Chrimble Eve...

Well, it is Christmas Eve...and we are off to my parents in a short while, but I thought I'd update my blog first...before I drink to much mulled wine and have holes in my memory...

So what have I been up to? School was very busy! We took year 3 to see 'The Snow Queen' at the Watermill Theatre (http://www.watermill.org.uk/) and what a great show it was. The kids loved it, Anna and I want to go and see it again...it is what Theatre as all about...GO SEE IT!

Last Saturday the boys went Chrimbo shopping, as did the girls...which was more successful than last time when Lou and I spent the aftrenoon eating pasta and drinking red wine...although it depends how you define successful! We then met up in Lock Stock for a drink before heading to the Nawab for a curry. The highlight of my evening was seeing Putin as legoman (not that I suggested it!) but it did make me chuckle!! A lot!!

Friday night it was out for Chrismas drinks. Sadly Putin and Noo couldn't make it as Noo was poorly (Get well soon Noo!) We went in a variety of pubs, drank a range of beverages and my stomach hurt from laughing too much! In the Late Lounge, Lou met a couple of christmas ladies in the loos and asked them to join us! Poor Carl got lumbered with Random Man (who was with Chrimbo ladies) who proceeded to talk Carl's ear off about cars and speaker systems etc...we left in the end for Carl's sanity more than anything else! One word here...chav....says it all!

So, that is prechristmas for you...feeling a little crap due to hangovers yesterday...but looking forward to lovely Chrimbo dinner with Mo and dad tomorrow...Mmmmmm

Joshua's 1st birthday party

Time goes so quickly! I can't believe my nephew is 1 tomorrow!
Today was his 1st birthday party for the family (tomorrow he has one with his friends!) Joshua kept everyone entertained and seemed to enjoy himself. He enjoyed the bricks mum and dad got him (as did we all!) and playing with any mobile phone he could lay his hands on! I have to say, his reflexes are super-quick - he grabbed his birthday cake before anyone could have stopped him! We had party food (you cannot have a party without cheese and pineapple sticks and jelly and ice-cream!) which was very yummy. So, Happy 1st Birthday Joshua! (Oh and doesn't my brother look fetching in this 1st birthday hat which looks like a dunce hat to me!)

Which film do you think he's from?

Carl had his work do last night in Oxford. I was chauffer taking him there and returning to pick him up. (Aren't I nice...and I was exhaused too!) It was a fancy dress affair and these theme was Hollywood. Carl was this outfit (very nice!!), but what film was he from? Answers on a postcard....or in the comments!

The 'hole' weekend.

So, my parents came up for the weekend. Intead of them seeing the house all nice (and warm) they get to see the hole in the kitchen (which got bigger after we removed the rotton ceiling)...well they did see the rest of the house but that became the focal point!

Friday night we just chilled out with a glass of wine and a DVD (Constantine - not quite sure what they made of that!) Saturday was almost a right off. Carl was desperately tring to sort out the stupid leaky valve below the boiler and not having much luck. Dad was foreman (and a big help - thanks dad!! xx) and suggested they sort it out while Mo and I went Chrimbo shopping in Newbury (which was the original plan!) So we did. Mo and I had fun exploring the shops...and she managed to do ALL her Christmas shopping...I managed 3 gifts! Oh well! In the evening we had roast chicken and I cooked roast butternut squash (they'd not had it before) and pototo and sweetpotato mash (they'd not had that either!), we watched Strictly Come Dancing and Charlie and The Chocolate Factory!

Sunday we went to the Toby Carvery (more yummy food) before taking Mum and Dad on a quick walk along part of the canal - sadly it was muddy and dad's wheelchair didn't like it! I then drove them home, had a cuppa and headed back...by the time I got back to Reading my arms felt like the were made of lead! I blame the traffic on the M25 - for everything!!!

Money Pit?

Look what I came home to yesterday. How annoying! Just what we needed...so no heating AGAIN! What a pile of pants!

The words 'money pit' were banded about and I am just waiting for the moment I fall through the ceiling and get trapped Tom Hanks style.