party, I pulled off the most incredible night, made a lot of young people very happy, pulled in every contact I had and made sure things were done the best we could do them. It was a massive success, and I may well have opened important eyes to what we're doing as an organisation. And booked a venue for something next year for myself...

And now, here we are. 5 days from Christmas, I'm planning the meal for Christmas Day, pondering a car I've seen and deciding whether I want to change right now (which I may well have to) and whether I'm on the right path. And you know what? For the first time in a long time, I think I am. I really believe I'm in the right place at the right time, on the right path, doing the right things, letting my heart rule everything because I know it's leading me the right way. Things are simply falling into place, and that always happens for a reason. It doesn't normally, but when you're doing things right, things will always work out.

So there you have it - 2012 in a nutshell! I've met some amazing people, I've come a long way in my development, I'm realising a lot about myself and I'm really happy. Ok, there may be rough patches along the way, but that's all part of the learning curve. After all, what's the point in life if we stop learning?

Breakaway

Last week was possibly one of the hardest weeks of my life. The man was away for a week of training to become a Class 1 HGV driver. Five days of sheer hell. It was lonely, cold and hectic. So much happened that I needed support for but the support wasn't here. I know he was at the end of the phone but it was good for us to get a break from each other - I can be a bit overwhelming!!

The first day was the worst. After managing to kick the table full force, I couldn't walk. I managed to drive myself to the doctors (it didn't hurt to drive at all) then drove to work, where I was promptly told I wasn't allowed to drive any further and would have to rest the whole day - at work. Go figure. So, after being fussed after, driven here, there and everywhere and feeling generally like a twat for being at work, I got a lift home and sat down to watch a movie. I have no idea what I watched, so it can't have been that good!

The next day, I drove myself to work again - after leaving the leccy blanket on all night, my foot was so much better! I had a really good group in the afternoon and then went home to cook supper and watch another couple of films. I think that's when I watched Sled Dogs with a malamute pup sitting beside me - now THAT was interesting watching! I think she knew the Huskies were related to her and she saw them pulling sleds and wanted to join in. Aww how cute!

Wednesday came. It was a fairly quiet day and I felt my mood drop the moment I woke up. Things progressively got worse during the day and by night time, I was scraping the barrel for a smile. I was in bed by 8pm and sleeping by 10pm after a hilarious phonecall from Dad.

Thursday was manic. I nipped into the office at 10.45am to pick up a few things and then left for Huntly with Sasha in the boot. A mile down the road, I had to stop because she was creating such a fuss. Bravely, I sorted her lead so it was over my shoulder and got her out of the boot so I could fold the back seats and give her more space. By the time I had her out of the car, a couple in a washing machine on wheels were parked about 10ft behind me, watching my movements intently. With pup pulling one way, and me the other as I worked in the car, the pair behind me never offered to help but sat laughing loudly at me while I struggled on. Finally, my work was done and the dog guard was out, the seats folded and her quilt covered the whole area. I asked her to get into the car and she obliged (strange...). Within seconds, we were on our way. Another minute later, while I was negotiating a round-about, she decides to howl constantly and deposit a large gift of runny mess on the pure white quilt. Great.

At the next layby, I went to work getting the dog out of the car again and got the mess cleared up and rinsed as much out of the quilt as I could, using my diluted orange squash. Magically, it took away the smell! By the time I got to Huntly, I was stressed to the max, paranoid there was going to be a repeat performance and praying I didn't return to a completely chewed car. However, she was good as gold. Before the group, I took her for a walk with only a lead on her collar and the halti. She barely pulled and she actually listened to me! She was a bit hyper for a while when I met my friend and her dog, but she only jumped up once and the rest of the time she was an angel. Who stole my dog?

By the time the group was finished, I was hankering to get out to the car to see what she'd been up to, but she was sound asleep in the back on the folded quilt. Even when I walked my colleague to her car to help her carry the bags, Sasha was great. She never jumped up, got over excited but just walked along with us on the pavement.

I headed to Turriff quickly to squeeze in a quick walk with the dog while I waited for my young carer to come and meet me. No halti required. WOW. When I had the young carer in the car, she came to say hello then went back to lying in her wee bed. This is a step forward!

The entire day, she was so good. I'd really like to know who stole my dog because this isn't the real Sasha. Or so I thought until tonight when she pee'd on my sofa.

