Sweet Serendipity

Out Of Action

2006-09-13T17:02:00.000+01:00

I am no longer posting on this blog. My new blog is set up and on the go.

For the address, leave me a comment here and I'll come visit you, or email me at serendipitystars@googlemail.com

2996 - A Tribute to Dennis M Carey

2006-09-11T09:00:00.000+01:00

Like the majority of bloggers taking part in this tribute, I didn’t know the man I’m writing about. And like many of the other bloggers, I wasn’t quite sure what to write about somebody I’d never met.

Dennis M Carey died on September 11th 2001 in the World Trade Centre. He was there trying to save the lives of the thousands of people trapped inside.

Dennis was a family man, he had a wife and 2 children. He worked hard as a New York City fire-fighter for almost two decades, and for seven years before he died, he’d begun working with Hazardous Materials Company 1 in Queens.

He loved to travel with his wife and 2 children. He spent Sunday September 9th at Robert Moses with his wife, children and some good friends. He spent a happy and relaxed day there and even had a seagull steal his hamburger.

Dennis also loved to do home cooking. Gourmet cooking at that. He had every Bon Appetit magazine going back 15 years and the recipe had to be followed exactly. No improvisations were allowed.

His claim to fame was that when he was at a Diana Ross concert in Madison Square Gardens, she picked him out of the audience during her performance of “Muscle” and he was on stage with her. His picture was in the papers the next day.

Dennis is a man I would’ve been honoured to know. He brought happiness, laughter and love to many people.

He died doing a job he loved. He died doing something he was proud of.

I hope you are at peace.

New Beginnings

2006-08-31T17:06:00.000+01:00

Thank you to those that have left comments and emailed me. I will contact you individually when my new blog is all set up and ready to go. I'm in the process of copying all my old stuff over, and Tom is going to work on designing me a new template.

For me, I think some of my best penmanship has been on this blog, and I don't want to lose that. Unfortunately, I am going to lose the comments, but I've seen myself grow, and I don't want that to be taken away from me.

I don't want to move blogs. I like my blog name, I like my ID, I like my readers, I like being Sweet Serendipity. It was supposed to be my safe zone, but down to one second of stupidity on my part, I lost it all. I now have to go from something I love, to something that is only OK.

I don't trust people very easily. In fact, I can count on one hand the people I completely trust. Tom and Jack are the two people I would trust with my life, but even Jack doesn't know about this blog. That's how personal Sweet Serendipity was to me.

I've tried hard to keep the identities of myself, my husband and my best friend, anonymous, as do many fellow bloggers, but even that is amusing to some people. My name isn't Serendipity, my husbands name isn't Tom and my best friends name isn't Jack, but so what?

The things that go on this blog are about my life. They define me as a person. To ridicule what goes on here is to ridicule me. To some people, it might seem acceptable to make fun of what I write, but to me, its offensive.

Maybe I've over-reacted and maybe I don't need to move blogs at all. But for me, I need to know that I'm not judged by the things that I put on here.

So although I'm sad about the move, I'm looking forward to the things it will bring.

My Blog, My Way

2006-08-30T19:45:00.000+01:00

I hate to do this again. I've done it before and I didn't want to do it again, but I'm having to up sticks and move to somewhere better.

I won't be posting my new link here, but I'd love for you guys to come visit. Email me at serendipitystars@googlemail.com to find out where I've gone.

I'll be here until September 11th 2006 to do my tribute to Dennis M Carey

How can something so simple, be so complicated??

2006-08-29T18:29:00.000+01:00

Once again I am annoyed at the incompetency of so called “professionals”. Once again, I find myself helpless and dependant upon other people. Other people who can't/won't do anything for me and quite frankly don't give a shit as long as it isn't them that's inconvenienced. .

Farking incompetent people.

I went into the bank on Saturday armed with my marriage certificate to change my name.

“I'll get that done for you Mrs B. You're current card will stay active until you're new one comes through. I'll get a new cheque book and credit card ordered for you too. I can't order it until Tuesday because of the bank holiday, but I'll put a note in my diary so that I make sure I do it.”

“Great, thank you very much”

So why then, do I get a phone call today telling me that my card has been cancelled. Somebody else went into that lady's diary today and instead of ordering me a new card because I'd changed my name, she went ahead and ordered my card as my previous one being lost. Therefore being cancelled. Therefore leaving me with no way of accessing any money until my new card comes through. Which I have been quoted as 7-10 days, although it USUALLY doesn't take that long. No guarantees though.

They volunteered to transfer money into Tom's account for me. They said I could go into the branch with ID and they'd take some cash out of my account for me. But after having my bag stolen a few years back, I don't like carrying much cash on me.

So it's their mistake, yet I'm the one that's got to deal with the inconvenience of it all. Fair to say, we won't be setting up our joint account with them.

I feel violated.

I can't use my bank account because I have no card.

I can't park my car in my designated parking area for fear of it being vandalised.

I can't have a day at home with my husband without being called a skiver by my father

And I can't write what I want to on my blog because of people taking the piss out of me.

When did it all get so hard?

Me - SINGING!

2006-08-23T19:22:00.000+01:00

This is one of the songs I recently recorded in my studio session. See what you think!

Big Brother

2006-08-23T17:14:00.000+01:00

I know big brother is over now, but this clip of Nicki was just hilarious. I think they should put her down and put her out of of her misery

My Space

2006-08-22T15:28:00.000+01:00

I've succumbed and gotten myself one of these my space accounts.

Can you tell I've had the day off and am feeling a tad bored today??

New Sofa

2006-08-22T15:15:00.000+01:00

My freshly delivered new sofa. Isn't he gorgeous??

vandalism

2006-08-22T11:42:00.000+01:00

Look at what the little shits did to my car.

They've also had the badge off the front of our new car.

You wait til I get my hands on them!

The Pain

2006-08-20T12:56:00.000+01:00

I don't know what I've done, but it HURTS!!

My lower back, right hand side. I woke up with it this morning. I don't think I did anything yesterday to spark it off, maybe I slept funny. But it bloody hurts!!

