tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31742679543725343602024-03-13T07:06:36.046+00:00Weighing On My MindLife on slimming world, running round after kids and everything else in between.Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.comBlogger255125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-11935960372820743472012-02-14T08:47:00.002+00:002012-02-14T08:47:25.143+00:00Monday food diary<span style="color: #e69138;">breakfast</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDz2cX9baqeLfUtLbi379urGmTOcCEklPCTxTLLL7IKEKsZ5rGvOxn_jKMwJvD5ZIckAG0hk-PfJbuO85MGpCvfqdn-iXVmmJFUrqrCb5tea4WHVTZ2xzivvW3nIBTvga-4rXoclYbxpk/s1600/10266011_H.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDz2cX9baqeLfUtLbi379urGmTOcCEklPCTxTLLL7IKEKsZ5rGvOxn_jKMwJvD5ZIckAG0hk-PfJbuO85MGpCvfqdn-iXVmmJFUrqrCb5tea4WHVTZ2xzivvW3nIBTvga-4rXoclYbxpk/s200/10266011_H.jpg" width="200" /></a>banana and green tea<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #e69138;">lunch</span><br />
carrot, coriander and cumin soup. 3 Pogen rolls and 70g Plilli light with grilled peppers<br />
2 slices roast beef<br />
<br />
packet fox's moos mini malted biscuits (6 syns)<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #e69138;">Dinner</span><br />
spaghetti bolognaise<br />
<br />
treat Galaxy Ripple (9 syns)<br />
<br />
After my weight loss yesterday I had my nice treat of a Galaxy ripple in the evening whilst starting on the Blackadder Boxset. Maxed my syns yesterday so the rest of this week has to be pretty good to keep on pace. I don't know why I had the Fox's biscuits, probably just cos the kids had some after their lunch. They were alright but really not worth the syn count....although the Galaxy ripple most definitely was.<br />
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Kids are in nursery all day today so I can get my head down and crack on with work which will mean at least that I won't be tempted by their snacky lunch. I absolutely love the Philadelphia Light flavoured cheeses and the Pogen rolls are something that I've always loved. So 3 Pogen Rolls are a HE B and by chance you get enough Phili on a HE A (71g) to top all 3 generously. </div>
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I've got the sweet chilli flavoured Phili in the fridge although not tried it yet but the Grilled Peppers one is lush. Going to have more of the same today. Taken out the Chicken Jalfrezi from the freezer that I made the other night for dinner and just having a jacket potato with beans for lunch. Hoping for a syn free night...well syn's with a 'Y' rather than a 'I'....it is valentines day after all. </div>
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<br />Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-70689134836395168352012-02-13T10:15:00.003+00:002012-02-13T10:15:46.985+00:00Sunday food diary<span style="color: #e69138;">Breakfast</span><br />
banana and yogurt<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #e69138;">Lunch</span><br />
Sirloin steak, bacon, baked beans, field mushrooms and roasted cherry tomatoes. Bread (HE A)<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #e69138;">Evening</span><br />
Mugshot and apple<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #e69138;">Snack </span><br />
packet of skips<br />
<br />
Milk for HE A<br />
<br />
Sunday is a bit of a chilled out day. We get up later, eat later and before you know it it's bed time! That was a bit like last night to be honest. I was planning on doing a load of batch cooking but we had visitors and time just seem to disappear. Lunch was nice though, veritable meat fest. What I was proud about yesterday was that I was going to have a galaxy ripple for my syns last night and then asked myself if I really fancied it when it came down to the crunch and went without.<br />
<br />
So the only syns I had last night were my packet of skips (must be about 5 syns if I remember right).<br />
<br />
Well, now it's Monday morning and so it's time to hit the scales, and despite a not very good two days mid week where I let myself down a bit (although didn't go as mad as I could have) I have lost a rather impressive 5lb. Of course it's the first week and that first weight loss can always be the one that makes you unrealistic over how much weight you'll lose but as I've been there many times before all I'm aiming for is a good 2lb a week from now on. This would mean comfortably losing my desired goals by the targets I've set with room for error too so I feel good about that.<br />
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First day of half term so work will be erratic this week and I won't have acres of time to do much so it's going to be very careful planning to make sure I've got what I need to eat organise. This morning it's just green tea, a banana and an apple. I've got some carrot & coriander soup for lunch with Pogen rolls and phillidephia light. Some yogurt and fruit before I take the girls swimming this afternoon and then I'm going to do spaghetti bolognaise for dinner. Really have to plan for less than 5 syns a day to give a little breathing space for the weekend when it's time to have a few farewell drinks on Saturday. Goal is for 2lb loss next week and hit my half stone.Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-87749639301849294812012-02-12T09:48:00.003+00:002012-02-12T09:48:22.121+00:00Day 6 Food diaryIt's doubtful that I'm going to be able to fill this in every single day although I'll do most days so will skip my two crappy days where following the chinese I went a bit barking. Friday was rushing from one thing to another and by 7pm after I finished working I hadn't eaten all day so my diet for the day consisted of two bags of crisps and 4 jaffa cakes rammed down my throat before I went to bed! Not ideal.<br />
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I was however, an absolute angel yesterday. Almost made a bit of a mistake with adding cheese to my jacket potato when I'd already had my milk allowance as my HE A for breakfast but then switched from doing an Extra Easy day to a green day and then adjusted my portions of dinner. So here's day 6<br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Breakfast</span><br />
Bran flakes & Milk (HE A & HE B)<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Snack</span><br />
Strawberries, blueberries, apple and grape fruit salad with fat free vanilla yogurt.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Lunch</span><br />
Jacket potato, baked beans and lower fat chedder (HE A) with 1 tsp of Clover Lighter (1 syn)<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Dinner</span><br />
Diet Coke chicken (HE B) with Rice with an apple for after<br />
<br />
There are loads of recipes out there for the diet coke chicken and when I made it for the first time a couple weeks back I realised it has a slight sweet n sour taste so this time round I added soy sauce rather than worcestershire and added a load of chinese five spice. I also cooked it for much longer so that it really thickened the sauce. I had to weigh out the chicken for mine to 70g as I'd had 2 'a' choices during the day but to be honest, it was enough for me anyway and I even had left overs.<br />
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Felt really good to have a great day on plan yesterday. Whilst I did dinner, the rest of the tribe had a movie night in the front room watching Smurfs 3D and I supplied them with the regulation popcorn, ice cream and hot chocolate and didn't even feel like I was seeing myself off. So I'm passed the 'woe is me' stage and onto the 'I know how shit I feel emotionally and physically when I eat crap til I burst' stage....that's always a help.<br />
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I even resisted when the kids made oatmeal cookies and gingerbread men yesterday. Mind you, with the decorations they put on it.....do you blame me?<br />
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Pete stayed on plan yesterday too and he's promised to not give in to any lapses of will power. Hope he means that cos tomorrow I tackle the smoking once again. He stopped smoking about 4 months ago now and I'm really proud of him. It's the longest he's ever gone and I really think he's cracked it this time especially as he didn't lapse during the christmas period.<br />
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I was going to go back to group tomorrow but finance wise, looks like it won't now be until next week after my payday as I've just paid the balance of our summer holiday. That's the main focus. I want to be at final target weight by then although still haven't decided exactly what that will be. Probably 9 stone but we'll see how I look and feel a little nearer the time.<br />
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So, all in all feeling good. Spurs had an emphatic win yesterday. Probably the most comfortable we've looked in a game all season. Everton beat Chelsea so Pete was in a good mood too, plus his result also did me a favour what with Liverpool losing too.<br />
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The Suarez saga continues.......yesterdays' refusal of hands just showed what a complete prick the guy is and the after match interview that Dalglish did with Jeff Shreeve yesterday was cringe worthy. I really can't see how any of this debacle can be justified.<br />
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So tomorrow is the start of half term. No work meeting to scamper around to luckily, just a conference call at lunch time but as I don't want to work next weekend I'm going to be going some to get enough hours through the week with the kids at home. They're in nursery on Tuesday and Thursday so I guess that's when I'll have to get most of my work done. Got a party to go to next Saturday and drink will be particularly cheap so I'm going to have to be a saint all this week so I can let my hair down next weekend. Vodka and diet coke to keep the syn count down although I don't think I'll be able to entice Pete off the cider. Then again, if we're up to our normal tricks we'll dance off those syns before we pass out so here's hoping for a good night.Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-80978561331074380812012-02-10T09:07:00.002+00:002012-02-10T09:07:24.055+00:00Day 4....OOPsMmmmm, where do I start. Let's just say not a great day!<br />
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Breakfast started well with fruit and yogurt, then a grilled bacon sandwich with a little sweet chilli sauce and then as the day got more manic, I lost my marbles completely.<br />
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In fairness, yesterday was one of those days where there was loads to do and all in the space of a few hours and by the time I finished working at 7.30, I walked into the front room and said to Pete 'I fancy a chinese'. Now this is where I need my 'rock' to say 'It's alright, I'll do the ham omlettes with veg we were going to have' or 'but we're having a nice ham omlette with loads of veg and if you had a chinese you'd regret it'. BUT, what he <i>actually </i>said was 'order one then'.........really, that wasn't the encouragement that I needed. So I ordered it!<br />
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Now...I DID order noodles instead of fried rice so that was 0 syns. I had that with special foo yung which isn't in my syns book so I can't be sure of that (plus I only ate half...the guilt kicked in by then) but I'm thinking egg, meat....can't be too high if a serving special fried rice is 9.5 syns for 310g, I had less than 150g of foo yung so I'm reckoning it's about 5 syns. But the damage was mainly the sweet & sour pork balls. I know chicken is 17.5 syns for a full portion. I'm thinking pork being fatter would push that to 20 so half a portion would be another 10. So in total about 15 syns....call it 20 to be on the safe side.<br />
<br />
I suppose it could have been worse. I did swap what I would normally eat which is duck. The higher syns limit is 15 and using flexible syns I am under my syns over the course of the last two days, however, it's not really where I wanted to be.<br />
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Think I will have stern words with Mr F tonight and tell him he's supposed to keep me disciplined. I have to go shopping this afternoon and I've planned meals up til next wednesday so have to be extra good now as I'm back going to classes on Monday and staying for Image Therapy after so that will be a kick up the arse.<br />
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The plus point is that I'm feeling it this morning. It's not just my conscience that's taken a battering, but my stomach. I feel like it is just laying there in my gut and not moving, like I've swallowed a basketball. So I'm going to hold onto this feeling and remember how eating more sensibly doesn't make me feel like I'm having baby no. 4!<br />
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Tomorrow's another day<br />
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<br />Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-43012920371777187402012-02-09T10:25:00.000+00:002012-02-09T10:25:28.278+00:00Day 3 Food diary<span style="color: #e69138;">Breakfast</span><br />