I had a well-behaved dog for a couple of days...but now she's back to her old tricks. Madam that she is...

Oh my...

So last night, I decided I wanted something rich, tasty and that involved chicken and pasta. I also wasn't in the mood for doing anything spectacularly intricate or difficult. Sore heads are annoying.

I got a couple of chicken breasts out of the freezer and stuck them in the microwave to defrost - yes, I use frozen chicken ALL the time because it doesn't go off anywhere nearly as quick! Which the chicken was defrosting, I gathered my staple veg and did some slicing, at the same time heating oil...

Enough! This sounds like a drag of a recipe. Here's the easy way to say it all!

1 onion, thinly sliced
5 mushrooms, thinly sliced
2 chicken breasts, cut into small bitesize pieces
3/4 glass white wine - whatever kind you fancy!
1 tbsp white sugar
1 garlic clove, finely chopped - or crushed, for ease
Cream - any kind will do, but I used double. Add as much as you see fit to make a decent quantity of sauce
Pasta - any kind, I used fusilli

So... here goes.

Heat some oil in a frying pan. Add onion, season with salt and pepper, and fry for about 5 minutes over a medium heat. Add chicken and cook for a further 5 minutes. Sprinkle over sugar and stir in. Add mushrooms and fry for 2 minutes, add garlic, stir for 30 secs, and then add wine. Turn up the heat and let that cook for a couple of minutes until most of the alcohol has burnt off.

Allow the mix to bubble away at a simmer for 10 minutes. During this time, cook the pasta as per the pack directions.

Once sauce has reduced a little, add cream and stir well. Allow to simmer for around 10 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Taste and season accordingly! Serve with drained pasta.

Enjoy!

A light at the end of the tunnel?

Nah it's only a train.

I'm kidding, I'm kidding... sheesh.

Anyways, there is a light of sorts appearing in my life. Things are going swimmingly at the moment. Alright, swimmingly but with armbands, a float and a lifeguard on hand. I have myself all ready for the Glenfiddich this weekend, as well as Perth, work is going fantastic, I'm just back from being up at Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival, and we're already looking at booking up for next year. I'm also determined to find someone else in the town of Inverurie who would be interested in meeting up a few times a week to go dog walking with me. Sasha has a lot of energy to burn and I'm not exciting enough for her!!

On the downside, we lost Glennie a few weeks ago, and although this is a very sad thing, it's also for the best as he wasn't happy, he was in pain and it was unfair on him. So now, dad is stockpiling food and treats to take down to Sasha since he hasn't got a dog any more. At this rate, she'll be getting fat as a butter ba'!!

And now, Christmas is around the corner. Can I confess something? Oh good! I'm SOOOOOO excited this year. It's my first PROPER Christmas in my FIRST house, celebrating our FIRST year in it. So I'm looking at things to make for decorations, gifts and food, planning on who would be coming round, how much I'm going to have to make, and my timings of how the day will run. Yes, I'm aware this is a very sad and worrying situation, but to hell with it. It's going to be a full house with up to 6 people, two degus, two cats and a batty malamute. Would I have it any other way? Of course I bloody wouldn't!

Depending on how I get on with my crafty stuff, I may well post up pages on how I did everything, and of course, document the whole event, including how the house looks, how the food turns out, the tree, and whatever else I can think of. I'm determined to get Sash a set of reindeer horns, but the man won't let me.

BAH HUMBUG!!!

Anyway, that was just a quick update. I'll put up my ideas for Christmas in the next couple of weeks - feedback would be much appreciated since this is my first proper Christmas EVER! Well, that I've organised myself!

Wish me luck... I have a YC Activity tomorrow and I might need some help sleeping... *gets rubber mallet and bangs it on head*

NIGHT! x

Long time, no writee?

It's time for an update on the happenings of my life. My job is going fantastic and I'm going to be gaining some qualifications on the side, such as a groupwork one and possibly another which would allow me to apply for support worker posts with any company/charity, including substance misuse. This totally intrigues me although two qualifications at the same time as working a full time job my prove a little too much. On the relationship front, we're doing ok. I'm a bit stressed and very lonely at weekends as the man is working them all now, but I guess I just have to carry on and things will work out. Right?