So, Pete won Big Brother on Friday. I must say, I'm really glad it was him. I just hope he sees sense and runs far far away from Nicky.

Our new sofa is being delivered Tuesday. We found out yesterday. Any time between 9am and 5pm. Crap isn't it? One of us now has to try and organise a day off at short notice. Otherwise try and get someone to sit in all day for us. It sucks.

The X-Factor started last night. I don't usually watch it, my reality tv shows tend to be Big Brother and I'm a Celebrity, Get me Out of Here. Last night though, we were at my parents and they love things like that, so we started watching.

People ask me why I don't go and audition for something like that. The truth is, I know I'd be turned away. I know I'm better than people that were there, I mean, some of them were just god awful. It surprises me that their friends and family let them believe they're good enough to audition. On the other hand though, there were a few that were absolutely amazing and I know I just don't compare.

There ends my dream.

I Must be Mad

2006-08-19T12:07:00.000+01:00

OH

MY

GOD!!!!!

I've joined a gym.

This is gonna be the death of me!

When Will I Be Famous.........?

2006-08-17T17:27:00.000+01:00

I've made the mistake of telling my boss and a fellow trainer at the new place that I have a blog. They have made it their mission to find it, so, just in case they do, this is for them: “Bugger off and leave my blog alone!!”

In all seriousness, I'm not that fussed, it's just fun to keep them on their toes. And they both enjoy a challenge.

The recording studio was great fun. I had Tom and Jack there to support me which was nice. I was so nervous when I did my first song, but I did eventually relax. I have a disc with my name and picture on it. Only thing is, I'm not really sure what to do with the CD now. I know I'm not good enough to make it, but at the same time, would I be wasting an opportunity if I didn't try? And if I do try, who should I be trying with?

And yes, we did get the car in time!!

The house is a mess at the moment. I'm hating it. OK, hate is a strong word, but I just wish that it was a home, not just a house. We've been here six months now, and there is no excuse, we're both lazy and things just don't get done. It's starting to get to me.

However, the curtains did get put up in our bedroom this week, so here is a picture especially for Ladybird!!

I think they go quite well!

I'm now off to the shops to spend my Next vouchers that I got for my birthday, and in an effort to be nice, Tom has said we're eating out! Score!!

When I'm famous, I'll never have to cook!

If only......

so many incompetent people, so little time

2006-08-11T16:27:00.000+01:00

This week has been a right one for dealing with incompetent people. Insurance documents not being sent out, people not being able to understnad that I am no longer Miss X but now Mrs B. And even after I tell them that, they still call me Miss X. How difficult is it to understand? But for them to change it formally, I have to send them my marriage certificate. I work in a hopsital. I know that if someone gets married and changes their name, we don't need to see the marriage certificate to change it on the system, and it's a fucking hospital. Ok so if they want to be so pedantic that they can't press a few buttons on the keyboard, ok, but at least after I tell you on the phone, call me Mrs B when you are speaking to me, not Miss X. That's MRS B!!!

It's been touch and go as to whether we get our new car today. Thankfully, we are. I think. Tom is there now. If he manages to get to the post office in time to tax it, we'll have it today. If not, then it's tough shit to us.

I hate having to depend on people for stuff. I hate that so much is out of my control and that I have to depend on people, who quite frankly don't give a fuck if I get my car tonight, or if I get my life insurance, because it's not their problem.

I came close to breaking point last night, but I managed to control myself. But after speaking to the bint (thats mild in comparrison the the other four lettered word that ends in T that I actually want to call her) at Scottish Provident today, who I am so tempted to name on here, and if enough people ask me to, then I will, I reaching breaking point and I cried. At work. And I hate doing that. But I feel so stupid because it sounds like such a little thing, but it's a little thing on top of a million other little things and it really was the straw that broke the camels back.

Deep breaths. It's the weekend, and I'm going to a recording studio tomorrow.

Sorry.......

2006-08-02T18:38:00.000+01:00

I've been crap with my posting I know. PC has been in bits for the last few weeks but it all seems to be up and running now.

Two major bits of news.

Firstly - We have bought a new car. We haven't actually got it yet, but hopefully we will next week. Its a Volkswagen Golf GT TDi. It's lovely!!

Secondly - I have booked my recording studio time. I'm going on August 12th and I'm spending 5 hours in the studio recording 5 songs onto a CD. I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOO excited!!!

Thursday Thirteen

2006-07-20T17:36:00.000+01:00

Thirteen Things about My Week

1 - I haven't done one of these in a while, but it's been a busy week, so it's the easiest way to fill you in

2 - I started in Dudley a week early. So this week I have been getting to know my new colleagues. They're all really nice so far.

3 - I am getting increasingly pissed off with Sarah. Twice in the last week, she has tried to organise stuff with me. Her idea, her proposing it, and both times she has bailed out for no valid reason. I just wish I had the courage to tell her where to go, but I'm just not that kind of person.

4- Tom has decided to finish off his motorbike lessons so he can get his licence and eventually get himself a bike. So my treat is going to be going into a recording studio and making myself a professional CD. I'm SOOOOO excited!

5 - We desperately need to get shot of Tom’s car. Things are starting to go wrong with it and it’s going to cost a fortune to fix, so we’re gnona get a new car. It’ll predominantly be mine, coz Tom’s gonna get his bike. Until then, Tom will have my car. We’ll swap some days, to make it fair though.

6 – The weather has been really hot this week. It’s too bad that we’ve had to work. It’s almost like being back in the Dominican Republic, but with no air con

7 – We bought a photo album at the weekend to put all of our wedding photos in. Now we’ve just got to find the time to do it.

8 - Tom’s dad fixed our cooker at the weekend. I still hate my kitchen, but at least the cooker works now

9 – We’ve bought a new sofa at last. It’s still going to take a few weeks to arrive, but at least I know it’s on its way

10 - We’ve been sitting on cane conservatory furniture since we moved in. it’s not that we’re not grateful for it, coz we are, but it’s getting a tad too uncomfortable now and we cant really relax on it.