Branflakes with milk (HE A & HE B)<br />
Banana<br />
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<span style="color: #e69138;">Lunch</span><br />
Pasta Pot Shot (1 syn)<br />
Grapes<br />
Jaffa Cake (2.5 syns)<br />
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<span style="color: #e69138;">Dinner</span><br />
Teriyaki marinated Alaskan wild Salmon with mangetout, baby sweetcorn, mushrooms, chilli, spring onion, ginger & lemon grass stir fry with dried egg noodles (syns 2)<br />
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<span style="color: #e69138;">Snacks</span><br />
Cottage Cheese and Celery<br />
2 Jaffa Cakes (5 syns)<br />
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Not too happy with having 10.5 syns last night. Have to cut out the Jaffa cakes as it's too easy to eat more than one! Loved dinner again tonight. I've done this dish before and it really is delicious. I've not tried it with cheaper Salmon but some really nice Alaskan salmon was on special so I made the most of it. It really does taste so much better than the cheaper Salmon fillets although I wouldn't turn my nose up at those either. The recipe is inspired by one from the Wagamama noodle cookbook which is a favourite of mine but it's normally served with a ramen noodle salad and as I didn't have any I just did a bog standard stir fry.<br />
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The longer you can marinate the salmon the better, preferably overnight but for a minimum of 2 hours. For 4 fillets I used 2 tbsp of mirin (1.2 syns per tbsp but only about half of the marinate ends up in the fish) and 2 tbsp of light soy sauce for the marinate and just make sure the fish is well dunked.<br />
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Boil your egg noodles and then after draining, rinse in cold water to ensure they don't cook any further. For the stir fry I used chilli, lemongrass, ginger and spring onion fried in wok fry light for a couple mins. I then add whatever veg I'm using. Last night was mushrooms, mange tout and baby sweetcorn. Add a couple dashes of teriyaki marinade (not the sticky sauce but just marinade, same sort of consistency as soy) for 1 syn per tbsp or use soy if you want prefer not to use the syns, although it won't be quite as sweet and glossy. Then add the noodles to heat through. Once warmed through, remove from the heat and turn your attention to the Salmon. Heat a pan with very little fry light until quite hot and put your salmon in skin side down. Cook for about 3-4 mins depending on the thickness of the salmon but do not turn it over too early, you really want a lot of colour on the salmon skin and as it's been marinaded the colour will be quite dark to the point where it will look almost burned but believe me it's not. Don't move the salmon around while it's cooking, you really need that colour as it makes the skin really crispy and gorgeous. Turn it over and cook for a further couple mins, then back on to it's skin to finish it off. Even if you're not a great lover of salmon, do try this as it's delicious.<br />
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<br />Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-61458466424248401062012-02-08T09:02:00.001+00:002012-02-08T09:02:05.676+00:00Day 2 Food diary<span style="color: #e69138;">Breakfast</span><br />
Strawberry and Kiwi fruit salad<br />
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<span style="color: #e69138;">Lunch</span><br />
2 Alpen Light bars (HE B)<br />
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<span style="color: #e69138;">Dinner</span><br />
Roast pork (fat removed), carrot batons, honey roasted parsnips (1 syn) and roast potatoes with gravy made with granules (1 syn)<br />
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<span style="color: #e69138;">Snack</span><br />
3 Jaffa cakes (7.5 syns)<br />
Milk (HE A)<br />
<br />
Not the greatest of days. I'm realising that I have to be eating a lot more superfree foods with my lunch but as I was working yesterday afternoon it was so difficult so I think I have to plan a lot better for lunch. I'm not one for salads unless they're smothered in a creamy dressing so that's a no go. The way I see it, you only stick to a healthy eating plan if you ENJOY what you're eating. So salad is out the window.<br />
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Soup is the perfect one for me and with hindsight, I should have taken out a batch from the freezer as the majority of ingredients in the soups are superfree so I think with a bit more foreward planning that will be better tomorrow. The Alpen bars were more of a 'shit, I haven't had anything to eat and still need to have my Healthy Eating B choice'.<br />
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Dinner was delicious though. The willpower it took to remove and bin the crackling after it came out the oven was very hard. The parsnips were really nice. I just par boiled them and then roasted them after spraying with fry light and drizzling 2 tbsp of honey on them. The roast potatoes were also roasted in fry light and although they took a lot longer to roast and were a bit drier than doing in oil, a free roast spud as opposed to 4 syns for a large potato roasted in oil is just no competition, especially as I would normally have 3 or 4 potatoes with a roast dinner.<br />
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We all ate the same last night and the kids enjoyed dinner (apart from Em who decided that she doesn't like parsnips even though she's had them before and liked them, that's kids for you). I think Freya was disappointed that I'd thrown out the crackling and in fairness I would normally give her quite a bit of crackling.<br />
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Pete took a salad to work along with a baked potato and a batch of the chilli that he made up on Sunday so he was happy with that.<br />
<br />
I'm going back to classes on Monday. It's the same group I was with before so will be nice to see if there are some familiar faces there and see how they're doing. I like that it's on a Monday as I just can't get my head around being weighed on any other day...plus it means I don't go too mad over the weekend.<br />
<br />
I've got half an eye on up and coming functions as I've got a couple the end of this month. One is a week on Saturday so I need to be really strict next week and use some flexible syns for a few drinks. If I stick to vodka and diet coke though I'll be fine. I'll go out with the mentality that although it's great to have a night out with a few drinks, I'd much rather be having a night out in a few months time, feeling less conscious of my weight and having a few drinks then!Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-39429104355229640512012-02-07T09:31:00.002+00:002012-02-07T09:57:02.587+00:00Day 1 Food diary and comments<span style="color: #e69138;">Breakfast</span><br />
Nice fruit salad made with strawberries, grapes, apple, kiwi & blueberries served with fat free yoghurt sprinkled with sweetener. Cup of green tea.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #e69138;">Lunch</span><br />
Small wholemeal roll with lean roast beef and cucumber<br />
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<span style="color: #e69138;">Dinner</span><br />
Lean gammon steak, large field mushroom griddled, grilled tomato, fried potato cubes and fried egg.<br />
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<span style="color: #e69138;">Snacks</span><br />
packet of bacon rashers<br />
<br />
Used semi skimmed from A allowance.<br />
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<span style="color: #e69138;">COMMENTS </span><br />
Was a typical busy Monday with a work meeting for which I had to go into Plymouth for. It's a pain in the arse as I don't have the car now Pete is based at Raleigh so it means braving public transport and yesterday I seem to find a bus that doubled as one of those machines that vibrates the fat off you! It wasn't pleasant. Breakfast therefore was a quick affair, as was lunch when I came home and grabbed something before the kids came home from school.<br />
<br />
I had packed Pete off to work with a large salad of celery, peppers, radishes, leaves, cherry tomatoes and beetroot. He also had fruit and a couple of the tandoori chicken legs I'd done. He used the balsamic Fry Light salad dressing but did say that it didn't taste that strong so may see if I can make up a different dressing. Any suggestions? He also had 2 Alpen Light Bars as his HE B and he always drinks a mountain of coffee at work so he uses his milk allowance in HE A for that.<br />
<br />
The kids had swimming lessons last night so once I got back from there I set up for dinner. Some nice gammon chops grilled (cutting the fat off before grilling as I can't be trusted once they are cooked!). I love fried potatoes so I par boiled small potato cubes, drained and then fried using the Butter Fry Light and plenty of seasoning. They do take quite a while to cook but these are delicious, especially when topped with a nice runny fried egg. I do fry my eggs in normal oil as I don't like they way they cook with Fry Light but as long as you drain the oil off afterwards I'm happy to take the 1 syn on the chin. I had some large field mushrooms and sprayed those with the Butter Fry Light and seasoned with black pepper and garlic salt and then griddled them, turning occasionally. They only take about 5 or 6 minutes. I was going to have peas with it but when I realised how far down the chest freezer they were (in a cupboard which desperately needs a clear out) I gave up.<br />
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Dinner went down well with me, Pete and Freya ...the little ones had hot dogs after swimming as they had to eat quick to get homework done and be ready for bed.<br />
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My only downfall was a packet of bacon rashers crisps. Spurs were on tele last night and I can't watch the football without some sort of nibbles but even syning those (and I've no idea how many syns they were) I'm happy that I'll be within my allowance.<br />
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I'm hoping to get back to a class so going to have a look up and see if I've got a local one that suits the hours I'm working and the multitude of social engagements the kids seem to have these day. I worked out that if I get a countdown, it should end not long before our anniversary getaway.<br />
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Tonight is roast pork with plenty of veg. Got a long work day today and the girls are at after school club til 6. So just a fruit and yogurt breakfast, a portion of the carrot & coriander soup that I made the other day for lunch with a wholemeal roll.Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-21627372344946990712012-02-06T14:20:00.002+00:002012-02-06T14:20:25.360+00:00Start of a new week...and feel in my bones it will be a good one, or at least much better than last week. Jumped on scales to find no change so that's good and it means I can start brightly today. I suppose it's difficult to post what I've eaten each day on the day so I guess I'll be updating a day behind.<br />
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Very organised today though and that helps. I spent last night batch cooking loads to freeze for the next couple weeks and even got Pete (who balks at the strength of my chilli as more like mince in gravy) in on the act. So he made up a syn free pot of hot chilli which gave about 10 portions. I also made up 4 portions of Chicken Jalfrezi, 4 large portions of the carrot & coriander soup I made a couple days ago (with added cumin for a bit more of a kick) and cooked up a load of tandoori chicken legs.<br />
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Pete doesn't like food that tastes like it's diet food and as we're both partial to an Indian take away, my favourite slimming world recipe book has to be Curry Heaven. Food that is nicely spiced and flavoursome without the calories. You know when you get that takeaway delivered.......open the lid.....and there settled on the top is a layer of grease?! Well imagine all the flavour and none of the grease.<br />
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A lot of the dishes in the book can be frozen making them perfect if you're busy and if you stock up on your spices right in the beginning you'll also find that the recipes aren't that expensive. My particular favourites are the pilau rice (the tastiest rice ever and zero syns, also freezable) and the chicken Jalfrezi (tip: tastes even better the day after, just like real curry!).<br />
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I have my sister and her tribe over for a get together every couple of months and tend to cook. The last time they came over whilst I was on slimming world I did a massive indian feast from this book. I had made about 8 different dishes all of which contained absolutely no syns. The chicken vindaloo really worked for the blokes as well and they had no idea that it was all syn free.<br />
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The tandoori chicken legs are great to cook up and then leave in the fridge for packed lunches or just nibbles although the recipe in the book has them hot served with a lime pepper salad.<br />
