Last year the women of the family had such a great time in Edinburgh at Christmas time we are already organising our next visit. It seems like every weekend in December get booked up fast-in families and apartment rentals so we are acting quickly. I love sites with loads of advanced search facilities and I quickly lose it with the ones that can’t do this. Some sites take pay pal which means that all the hard earned cash from those ebay sales will be worth it and we can have quite a cheap trip. TH has been invited as have all the males but they are not willing to go A. Shopping B. Shopping and C. More Shopping. They also don’t seem to find it very exciting to find large Christmas trees or drink cocoa at a German Market…what is it with those guys?
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Sunday, 12 May 2013
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
Mothers, how do you do it?
How do you get on? I mean, how do you juggle it all? I don’t have children, yet I find it so difficult trying to juggle time with The Husband, time with family members, a second job, housework and the first job. We live over an hour away from work and nobodys schedule is compatable meaning that I see everyone at different times. Firstly-please don’t think I am mean. I love having a family. I spent a few years not talking to most of them and I am grateful and happy we are one step away from normal now! However I am being pulled in so many different directions at all times.
I think I am going to really have to sort out some QUALITY time as opposed to lots of meetings where you say: Person 1 “What have you been up to?”
Person 2 “Oh just working and housework, what have you been up to?”
Person 1 “Oh just working and housework…..[silence]”
I think it absolutley shouldn’t matter how often you really see people, you’re meetings should be friendly and open. I’d love to have people at our house as if it was nothing. I always wanted a kitchen that everyone was in. Even when I was a child I wished my friends could come round more and just hang out. I love it when family members and friends just sort of waltz into your house and start chatting. Our house is in no way stately or fancy or lavish, but its ‘our castle’ and we hope to welcome anybody into it. I think I have an awful lot to sort out and set in place, all I know that when I have been up for 18 hours I don’t want to have a coffee in a shopping center. I know that I want friendly chats and hanging out that isn’t a chore, but an absolute pleasure.
I think I am going to really have to sort out some QUALITY time as opposed to lots of meetings where you say: Person 1 “What have you been up to?”
Person 2 “Oh just working and housework, what have you been up to?”
Person 1 “Oh just working and housework…..[silence]”
I think it absolutley shouldn’t matter how often you really see people, you’re meetings should be friendly and open. I’d love to have people at our house as if it was nothing. I always wanted a kitchen that everyone was in. Even when I was a child I wished my friends could come round more and just hang out. I love it when family members and friends just sort of waltz into your house and start chatting. Our house is in no way stately or fancy or lavish, but its ‘our castle’ and we hope to welcome anybody into it. I think I have an awful lot to sort out and set in place, all I know that when I have been up for 18 hours I don’t want to have a coffee in a shopping center. I know that I want friendly chats and hanging out that isn’t a chore, but an absolute pleasure.
Thursday, 7 March 2013
Mothers Day
Just after Christmas I bought something in the sales for Mothers Day. However a couple of weeks ago my Mum announced she would like something ‘handmade’. This may have been the first choice for many of you, but my Mum is normally really into beauty products, lotions and potions.
So, here I was, completely set aback and stumped as to what to make. There are still some aspects of the house in turmoil and the location of fabrics or even the most basic of sewing kits was one of these. The only thing for it was a trip to a craft shop to find something to make with not much time left. After a little bit of thought I have planned to make some lavender sachets as it was something my Great Grandmother made. Granny would always make these up and send us off with them whenever we visited, so I think my Mum would like that connection on Mothers Day. Another reason for this plan is that I can make them quickly, and so put lots of pretty detail into them. The Husband is poorly right now and because of travel restrictions I am doing 10 hour days at work as well as making things for TH to have throughout the day, and our tea together in the evening.
I am also making up a batch of Mums favourite biscuits, which means I can do something on Saturday when I have more time. Our original plan was for Mum, my Grama and Brother to come out on Sunday, but with TH coughing and sneezing non-stop I really don’t think it will be the best environment. Plans will have to be re-made so that we can meet up somewhere, so I am quite frantically looking at Mothers Day lunches-and the weather this weekend isn’t going to be nice….wish me luck!
So, here I was, completely set aback and stumped as to what to make. There are still some aspects of the house in turmoil and the location of fabrics or even the most basic of sewing kits was one of these. The only thing for it was a trip to a craft shop to find something to make with not much time left. After a little bit of thought I have planned to make some lavender sachets as it was something my Great Grandmother made. Granny would always make these up and send us off with them whenever we visited, so I think my Mum would like that connection on Mothers Day. Another reason for this plan is that I can make them quickly, and so put lots of pretty detail into them. The Husband is poorly right now and because of travel restrictions I am doing 10 hour days at work as well as making things for TH to have throughout the day, and our tea together in the evening.