11 – Tom is currently outside painting our front door. We had a new one fitted just before we went away and we haven’t got round to painting it yet. It’s boring old white. I wanted a proper colour, but my HUSBAND wouldn’t go for it.

12 – We’re having our wedding presents delivered from John Lewis on Tuesday. I can’t wait!

13 - We went to see the new Superman movie at the weekend. It was only ok, I wouldn’t bother getting the DVD when it comes out.

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Under the Sea

2006-07-12T21:19:00.000+01:00

Well, after the positive response I got after my wedding pictures, I decided to put some other pics up. So here are some Scuba Diving pics.

And some Dolphin pics

It's been my first week back at work this week. Talk about a drag. It's weird being there. I haven't been at my base for a few months because I was in Warwick, now I'm there this week and next and then I'm off to Dudley for at least 3 months. I'm going over to meet them all tomorrow. My boss is coming with me. I have no idea why. Well I do, she just wants to get her face known. It's not like she actually cares about me or anything.

Urgh, and I've got my first smear test booked for next week. Can't say I'm looking forward to it!!

Holiday

2006-07-05T21:47:00.001+01:00

I have had the most amazing two weeks.

I didn’t want it to end. To say it was the holiday of a lifetime is not exaggerating. I don’t even know where to begin.

We got there on the Tuesday afternoon and boy was it hot! The Wednesday was just spent lounging around the pool and finding our bearings. On Thursday we experienced our first (of many) Caribbean storms. It stormed every day at around about 3pm. Our wedding was booked for the Monday at 3.10 pm. Needless to say we were a tad worried.

Somebody was on our side, because the Monday was the first day we didn’t get storms.

On the Thursday it was my birthday, we had a trip to Ocean World planned. I’ve always wanted to swim with dolphins, and on my 25th birthday, that wish came true. It was truly amazing.

Tom’s dad got us an extra special gift while we were out there. Something we weren’t expecting. He paid for us to go SCUBA diving. Again, something amazing that I never dreamed I’d do.

OK, so you want photo's?

As you know, I was a little dubious as to whether to put any on or not, but it would be a bit unfair if I didn't, so here you go....

This is me on the balcony, before the wedding

This is still in the room

This was when I arrived at the "altar"

Signing the Register

Wedding Rings

And this was the last photo of the day

Yes, my dress was RED!!!

What do you think?

Back to Reality

2006-07-05T14:28:00.000+01:00

Landed at 0430 GMT at Birmingham airport.

I am tanned and covered in mossi bites, but I am also a married woman.

Photo's and stuff to follow

School's Out For The Summer

2006-06-16T15:01:00.000+01:00

I am officially on holiday.

I left work early today.

I am really nervous.

Sarah hasn't said whether she's coming tomorrow or not, so I'm not going to chase her, I'll just confirm numbers with her not in it. She knew I needed to confirm today.

This will be my last blog post as a single woman.

We're back in the country on July 5th 2006.

Wish me luck!

The Wedding Looms

2006-06-14T17:07:00.000+01:00

The Internet is a weird and wonderful thing. It opens up a whole new world. A world that you may never have come across if you hadn’t ever used it.

I was having a major stress yesterday. I wanted to order some stuff for Tom, and nowhere had it in stock. Plus we had some window cleaners come to our house and they trampled over my garden. My FIRST EVER attempt at any kind of gardening. I was so upset. It was enough to tip me over the edge. There have been tears the last two days because I’m so nervous, but none today thank goodness. But the first person I talked to about it was someone I’ve never met, but I am proud to call a good friend. A friend I wouldn’t have made if it weren’t for the blogosphere. She's been great. I just wished she lived this side of the pond!

I invited Sarah to my hen night. I wasn’t going to, but I thought I’d offer an olive branch. At first she said yes. Now she’s not sure. I wish I hadn’t bothered. She’s not coming to my wedding and now she might not even be at my hen night yet she has the audacity to call herself my friend. You know what though? I’m not even that bothered that she won’t be there. It’s not like I wanted to invite her. I only did it to be polite.

We had to start taking our Malaria tablets yesterday. I woke up this morning with one hell of a headache and then I was sick.

I can’t believe it’s my last two days at Warwick and then that’s it. I’m off work for 3 weeks. They bought me a photo frame and a bottle of Cava as a thank you. My work guys got me some vouchers and a bottle of something.

We’ve got some of Tom’s friends coming over tomorrow night to bring us a present and the cards are already starting to pile in. It’s really happening. A whole year since we booked it and suddenly its here!

OH

MY

GOD!!!!!!!!

Nervous Wreck

2006-06-12T17:38:00.000+01:00

The nerves have finally hit me. I woke up this morning with a really nervous feeling. Maybe because its my last week of work before I get married.

I feel so unprepared. I’ve been babbling like a mad woman all day.

I’ve got my hen night organised. Nothing major, just going out to a restaurant and maybe a few drinks after. I didn’t fancy the typical, rowdy, drunken night. Plus, my bridesmaid is only 15 (granted – she could pass for 18) and I couldn’t have my hen night without her there. Jack is going to be an honorary hen. Tom and I had to have our stag and hen nights on different nights; otherwise Jack couldn’t go to both. I know he’s male and shouldn’t be on a hen night anyway, but he’s my best friend and has known me longer than Tom has, so it wouldn’t feel right not having him there.

I am a little bit disappointed coz I’ve had quite a few say they couldn’t make it because they already had plans, so there isn’t actually going to be that many of us there. Which is one reason I didn’t want a hen night at all. I’m quite tempted to cancel and just not bother. So if any girlies are going to be in the Alcester area on Saturday night at round about 8pm, drop me a line, lol!

I did race for life yesterday. The weather was so hot I now have strap marks. I REALLY could’ve done without that. It’s not a good look and I’m going to look ridiculous in my wedding dress if they don’t fade.

I have bought myself a bridal magazine today so I can look at some hairstyles. I know, I’ve left that quite late haven’t I? Oh well. There’s a salon at the hotel, so I will take a picture there with me and maybe have a practice run.

I fly out a week tomorrow, so I will most likely blog again before.