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One thing I am missing at the moment though is a decent supply of fresh herbs. The herb garden is dead for another year and buying fresh isn't cheap so looking forward to spring arriving.<br />
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So I'll update tomorrow with what I've had today. But if you like your curry....GET THAT BOOK!Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-38128113615740746942012-02-04T15:18:00.003+00:002012-02-04T15:18:31.069+00:00Best laid plans.....Started not feeling too good on Wednesday night, hence the lack of updates. Had a really bad stomach with indigestion meaning that the only thing i could eat was plain white bread with a bit of butter on just so it wasn't dry. Anything else I tried, including fruit just made me worse so it was milk and bread. Not idea but as haven't eaten much else since them I'm hoping to at least be the same on Monday as I was on Wednesday.<br />
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I'm actually switching weigh in day to Monday as it's far easier for me to get my head around. So hoping not to have put on at least on Monday. I'm sat now writing my list for shopping in a bit. Going to brave the weather anyway as have to pick up the eldest from a Kaiser Chiefs concert tonight. I was supposed to be going but as I was going with a load of 'couples' I felt a bit of a gooseberry so gave it a miss. Hope the rest of them enjoy it though and I'm playing taxi home.<br />
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I did forget to mention anything about drinks on day 1. I don't tend to drink hot drinks and rely mostly on no added sugar squashes or diet coke. But one thing I did want to share is Green Tea. I read on a forum about a couple members having a better weight loss whilst drinking green tea. It's certainly an aquired taste (at least for me) but once you've been drinking it a week or so it's fine. The advice I had was to have a cup of green tea and an apple with every meal. Although I'm not one to eat that many apples, I did take the green tea advice and did find that weight loss was better. Would be interested to know anyone else's thoughts on the subject.<br />
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I also learnt something else. If, like me, you have a habit of breaking bits of bread and putting it in your soup....don't do it with a wholemeal roll! The bloody thing disintegrated into the soup and made it really cloggy. Wasn't that pleasant to be honest. So from now on I think it's a dunk like a biscuit! On the plus side, the whole litre and half of the soup I made on Day 1 was consumed by my eldest and Pete so that's a definite thumbs up. Going to do another batch tomorrow with cumin added to it.<br />
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New Slimming World magazine arrived through the post this morning and only had time to have a brief flick through but looks some nice recipes in there. So now off to plan for the rest of the week.Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-23059658104132763492012-02-02T11:19:00.002+00:002012-02-02T12:32:05.077+00:00Day 1Feeling really ready for this today. Had a chinese take away late last night which left me bloated and knowing exactly WHY I want to be doing this. Had some time this morning to get stuff ready for the day so once the kids were packed off to school that's what I did.<br />
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<b><u><span style="color: #e69138;">Breakfast</span></u></b><br />
Kick started with a nice fruit salad made with strawberries, kiwi, apple and grapes. Having with a Muller Light, but one of the Vanilla ones with the chocolate sprinkles with Black Cherry underlayer. I know these aren't the free ones but they were on offer and at only 1.5 syns I'm happy with that.<br />
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I do like fruit salad as it's nice and light. I don't however, eat it straight away after I prepare it. I prefer to sprinkle with a little sweetner and let it sit out for an hour or so til it's at room temperature and the juices from the berries start to ooze out into the rest of the bowl. Tastes much better.<br />
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<b><u><span style="color: #e69138;">Lunch</span></u></b><br />
I do like a nice soup. One I can make and freeze preferably and when you can make one that tastes lush, freezes well AND is simple and cheap to make then all the better. So this morning I've made this <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/carrotandcorianderso_1919">Carrot & Fresh Coriander Soup</a> which is bloody delicious. I made a double size batch to freeze some but to be honest, I don't think it'll last that long. In fact, I'm thinking of making another batch tonight but adding a little ground cumin to it to give it a bit of a kick.<br />
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So this is my pan with just over a litre and half of soup! I'll reheat it for lunch and have a little fresh coriander on top and team it with a wholemeal roll. Obviously the recipe says to use vegetable oil, just swap for <a href="http://frylight.co.uk/indexfl.html">Fry Light</a>. Mine doesn't look quite as thick as the one in the recipes photo but if you want it thicker I'm sure it would reduce more if you let it boil a bit longer with the lid off to reduce the stock some more.<br />
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<b><u><span style="color: #e69138;">Dinner</span></u></b><br />
I've done all my prep for dinner as I'm working late tonight so stir fry for me is perfect as it only takes a few minutes. I'm going to have a Chicken stir fry. This is where it's easy to get plenty of vegetables into the plan to ensure you're eating enough speed foods.<br />
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I'll be using the Fry Light Wok spray with spring onions, red chilli, lemon grass and ginger. Then add thinly sliced chicken (or whatever you prefer). Once the chicken is seared add your veg. I've got mixed mushrooms, pak choi, mangetout, baby sweetcorn, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts and red peppers. I'll use light soy sauce and a bit of fish sauce so that it's syn free but you'll be surprised at how low some of the stir fry sauces can be with regards to syns. Teriyaki is full of flavour and not as high in syns as you may think.<br />
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<b><u><span style="color: #e69138;">So how does it feel?</span></u></b><br />
To be back on this today feels pretty good. I had actually got to the stage where I was feeling so lethargic and couldn't wait to stop feeling so shit. I'm not a big syn eater. I tend to try NOT to snack on the naughty stuff for my syns as for me personally, it's a slippery slope. Until I can start feeling results, it would be too easy for one packet of quavers to turn into four so for the time being, it's not something I want to use for snacks. I prefer to use syns wisely to make my normal meals not feel like diet food. So I'll use them on a little mayo, or low fat spread, honey, oil or stir fry sauces. For the moment, deserts are off the eating plan for me.<br />
<br />Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-90672092743858549652012-02-02T10:39:00.001+00:002012-02-02T10:41:05.527+00:00Erm....now we're REALLY off!One thing about me and diets is that it takes me a while to get back on board. If I can resist the crap food, the picking, the excuse of not having time to organise it then I'm fine. But when the excuses start after a couple of days then I know I'm not in the right frame of mind to start with.<br />
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Finally today I'm there. In the right head space where I know all I have to do is take a deep breath, plan this week, get through to the first weigh in, see the results and then be encouraged enough to keep on going. The thing with Slimming World is that it IS an easy eating plan, it DOESN'T cut out loads of food and it is maintainable...it's just that thing your brain does right in the beginning when it tells you that you're going to be miserable if you do it.....much like giving up the dreaded smoking, but more on that later.<br />
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So this blog will now officially become my motivation in lieu of not being able to get to SW meetings. Armed with my recipe books, some know how, the support from my family and hopefully some online motivation I'm hoping to crack this for good.<br />
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So this is day one. Officially day one. Have almost frozen from the cold this morning jumping onto the scales for that first weigh in (always have to be naked!!) and although I haven't gained ALL the weight I lost 18 months ago, I'm at 12 stone 8. My heaviest was 13 stone exactly and I managed to get to 11 before falling off the wagon. I'm just proud to be honest that I've actually put my weight there for all to see. It's the first time I've ever done it, only my hubby knows what I weigh.<br />
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Setting a final target is a bit too big to go for yet. At only 5 foot 1" it <a href="http://www.caloriecounting.co.uk/resources/charts/ideal.htm">should be</a> around 8st 7 but having not been that weight possibly since my teens, it's not something I feel comfortable setting. So my initial target is to get to 11st before enjoying a long weekend away with Pete for our wedding anniversary on the 19th April and then to hit 9st by our holiday at the end of August. At 2lb a week loss (which is generally what I average) both of these are achievable with weeks to spare as the weight often comes off much more slowly towards the end.<br />
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With regards being more active. That's a little more difficult at the moment but I'm hoping to get on the wii fit in a couple weeks time when work calms down a bit. I'm not a gym bunny by any means. In fact, I hate it with a passion. So for me it's probably going to be more walking, Wii Active and as I like dancing, think I'll look into Zumba which looks more up my street.<br />
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Well, it all starts with being organised and I've sat down and figured out what I want to cook this week, listed all my ingredients and been shopping. I'm not on a great budget (let's face it, who is at the moment) so nice cheap meals appeal. But I do tend to stick to the Extra Easy plan as it's one that generally fits in around the whole family. My first couple weeks, whilst I get back into it can be a bit boring but once I'm enjoying myself again I do experiment a lot.<br />
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I'd love for people to share recipes, tips and motivation and feel free to lead me to blogs and other websites which might help. So I guess it's up to me now......................Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-77359612671502973142012-01-24T10:45:00.003+00:002012-01-24T10:45:38.622+00:00And we're off....Jumped on the scales yesterday to view the damage and although it wasn't <i>great</i>, it certainly could have been worse. 50lb in 30 weeks. Sounds rather huge when you look at it that way so I've set a little target of losing 21lb by our wedding anniversary in April. <div>
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I always take a couple weeks to get back into the healthy way of eating, maybe I shouldn't deviate so much when I decide to go mad really. Money being what it is for the moment, I'm not in a SW class so I'm doing it at home with my mountain of books and the Slimming World magazine. </div>
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Being back at the start means I'm sticking with basics for a while so that I can get stable before starting to experiment a bit more. </div>
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Today's breakfast was a SW classic. Bacon, grilled tomato, mushrooms and scrambled eggs. I do love having this when I've got time in the mornings as it's all free food if you're on red or extra easy. I never do green days as I'm pretty controlled when it comes to carbs (well, the healthier ones anyway). </div>
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For lunch I'm having a ham and cheese sandwich with fruit and a yogurt so pretty basic. </div>
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Then for evening meal it's Stew. Everyone loves stew and it's so healthy, especially now that stock cubes are free. Bearing in mind that I first did Slimming World about 18 years ago, it's funny to see some of the things that have become free over the years. </div>
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So anyway, Stew. Easy to do and all syn free. Get some lean casserole or braising steak cubes and fry them in a heavy saucepan with seasoning. Obviously you're going to use fry light or some other low fat oil spray to do that adding salt and pepper. Once the meat is browned, remove it with a slotted spoon and put to one side. I chop leek, onion, carrots, and parsnips. These I then add to the pan to pick up the flavour of the beef, just fry the veg for about 10 minutes, fully coating it in all the pan juices from the meat. </div>