There's also a new addition to the family - and no, I'm not pregnant! We have a puppy. She's an Alaskan Malamute called Sasha and a total numpty. But the cutest thing in the world and I think she knows it... which is possibly a bad thing but hey ho! The cats are slowly getting used to the fact that she's here, although Dean is less unsettled than Sam is, simply because Sam is such a dominant cat. However, they'll get used to her and it'll be good. She's still a little "accident" prone but she's learning and getting used to being in her crate and also on a lead. We bought her an anti-chew lead (infused with chilli's!!) and she took one bite and decided against it... I can't say I don't blame her!

On the social front, I met up with my friend from two jobs ago. I got to meet her little girl as well. We had a lovely catch up and it was amazing to see Sasha with a little'in. She was FAB! Just wanted to protect the wee one and she was Sasha's main focus. Just goes to show she'd be great with kids. *FAT CHANCE OF THAT HAPPENING ANY TIME SOON.* I'm also back on twitter (@poppy_nicol) and still going strong with Facebook (facebook.com/xALNx). I do suck at keeping my blog up to date, but I promise to try more in the future, given that a major part of my job is working on a computer right now.

On the computer front, I'm hoping to start writing again - properly. I really want to try writing a book for real, so I'm going to give it a go. If it works, it works. If not, oh well!

I think that's all there is apart from the fact that I just touched my eye and its started pouring with tears... why?!

A x

Tis the season to get boozy!

Strichen is past and what a weekend it was! I haven't had that volume of alcohol in my system for a very long time. In fact, since I met my man. Never mind. It was such a good one, I'm excited for the next already! Although, I'm worried that a certain person decides to turn up and ruin the whole damn thing. But I won't let that cloud my thoughts right now. There are more pressing matters. Matters such as discussing the possibility of buying a motorhome with my dad for us to use for festivals/weekends away. After being in a tent, my joints are back to being very painful and it's not something that I want to happen on a regular basis. I was also cold and on my own in the tent and didn't exactly feel safe. So a camper is the way forward. And low and behold, we've found one that's ideal. It's a four berth, made in 1987 - it's the only one we can afford - and it's been completely renovated inside. It's completely watertight and looks so good it's crazy! And it's not far away! So the phone must be lifted today and the idea discussed completely with my father. We've looked into other models and ages and nothing else suits as well. We've investigated insurance and whether we'd both be able to drive it. In short, yes. Although I need to be over 25 for us to get a cheaper quote for insurance if I'm going to be legal to drive it. For now, the man will be the policy holder and do the driving. I don't mind and thankfully, neither does he. It's just so exciting that it might be able to happen and I'm looking forward to seeing the reaction from my dad. It's just that there's no point in us having the caravan that my dad is looking after. Don can't drive with it, we can't get a towbar on any of our cars and it's just not practical. However, a camper is a different story. As long as it's not over 7.5T and not for carrying over 8 passengers or goods then even I can drive it without getting another category added to my license.

So, three weeks til Keith. What's the bet that I'll have my camper by then and have it ready to party in?

Promises, Promises

Why do your promises get broken? I'm sick of having the same conversations, getting the same answers and landing with the same outcome time and time again. If these promises were truly made from the heart, things wouldn't be like this. A friend once said "if someone cares, they wouldn't put you through the pain and watch you suffer. If someone really cares, they'd not put you through that pain in the first place". Think about it. I'm a forgiving, gullible person. If you look up the meaning of Gullible in the dictionary, I'm sure there'd be a picture of me just sitting there, believing everything, as I always do. I've been decent. I've been honest. I've said how it hurts to have the trust we've built up over our time together torn down before my very eyes. This isn't enough apparently. So. I'll make this simple. You need help. You say there's no reason to what you do, that it's habit. Well so is alcoholism, drug addiction, substance misuse. All of these can help you to lose those close to you. So get help. I'm willing to help but that's not good enough, so I'll help you get professional help. This is the only thing that might help us out of this spiral. If you're not willing to try this for the sake of us, our relationship, the life we've built then I think we've reached a fork in the road where we must travel our separate ways. It breaks my heart even thinking about this but I can't be the one who keeps being torn down, used, lied to. I can't take it anymore.