I am also making up a batch of Mums favourite biscuits, which means I can do something on Saturday when I have more time. Our original plan was for Mum, my Grama and Brother to come out on Sunday, but with TH coughing and sneezing non-stop I really don’t think it will be the best environment. Plans will have to be re-made so that we can meet up somewhere, so I am quite frantically looking at Mothers Day lunches-and the weather this weekend isn’t going to be nice….wish me luck!
Monday, 4 March 2013
Everywhere I Look Around
The Husbands Birthday is very soon and I can't help but plan and organise it along with all of my Easter ideas.
Thursday, 28 February 2013
Ferris Bueller Has Nothing On Me
Days off mid week are utterly delicious. They are like stolen gems of time and are enormously more fun than a week-end. Those are simply days off for working all week. These are the days spent chasing those chores that slipped away when you came home too tired. Week days spent lounging are like a month of Sundays-rare, but even the thought of them make your toes wriggle with delight.
Tomorrow is one such day. Tomorrow is for hanging washing on the line outside, a big pot of tea and the papers. It is for a big breakfast and for a jaunt into town. It is for a look around the delis and charity shops. It is for tea and cake where ever we wish to visit. For garden centres and gardening. Tomorrow will be good.
Tomorrow is one such day. Tomorrow is for hanging washing on the line outside, a big pot of tea and the papers. It is for a big breakfast and for a jaunt into town. It is for a look around the delis and charity shops. It is for tea and cake where ever we wish to visit. For garden centres and gardening. Tomorrow will be good.
Monday, 18 February 2013
Needing a break
This weekend has been so mixed up and very tiring-physically, emotionally and mentally. There were some unpleasant things on Thursday which meant that TH and I had no Valentines to speak of, and spent Saturday driving to Edinburgh in a bid to sort ‘things’ out. We have hopefully done as much as we can, and the rest is completely out of our hands. I hope I don’t seem like I’m speaking in riddles or trying to be very cryptic, I just wouldn’t want to say things about my family, yet I really need to get some things out.
All of the bad, sad, scary and infuriating things aside we did have a drive to the capital and we did go the long, lazy coastal route which made an awful journey a little better. We stopped off at half a dozen coastal villages and spent lunch time at St Andrews which I love unequivocally. I don’t know if it because it is a University town and I always feel better as soon as I am at my own alma mater. It was time well spent as we almost forgot what was going on and it was nice to look into all of the different charity shops and boutiques. It made me think back to the time we took The Nephew down to St Andrews as an impromptu trip due to it being a nice day outside. Being there reminded me of nicer times and although I can neither will myself out of these trials or study my way to a solution, I feel like one way or another it will have to be gotten through and so I had better hold tight and get to that point.
When we finally got home it was a little after one, so due to an early start on Sunday when we sat down in the afternoon we collapsed into the sofa with cups of tea and were dead to the world in ten minutes. I hope better weekends were had by all!
All of the bad, sad, scary and infuriating things aside we did have a drive to the capital and we did go the long, lazy coastal route which made an awful journey a little better. We stopped off at half a dozen coastal villages and spent lunch time at St Andrews which I love unequivocally. I don’t know if it because it is a University town and I always feel better as soon as I am at my own alma mater. It was time well spent as we almost forgot what was going on and it was nice to look into all of the different charity shops and boutiques. It made me think back to the time we took The Nephew down to St Andrews as an impromptu trip due to it being a nice day outside. Being there reminded me of nicer times and although I can neither will myself out of these trials or study my way to a solution, I feel like one way or another it will have to be gotten through and so I had better hold tight and get to that point.
When we finally got home it was a little after one, so due to an early start on Sunday when we sat down in the afternoon we collapsed into the sofa with cups of tea and were dead to the world in ten minutes. I hope better weekends were had by all!
Thursday, 8 November 2012
Bonfire Night
Hello, hello, hello. It was Bonfire Night on Monday, but we had a mini doo at the weekend.…an option to keep us so much saner! I knew I couldn’t handle rushing home and getting things organised and we both really wanted to enjoy our first autumnal party in the new house.
On the Monday I went down to the harbour where the village was having a display. Much like the Summer Gala there were dancers, food, raffles and too much drinkies…although you really can’t beat fresh caught fish on a BBQ.
Saturday was so perfect, apart from my mini meltdown due to the sausage rolls not crisping up (It was the Nigella recipe with the cheese scone batter-yummy). The firework display was carried out by The Husband and although I felt sure the back garden was about to go up in smoke several times only the lawn was singed.