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I then add a couple of dried bay leaves, pop the meat back in and add as much beef stock as need to completely cover the ingredients. Let this simmer away whilst you peel and chop some potatoes. Don't cut them too small or they'll break up completely with the slow cooking. I'd say I cut mine so that each one is half the size of a (woman's) fist. Once the pan has been on simmer for about half an hour, add the potatoes and if neccessary, more stock. </div>
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I then leave mine as long as possible. Normally a couple of hours with the lid on. I'll taste it after an hour and then add stuff to taste. It could be a little soy sauce (yup that's right!) some mixed herbs, some more seasoning, </div>
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Most people have their own preferences for stew so just add little bits, stir and taste. Just remember that dumplings aren't really an option this time!</div>Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-47853708507720062592012-01-23T09:01:00.000+00:002012-01-23T09:10:57.892+00:00So long since I blogged I don't know where to begin to be honest. Had inspiration over the weekend to start again as I'm back on Slimming World and thought it may be motivation to keep going. Also stopped smoking so this could be the kind of blog that is very depressing for a while LOL! Lets see if I can keep this up. Right off to do first weigh in because just dipped a toe in the water this weekend and stayed off the bad stuff. Going to weigh in today but shopping coming tomorrow so that's when I properly get back into it.Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-59547340669449589902010-07-18T00:02:00.003+01:002010-07-18T00:03:08.906+01:00MIAYup I have been, truth be told the nightmare with the uploading and placement of photos has kind of put me off using the blog for a while now so I haven't bothered to come back to it. Thinking of having a play with it tomorrow and see where that takes me. Night all!Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-29396345593283041552010-02-18T12:37:00.003+00:002010-02-18T12:55:15.574+00:00Time to say goodbye...againWell once again I don't seem able to work this photo thing out so the very few photos i've put on are on here backwards but hey...who will know!<div><br /></div><div>So yesterday the RN kidnapped Pete for the first time this year and he disappeared off not to be seen again for a few months. I'm in a strange place with it this trip as I'm happier than I've been for such a long time which makes me more relaxed and in a more chilled out place and at the same time, I'm going to miss him more than ever. It's not a massively long trip and by the time he comes back we'll be close to going away together. </div><div><br /></div><div>Nowhere fancy as we're still on a tight budget but we decided to put the extra cash from a council tax and water rate free Feb and March down on a holiday park get away. Will be the first time we've gone away for so long and it will be nice just to have a change of scenery. Just have to hope that it won't be the third holiday on the trot cancelled because of Pete going away. This time I've decided that if he can't come I'll take the girls on my own......if that happens I could need a holiday after to recuperate! </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxdOjTN_iS0vUYPm-p0ITfu7LuRrV7EBtcBf-cCYShr1M3J6oDirLlpf_S_sPvyBBO_sEzxN6piblUhiOXh049ze9EzPavCUy2CbQKsW_3zuIVu9a8Zi-CdEJQRqX50Cw9F4kVD8JW4S8/s1600-h/Baptism-014.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxdOjTN_iS0vUYPm-p0ITfu7LuRrV7EBtcBf-cCYShr1M3J6oDirLlpf_S_sPvyBBO_sEzxN6piblUhiOXh049ze9EzPavCUy2CbQKsW_3zuIVu9a8Zi-CdEJQRqX50Cw9F4kVD8JW4S8/s400/Baptism-014.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439562890166320178" /></a>One thing that we did manage to squeeze into Pete's time home was the little ones baptisms. We had been trying to do this since shortly after Emily was born and it's nice that finally we got there. In a way, them being older was a bit more special as they got to hold their baptismal candles themselves and understood more of what was happening. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixifp2r04EPhXf5kZlhUi456ex5sVT9DEPgZhTQO3rCUljcufoYsPpOk78q-t-rGBisTYKYhzCPTjJMMaTCrG0Cgv0VA4wTA-rHubqrJBpKAnC3hwPaPttjxyt5nr-8P1V1z8ZBaZN2Ad3/s1600-h/Baptism-009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 393px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixifp2r04EPhXf5kZlhUi456ex5sVT9DEPgZhTQO3rCUljcufoYsPpOk78q-t-rGBisTYKYhzCPTjJMMaTCrG0Cgv0VA4wTA-rHubqrJBpKAnC3hwPaPttjxyt5nr-8P1V1z8ZBaZN2Ad3/s400/Baptism-009.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439562867173260658" /></a>I must admit, I didn't wash the girls hair for about three days afterwards because there is something so beautiful and peaceful about snuggling up and smelling the Chrism oil on their heads. Thanks to everyone that made it a great occasion. Father Tim did a fantastic job, especially as all the paperwork didn't make it to him in time and so he didn't have all the details that were needed. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv98CAYVSRqNkItCyrSDt7yMIoP3cSk1HhEC3voc1FBwB0eCPIF714C0t7ezh1rnQfU6uviLhG7Fvy1Wv5yL-2xmfJCMW9QYT4LrTZjE7G2Scj4v35c-rmtQnVvf9Q4gRirfBA1VH2aeC-/s1600-h/Baptism-008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 376px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv98CAYVSRqNkItCyrSDt7yMIoP3cSk1HhEC3voc1FBwB0eCPIF714C0t7ezh1rnQfU6uviLhG7Fvy1Wv5yL-2xmfJCMW9QYT4LrTZjE7G2Scj4v35c-rmtQnVvf9Q4gRirfBA1VH2aeC-/s400/Baptism-008.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439562853638731122" /></a>We had the baptisms after the Vigil Mass so there were only a few close friends present, but at the end of the Mass before everyone went, Father Tim called the girls up to the alter to let them parade around in their dresses and everyone gave them a round of applause. You should have seen the delight on Emily and Natashas faces. </div><div><br /></div><div>Right, as Mr F has now gone, the clean up begins. The slipping into the sea routine happens which starts with sorting this house out...why is it always a mess when he's home? At least he managed to get the hallway finished before he left so a little more glossing and that baby is waiting for a new carpet. Only taken three years............x<br /><br /></div>Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-90568346026795059172010-02-17T22:03:00.000+00:002010-02-17T22:08:19.721+00:00Dipping a toe in gentlyOK, I'm officially a crap blogger. Real life triumphs again and has been getting in the way of down time plus I have tried to blog before but for some strange reason I can't drag and drop photos in blogger anymore and have given up several times when trying to post because the page no longer scrolls when you drag your photo....sort it out blogger, not all of us are HTML buffs cos if I was my blog would obviously look far more exciting! Anyway,<br /><br /> we survived Xmas (just) and here we are in a New Year. What will 2010 hold? Well, the last year was a bit of an annus horibilus or however the Queen put it (never did latin at school). I have so many hopes for this year, it's a year to start afresh, a new decade and a new chapter. They say sometimes you have to get to the darkest depths to get a better perspective and the year hasn't started particularly well, but things can only get better and the last week has been one of the best weeks of my life.....no kidding!<br /><br /><br />This is a time for making changes and planning for the future. The benefits won't be reaped for some time yet, but feeling as though you're on the right path and that your head is clear of clutter certainly helps.<br /><br /><br />Xmas was small and cozy. The kids got a great array of presents and were well and truly spoilt again. Although we couldn't get loads this year they got everything they really really wanted and luckily they aren't the most demanding of kids.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436993032397029090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiCI-XC-8VhIKsuFhJ4CAcERIguDJeWWKqy7kxM-c8hYGzZpBW4w185k5RWFHnE2RRyqYyXnvRlKBMLBojUk-zcp75OjfoXDP9YxpIIZKoZlryN9s4SfhFzvgfEA48_lD5R5LlixfQc80/s400/IMG_5350-002.jpg" /><br />Freya was mostly clothes, her phone, smellies and a leather biker jacket that she really wanted. Personally I hate it but she loves it and it's better than the bloody neon green tutu she came back with last time she went in town on a spending spree. Just look at the grubby finger marks all over it within five minutes. Within 2 days she'd lost the stylus for it as well. Kids eh?<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436993020221380210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3ZmNnkgvGebI8k3vZdzlaPcMRN34tXT3J7nbCETlVn32IlPyeYKiUAAR6AOo4vLls22jJ70isozj3e4u06TApFmqgtyXttjau8L7c7-GesySlcTvKKk8ed-H-wteOBH1tApzVfR_P4Z5/s400/Christmas-015.jpg" /><br />Emily really wanted a guitar and telescope, she also got loads of shark bits and bobs as she has been obsessed with sharks for about the last year now. She also got some clothes and a new build a bear plus loads of drawing and painting stuff...she really could spend hours at the table drawing sharks of all descriptions.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436993029644029922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiox5K01a1CYncdee0cYoLmZ3jY0BJrBU69lCizuQFTjke-hvoijV_3exb460J05gcjPOzrYnAypv4nqRhFdzf1BNKkhGDpSzhoIRYL6LbnePl9fi3IurpG6aVT2zyRuXqqzosYNW9DG4Mg/s400/Christmas-046.jpg" /><br />Natasha got lots of Ponyville and Peppa Pig stuff but what she really wanted was a Hello Kitty so we got one from Build a Bear complete with pretty outfit and she hasn't let it go since. Pete was duty on Christmas day which meant he had to go in for 9 in the morning and didn't come home til Boxing Day morning. Thinking it would be too strange to be home with just the kids, we went down to the boat for Christmas Dinner. Not many women can say they've had Xmas dinner on a submarine. Funniest thing was when Freya had to check in her brand new swish phone that she'd got that morning before she could go below deck....you'd have thought they wanted to cut off the white knuckled hand that was attached to it.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436993040247779330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgY2NGLqbhsbU5lXd9HpUUFl2oM1HZis1ck0LKyJs1pb2McJJd0BxhbOKE0-xv1SIUJA29dMRuDnkYYAcc7ZiQbnZo3Il2pynR85ckE2uxF6fMYucT4khCnjiRxRJmyuXE52d4-nFSeNO/s400/IMG_5357-009.jpg" /><br /><br />So we had the biggest plate of Xmas dinner and as it was Natashas first experience on a sub, she got a tour of Pete's bunk space and seemed to think that it was funny that her dad still sleeps in a bunk bed in his early 40's! Freya also had the oxygen mask strapped to her which was hilarious as she sounded like Darth Vader and looked petrified!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436993056047064850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ITT_1ANVECwRYZIC3J1rt7hQjg3YF48emKbu5PP9sTjd3Fd1vSlmZcLaTT735sKQWcwld6-EP11JBeWyhPDJGNb-o232VMeSmRr28CGn6s0AqwmZKNszhnbGZ-wTgPaNJAXWYTKyIS0Y/s400/IMG_5362+014.jpg" /><br /><br />We survived onboard for about 3 hours before the girls started getting itchy feet (or in Freyas case, itchy texting finger) and then popped round to see my little sis so all the cousins together could wreck their house. It's always fun to watch my OCD sister trembling with fear at the mess the kids are going to make.<br /><br />Well, was going to do a fuller update but as this has taken me so long to rearrange the photos I'll have to leave the rest for another day. Possibly tomorrow. Night all.Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-80244698871818059212009-11-30T12:24:00.003+00:002009-11-30T13:17:45.177+00:00Not <i>quite </i>a calendar month since my last entry but running a little late never the less! At least I can blame it on the time of year, 3 birthdays and Xmas makes a rather manic last couple of months of the year. <div><br /></div><div>Life has been a bit strained lately, physically and emotionally draining and I'm hoping that the end of the year may bring some closure, whilst the new year will bring some clarity. I have a lot to think about between now and then for sure but I'm confident things will be easier then. At the moment I seem to have so much on my plate that sometime I just feel like doing nothing but hide away and this week is certainly one of those times. </div><div><br /></div><div>Once again, the Navy interrupted Petes leave. We got a call telling him that he was to fly out and meet the boat. It's only a few weeks and they're currently on their way back home for Xmas (fingers crossed) but the timing is a bit shitty. It's the second time he's tried to get the hallway decorated and been called back early. Hopefully I'll get the painting done before he comes home but the wallpaper will have to wait....again! Such a shame because it's the first opportunity that he's had to take his untaken leave for four years and once again it's interrupted. Oh well, life in a blue suit eh? The other drawback though is missing Emilys birthday. </div><div><br /></div><div>....my little Einstein is six today (or 'almost seven' if you listen to her). We have a little party planned for this evening with a few family members coming round but nothing too crazy. Luckily none of the little ones are home til 6 so i've got plenty of prep time for it. It's been a mad rush of it today as everything was put on hold for pay day and so today it's been sorting bills, getting presents, food, road tax and starting to switch my attention toward Christmas. </div><div><br /></div><div>With money tight, the kids won't be getting much, although that doesn't worry them in the least but I'm hoping that this time next year we'll be in a much better position although we will have to get a new car next year as Billy Bongo is becoming more unreliable. </div><div><br /></div><div>It also looks like Pete will be working Xmas day which means he will probably leave here at about 8 on xmas morning and won't be home til around 9ish on Boxing day. That is going to feel a bit strange. I'm in two minds as to whether to postpone everything by a day although I don't think the girls will let me get away with that one. </div><div><br /></div><div>I started pulling my scrap stuff out last night. I made a few simple cards for Christmas just to ease myself back into things. I remember how it was a way of helping me unwind so I'm hoping to do a bit more over the coming weeks. I'll post some bits hopefully this week. </div><div><br /></div><div>The girls all seem to be doing well though. I had my first brief meeting with Freyas form tutor at school which was just an informal five minute thing to see how they had settled and when I walked in he said 'Freya really stands out'. He could tell by the fiery look in my eyes that he then needed to add...'in a good way'! She's enjoying it (although not the amount of homework), has made great friends and is generally loving being at the comp. Her work has been excellent and she's got a bronze commendation for the amount of commendation slips she's received so far plus a postcard sent home from one teacher praising her work she's done in her lessons. I'm really proud of her as I set the rule before she went that during the week she gets her head down and keeps on top of things leaving the weekends mostly free and she's stuck to that. </div><div><br /></div><div>She has been going out weeknights if she's up to date with her homework and has been darting between the two youth clubs, talking about boys constantly and explaining to me what's cool and what's not (although purely by me saying 'cool' is probably 'uncool'!) She certainly had a good weekend last week as I took her and a friend to watch Lily Allen in the Pavilions. Considering Ms Allen was suffering from laryngitis she gave a top notch performance. Then on Sunday she went with her friend to watch New Moon or whatever it's called.....I dunno, I haven't even watched Twilight!</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBDnekR696foGlLILDu9flfbAABdn5335v0DmtMUXmM-yiRv72MmVNlDoqVzULu1by2FtF471VecmY37_jo665zutjRjDfQHh7Sh3J75rjWMP_XoYIl_bcFmcJhGt5Nm2nV6AoK3Qy-_k/s1600/China-Fleet-025.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBDnekR696foGlLILDu9flfbAABdn5335v0DmtMUXmM-yiRv72MmVNlDoqVzULu1by2FtF471VecmY37_jo665zutjRjDfQHh7Sh3J75rjWMP_XoYIl_bcFmcJhGt5Nm2nV6AoK3Qy-_k/s400/China-Fleet-025.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409883590340874146" /></a><br /></div><div>A couple weekends ago we went to the China Fleet for a HMS Torbay family get together. My friend Kath was a star and took the girls in the swimming pool for me (bathing suits aren't something you'll see me in in the near future). Natasha managed half an hour before deciding she wanted out, Emily lasted a half hour after that which surprised me as she's a real water babe.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6x6IKIdJbXVDbnO_pg4ptnVf8zuV7Xo0atIj-vMROY95DQQPVk2kfQ-iw90K9n1jUsOwywnU5D-obJues27uqMDQREhC01tGe6mICbPUGWVvvojGO-EyBJjICYxE0-VkkHaXl1JJxmLQ1/s1600/China-Fleet-007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6x6IKIdJbXVDbnO_pg4ptnVf8zuV7Xo0atIj-vMROY95DQQPVk2kfQ-iw90K9n1jUsOwywnU5D-obJues27uqMDQREhC01tGe6mICbPUGWVvvojGO-EyBJjICYxE0-VkkHaXl1JJxmLQ1/s400/China-Fleet-007.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409883585161047890" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAY_5TDIWOFUkqdV091_ph1xpCUm3iVLS5ycuOBUU_FgN1XNbS3eTFfqRoqgaSgIjzU585FR6Wo7QQFPZ_4gkh1nC7YjqMz2t1WwVOCVOpL-RT8AA1lu1pmxWf3oWxswdATgoafSKUFYQx/s1600/China-Fleet-006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAY_5TDIWOFUkqdV091_ph1xpCUm3iVLS5ycuOBUU_FgN1XNbS3eTFfqRoqgaSgIjzU585FR6Wo7QQFPZ_4gkh1nC7YjqMz2t1WwVOCVOpL-RT8AA1lu1pmxWf3oWxswdATgoafSKUFYQx/s400/China-Fleet-006.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409883577473700498" /></a><br /></div><div>Whilst I got the little ones dried and changed, Kath made Freya swim lengths using only her legs and that seemed to push her somewhat....she'll do it again if I tell her it will give her buns of steel! After all that hard work it was a gorgeous carvery and the kids cleaned their plates. Then off to work off some more calories at the park and on the bouncy castles.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC01T5oUbqSXc4V5lPrqS_WBpNORVBhy9wLRF36miWPTawS_2O0ydMDjD1jjynU3KKc8uS8y1zgPuc7562vA7ZDTZTQQDdEmPvO_cT7eCR6OyAa-QufuAYXl3yGK_zyjpyaCqP5YcKiikv/s1600/China-Fleet-039.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC01T5oUbqSXc4V5lPrqS_WBpNORVBhy9wLRF36miWPTawS_2O0ydMDjD1jjynU3KKc8uS8y1zgPuc7562vA7ZDTZTQQDdEmPvO_cT7eCR6OyAa-QufuAYXl3yGK_zyjpyaCqP5YcKiikv/s400/China-Fleet-039.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409883597496524050" /></a><br /></div><div>So off I go to get the food and decs ready for tonight...who knows, maybe even squeeze in a couple more cards?!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-90286649214593551292009-11-01T15:53:00.002+00:002009-11-01T15:57:16.515+00:00OMG!You know the blog that I found the other day where I entered a photo of Emily in her Little Miss Sunshine outfit? Well I got placed 9th out of over 300 and among that are professional photographers too!<br /><br />How pleased am I? I'm gonna grab myself one of the girls sticky stars and wear it all day! I even get a special blinkie to put on my blog! COOOOOOOOOLTerrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-92144671005116519802009-11-01T14:39:00.007+00:002009-11-01T15:31:03.481+00:00The hangover...not just from last night (and to be honest thats more to do with tiredness than alcohol as I behaved impecibly again) but from the whole half term. It's been a crazy one certainly.<br /><br />There has been so much going on what with birthdays etc. Freya had Paige down to sleep the middle of the week for a couple nights. They both went to the local youth club...a different one from where Freya normally goes but they enjoyed themselves and seemed to have fun catching up. Watching them get all dolled up to go out was quite amusing too.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399146860970064434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkYfqpGpvuaQmF6jOD0EVQGbfpGUQS0wNAYxWTuyCNse8tUtWMao9_a9fePAf2oM4RGbxotlUox_KsqP4nrO5eE2Dvakpe9WP3cYL3KsjINevMRD4HDzY4bt29jkWrXxhVaRbxYHOgdwy/s400/09+29+10+006.JPG" border="0" /><br />Shame they seemed to have a bit of a barny before she left though when they were coming out of swimming which I didn't find out until after I'd dropped Paige off. What is it with girls? </p><p><br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399146864794647042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFJHTtxMfME3TRwbr-suEbvpfynGbzODfVuNM3ez75c00Ecjr4Uy5kJd2MMmc_mt0BBDObJn-o4z95qNpiu1h2WNruUUnG_VdC2lwhL64DOBAUDF18NPI9ZbbDCRPb_1UymD8-fO4PWSs/s400/09+29+10+007.JPG" border="0" /><br />Then of course it was all prep for the Halloween bash. Myself and Pete (well, mostly Pete) did our pumpkins on Friday afternoon and then Freya did another on Friday night. It's Petes first go at carving as he's missed the last few halloweens but I loved them all...hidden talent there I think.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399152484452187506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnu4mlWpQO7nQnB7DJT_o81zLxAZndrYbBAFuWt6QTWmYO1ja98IZcqMj0EAWQ09mTIqOCGLK9NRIvlDTco3eDNRgP3KDEJCA5NWnRw3DHlk_FT4vYMeT_SQZqOPt5oRThu7Rd7KT_3xa/s400/09+31+10+057.jpg" border="0" /><br />Freya did the vampire biting the womans neck one, although you have to get your eyes to go lazy to see it...or at least I do. Cracking job though and I know she was really proud of it. </p><p><br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399152492268591858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAc1oAXsdktduOaCzU5gVL5HkAFiJUvRi_1Z5c1tlT_cI21YsaqCmf0R9Y2eKJbRAmZZs9L4veTBbv870hNu6MZyBGAHnUhRZSPE1YeV8K0bDGxIJgzOctxrWu4waMyEdP5zOmOx1xleoE/s400/09+31+10+056.jpg" border="0" /><br />We stayed up on Friday night to get the playroom 'spookified' and did a great job. We had all sorts of nastiness hanging from the ceiling, cobwebs, spiders, spooky music, smoke machine, gravestones and stuff and went to bed happy knowing the kids were going to love it. I also covered the walls of the hallway in fake blood....luckily we're decorating it next week so it wasn't really an issue...just a moment of madness. </p><p><br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399148359514670978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYelKzKxbfF2bzvkBquRhzVIoyohwvOsHdQHZbKFFcQQnVgm5r6jNk2IH0TvTsh7UJilkEv0UW-J8ezBMtlktNjw366wSYtgnyVVyuH4Rz0jFzZw7YxTSNMKYINQfMo-soNWSX-EZFxSBD/s400/09+31+10+031.jpg" border="0" /><br />I did take plenty of photos but don't like to upload ones of the girls friends unless their parents are ok with it and as I haven't asked permission i'll err on the side of caution. But we had a fab time with Emily saying 'This is the best halloween party EVER' several hundred times during the course of the evening. </p><p><br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399148354138001330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgrd300g4DyENnJIPl9WJYr8EM7RG7G39EIXCl9eBfohAyg4QMLoqKuxREBCRq_1yNtKZfLPFFMgu-MIAU2eXg8COMg10gzF9JZeat_ju6tDnQIPmF-edHo3XvnzZJiHdBah8RpXR95do/s400/09+31+10+023.jpg" border="0" /><br />Myself and Pete were a zombie bride and Death. Pete did have a voice changer thing but it was absolute pants and we disposed of that pretty quickly. I even relented and had my photo taken......urrghhhhh!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399146874012875282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lm7KGZW10tmEmfH75hRw1Waiy2aLE5FLi14snGxey1CUbOUbp-FOPkKLPjhtd9WqculpLayY-3-0rX94-Ai0F9TcdKGcl15VTN_PCv_PtipizK3EPHzSnD50S2x6YnHKeEwyM5YjsCjz/s400/09+31+10+001.jpg" border="0" /><br />The girls all looked great and I'm so pleased I got decent facepaint as it was so much easier to do. Not that I'm an artistic genius...far from it, but it certainly looked better than previous years efforts. Freya just wanted to look a bit dark, so we kind of did her make up like Pink in the 'Please Don't Leave Me' video where she goes all weird! She looked very dark but funky. </p><p><br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399146874948845026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9x_4Bt_I6Ohv6EjJUvZuS8soEVR958ESVDZHa2A9kFGO1Xw3wc-JF0mcMesYl-o2_iO7JQBkKMoS3XacsmlxDRToFS4e8ySs5Ad1yxeIPQ6oBqFDO2qFrDLr6IID0KZ1BgfqXjUFXKb72/s400/09+31+10+008.jpg" border="0" /><br />Emilys facepaint was probably the best though. I was really pleased with hers and she looked great.......at least until the apple bobbing where it all came off and she looked a bit streaky. </p><p><br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399146880075070098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ESzqIXTUO1X-WEOIWDnBqm7EB4iklA0vvjk2NPfIi-uKpJVZrm45p2R3zlwfAvy6tncY421SJOn2JGAA739HwfMrVqTF7loiUQo87kyY2IDZbJpa1nXE8OLvSu1QSLna7AvK5POMuHaX/s400/09+31+10+010_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /><br />Natasha on the other hand had to be a 'beautiful witch' and refused to have green facepaint...it had to be pink, white and glittery! I just do as I'm told. She did look adorable though and the night has certainly taken it out of her as she's currently next to me zonked out and snoring on my bed.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399148348106553954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFtiaJghe-_DyjxptBSIuLo1Y9zIiamUzY5pUDVk3m5q_mL8PoWe352eIoBLtRYVoIFmTaQy0o2hNTuNlpqAqqYICrYqX7f48To_5Pr0dVSRG50CAn-VHaRrY9ygjX4tN3Z2Mg61UrPjG/s400/09+31+10+007.jpg" border="0" /><br />We played hangmans donuts, dress the mummy, balls in a cup and apple bobbing. The kids all made their own toffee apples and decorated them to take home with them along with their goody bags of gruesomeness.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399152509468490162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhEWpdIp8h_lVHYH1Ag7AKepA1UDgDdrZFcUTKTgntuUmtK9UhS6iXoyqU9lSUK3ZejWXK8kf7tI2Ir9v-3NNiPW-tPWRoCbTsu1GJdI48nctXVLvOAZ9lWbRxQRMsH9EADMG4SD80kwj/s400/09+31+10+039.