Old times, new times

This year is going to be the year of catching up with old friends, making new ones and keeping in touch with everyone via phone, text, email and letter. Yes, I enjoy the odd bit of snail mail - when the postie decides to appear with my letters! Things seem to be on the mend for now, but we'll see how the post flows in the next few weeks. However, I am going to try my best to see as many people as I can over the next few months, spending time with those who really matter. I'm also determined to get into a new hobby, maybe take part in a group or something locally. I could start back horse riding on a saturday morning or something. That would keep me out of trouble and also keep me sort of fit. Since I have a voucher for the cabin and it's only 5 minutes away, it makes sense to try there first. If I don't like it, I can go somewhere else. There's always options.

How did I get onto the subject of hobbies??? Oh well, I did. Never kind. I could also investigate some other things to get into although riding and the fiddle are quite enough, I think. And maybe the piano again. I really want to get back into that - and it might help me keep my work life balance going seeing as I'm always tempted to take my work home which is totally forbidden!

On the subject of my new job, I'm having a ball and slowly learning what my place in the service is. I may not be doing one to one support but I'll be the one running the social groups which is almost as vital, if not more so! I have to start creating new groups in aberdeenshire too so this is going to be a huge challenge to me and I'm really looking forward to it, no matter how difficult it may be for a start. I'm just so glad I made this career change when I did. My mental and physical health have both improved remarkably and I'm more lively most of the time. I know I'm still tired quite a lot but that's mainly because I'm going to bed with the man every night so I'm getting far too much sleep too early and by the time he leaves, I'm awake, struggle to get back to sleep and by the time info, I'm shattered by the time I have to wake again. Nevermind, I'll get into a routine next week.

Anyways, I'll post again tomorrow. Night!

Improvements.

My life has improved. 100% improvement, actually. I'm no longer tired or sore after work, I enjoy the things in life that grew too much to handle with so little energy and I'm no longer depressed or frustrated 80% of the time. I'm settling into suburbia much better now too since I have the time and energy to keep my house in order and I find us eating better food since I'm happier to cook once again. I smile more often, laugh so much it is crazy and I'm never really in a bad mood. Ok sometimes I am but I can't change everything about myself in the space of a week, can I? I've done well so far and long may my progress continue. Ive also started playing my fiddle more and in the past 5 days of practising just once a day, there's a great improvement there too! That's something that really makes me smile. Ok so my wrists are still really sore and im using muscles which have lost all their tone but that tone can be regained and by golly, I'm going to do it! I have determination!

Sorry... I just splurged that out without really thinking but I don't care. It's all true :) I'm just glad things are changing for the better right now. Things always work themselves out...

Up and up

Oh folks... Things just keep getting better and better for me! Something must be wrong with the balance of the world because things never just go right for me... but they are! Turns out things really do happen for a reason! My ticket was taken back for Friday night, my friend won't talk to me and some folk have turned petty, and yet the plans I made totally off the hoof turned out to be the right decision! I didn't think I'd ever be the one to say this, or even admit to it, but someone is definitely looking out for me and I'm so darned grateful, it's unreal. Things really are looking up for me an things do come along at the right time.

"What's meant for you, won't pass you". How true.

And... my job is adding to my better mood. I've not been tired, or stroppy, or sore and that makes me so much happier! I've also been looking forward to getting up in the morning and almost excited about going to work. What I'm doing, it doesn't feel like work. I'm at a desk, I have company, I have the internet, I have tasks to do and there's no real rush to do it as quickly as I can. My job is to be thorough, thoughtful and give the service a fresh take on everything we already do. For example, I've been asked to think of things to do with a primary school group. Of course, we want to support them, but we also want to help them in any way we can, whether that's by playing games with them, talking to them and listening, playing music, singing, drawing, colouring or making things. Like I said, anything goes. And that's what my job is right now: working out what we can do with no limits. I have to say, I'm so glad I took on this job. It may not seem difficult or too demanding, but it is challenging me to push the boundaries of what the service provides to enable us to help our service users.

Ahhhh, enough about work. I'm just a happy bunny :) Things are working themselves out.

Nighty night! x

Hi ho, hi ho, it's awfully confusing...