It was such fun, not because the party was any actual real success, but because it was just a bunch of people we love and care for spending time with us in our home. Although by the end of the night I counted two people snoozing in separate corners of the house it was lively and the laughter roared almost as much as the fire when the wind got up and swirled around the garden almost calling a halt to the display. I take it as a compliment that people got comfortable with little Daisy Dog and a blanket (there was an abundance of blankets).
I am hoping to lay claim to Bonfire Night, I hope that nobody notices I get my invites out first and get a quivering lip if one person suggests hosting it themselves…or just having a quiet weekend.
I hope everyone had a great weekend and ate too much s’mores!
Sheila
x
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
Bonfire Night
Hello, hello, hello. It was Bonfire Night Weekend, and what a weekend it was!! Poor Hubby is still poorly and not even milking it as he is so often known to do! He got all of the shopping in for the weekend and even gave me a lift to and from work as an act of utter kindness. (Aren’t I lucky!!?)
Although Bonfire Night was Friday, we had a party on the Saturday…an option to keep us so much saner! I knew I couldn’t handle rushing home and getting things organised and we both really wanted to enjoy our first autumnal party in the new house.
On Friday I went down to the harbour where the village was having a display. Much like the Summer Gala there were dancers, food, raffles and too much drinkies…although you really can’t beat fresh caught fish on a BBQ.
Saturday was so perfect, apart from my mini meltdown due to the sausage rolls not crisping up (It was the Nigella recipe with the cheese scone batter-yummy). The firework display was carried out by The Husband and although I felt sure the back garden was about to go up in smoke several times only the lawn was singed.
Saturday was such a perfect day, not because the party was any actual real success, but because it was just a bunch of people we love and care for spending time with us in our home. Although by the end of the night I counted two people snoozing in separate corners of the house it was lively and the laughter roared almost as much as the fire when the wind got up and swirled around the garden almost calling a halt to the display. I take it as a compliment that people got comfortable with little Daisy Dog and a blanket (there was an abundance of blankets).
I am hoping to lay claim to Bonfire Night, I hope that nobody notices I get my invites out first and get a quivering lip if one person suggests hosting it themselves…or just having a quiet weekend.
I hope everyone had a great weekend and ate too much s’mores
Sheila
Although Bonfire Night was Friday, we had a party on the Saturday…an option to keep us so much saner! I knew I couldn’t handle rushing home and getting things organised and we both really wanted to enjoy our first autumnal party in the new house.
On Friday I went down to the harbour where the village was having a display. Much like the Summer Gala there were dancers, food, raffles and too much drinkies…although you really can’t beat fresh caught fish on a BBQ.
Saturday was so perfect, apart from my mini meltdown due to the sausage rolls not crisping up (It was the Nigella recipe with the cheese scone batter-yummy). The firework display was carried out by The Husband and although I felt sure the back garden was about to go up in smoke several times only the lawn was singed.
Saturday was such a perfect day, not because the party was any actual real success, but because it was just a bunch of people we love and care for spending time with us in our home. Although by the end of the night I counted two people snoozing in separate corners of the house it was lively and the laughter roared almost as much as the fire when the wind got up and swirled around the garden almost calling a halt to the display. I take it as a compliment that people got comfortable with little Daisy Dog and a blanket (there was an abundance of blankets).
I am hoping to lay claim to Bonfire Night, I hope that nobody notices I get my invites out first and get a quivering lip if one person suggests hosting it themselves…or just having a quiet weekend.
I hope everyone had a great weekend and ate too much s’mores
Sheila
Monday, 18 October 2010
Light at the end of the weekend
Ooooh, this is heaven, not only am I sitting listening to an ipod full of Tori Amos, The Beatles, Florence and the Machine, Jamie Cullum, and The Smiths, but I am still off today after an absolutely fab weekend. This is just what I needed.Last week I was on a permanent downer for some reason. I didn’t get why and just wanted the mood to go away. Then I got it, I think it came to me on Sunday while washing my face…I was so melancholic and down because the little Nephew was away.
The first weekend he came up once we came back to the quiet empty house I burst into tears. When I dropped him off last Monday I never did, I just walked back from his house, across town and went home…I never got sad…so it just followed me the whole week. A great big cloud of gloom for a whole week, as opposed to just getting the sadness out of me in one big burst! Once I figured it out I cheered right up…so many sleepless nights, so many days mooching around, and that was all it was. Its so funny that I was trying to find ‘answers’ when all along I should have just sat down and figured out when it started! I'm so glad that’s over.