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />My sister, Sheree and her chap Jay turned up with the neice and nephew. Sheree looked a little too sexy to be scary and she lost her wig later in the night to Natasha. </p><p><br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399149506501346962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSYl_Id4tXHNUdaP_dscI8XctOCkhMlDWDmckR9Z6R4KzSmAuTtiDIlY_eh69byE5svAmpUfRbB0AA2UBND2vxke0RP6VOLPnoZXTjTJbOUcCBhQ7g4w4SGTxXZBFDdrhj1_W3afrspon/s400/09+31+10+033.jpg" border="0" /><br />As for Jay......I'm still trying to work out what his painted face reminds me of....i'm sure it's some character from a computer game...some kind of weird ghost ghoul thing! Mind you, he looks better here than he did first thing this morning! </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399149507798746754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnQdosMDw_EwyBBvH9zpirn1zyt4rgO42rOavatKW-2KLrRt0uaUzAb31e4Uik_c9m_veMrLNZyWfRPjkic2-nq4IAlAVo1fk-RxB4PThSNzZD2B_FqCqZPC-v-hS4rl7yBWrNMlvDUIU/s400/09+31+10+036.jpg" border="0" /><br />Freyas friend Kate arrived and they took the younger ones trick or treating whilst we cleared up after the school friends had all gone home. When I say 'clear up' I mean that in the loosest possible way as I'm still dealing with the fallout now. They returned with stocked up goody bags and enough sweets to see them through at least til Xmas. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399152496023235538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 286px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVnlhbtoZLlWLIsLNU34GdcoUU1zzVlrKwe_Ns8B-ynhMNeS42ieFyCc_de9ccgp_Ax9ll2RVQSCfixcnatFtfxzFntNf7wFq3NKzKjQyALfvOpklSrTaL-Qe40Q0dExvvljfbg5-J1PL/s400/09+31+10+044.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399152503222859314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6RtuhiaAyKXyTwB2URBj5u5XGepcwwjCZ_jdrC8gS-_RozXfp4R6SM7UUxICela8b9Boy0dwmWrWfq_CtXGySmOe4-OAqd1BbVdSi-D-rjU1x6bc4Jww94PE6PhxMigrLUZDthWQ9fYu/s400/09+31+10+046.jpg" border="0" /><br />Come 7.30, it was just us, my sis, the cousins and Freya's mate. Sheree brought over a pinatta (not sure of the spelling but as this is something completely alien to Europeans I'll assume you'll let that one slip!) This was apparently going to be a sedate pinatta as you pull strings rather than bash the poor thing to bits with big sticks...... </p><p><br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399154491860349570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5EvCBa_sbl8g07lL8e-HtaRf8LHhSWsTG5IF9IP8O9yt3KJKe-oDhS0cUB6V_6KAbEhkPqlx62OWtUb2GSYJYorsQO0kjdo-6lQ9HRy5s-OnuZnxM94KYhHfl-F7CG87SDfoxFTc6MXx/s400/09+31+10+064.jpg" border="0" /><br />....however, that did not go to plan as as soon as the sweets started raining from the skies there was the inevitable scramble of kids on the floor, diving into them as if they hadn't seen a sweet in their life! Flailing arms, legs, bumped heads and tears later it was time to open the bottles and fire up the PS3 with the singstar. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399154495289519826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUjXiYycd3nAklerP2fLV4FRbl-xTp1pccd9OsiIbBg0ipepyNKEcUGh9qf1b-n1UVvXcS4P-dRE3B7gRCB2c7oMebQDPha2rGkC5ui5l2SgEZSPDCe-JGqKSGV45hiyUhu6oJ14Tuh3M/s400/09+31+10+065.jpg" border="0" /><br />The house today is eerily quiet. Everyone is knackered. The rest of the family have gone home and although most of the mess is gone, I'm sure to be finding Halloween confetti for the next week or so. Freya is finishing off some homework for the week and Pete is probably mentally preparing himself for the amount of decorating he has to do over the next few weeks. The headache is starting to kick in and so it's definately an early night here tonight. </p><p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399149521304999090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48cHuf1STbCY1d0Us68EYUzqMZt2WXtG8BIUQ8CtjDUDRpPh4BWsYvhgSCZ85yN4woS_cnO19BAZ7ao9VpLKsHnOYrORYXG_RiFnXcfDacD-pbfwAYd1hPwi_DW7gm4vIBLKGVcfmP12A/s400/09+31+10+059.jpg" border="0" />So it's off to get the uniforms pressed for the morning and finish the last of the housework (at least downstairs anyway) and hide the mountain of sweets so that the kids don't try to eat them all in one go.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399148364396400914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51jmzFK_VqFBdKmgFHqvwLJ5Mu8A-aTnNjT4qVyxoiE4Obnf-TDWSCMQBQWFVfIvgsLZeRpc_PZHjn6dzc19p7d_da-_hiJ9BM4oJQDT8Lo8QKZkfIq1jDdPxegPiT_Wi3TXJA-PbHtzZ/s400/09+31+10+043.jpg" border="0" /> </p>Hope everyone had a great Halloween. xTerrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-24741672233660900662009-10-27T16:21:00.000+00:002009-10-27T16:31:50.494+00:00Happy Halloween from the Farrells......enjoy!<div style='background-color:#e9e9e9; width: 425px;'><object id='A64060' quality='high' data='http://aka.zero.jibjab.com/client/zero/ClientZero_EmbedViewer.swf?external_make_id=EwVrnSJaHBN28ZtT&service=sendables.jibjab.com&partnerID=JibJab' pluginspage='http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='transparent' height='319' width='425'><param name='wmode' value='transparent'></param><param name='movie' value='http://aka.zero.jibjab.com/client/zero/ClientZero_EmbedViewer.swf?external_make_id=EwVrnSJaHBN28ZtT&service=sendables.jibjab.com&partnerID=JibJab'></param><param name='scaleMode' value='showAll'></param><param name='quality' value='high'></param><param name='allowNetworking' value='all'></param><param name='allowFullScreen' value='true' /><param name='FlashVars' value='external_make_id=EwVrnSJaHBN28ZtT&service=sendables.jibjab.com&partnerID=JibJab'></param><param name='allowScriptAccess' value='always'></param></object><div style='text-align:center; width:435px; margin-top:6px;'>Try JibJab SendablesĀ® <a href='http://sendables.jibjab.com/ecards'>eCards</a> today!</div></div>Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-74730666097021102492009-10-27T13:19:00.004+00:002009-10-27T13:56:06.135+00:00Party number 1........of this week is over. Natasha turned 4 yesterday and we had a lovely little tea party. Was only a small affair this year what with the big Halloween bash coming up on Saturday and another 2 birthdays in the next four weeks. Saying that, little Miss Mayhem (for that should be her new name) had a fantastic time, with some great presents, me butchering her with facepaint and the cake that she wanted (even if the mermaid WAS blonde). <div><br /> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397270077118065922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYo75RNVMUJoYuiswrp_xfFDPTYSHsFqCqAuKBxtYTD2zZshU_ocWhKVizFeOwXL1E3slPLPQdYDU8t5J-mfwJ7-0rOaWfgbzb3oQV8xVtzqwvGwnn4YFEEPmXNf-c6JiLu_IC2qcwlAF/s400/09-26-10-001.jpg" border="0" /><br />She did a great job on the candles though and blew those out in a oner. Not the greatest photos I know, but I just love the expression on her face in the second one!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397275661807628818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 342px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuR4ZMv9X-hSdC-uxO4f3e3-6KOZTqorVTXr-xMMQwnQtj9Myxftdb60E7u01C2AdT53JQuAt8vuAi9OiL08_wKPE3CB-21jt9Tcv5hwonxWrV1nRf__s6d9KPpyQPonhIQ06KQ3ssjgbH/s400/09-26-10-009.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397275667384643810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 304px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhX93aWnaMX03nh9ntO3HVtZZsAzFztwim_yCPsTdiN578YAzNhuLvVQQop6DhhyH7d5erEIOMphPAVvVMD-LuXulS87OFhp4GM0Na62esMHQh3EEb_m7fvHLamGs5BQY_saUwQPAOZnR/s400/09-26-10-011.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397275673093024818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfYIMtuO__8JtSFe43fiQzeP_ZZ4wqk8MGc1jTNZRJcGdiLZdNVexcC6IamjjxaR0muPdso3cUeNvIYNqLsiRNdr4tk6rfDFChGqUewq48jyDAczz3ENedkzlyJDuOLT5EZksNCyMneI1/s400/09-26-10-019.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>She seems to have taken a shine to the little Ponyz toys that she played with at her cousins house so she got some of those and a Barney DVD (what is it with that purple monstrosity that kids love so?). She also got a barage of gifts from the family......her toy Dyson being a favourite although I didn't manage to get a photo of that last night as it was a bit chaotic but will take some more later. </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397270089169361282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQ_inN3k-_KNmJACccj3jy-d-LYjfbmlIoRViOcm6bSLLGdryKiI01ONESackiXdkQiXxUZLCPS9VEm8ijb0bKhloVcqjOIx5JkGp9aGkXqOXiC_2xAXOXsM6alRJNVxie0M7GFP2X_rO/s400/09-26-10-002.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div>I bought proper facepaints for the first time last week in prep for Halloween but thought it would be a good chance to have a little play before the party. What was confirmed was my complete lack of artistic ability! A very wonky butterfly on poor Natashas face. Stupidly i'd done the outline first and then managed to smudge everything doing the rest. But I guess it'll take practice......and anyway, Natasha thought she looked great ..... possibly only because of the glitter. </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397270093970923266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVw0xzRuP3T3KZdr389uJxzTHrZg0AZZrCH12KD0kfFtjkr40hMY3MzYjJLTHfYXXinVN8yU1wbhRFvMWzUkFezGfwwbzLJRYrKSunkbQoXIcCN2quqKCiGCy303ua6PF8lo6jeYVZS1p/s400/09-26-10-007.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Emily's wasn't as hard to do as she just wanted some trailing flowers so there was at least a little more room for error. Thank goodness that I don't have to be quite so precise with the Halloween face painting! Again though, kids are luckily easily pleased and Emily loved it.......in her eyes I am Michaelangelo!<br /></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397270098647915426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8wJo-qTIGL0HN1Wx15HAbjKa2J1LUKZKZWu08_c-iV3EHNpbsZZJYrGfksi9W_ximmGIBMcAqY9KEzGM-JCvI0az3U3gKHu_eVyBs775jM3EaDwjksYhlhaAw80EWutKZFIEr4GSLIdm/s400/09-26-10-014.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div>So another birthday over, Robs in a fortnight, Emilys in 4 weeks and then Xmas! Credit card is about to take a hammering I think. </div><br /><br /><div>Half term has started and again it's no let up of activity. Today is a bit of a slow one although Em has a friends party to go to this afternoon. Tomorrow I'm picking up Paige who's coming to stay for a couple of days. It's been a while since she stayed, a couple years I think and now that Freya has a little more of an outside social life she can't wait to show Paige around and introduce her to some of her friends. </div><br /><br /><div>She wanted me to take some photos of her yesterday as she didn't like the profile pic she had on MSN so I took a couple shots and I adore this one. I'm definately going to get this one blown up and put on the wall. It's strange how she suddenly looks so much older than she is. Scary in some ways. All she has is a little mascara on and yet she looks about 16! Or is that just me panicking?<br /><br /></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397270103236638194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 391px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLH9N6JUbnS4oI3r1xXLDHacLxqRFHBmb5t0EvSrlPu5qNhyphenhyphenl-nP-1YP82ilynV4oAj-JskagH-e3gD55nYxe792956kztqEuXW6gifObXy4Ezvt35OP5hKTL0HzV3WGvDXxK4LYzKl4t2/s400/09-26-10-028.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p>It's been a nice few days here. Pete and I managed to escape the kids on Sunday to go to the cinema to see the new Saw movie. It's been slated a bit although I still enjoyed it, then we went for a bite to eat in Old Orleans where my eyes were definately bigger than my stomach. Now that the girls are a little older, it's nice that babysitting isn't so hard to come by. The last few years have meant very little home time for Pete and we seem to be making the most of this 10 weeks home so far. I know it won't be too long til he's back at sea again......life in the armed forces eh?</p><br /><p>Talking of which.......has everyone got their poppies yet?</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397277793624644210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 371px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdB3gkETitW50LchD-PY-uddb4m9KbSzasfuVJJahEee3D9tbg_3wL7Fc8MJk-QwIuymda8ognLfe3hA1X3mcougiYQ9EPZ8xyBsOIjvxo0Ww9iNq466dm-N59x_j0nPs5rJxyxOI8xc_/s400/Royal_British_Legion%2527s_Paper_Poppy_-_white_background.jpg" border="0" /></p></div></div>Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-37392016161774965972009-10-26T22:04:00.004+00:002009-10-26T22:10:40.870+00:00A new challenge......<div>that I thought I would give a go. Can't even remember where I saw this blog but as it's portraiture photography that I'd like to learn, I thought this would prove a very helpful little website!<br /><br /></div><br /><center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img src="http://www.livinglocurto.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/smallbutton.jpg" /></a></center><br /><center></center><br /><div align="left">Well, the challenge for this week (week 42) is Halloween or some kind of dressing up photo where the emphasis is on the face. Well, as our Halloween bash isn't until Saturday, I thought about this photograph of Emily that I took for World Book Day last year. Seemed like a contradiction at the time....Em going as Little Miss Sunshine, however her little sister has taken over the title of 'Farrell Household Resident Misery Arse' so it's a little more apt now!