Files, databases, alphabetising, looking for missing things, working out what's in the wrong places, making lists. Jeez, no wonder my brain's fried! Never mind, a rather large mug of Horlicks Light will sort me out. And a quick rant on my blog! So, as you've gathered, I'm at work just now, although on my lunch break. I've got a helluva cold coming on and for once, I've not been made to feel like I HAVE to work if I'm unwell. I was given the option this morning of whether I wanted to stay or go home. After the discussion, I was quite happy to stay - since I'm on my own, there's less chance of me passing on my bugs to anyone else. Besides, it's Friday. I've never experienced that "Friday feeling" before so I'm intrigued to find out what it feels like.

On a totally random tangent, I've got some things on my mind. After recent events after leaving the kennels, I've made some major decisions for the wedding, assuming it happens, that is! I was going to ask someone else to be my second bridesmaid but given the goings on of late, I've decided to have only one. The one person I can turn to with any problem - apart from my fiancé, of course. I just think it will work out better and will inevitably be more fun if there's only one bridesmaid instead of a heap. I don't want to appear like a mother hen, after all. And knowing me, that's exactly what I'd look like. However, my mind is made up and it will just be my darling Dumpling by my side when I get hitched. This thought makes me somewhat more relaxed about the whole idea, anyway. Besides, who knows me better than her? No one, that's who. No matter how many little tiffs we have, we always work them out and end up stronger for it. It's fabulous, actually!

After getting that off my chest, I feel a little better. Sort of. Well, no, not in the slightest. However, no length of ramblings will chase away a cold which has decided to strip my throat of it's skin, takes a metal spoon to the inner canals of my ears and clangs against them and takes a large mallet to my forehead. That would be a miracle.

Anyways, I must go and find something to do apart from sneeze, cough and yelp.

Toodles.

Life.

Well, I started my new job this week. I'm working 5 days a week all around Aberdeen and the shire for CAIR Scotland. I've only done 2 days but I can't believe how different and better things are already. I'm not shattered, my joints aren't sore, my back is fine and I'm just generally more happy. Boost! And I have babies... ok, not actual babies but young cats! :D

How cute are they?!

I'm going to the office tomorrow - on my own! - so will hopefully find a list of tasks I need to do as my manager is going out of the office early and I won't see her all day. Oh well, packing my lunch and a tub of hot chocolate. I like coffee and tea, but for a day of hard work, you can't beat hot chocolate or even horlicks. These may well be drinks to help you settle to sleep, but I prefer them to just keep me cozy and happy.

Quite honestly, I'm content in my life.

The end.

Yes, Father...

Watching father ted right now. Well, sort of. I'm really tired but can't sleep for some reason. Maybe too excited? Everything is sorted. I have a great car, my man has just bought a new car, we have a house, we're getting by with bills and we're happy. Life is good.

:)

Brrrr.

It's cold outside tonight and since the heating isn't on in the house, it's also freezing inside! Time to crawl out from under the duvet and turn on the radiator! And I'm tempted to go and get a hot water bottle... I shouldn't have to need one in April but since there's snow, I think I'd be better with one. And the DVD player is now playing up... Maybe it's too cold for it to function properly?! Or maybe just the disc needed cleaning? Oh well.

That's the heater on, the door shut and the temperature is slowly starting to rise above freezing. At last!!! Even though the heater smells a bit funny, I am SO thankful for it!

Oh yeah, 10 shifts to go. It would have been one less but I didn't realise I was working five days this week but never mind. Nearly into single figures! I really am excited about this. There is no doubt in my mind that this is the path I'm supposed to be on and I will follow it until I meet another junction. You never know what's around the corner but I'll be prepared for whatever life throws at me next. Oh I sound so philosophical, don't I?! Ha. Oh well. It's just so close, I can almost taste it! I have decided to get myself some new clothes and even a new mug for when I start.

Anyway. Enough wittering from my iPhone! Time to plan my day tomorrow then sleep. Night folks x

11 To Go.

Down to eleven shifts at work. It may sound like I'm counting down, which I am, but I'm just excited about my new venture. Wouldn't you be too? Its a completely new path for me but I'm just so looking forward to it, I almost wish I was starting this Monday! Since its such a new venture, I'm being encouraged to put my own personal touch to the service and bring forward fresh ideas which just sounds brilliant. I am also being given a laptop for working on and a phone to use.

I should really go back to sleep now but I fear I'm a bit too excited again! Goodnight, folkles :)