On Sunday I was up really, really late because I hadn’t got to sleep until really quite late on Saturday (see gloom). Once I washed my face (see happiness of finding reasoning of gloom), I practically skipped through to the living room to find that The Husband had planned a day out with my Aunt and Uncle at Haddo House.
We nipped over there after a full English breakfast and I was able to let my Uncle see ‘Cherry cake and Ginger beer’ as he wanted to make some things and impress my Aunt, as she grew up with only Enid Blyton books and although he has never read a single one he thought that if he could say a little about them he would be the hero of the hour, how sweet! After a high tea, we walked around the whole grounds, and then back to my Aunt and Uncles for a take away, chicken and noodles, salty and gorgeous.
That was exactly what was needed
Monday, 27 September 2010
Day trips and visitors
Snuggley under blankets? Check!
Cosy warm cocoa? Check!
New book? Check!
Puppy on my lap while sitting in the sun porch as its raining outside? Check!
Well the weather outside has been rain, rain, rain..booo, but I have been hiding under duvets, blankets, eiderdowns, etc.... That was until Friday, anyway, when we had The Nephew over for the weekend.
Last week The Husband went on a stag weekend with his friends. They were out in the middle of nowhere shooting clay pigeons, getting up to hi-jinks and pretty much running about in mud like boys! I went over to The Mother in Laws house to help her look after our new little niece. My poor sister in law is really poorly at the moment and can’t bend down or do really basic tasks so looking after a teeny tiny baby is nearly impossible. So being without my husband I thought it would be a good chance to help out and see the baby. While there I’d noticed that the teenager in the house was being left to his own devices, which just won’t do!!!
So we picked up the nephew and went home on Friday night to spend the long weekend having lots of walks, stews and fun! We had a late night on Saturday eating popcorn and watching bad TV, and were planning a lazy Sunday when my uncle phoned and invited us down to St Andrews with him and my aunty to meet my cousin. Apparently they were planning to meet half way between both houses, Aberdeen and Edinburgh, but once they had decided it was Dundee and checked the weather decided on the much sunnier St Andrews! I think it also had something to do with the fact there are much more shops for my aunty to spend money in while in Dundee!!
The Husband rushed through to get the teenager out of bed while I went to get started on the pancakes, sausage and bacon (the best breakfast there ever was). About an hour later we were heading out of the village and on our way south. Three hours later we had pulled up on the main street (Yay, no waiting or fees). It was so great and beautiful down there. TH and nephew had never been and the last time I went was twelve years ago. My cousin had studied there and managed to do her best tour guide impression, which even kept The Teenager impressed and entertained. There were so many gorgeous independent shops which were a visual feast and made my aunty and myself sigh with both longing and delight.
When the walking (walking and stopping for the girls to look in shops) got too much for everyone we found a nice place for ice cream and then got lunch a short while later. With Daisy Dog tucked under the table we went for a lovely pub lunch, where we filled ourselves to the top with hearty food and lots of ginger beer and cola.
We headed home, full up and sleepy from the sea air to little snacks and early bed times. I bet the house seems so quiet when our little teenager heads to his home today. I hope it won’t be too long before he decides to come back to us (as he knows he will get fussed over!!)
x x x x
Cosy warm cocoa? Check!
New book? Check!
Puppy on my lap while sitting in the sun porch as its raining outside? Check!
Well the weather outside has been rain, rain, rain..booo, but I have been hiding under duvets, blankets, eiderdowns, etc.... That was until Friday, anyway, when we had The Nephew over for the weekend.
Last week The Husband went on a stag weekend with his friends. They were out in the middle of nowhere shooting clay pigeons, getting up to hi-jinks and pretty much running about in mud like boys! I went over to The Mother in Laws house to help her look after our new little niece. My poor sister in law is really poorly at the moment and can’t bend down or do really basic tasks so looking after a teeny tiny baby is nearly impossible. So being without my husband I thought it would be a good chance to help out and see the baby. While there I’d noticed that the teenager in the house was being left to his own devices, which just won’t do!!!
x x x x
Sunday, 29 August 2010
Blanket goodness
Hello there, how has the Long Weekend been with you? We've had such a fab time, I'm feeling very lucky!
Its just been rotten weather here, but really perfect for the HH household. We had a bit of an Indian Summer, but it then turned back into dark, dank weather-um, pretty much the same as our Summer!!! I love Autumn, Winter and all things snuggley! So we've been fine and happy! After visiting The Chocolate Bar with my friend Holly I knew I HAD to visit there with The Husband. It is the most amazing shop in the whole of the North East! There are so many chocolates wrapped up like teeny tiny jewels I can hardly count them. Its run by three women, and you can always see there little ones running around! The seats are super snuggley and cosy, and there are loads of windows to peak out at people from. When The Mother in Law visited here this weekend we all ventured over to Ellon to have a good look around and eat too much!! We had chilli hot chocolate and some cake-oh my goodness it was just too good for words!! We sat up at the counter on the super sleek bar seats and stared at all of the gadgets behind the counter....oh and the extra sprinkles for our cocoa!