From one secondment, to another

2006-06-09T17:42:00.000+01:00

My boss is loving me at the moment. I have just volunteered for another secondment. My third in a year. This time in Dudley. I'llbe training different stuff this time though, and I'll b e in on it from the very beginning so I'll be sat in on their Train The Trainer sessions.

How I’m going to cope with the accent for 3 months is beyond me. But hey, it means I don’t have to see my boss, so who am I to complain. I just hope the people are nice. The people in Warwick have mainly all been lovely. In fact, they want me to go to lunch with them next Tuesday so they can “present me with something”. It’s my last week, so I’m guessing its just a little something to say thank you for helping them out.

It’s my Race For Life on Sunday. So I am going to make one final bid for people to sponsor me. Cancer affects us all in some way. If we are fortunate to never get it ourselves, we more than likely know of someone who has. My brother beat cancer when he was 17, but it was touch and go for a while, we didn’t think he was going to make it. Last year, a friend of the family died of secondary cancer. She’d had breast cancer some years back. But it cam back with a vengeance and there was nothing they could do.

This is why it’s important to me. I want to be able to raise some money for a cause such as this. As a charity, Cancer Research UK rely overwhelmingly on the success of fundraising events such as Race For Life to continue their life-saving research into the prevention, treatment and cure of all forms of cancer.

I could be raising money to help someone you know.

Please sponsor me. It doesn’t have to be much. You guys across the pond can still sponsor me too as its all done on line.

Thanks guys

Taking me for Granted

2006-06-07T17:12:00.000+01:00

I've been at Warwick since April 10th. Since then, I’ve been training every single day. I know my job is as a trainer but at least when I’m back at base I get admin days. I need them. It gives me a break from training. I think that’s why I’ve been so tired.

I’ve been covering for a girl who has been off with “stress”. Yes, “stress” with inverted commas. This girl is 23. She has been married for a year. She hasn’t just moved house. Her husband does all the cooking and washing and she pays her mum £20 per month to do her cleaning for her. She doesn’t lift a finger. Now, I know we don’t always know what goes on behind closed doors, but what could she be stressed about?

I’m planning a wedding. I’ve just moved house. I do all the cooking and washing, and I share the cleaning with Tom.

She’s been back at work for nearly 4 weeks and she still isn’t training. She has sat in with me twice. She was supposed to train today, but bailed out on me. I was looking forward to having a break. It’s my time of the month and I’ve had a cracking headache all day. Everyone is getting pissed off at her.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

I need a holiday.

It’s been a bit weird over the last few days. I’ve been trying to sort out my car insurance, which is due on 1st July. Because we get married on 26th June, I’ve had to refer to myself in my married name. So I’ve been called Mrs B and asking to put my husband on my insurance. Very weird!

We have an ant’s nest in our garden. We come home from work to find ants crawling in our hallway. Anyone got any suggestions for getting rid of them? I dread coming back from holiday and finding out our living room has been taken over by them.

I’m doing Race for Life on Sunday. I’m quite looking forward to it. Here’s hoping I don’t fall over and break my ankle That would NOT be good timing!!

Job Offer - Part 2

2006-06-02T17:24:00.000+01:00

I went for a chat at the dental surgery that offered me the job yesterday. I would love to be able to take it. But I cant. When they said it was 20 days annual leave, I presumed that meant 20 days plus the 8 bank holidays. What it in fact meant was 20 including the bank holidays. At the moment I get 27 days, plus 8 bank holidays, so a total of 35 days. Tom gets 25 days plus the 8 bank holidays, a total of 33 days. That means if I take this job, in effect I lose 15 days holiday. That means that Tom will have 13 days leave that he has to take on his own, without me. Not an ideal way to start married life.

Plus my hourly rate would be about 88p p/h less, but I’m working more hours, so my annual salary wouldn’t really change. So I’m losing 3 weeks holiday, working more hours, for no more money. Where is the benefit?

Another thing is that I’m taking 3 weeks annual leave this month for my wedding/honeymoon, and as our holidays start from April and go through to March. Therefore I wont have accrued that much holiday, so if I leave before I have earned it, I will have to pay some of it back. We can’t afford for me to lose that much money.

C’est la vie

Beauty Therapy

2006-05-31T18:28:00.000+01:00

Our tickets arrived at the end of last week. That means it's all official and in 2 weeks and 6 days, we will be flying off to the Caribbean! YIPEE!!

Last weekend I bought the last of my holiday clothes and my wedding make-up. This weekend is –hopefully- my last dress fitting! I have booked my pre-holiday bikini wax and eyebrow shape, but the beautician lady was a tad pushy and now I’m going in for a slimming treatment on Friday. All of this was done over the phone. I could have been a size 6 for all she knew and yet she was talking me into a slimming treatment. Oh well, lets hope it works.

I am so tired at the moment it’s untrue. All I want to do is sleep!

Did anyone see LOST last night? I knew Shannon was going to die, but that’s not how I read it was going to happen. It all happened a bit quickly really.

I tell you what; ITV and Channel 4 should have really conferred with one another. I’m trying to watch Celebrity X Factor (GO MOYLES!!!) and Big Brother, yet they’re on at the same time. Which results in me channel hopping. Tom is not impressed!

I don’t know how I’m going to survive 2 weeks without Big Brother!!

Job Offer

2006-05-25T17:37:00.000+01:00

So this job interview I went for last week... They offered it me.

I should be elated right? It's the job of my dreams, with the pay that I want. So why aren't I excited?

It means losing 7 days annual leave per year, that 's working days. It also means working some evenings, weekends and bank holidays. What to do...

Haven't got the energy to think about it right now. I've been so tired this week. Tired and slightly nauseous. This week has pretty much been a blur. Can't believe it's Thursday already.

Mum and Dad got their tickets this morning. Why haven't I got mine?

Guest Poster Wanted - I Think

2006-05-23T15:39:00.000+01:00

I might have mentioned that I'm going off to get married soon? I fly out 4 weeks today in fact.

I was wondering, do you think I should organise some guest posters to keep my blog ticking over? Or will you faithful readers return when I come back? If you think I should organise some guest posters, does anyone want to volunteer for the job?