</div><div align="left"> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397034243840723250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 322px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEys3QdyLmBMHFHTQVuJxkx3o7Rs-8ESnIERdouYZVDWiwhgEZNOv5hiC9qMmw27TfLpcvFpFVsuGEyFcVrFAddY-4f2Bt_5R6Dw_OnTULrRvuYIR5WPa8WbyeLzipbIcBAyBpKDwz4by/s400/World+Book+Day+006_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Anyway, today was Natasha's birthday so I will be back on tomorrow to add some photos taken today. Finally got the camera out which hasn't seen the light of day for the past few weeks! </div><div align="left">X</div>Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-17601178829202430272009-10-25T12:43:00.005+00:002009-10-25T13:14:41.351+00:00Half Term madness begins.......and there is so much to do! It's been so nice having Pete home though as this time of year is so hectic. Tomorrow is Natasha's birthday and the cake is bought. I'm running out of original cakes from Waitrose though unless I start buying the Ā£50 ones which, let's face it...isn't going to happen. Not with 3 birthdays in the space of 4 weeks on top of hurtling towards Christmas. <div><div><br /><br /><div>So this year, Natasha has picked the mermaid one but when we went to pick it up yesterday, all hell broke lose because the mermaid was blonde....oh well, can't please them all. If I had a penny for everytime i've told her that her birthday this year will be cancelled in the last week i'd have at least 20p. OK so that's not a lot in monetary value....but you get my drift. She's just become such a whingebag over the past month or so that I'm glad she's still at nursery this week!<br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396522135760998018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT831aNcxWOOnlgTIq7N8WBoIpAgUHsZ3ZWzpL0iC8RSVrc9gaqHt-QyZqPciaF_eEaGyMO9VhPpAzet-JNohneHLkLdsYQSMINegHQAGwRyVEF11c8Y3BnHUO6zwi6rd_V2mFCkY3w-_e/s400/LN_706271_BP_4.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>Tonight, I'm leaving the brady bunch in the hands of my sister as myself and Pete are off to watch Saw VI, which by all accounts has been slated by all that have watched it so far. However, as going out to watch it means having a bite to eat afterwards (and no doubt several cocktails) and being child free for at least four hours, I wouldn't care if I was watching a wall dry for two hours first. </div><br /><div>We seem to have gotten everything ready for the big Halloween Party next weekend. It's the first time in three years that Petes been home so we've pushed the boat out a bit with it this year. Perfect that it's on a Saturday night so we've got the kids party til 7...then the adults take over. Not only drunken singstar...but drunken scary singstar courtesy of the voice changer that comes with Pete's costume.....should be an interesting night. </div><br /><div>I've managed to do a little crafting, although all in the cause of Halloween. Got all the bits out to make the invitations and i've got a few other titbits to make before next weekend. I'm hoping it may give me the buzz again that's been missing for a while. </div><br /><div>Of course, I'm also trying to get stuff planned for Xmas, and not being the kind of girl who likes trawling through Plymouth in the cold (am I female?) that means being cosy and warm, infront of a PC, placing orders with various establishments online (and smiling as I rack up the airmiles which someday I may get round to using!). </div><br /><div>Freya's drama production was a massive hit and (biased or not) she certainly stole the show. A couple years ago she was a very shy and quiet girl and now she looks completely at home on the stage. During the interval everyone was talking about her performance....it's the second comedic role she's had and she was really funny. I can't wait now for the DVD to come out. </div><br /><div>Talking DVD's, the new Pink concert comes out in the next couple of weeks so thats on pre-order for Freya for Xmas although I may have to check it out first....obviously only as a responsible parent! I've also ordered her some living dead dolls although one won't be available til after Xmas so I'll put that back for her birthday. It was a must buy though as she played the Mad Hatter in her production </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396523484149155202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 207px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rsoknS7VD3QO77JqE0xiG1CI0vhar97f30Jxdg4QSmIPbTNKx1GLgqv0kTu3YiYIAqgL8KhmtBGw0EPBgY6ucHoSmOgsadW3zZLmEIXtEfHPGM1OrZZvoJRr_X1UCaIGcGgiHgTSbNRh/s400/B7966.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>......Living Dead Dolls eh? Think my daughter is turning Emo! I blame my creepy sister. Mind you saying that, she went to her youth club on wednesday in fishnet three quarter length tights, black shorts and a neon green tutu......I thought i'd fallen asleep and woken back up in the mid 80's staring at myself....she even had lacy fingerless gloves and loads of bangles....all she needed was a fake mole and blonde hair ala Madonna circa 'Get Into The Groove'. </div><br /><div></div><div>So not too photo heavy today. Although I will leave you with a little collage done by the talented photographer that was Emily. Packed with her dads old instant, she had to photograph her journey to school for Walk To School Week and then submit it for a competition...shame the email address for the competition didn't work but I was really proud of her efforts so am thinking of letting her have the old camera anyway. Believe me when I say that every photo turned out better than Freya's efforts when she took the same camera to her Isles Of Scilly Trip and not one photo was comprehensible!</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396524872166205042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 322px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVYLaHZpe8RB05ouCgXA0Hj2tsvmtYVX4leBQKEiTtKZxtjJx8Ul6hxhAfX2zR3HdujMGxKg5XBL9SdLl5Yrz8gdmsht0KPmhXylwtLoT8dVmlIenyD1-pvRHau1ZZ-0dvfNlXAHo5bxA/s400/10-15-2009-15-13-29-500_edi.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-52340669272851187062009-10-06T11:59:00.016+01:002009-10-06T15:10:04.895+01:00Life getting hectic.........but then again at this time of year I suppose it's to be expected. But if I didn't have my diary (or several of them if truth be told) then I wouldn't be able to tell you whether or not I was coming or going. Hopefully my auntie Susan will wrestle with her technophobic demons and get on here to see some of the photos from her daughters wedding last weekend so excuse me for having a photo overload but it's just incase she gets to see them here and tell me if she wants any emailed up to her to print off.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJqxOYyyzQZae7OLQAHXH461iKBi2wkcnTLne-SNwnbUmz34mTP4dftg1QmMB953J78gJi-oCskieQmC1cPnPueDn_DvsIEzqXmiapVWqm_rWUAqGPQL-Gt-PJauFIbulTrcWBTEmH1DF/s1600-h/09-26-09-101.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389487532219499394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 252px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJqxOYyyzQZae7OLQAHXH461iKBi2wkcnTLne-SNwnbUmz34mTP4dftg1QmMB953J78gJi-oCskieQmC1cPnPueDn_DvsIEzqXmiapVWqm_rWUAqGPQL-Gt-PJauFIbulTrcWBTEmH1DF/s400/09-26-09-101.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEpbN73U8USokPtje1fttgJWx2LMpKG_rKi4BoXFoPrz82a3jX_HoeRoS4ugRtkLmpV0XiR1DjNcR4tetyc-yyYQhlD9q8PAHcilD9mCUxJspdvRrNvoKC2dHqr1sOHWCumKPr23uLTsR/s1600-h/09-26-09-097.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389487204097559666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 256px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEpbN73U8USokPtje1fttgJWx2LMpKG_rKi4BoXFoPrz82a3jX_HoeRoS4ugRtkLmpV0XiR1DjNcR4tetyc-yyYQhlD9q8PAHcilD9mCUxJspdvRrNvoKC2dHqr1sOHWCumKPr23uLTsR/s400/09-26-09-097.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83KUJQ1U0h-AUVKVZZ1Gdveay-f-zd10WKR5_HRSwWXtOJLkUsFRe2Qji5xMzLAjMjNTMFxfs1PE_YAoy19SwYxt76RlRfZ0iR7XAR87OS3CQMYiybq3t_C8HWfoFQN6gIJ3HdjarQ1Nl/s1600-h/09-26-09-093.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389487193470113266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 260px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83KUJQ1U0h-AUVKVZZ1Gdveay-f-zd10WKR5_HRSwWXtOJLkUsFRe2Qji5xMzLAjMjNTMFxfs1PE_YAoy19SwYxt76RlRfZ0iR7XAR87OS3CQMYiybq3t_C8HWfoFQN6gIJ3HdjarQ1Nl/s400/09-26-09-093.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTncvvBnso5-zdmhP_MHH-pDEE77qObqIdgv0xmGVHytL17xwCrTLd7f7oBaBnMUHPZ-JMTIOEDFQO_48Iy8QkD6qXg0NWonpjQsdwQYBcweUbs5Q_HsNENvne4lKDWiZnvmgyRNuadhZ/s1600-h/09-26-09-085.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389487185707447058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTncvvBnso5-zdmhP_MHH-pDEE77qObqIdgv0xmGVHytL17xwCrTLd7f7oBaBnMUHPZ-JMTIOEDFQO_48Iy8QkD6qXg0NWonpjQsdwQYBcweUbs5Q_HsNENvne4lKDWiZnvmgyRNuadhZ/s400/09-26-09-085.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVxzHHJyfKtWaMvkd_hncj1qlQdMNAwb650QGmGNLgDGbzc2EexmLUF_IEzBgptN2YyEfWEcpS44rp4yT-M6lO4uvDUSgbXkL_NaMIo4st2LhkVeIjfzcES5detTzTLKU794ZNgFw07fQR/s1600-h/09-26-09-076_edited-1.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLsplw3g69MxrrRFLNBammbVAjC21Aev4t4L7Nn-2rkgDLRUmecuTY2u4FeSJqjKedk3DV8OmmZY7D9AGldZ5rE4cbPCo-bQYSS4AdYCrkGobUaBI8jslNu55ovx5gsLJpJCBl1UMuVfd/s1600-h/09-26-09-072.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389487172641107266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLsplw3g69MxrrRFLNBammbVAjC21Aev4t4L7Nn-2rkgDLRUmecuTY2u4FeSJqjKedk3DV8OmmZY7D9AGldZ5rE4cbPCo-bQYSS4AdYCrkGobUaBI8jslNu55ovx5gsLJpJCBl1UMuVfd/s400/09-26-09-072.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqz_AgVbrcuLL4AGZCgICkbEkVCizzQqRtBOxHe9KUxEoVh7aLflRe0WojYBwZNfICC8W6DEOHm5-qmKEF6EWk3e-R-WRLa1TygTrYIs-Op2l58A3IYn89RZ53lSnX8dVVjxTayZYj0MyP/s1600-h/09-26-09-071.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389486769299658130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 279px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqz_AgVbrcuLL4AGZCgICkbEkVCizzQqRtBOxHe9KUxEoVh7aLflRe0WojYBwZNfICC8W6DEOHm5-qmKEF6EWk3e-R-WRLa1TygTrYIs-Op2l58A3IYn89RZ53lSnX8dVVjxTayZYj0MyP/s400/09-26-09-071.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMZGPOChTBBxG5FGYa3ifVV_baVqpxj_50oo128DMR9BrfWrnfly1z2q9Pd38X32nieMjAU3MDwpSgLNzFH_Si4ymUxcvsNBT9HzJOp7mF5818Y1_v0nFlhznvdasu-6GxJES4zCHLgrx/s1600-h/09-26-09-065_edited-1.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6mRzaOntgMHOcJoi8CblGnxEoKJdXjVcedTKr9YHJpS_qOlrO5_9Mj_OXckANixzMZg6rVBfyVCILNfA3TMmFoD6ZdODk0nyPo7KuuwppSbaZmaqAULqiqHOEAwCwDErbfgiWR9GWN8J/s1600-h/09-26-09-058.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389486751284682914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6mRzaOntgMHOcJoi8CblGnxEoKJdXjVcedTKr9YHJpS_qOlrO5_9Mj_OXckANixzMZg6rVBfyVCILNfA3TMmFoD6ZdODk0nyPo7KuuwppSbaZmaqAULqiqHOEAwCwDErbfgiWR9GWN8J/s400/09-26-09-058.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKwPqd8WSz6GfcjbeHLhZyAOTQTKn6Yp6t9TugxMJ6PX_CtEC3gGb4LyR3sYFb0r3_H5_BL6HJ-r_nc-fAAPqqvLzLJHP2FE6gC6UySAeYlHx3utYZ6h-LSDsRKAthyphenhyphenfxoCTuujWiu-5L/s1600-h/09-26-09-056.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389486745197210098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 310px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKwPqd8WSz6GfcjbeHLhZyAOTQTKn6Yp6t9TugxMJ6PX_CtEC3gGb4LyR3sYFb0r3_H5_BL6HJ-r_nc-fAAPqqvLzLJHP2FE6gC6UySAeYlHx3utYZ6h-LSDsRKAthyphenhyphenfxoCTuujWiu-5L/s400/09-26-09-056.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLQMVBYBMKIulOCOOkB-Sn1CgykJi7jzJPsvq7R6AnqhgBB5oTaEp94IcQUyKNfn6ouhkfaq7c8v5DX9nfRtTU2LW0GWRoTfbw28RBmhpc4f0_cdF2bpfwFeSigaCc1M3Fxeqeveorxsp/s1600-h/09-26-09-055.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389486737356737602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLQMVBYBMKIulOCOOkB-Sn1CgykJi7jzJPsvq7R6AnqhgBB5oTaEp94IcQUyKNfn6ouhkfaq7c8v5DX9nfRtTU2LW0GWRoTfbw28RBmhpc4f0_cdF2bpfwFeSigaCc1M3Fxeqeveorxsp/s400/09-26-09-055.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIFhCNm9qhC7Jm7L5WQRT7GrWxcOZjnxeTmKzJHKH_02JfjQAloOCx5kWZrXCWD2ucXnUPUlrFkJQV9ddsTkrQ-K7Lcw53FHsS3M5b39BdKcwhJLhS9d8Vsx4CZbtuSttcqoOYQOwGTvI/s1600-h/09-26-09-021_edited-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389486227400351842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIFhCNm9qhC7Jm7L5WQRT7GrWxcOZjnxeTmKzJHKH_02JfjQAloOCx5kWZrXCWD2ucXnUPUlrFkJQV9ddsTkrQ-K7Lcw53FHsS3M5b39BdKcwhJLhS9d8Vsx4CZbtuSttcqoOYQOwGTvI/s400/09-26-09-021_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidegXgyigaN-UeRuMFf8XL8L4ILD9HYKpK-gCLifYo7fN25ZMlgGdXanzGpUheR-xdo36BQAl-tHfA5Dn12oOMYLx3wTLfboFpoNXuFOGwynuMaorSUua8qwQ5W-TbUwnaYE6lC5SI4dq1/s1600-h/09-26-09-020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389486221559711618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidegXgyigaN-UeRuMFf8XL8L4ILD9HYKpK-gCLifYo7fN25ZMlgGdXanzGpUheR-xdo36BQAl-tHfA5Dn12oOMYLx3wTLfboFpoNXuFOGwynuMaorSUua8qwQ5W-TbUwnaYE6lC5SI4dq1/s400/09-26-09-020.