Wedding Bells and Baby Blues

2006-05-22T12:10:00.000+01:00

Friday went without a hitch. The bride looked beautiful. The bridesmaids and pageboy walked down the aisle perfectly. The groom was on top form. But most importantly, the rain held off until after the photos.

We arrived at where the ceremony was taking place. My mum greeted my brother and started to well up with tears. I on the other hand was fine. Or at least I was until the bride started to walk down the aisle. I started to choke up, but I managed to hold it together. Until the vows. When my brother started reciting his vows, I started crying. It came as such a shock to me because I really didn’t expect to. I had to ask my mum for a tissue!!

The sun even came out a little bit for the photos. The dinner was gorgeous. The speeches were heartfelt. So much so, that yes, in my brothers speech, I blubbed! Again, I didn’t expect to. I think its just because our wedding is so close, it got me all emotional. This could be good or bad. It might mean that it’s all out of my system and come our wedding day I’ll be fine. Or, it might mean that come our wedding day, I’ll be even more of a blubbering wreck!!

The bride and groom have gone to St Lucia for their honeymoon. My brother kept it secret right up until the last minute. Not even the bride knew and the only reason we found out is because on Saturday night, my brother rang my dad to tell him. The bride still didn’t know at that point!

I saw my sister on Saturday. She actually pulled her finger out and came to visit my mum with her two sons and grandson. So I met my great nephew for the first time. He is 6 weeks old and absolutely gorgeous.

I’m broody at the best of times anyway, but now I’m so broody I have this aching feeling inside of me that I just want to have a baby. I even had a dream last night that I was pregnant and in labour. Today, I’m training a bunch of midwives. You have no idea what this is doing to me.

I’ll be ok in a few days time. The logical part of me tells me that I’ve got plenty of time and it’d be much better if we waited a few years, but the maternal part of me can’t wait that long. Unfortunately, I don’t have a choice. Tom and I have agreed to wait, so wait I must.

I Should Have Known...

2006-05-18T20:00:00.000+01:00

After all that worrying, my sister didn't turn up on Wednesday night anyway. Dad had spent the afternoon trying to call her, but she wasn't answering, so he left messages, which weren't returned. So he turned up there, and she was in. She said she wasn't going to come because she didn’t want everybody staring at her. As if the world revolves around her anyway. This week is about my brother and his wedding. No one else. Instead, she reckons she’s going to come on Saturday and bring her grandson with her. So at long last my mum gets to meet her 2 month old great grandson. About time. Lets see shall we?!

The Italians are over at the moment. They consist of my uncle (my dads brother) and my cousin (my mum’s nephew). It is VERY loud at my mum and dads house at the moment. Trying to get someone’s attention is pointless. The wedding is tomorrow at 12.30. The weather isn’t looking promising. Forecast says showers and wind. It was lovely and sunny today for a while. I went to get my hair done. It was looking all lovely. Then as soon as I walked out, the heavens opened and I was about 10 minutes away from my car. I was wearing a white top, which was see through by the time I got to my car and my lovely hair wasn’t so lovely anymore. I was not a happy bunny.

I had a job interview today. Don’t want to say too much about it just yet, but I think it went well. They want to see me again next week anyway.

Right, I need to go. I have a wedding tomorrow to prepare for. Fingers crossed for the weather.

Rain Rain Go Away

2006-05-15T12:45:00.000+01:00

It's raining. It's Monday. My brothers wedding is on Friday. What are the chances of the rain stopping before then and us having some decent weather?

It's 6 weeks today until I get married. Th lady in the shop DID pin my dress the other day. So she reckons it'll be back within 2 weeks and then I should go in and try it on again to make sure it fits properly. That means I absolutely must not lose or put on any weight in the next 6 weeks. She also showed me how I should pack my dress and what to do with it when we get over there. She was very helpful. All I have to do now is figure out what to do with my hair.

I'm in a quandry as to what to do. Obviously, we're going to have photo's of our wedding day. You guys have shared the excitement and seen it happen. However, this blog is supposed to be anonymous, yet I want to share my photo's with you. Hmmm, what to do?

Families

2006-05-12T15:25:00.000+01:00

Last night Tom and I went to Touchwood Shopping Centre in Solihull. I might have mentioned we’re getting married next month, so we went to John Lewis to complete our wedding list. We’re not expecting many presents as we’re only having a small wedding, but we wanted a list for the people who wanted to get us something but didn’t know what to get. We had great fun. They give you a little barcode scanner and you go round the store scanning the things you want.

Anyway, I’m digressing.

We also went and got our sun lotion for when we go away. It WILL be sunny. Or at least it bloody better be!

This time in 5 weeks, we will have been there for 3 days already!

While writing this post, I’ve just had a phone call from the shop I’m getting my wedding dress from. I was supposed to be having a dress fitting tomorrow. My dress used to fit perfectly, I’m sure of it, but last time I tried it on, we decided it was too big round the bust, how I don’t know as I’m very well endowed in that area.

Anyway…digressing again.

My fitting has been cancelled, as the dressmaker can’t it. My bridesmaid is still going in for hers, as her alteration is a simple one, so the lady in the shop is going to pin it. However, she doesn’t feel comfortable doing mine. So it’s been put back until Thursday. Which gives them just over 4 weeks to adjust it, get me to try it on again, make more adjustments if necessary and then steam it to get the creases out. That’s not a lot of time.

I have also just found out that on Wednesday night, my sister will be at my mum and dads to see my cousin and my uncle. I haven’t seen my sister in nearly 3 years. She isn’t a pleasant person. She never calls my parents. Ever. She didn’t even send them a card for their 40th anniversary. Tom has never met her, and I was hoping he would never have to. She ALWAYS causes a scene. She caused a scene at my mum and dads 30th anniversary party. She refuses to come to my brothers wedding. She has a son who got his girlfriend pregnant. That means my parents were about to become great grandparents, and she didn’t even bother to tell them until my parents rang her for something. She doesn't care about anyone but herself.

Mum wants me to ignore all of that and just play happy families. Well I can't. I don't like the woman. I don't hate her, I'm indifferent to her. She means nothing to me. I could walk past her in the street and quite happily ignore her.

I think I might make my excuses and not be there Wednesday night. If she was that bothered about seeing the family, she should have accepted the invite to my brothers wedding.

txt spk

2006-05-11T15:20:00.000+01:00

Y do ppl ryt lyk dis? Duz ne1 els fink its stoopid or iz it jst me? Wat r ur forts on it?

Dat iz de end of dis pst. Gd job 2. It’s ard to ryt lyk dis.

Road to Hell

2006-05-10T21:51:00.000+01:00

Right, so I'm in a training room, all set to do my training. I have 8 computers, but 10 students. You do the math. Maths isn't my strong point, but even I know that's too many of one and not enough of the other. So they had to double up. Not the best thing to do. Especially when they're a loud group anyway and the room is pokey, small and stuffy.

Then halfway through the morning, all the computers crash. I log them all back in. Twenty minutes later, they crash again. I log them all back in. Two minutes later, they're all out again. My delegates ended up having a one and a half hour lunch break and went to the pub. The afternoon session went ok and they all left.

My journey home was a nightmare. A 45 minute journey took me nearly 2 hours because some lorry had broken down on an island. It was hot in my car and I don't have air con.

It's my time of the month, I have a headache, and I have cramps.

I'm off to watch Desperate Housewives

Help me settle an argument!

2006-05-09T12:22:00.000+01:00

Ok, girlies, I need your answer to this:

Where do you keep your hairdryer? Do you keep it plugged in, or do you religiously unplug it and put it away everyday?

Stupid Fucking Idiots

2006-05-07T21:45:00.000+01:00

This is how stupid the people who used to live here before were.

This is the door in one of our spare rooms. Look at the hinge expertly placed on the OUTSIDE!!

Muppets!

Judas

2006-05-07T08:51:00.000+01:00

As you know, my brother is getting married in a little less than 2 weeks. Last night was his fiancée’s hen night, which I went on.

Over the last month or so, I’ve been a tad worried as to who might be going to their reception, as there is a particular someone that I don’t really want to see. I was fairly certain that they wouldn’t be there as they are having quite a small reception. However my fears were confirmed last night when the wife of the person I don’t want to see said to me “see you on the 19th”.

When I was about 9or 10, my brother was quite good friends with this person. He would often be round our house and they would hang out.

One night, I was in bed and this guy was still at our house. He went upstairs to the loo and then came into my room. He sat on my bed and talked to me for a while. I didn’t really know why he was there. The next thing I knew was he asked if he good give me a goodnight kiss and before I could say or do anything, he was kissing me. Not just a kiss on the cheek, but a full-blown kiss.

Now I know that in comparison to what some people have been through, this is nothing. But it’s stayed with me throughout my life. He took away the special thing that should have been my first kiss.

I never told my mum and I never told my brother because I thought they’d think I was making it up.

I did tell my mum just over a year ago and she told me I should have told them sooner. She wanted to tell my brother but I stopped her because I didn’t want it all coming out.

So now he and his wife (who is lovely) are going to be at the wedding and there will be no avoiding him. So yes, I’m feeling a bit nervous about it all and I’m keeping everything crossed that we won’t be on the same table. I wont cause a scene. It’s my brother’s big day and I don’t want anything to spoil that for him. I’ve always just tried to stay away from him, but won’t be able to happen this time.

Imagine the slimiest guy you know, double it, times it by ten and you’ll be close to how slimy and horrible this guy is.

Wish me luck everybody!

Impatience is NOT a Virtue

2006-05-05T12:41:00.000+01:00

Some people should not be allowed to use a computer. Simple as.

I’m usually really patient with my students, but today I’m finding it difficult. Don’t get me wrong, my group are lovely, but I do have a particularly difficult lady. She’s not very good at using a computer, she’s not very good at retaining information and she’s awful at listening to me. One of those I can cope with, all of them and you have an inpatient trainer.

I also have a group of 3 who keep chatting over me. Now I don’t mind people having a chat, but if I’m talking to the group, trying to explain something, I expect the group to listen to me and not carry on their chat about what they were doing last night.

I think my patience is so low today because I’m tired. But also frustrated. Tom and I have both been so tired and so busy this week that neither of us has had the energy to, well, you know. We were also at Jack’s last weekend, so it’s been a total of a week and I’m getting tetchy!! I’m not used to it being this long.

On a higher note, last night, Tom and I went to the cinema to see Ice Age 2 - The Meltdown. If you haven't already seen it, then you should, it was brilliant! Next film on my list to go see is Confetti!

46 sleeps to go!!

Late Nights and LOST

2006-05-03T12:56:00.000+01:00

I’ve somehow managed to hurt my back. And no, not in the way you’re thinking of. I had a coughing fit last night, a mix of the weather and my asthma I think, but afterwards, my back was really sore. Lower back, right hand side. I have a bit of a twisted pelvis – yes I’m strange, but I thought that if I went to bed, I’d wake up this morning and it’d be gone. No chance.

So today I have taken the following drugs:

My contraceptive pill

My vitamins for healthy hair skin and nails

2 anadin ibuprofen tablets

2 pro plus tablets

2 more anadin ibuprofen tablets

The pro plus was just because I was feeling so tired this morning. We’ve had a couple of late nights recently and they are starting to take their toll.

Talking of late nights, last night was one of them. The second series of “LOST” started. Can someone tell me what the hell is going on there? So many questions. Who ARE the others? And what the hell is Locke on? Why is Desmond in the hatch? Can’t someone just go and rescue them and put an end to my misery. I’m enthralled in it, yet somewhat annoyed!!

48 sleeps to go!!

Not Enough Hours in the Day

2006-05-02T15:02:00.000+01:00

49 sleeps to go until I'm on a plane heading off to the Caribbean! Anybody would think I was excited or something silly like that!

This weekend was spent at Jack’s helping him decorate his flat. He’s planning on moving over near us so just wants to get his place fit to sell. I’m SO tired it’s untrue!