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yy9TNRlXOItdV86Yg9qKL4ULW3lgMpdQRa7sTvo1a1vLdF8upCuCtzabg58n9rCudlK7zIu_0otzWEdMc7m9S4SvCwRn60UblPP8bgPAMaDO7_CILuRHmAPhjYPmGChZyASL7kc0Lpp5/s1600-h/09-26-09-011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389486212208390578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 339px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yy9TNRlXOItdV86Yg9qKL4ULW3lgMpdQRa7sTvo1a1vLdF8upCuCtzabg58n9rCudlK7zIu_0otzWEdMc7m9S4SvCwRn60UblPP8bgPAMaDO7_CILuRHmAPhjYPmGChZyASL7kc0Lpp5/s400/09-26-09-011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aVL-7pLKACsKEVpO_W2qZSG5Y0hw-uoYlONw09I7n6AfKniFRJ1T_fNCJEYQV4qjzCcaxSMDOw3dDt1iWIIif1weEd73-l5vXGDjPJhXDT8lR0AA3Pn6Y8bFLZTpmx8a7sVzZpNNYWPD/s1600-h/09-26-09-004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389486206015124290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aVL-7pLKACsKEVpO_W2qZSG5Y0hw-uoYlONw09I7n6AfKniFRJ1T_fNCJEYQV4qjzCcaxSMDOw3dDt1iWIIif1weEd73-l5vXGDjPJhXDT8lR0AA3Pn6Y8bFLZTpmx8a7sVzZpNNYWPD/s400/09-26-09-004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NNt7Yf0YefqJ_UuFM1A01i-bwRyIXHBzhmPMwL3iyPMOPhUTuwPEkrfCfRoLUVi-0xeMBGiDSDseyZGHPum-gVXX1taOW8HyklUjNWJgvZXZq7K0yWLYexXffzmVTEgar0T8pfF7LlRE/s1600-h/09-26-09-002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389486197311473746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 348px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NNt7Yf0YefqJ_UuFM1A01i-bwRyIXHBzhmPMwL3iyPMOPhUTuwPEkrfCfRoLUVi-0xeMBGiDSDseyZGHPum-gVXX1taOW8HyklUjNWJgvZXZq7K0yWLYexXffzmVTEgar0T8pfF7LlRE/s400/09-26-09-002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADL-7wnzYVAmtMUAW8toy2l3aviR83OKSXpBtf84DNb-4spbd49OSdAtXufh9EevSM4zamHJRk9scuRgZ3DfE6sO3uzOMnJGJXP3BGoWJSRNEx-D2tyxgCmGFHVTHJeeQB_wJ_anbXK4_/s1600-h/09-26-09-037_edited-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389485390734499474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADL-7wnzYVAmtMUAW8toy2l3aviR83OKSXpBtf84DNb-4spbd49OSdAtXufh9EevSM4zamHJRk9scuRgZ3DfE6sO3uzOMnJGJXP3BGoWJSRNEx-D2tyxgCmGFHVTHJeeQB_wJ_anbXK4_/s400/09-26-09-037_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2de1DSU6jAbV3wW45r5qMYpINS-QZQazQ-6h6v1uHYo7CC0x3DEEQA5aYQF7VX3ywoUo-SEGHjw2P1aPPG-TsaAp1FINvE5FiGMsu7q1rcJxRgBMVIqLC9pGjguh_ALZaECrF6WEZ19M8/s1600-h/09-26-09-036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389485382861510770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2de1DSU6jAbV3wW45r5qMYpINS-QZQazQ-6h6v1uHYo7CC0x3DEEQA5aYQF7VX3ywoUo-SEGHjw2P1aPPG-TsaAp1FINvE5FiGMsu7q1rcJxRgBMVIqLC9pGjguh_ALZaECrF6WEZ19M8/s400/09-26-09-036.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbB4b37pc0HhjxA38eKvwCZ51ZYQzaXB7bIZEzc3OymctDjEhbaYurcLTmhaTHEwLaIRFo9Vh3eakBJko6-gFgLgQXIM1DA18znbv801AegjJXAWsj-GQL_MBcocz-YaxhPKjyDBwq1Hr/s1600-h/09-26-09-035_edited-1.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddoj2b3ppiKVkyLDTiKswiSrejVKpQp1wDaBMsGTLE_c3vX52dVGwKGKhqqIM9Oy5PN7HKGtkGozeq9AH8pIUXqdJ6wiKDkaDCXH5b9qxCvos8A6-KXb8XR5lq0IsjDrEdFJUPLN4pRZK/s1600-h/09-26-09-028_edited-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389485370695530370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddoj2b3ppiKVkyLDTiKswiSrejVKpQp1wDaBMsGTLE_c3vX52dVGwKGKhqqIM9Oy5PN7HKGtkGozeq9AH8pIUXqdJ6wiKDkaDCXH5b9qxCvos8A6-KXb8XR5lq0IsjDrEdFJUPLN4pRZK/s400/09-26-09-028_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfB5sGEVUW9HVZ5qzZUq_Oc57LsojMheNcWoasrsKhH_1rboV7hzVHeohtglayxRxf37mQ0ObZuwgvk85DETKHWnkVa30TG2HZLjsM23fn1ZCRKuIQJe4b684VaI2MyDEyJZ5x2Ka05Sl/s1600-h/09-26-09-024_edited-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389485356300925954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 223px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfB5sGEVUW9HVZ5qzZUq_Oc57LsojMheNcWoasrsKhH_1rboV7hzVHeohtglayxRxf37mQ0ObZuwgvk85DETKHWnkVa30TG2HZLjsM23fn1ZCRKuIQJe4b684VaI2MyDEyJZ5x2Ka05Sl/s400/09-26-09-024_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Emily also had a first last weekend (guess it was a weekend of big firsts!). She lost her first tooth. As it was quite late on the Saturday and I had little change left I told her to keep it safe until the following night when we'd leave it out for the tooth fairy. Well, that night never came as Emily (and I'm sure it is ONLY Em that could do this)......swallowed it! Yup, she decided she'd try to put it back in and swallowed it instead. Well, I couldn't imagine the tooth fairy would want to go anywhere near it if it did make an appearance (and I decided not to wait for the appearance either) so she has been warned that swallowing her teeth will not make her wealthy and has promised not to try the same trick again.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389457902652575330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHwk38Pk9kOvkjgPOSIz_HwKjDhkti9B2FDC-08pLR7SHIXIudpGcZxXqla0NzKumXyVii_hDl2kqjmRpTk_7U577qhJjT8HL0ZzrkiN4oQwIb3HjXHkkeIkZB4PaSIvz8-sphAOJVX2X/s400/09-27-09-002.jpg" border="0" /><br />I did mention that it was my birthday last week and I had a lush chocolate cake from the girls in the morning (yup chocolate cake at 7am......good eh?) and a new bead for my troll bracelet along with slabs of chocolate everywhere I looked.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389457896911596930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 375px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUaHyZ9YeMhTtr5tk9bbwZJnSnVALSgNKITibIljDLJTgatYVrGdnev8dQZX__LuWvWl800lkfldzWcjsxtqzVOb5o8QodTvZd2IrkOfQv3ucSFNzkqLEWFGbjpm95Wg0tGMciBYpuFsA5/s400/09-27-09-006.jpg" border="0" /><br />Later in the day I also had a nice delivery from Interflora of some gorgeous flowers and yet more chocolate (needless to say there hasn't been much weight loss in the last couple of weeks).<br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389457888876820450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxODHXaSBkou7_ZqgjoldcqB1s-Ms9CVu5PNRiETVqc78B0xrS-HITXGC6w0D4ozYqM_kn7kz0ytsWyTOb3GPZpdF8qcOkMjxUc0GBc9tATlUdtSEGuVTf3pbdImwkln-xVZi59C3esSUh/s400/09-27-09-009.jpg" border="0" /> Sunday was a bit of a blur, with getting all ready for Pete's homecoming. He came home late Monday afternoon and was surrounded by girls demanding hugs and kisses. The jet lag certainly kicked in though and he was a gonner til gone midday on Tuesday. Strange to think that he's literally home now for about 10 weeks but having been given a 'to do' list as long as his arm it'll keep him out of mischief (and the beer fridge). </p><p><br />So we celebrated his first weekend home with a lush meal at <a href="http://www.yukisan.co.uk/">Yukisan</a> and pushed the boat out with some oysters thrown in. I realy should take my camera next time I go as the way they present the food is gorgeous. I've always resisted the authentic Japanese sit down tables though as I'd never get up again. I do love this place and it's so special. We're blessed to have two Japanese restaurants now in Plymouth and I've eaten at both. Koishii is really good too and the food was delicious but the menu is less extensive. I will however say that the staff at Koishii were so friendly when we went. </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389460007643964770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 170px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 170px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_IK7PzkwqorJFebmX7Fu-YRpnp8V6DiJIo_dMYF9iHQNYN4pF7a3BAZ9xJH4tGhkmzRGqBL1qj_OMRuveIhI7-GQdelU1ouoMSmyyVJydhW4KgZ4jqq-3lsgH-MBQ767P9notQwAyp3kk/s320/381.jpg" border="0" /> This weekend we also had the sponsored Pom Pom walk to raise money for <a href="http://devonstartwirlersplymouth.blogspot.com/">Devonstar Twirlers</a>. Despite it being a bit on the windy and chilly side, the girls did themselves proud and the rain only first appeared after we'd finished and ended up in the park. Can't wait to see how much we raised. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389462945813689570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 358px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 289px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxl3WKSLvrkR30hR7byyEoKJNRHRYKvL7g56CNrY_l0nKUmhecCUFhew-Y6Oigt-Ac0Ck8KQMpdySXT7oZT9mj7YIfFhvxNwar3qt0WuNiDXu5lut7NXq7wqgiCiVYfGHy_rTtkDcY3L8/s400/9019_145431962443_710187443_2758278_1190333_n_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><p>We had our first training session since moving to the new hall in Ernesettle and what a difference. We now have a great hall with loads of space and plenty of height. I took advantage a little too enthusiastically and have only now begun to be able to walk properly again but each week I do hurt a little less. I'm going to take the camera along with me this week and get some more shots of the girls for the web page. I also got my troupe tracksuit which looks great and I've bought one to put back for Emilys birthday next month.<br /></p><p>The onslaught of birthdays began last month and now we have Natashas, Robs and Emilys all before Xmas.........me thinks it's going to be an expensive couple of months. Especially as I'm now saving madly for course fees. </p><br /><p>Freya is up to her eyeballs at the moment with drama rehearsals. She has a full dress rehearsal infront of a couple local schools today and then the big performances are tomorrow and Thursday night. So I'm off to see her tomorrow and to be honest I can't wait for it to be over and done with as this has taken a hell of a lot of time in rehearsals.....I'm beginning to think of Freya as some strange ghost type figure who occasionally occupies the front bedroom...we hear her but never see her!</p>Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174267954372534360.post-37813766397030166292009-09-26T22:30:00.004+01:002009-09-26T23:35:59.895+01:00A long emotional week....<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQ8L6wTR8Kx4uWbQQWdX2pViSxALyR6UuZp55TcQTxoPWAET6bNvUp24OPPjYvfAHfonmT9Wwj67-zeqUtNxdmTVMBss__4kmiEim_Zoxut03y3jsaXXryxkNsI5k7GPbnPTBIZnLOK2l/s1600-h/09-26-09-065_edited-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385906972084364194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQ8L6wTR8Kx4uWbQQWdX2pViSxALyR6UuZp55TcQTxoPWAET6bNvUp24OPPjYvfAHfonmT9Wwj67-zeqUtNxdmTVMBss__4kmiEim_Zoxut03y3jsaXXryxkNsI5k7GPbnPTBIZnLOK2l/s400/09-26-09-065_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />....which ended with my cousins wedding. This was a day of very very mixed emotions. My girlie being Bridesmaid, looking all grown up and knowing that she has grown up more in one night than she would have wanted to cope with. Seeing Freya with Paige is always a joy....they don't get to see each other very often but there is a very special bond between them. As I was proud of Freya, I know that Emma would have been looking down on Paige filled with pride at just how beautiful her daughter had become and how wonderful her little sister Louise looked. </p><p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385906974922364706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZrm9UrarwEWAqUXIMjvDcvRxWcSEZApFZP6l_O4nlplVosJ8RM5qWTeP9Ugl4MLPcSuCcIdZEn5IJ8k4Qy6jgoAXfnZVjp8isibp4-WlOFUAQYs651Bs0uBaPPp8iqDMGvD3Z-Px7Ksv/s400/09-26-09-076_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /><br />They really do make a special couple and the love was there for everyone to see. I'm so grateful to my friend Kath for sitting for me with the little ones today so I could go to the wedding. Was nice to see a lot of the family had come over from Guernsey with a lot of promises made before I left to keep in touch that bit more. </p><p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385906983260244530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 238px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzL-h7DdwiS2I9hm302PJQfj1KLc7YMlzuFd5MUwMfkmho9TbUvBGK_ZUMvakAQjsyPYLCvGMQ6UU14uafeOlvlTEuOl-KT5Lu4lkq1LusGNFTghs44idgOWevkgUTjlo_mk1mBe3krjm/s400/09-26-09-100_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /><br />It's been a tiring end to a tiring week. I've been poorly since before last weekend and am only just now coming out the other end with it and yet I've had so much to do with prep for the wedding today, getting ready for the imminent arrival of Mr F on Monday and major stuff going on with twirling, drama, swimming and mountains of homework.<br /><br />The car has once again been freaking me out. It conked out three times on the way from South Brent to Saltash last night, once on Carkeel roundabout at rush hour...luckily I'd cleared the roundabout just about or I would have definately had a car up my arse! </p><br />It was also my birthday this week although with the really bad cold i've had it did take the shine off slightly. However, my little beauties welcomed me in the morning with a chocolate birthday cake, copious amounts of chocolate and a new bead for my troll bracelet which is a silver heart. Then I had a little interflora delivery of some beautiful flowers and yet more chocolate from Mr F. I was a happy snotty bunny. Will post the photos of that when I'm stuck for some photos!<br /><br />XXX<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385906961712638226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuD3-Wnptqgl6t9QAsKTO69c1yze6y_wC57qGMaVV87Bc_Lp98_FvBgJcqwddPVcF9RYdVdSURStvI12rWNq2tDdqu3v7Swq6f8UCSv6i-EgXG_-S14is4hstUO6QQnkVyACQcouiGKWmw/s400/09-26-09-035_edited-1.jpg" border="0" />Terrie Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09427688051665090650noreply@blogger.com0