It’s my brothers’ fiancée’s hen night this weekend; think it’s just going to be a quiet one. I can’t believe my brother is getting married in just over 2 weeks. I’m so pleased for him. He deserves to be happy, and the girl he’s marrying is lovely! My uncle from Italy arrives 2 weeks today. I have my haircut and dentist appointment booked for 2 weeks tomorrow. I don’t have much time left to get a tan and I want to try and get a pedicure. So much to do, so little time!

It works out that the guy who’s going to be my brothers’ best man has broken his foot. He isn’t in plaster, but he certainly won’t be able to run round on the wedding day sorting things out. Lets just hope it all runs smoothly.

My beloved Sony Ericsson K750i is dying. It needs to be sent off for repair. They won’t provide me with a replacement so I hope it will come back quickly. It also means I have to faff about with removing my numbers. Tom reckons we can synchronize my phone with the pc and back everything up. I hope so.

We have a double-glazing sales man coming round tonight. Tom and me are hedging bets as to how long he’s going to stay. Any longer than an hour and he will be asked to leave. We only want a new front door, but no doubt he will try to sell us windows too. He was supposed to come last Wednesday but didn’t turn up because apparently, he got lost and wrote down Tom’s number wrong. The fact that they called Tom earlier that day to book the appointment was irrelevant!

Did I mention we fly out in 7 weeks?

Who Am I?

2006-04-28T14:23:00.000+01:00

I stole this from Raehan

I AM: just a girl. I am a friend, a sister, a daughter, an aunty but best of all, I’m someone’s other half.

I WANT: a family of my own. A nice house, a comfortable financial situation. A happy marriage
and a new kitchen

I WISH: I could fast forward into the future 5 years to see what I’ll be doing, where I’m living and what my kids are like. I wish I could’ve seen Take That in concert

I HATE: being used and lied to, especially by people that claim to be my friends. I hate my kitchen. I hate the fact that we have an ants nest in our garden.

I MISS: having a girly friend to confide in. I miss my old job and the people I used to work with. I miss being a dental nurse.

I FEAR: that my endometriosis will come back and that I won’t be able to have children. That would totally and utterly destroy me

I HEAR: footsteps in the corridor and the kettle boiling.

I WONDER: what the Dominican republic will be like and I wonder if Tom will like my wedding dress. I know my mum doesn’t. I wonder whether my sister will at least come to my mum and dads house when my uncle and cousin from Italy come to visit. She hasn’t seen them in about 15 years, maybe even longer.

I REGRET: my fiance not being my “first”. I regret choosing the wrong friends. I regret my past relationships, however, had I not made those mistakes, I wouldn’t be who I am now.

I AM NOT: a morning person. I’m best left to my own devices until I’ve had a cup of coffee. I am not good at trusting people.

I DANCE: when I'm on a night out and I am tipsy

I SING: in my car, in the kitchen, in the living room, in kareoke bars. I used to be in a band and sing at weddings!!

I CRY: when I get overly worried about something or when someone has hurt me. I cry when I’m watching something soppy on tv. I cry when I’m hormonal or over tired!

I AM NOT ALWAYS: on time. In fact, very rarely am I on time

I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: my future

I WRITE: because I get bored and it’s good to have something to do. Plus, we all need a place to vent!

I CONFUSE: easily!! I get confused with mortgages and anything technical.

I NEED: to get some colour before my brothers wedding. Sunbeds all the way!

I SHOULD: tidy up more but it’s so time consuming and there’s far more better things I could be doing with my time

I START: rambling when I get nervous. I talk and talk and talk!

I FINISH: each day with a hug and an “I love you” from Tom

I TAG: Texas Lass, Nikki-Ann and She of the Handbag

Maths Never WAS My Strong Point

2006-04-26T12:29:00.001+01:00

In an earlier post, I said I was getting married in a little over 10 weeks. I was wrong. How could I have miscounted that??!!

I get married on June 26th, so, correct me if I'm wrong, but I have checked and double-checked this time, and I make that to be under 9 weeks now. I'm not sure if that makes me feel excited or nervous. A bit of both I think.

One thing that hurts is that this should be one of the happiest times of my life, but given the situation with Sarah, I feel like I've got no one to share it with.

Another thing that upsets me is that Jack won't be there. I know that was a risk we took when we opted to get married abroad, but Jack was all set to come. He was coming with Sarah. Because Sarah let me down, it means Jack can't come. And I wouldn't expect him to come all that way on his own, he realises that after the wedding it's our honeymoon and therefore it's "us" time. I don't think Sarah realises how her actions affect other people.

If my parents weren't coming to the wedding, it would be Jack that would give me away. Maybe we can set a link up with a web cam so that even if he can't be there, he can still see us get married.

We went to pick Tom's suit for the wedding up yesterday. It's lovely. It is exactly what he wanted and it fits like a dream. We're both really pleased with it.

All we need now is a Spanish translator to translate our documents to take with us. After that, I think we're pretty much sorted.

Roll on June!!

On my High Horse

2006-04-24T22:51:00.000+01:00

I got on my high horse a little bit today.

As you will have probably heard on the news, the NHS is in the middle of cutting thousands of jobs throughout the country.

For those of you across the pond, the NHS is our healthcare system. It provides doctors, hospitals etc.

I work for them, not in a clinical post, but in the IT department. Our team is somewhat overstaffed, that's why I've been seconded for a while, because we have staff to spare. My job is at risk, and seeing that it's always me that gets seconded everywhere, I'm clearly the most dispensable person. Therefore I'm hedging my bets that it’s going to be me that goes.

What annoys me though, is that in the news it's all sympathy for the nurses who might lose their jobs, but what about us in the admin roles? Our jobs are just as much at risk as the nurses, so why aren't those roles in the news too?

I absolutely realise that the nurses play a vital role in the service, but so do we, and I don't think we get as much publicity as we deserve. Is it not just as important that we can afford to pay our mortgage and feed and clothe ourselves too?

I feel bad at the thought of anyone losing his or her job; it’s a worrying time for us all, not just the nurses. We’re all in the same boat and that should be acknowledged.

I’m in my 3^rd week of my secondment now. I have tomorrow off as annual leave. Next week is a 4 day week because of the bank holiday, I have 3 days off later on in May for the run up to my brothers wedding, then there’s another bank holiday at the end of may. Then it’s June and it’s the month I get married!! Yay!!

But also the month I turn 25. BOO!!!

Sunburn

2006-04-23T10:49:00.000+01:00

I'm currently nursing a slightly sore sunburn.

Sunburn?! In the Midlands?

This is where I 'fess up and admit that I went on a sunbed. I don't go over the top on them. In fact, last year I only went on once. However, seeing as my brother is getting married in just under 4 weeks and I'm getting married in just over 10, I decided I needed a little bit of colour. I'm Italian; I wasn't born to be pasty.

Last week I went on, and to kick-start the process, I went on for 12 minutes. Come the evening I was a little rosy cheeked, but I wouldn't go so far as to say I was burnt. So I decided this week, not to go on for so long and went on for 10 minutes instead. Why then, are the back of my legs bright red and really sore? The rest of me is starting to look brown.

I took my mum to see my wedding dress yesterday. I didn't take her dress shopping with me as are tastes are extremely different and there is no way that she would have let me have the dress I chose if she was with me. It's too late now, there's nothing she can do about it.

I love my dress. I can't say too much about it on here coz the other half reads this blog, but let's just say it's not as traditional as it could be. So I must say I was a tad disappointed that she said "Yeah it's ok, but would be better if it was xyz." She then proceeded to show more of an interest in the other girl in the shop who was trying dresses on, as hers was xyz.

However, on the plus side, my folks did give me and Tom a rather hefty cheque yesterday which means that we can afford to get our new kitchen put in! YIPPEE!!!!

You have NO idea how happy that makes me!!

If I Could Turn Back Time....

2006-04-21T17:32:00.000+01:00

Ok, so the many reason for starting a new blog is that my old one, my best friends knew about. Well, so what? You might ask.

I think it's true and fair to say that the ones closest to us are the ones that hurt us the most sometimes. The point of a blog is to have somewhere you can talk about things without causing hassle in your personal life. I couldn’t talk about things that are going on where I knew my friends were reading it.

If I could change one thing, right now it would be that just over a year ago, I hadn’t introduced my two “best friends” to each other.

Since then, I wouldn’t necessarily say they had become close friends, but friends most definitely.

I know it shouldn’t be a problem, and up until now it wasn’t.

One is male and one is female. Lets call them Jack and Sarah.

Jack and I have been friends for about 5 years. Admittedly, our friendship got put on hold while I was engaged to a control freak who wouldn’t let me have male friends, but when I met my now fiancé, he had no problem whatsoever with me seeing Jack. In fact, Jack and my fiancé, let’s call him Tom, have actually become quite good friends themselves.

Recently however, Sarah has been a really bad friend to me, but a really good friend to Jack. I’ve known her 6 years. She hasn’t seen my new house yet, and not because she hasn’t been invited. She bails out on plans we’ve made at the last minute then asks me to do something with her at 48hours notice and gets offended when I tell her I’ve had plans for the past month. She then says it was only an idea as over the next few weekends, she’s going to be busy visiting people. Well shouldn’t I be one of these people she’s visiting? If your supposed “best friend” moved to a new pad, wouldn’t you be itching to see it? I haven’t actually seen her since December. She told me she wasn’t coming to my wedding via a text message. How harsh was that?

What I want to know is when I stopped being good enough? Was it when she found out she was pregnant and I was the only one who stood by her? Was it when she told me she was pregnant the second time and in a bad situation in her relationship and again, I stood by her? Was it when she told me that when she told me she lost the second baby, she lied, in fact she’d had an abortion and I didn’t judge her? Was it when we travelled 2 hours to see her 5 weekends in a row to help her move house and get settled? Or was it when we allowed her to our home at 4.30am after she’d had a nasty encounter with the ex and Tom and I hadn't had any time to ourselves for weeks?

For Sarah, its now a prerequisite that if she sees us, Jack has to be there. This weekend she’s arranged to meet up with Jack and as an afterthought invited me.

I give up with her. She’s not worth the effort. My life is busy enough without having to deal with her thoughtlessness.

At least, if I hadn’t introduced them, I would only have to put up with the situation with Sarah, now I have an awkward situation with Jack too. Changing my email address and phone number sounds like a good idea at the moment.

I don't hold Jack responsible, he's just trying to be the good guy.

I’ve realised that the only person I can truly depend on is Tom. Without him, I’d have nothing, I’d be nothing. Yes he pisses me off sometimes, but isn’t that what other halves do? I know I piss him off, I know I can be immensely difficult at times. But we’re a couple and we work at our relationship. I know I probably don’t make it known to him enough, but I love him dearly and he’s the one thing in my life I WOULDN’T change. He's my best friend, my lover, my rock.

I don’t want my blog to be me having a moan about stuff all the time, but I DO want to be able to vent my frustrations.

From now on, this is where it happens.

Getting to Know me

2006-04-21T15:47:00.000+01:00

Here are a few superficial details about me.

5 Things in my fridge
1. Milk
2. Eggs
3. Salady Stuff
4. Cheese
5. Lemonade

In My Closet
1. Lots of shoes
2.A brown gypsy skirt
3. Black Trousers
4. White Shirt
5. Decorating Clothes

in my handbag
1. my purse
2. My Diary
3. Hairbrush
4. Proplus
5. My work ID badge

in my car
1. Sunglasses
2. Bluetooth headset
3. Plates to give back to my mum when I see her
4. A car park pass for work
5. Various CD’s

in my DVD Collection
1. Every series of Friends
2. Beaches
3. Notting Hill
4. City of Angels
5. Bruce Almighty

I tag . .
no one. But let me know if you play.

A Fresh Start

2006-04-21T14:49:00.000+01:00

Here begins my fresh start.

A place where no one knows about. A place that I can be myself. Where I can say what I really want to without having to be discreet in case I offend someone I know.

This is MY space. My safe zone.

Let the good times begin.