Afterwards we had a lovely walk around to see some china and some beautiful old books and then back to the car via a charity shop. It was jam packed full of lovely things but most wonderfully of all-thick wool blankets!! I was so super happy that I ran at the poor Husband and begged him to hand over the cash ASAP.
All I could think of when I saw them was of an old Cherry Menlove post from ages ago!! I am so excited to get the blankets on a good wash and hang them out to dry...then I can decorate them and stick them up around the house!!
I will post some pictures later, but Im off to check on Sunday Dinner!!
Its just been rotten weather here, but really perfect for the HH household. We had a bit of an Indian Summer, but it then turned back into dark, dank weather-um, pretty much the same as our Summer!!! I love Autumn, Winter and all things snuggley! So we've been fine and happy! After visiting The Chocolate Bar with my friend Holly I knew I HAD to visit there with The Husband. It is the most amazing shop in the whole of the North East! There are so many chocolates wrapped up like teeny tiny jewels I can hardly count them. Its run by three women, and you can always see there little ones running around! The seats are super snuggley and cosy, and there are loads of windows to peak out at people from. When The Mother in Law visited here this weekend we all ventured over to Ellon to have a good look around and eat too much!! We had chilli hot chocolate and some cake-oh my goodness it was just too good for words!! We sat up at the counter on the super sleek bar seats and stared at all of the gadgets behind the counter....oh and the extra sprinkles for our cocoa!
Afterwards we had a lovely walk around to see some china and some beautiful old books and then back to the car via a charity shop. It was jam packed full of lovely things but most wonderfully of all-thick wool blankets!! I was so super happy that I ran at the poor Husband and begged him to hand over the cash ASAP.
All I could think of when I saw them was of an old Cherry Menlove post from ages ago!! I am so excited to get the blankets on a good wash and hang them out to dry...then I can decorate them and stick them up around the house!!
I will post some pictures later, but Im off to check on Sunday Dinner!!
Thursday, 29 July 2010
Little visitors
A couple of days ago The Husband and I had a lovely time visiting his Mother, when quite unexpectedly our nieces came around. It was a great surprise as I really miss spending time with little Emma, who I used to baby-sit when The Husband and I first started dating, and I never seem to get enough time with the new baby in the family, Keira. I do have lots and lots of pictures of the little ones, but i don't want to pop any up on here just yet. I'd much rather wait until they are a teensy bit older, and then I can show them off like crazy!! Although both Mums did say it would be O.K. I want to be really selfish and keep them all to myself.
Keira and her gorgeous Mummy came around first to say hello, I must say that Keira is the happiest, best behaved baby I’ve ever seen. Honestly, I’ve only heard her upset once, and she does the cutest little bag puss yawn when she is sleepy! After that she just snoozes away quite happily!! So after The Husband and I argued over who was going to hold her first we were quite the thing for a couple of hours, shaking hands, kissing her head and singing songs kept us-if not Keira-entertained!
Little Emma popped round and had us in stitches when she started telling her little stories. She had been to the showies a couple of days earlier and was still buzzing from the penny slots and pretend fire engine!
I am now starting to think The Husband and I are lucky to have this time with the little ones, but we still get to go home and out to our local for a Pub Lunch if we want! I think this especially after hearing all of the talking toys-I honestly hope its quite normal not to have these, as I won’t want these anywhere near our home when we are blessed! They are so noisy, constantly chattering away in the oddest accents, maybe when we are blessed I will be quite happy to throw these things in our child’s general direction…anything to keep them amused!!
All in all it was a lovely day and really great fun to get to catch up with so many people at once. I cant wait to have our home buzzing with the children of all our visitors, as we’ve never had a garden of our own before, and we are now so close to the beach and I'm sure Emma will agree that there would be many a pretty shell to collect there!! I really can not wait to start reading stories to Keira, lots and lots of Princess, Fairy stories, any stories, I just want to fill the heads of all children with make believe and fun!
Bye for now,
Sheila
x
Monday, 3 May 2010
Birthdays
Its my Mother in Laws Birthday soon!! Hooray. Luckily I don’t have one of those scary Mother in Laws and I am grateful that we genuinely get along…and no, I promise I'm not just stating this for the purpose of BlogLand!
The husband and I put a lot of thought into this Birthday as its such a special year. Flowers, jewellery, chocolates – all things that went through my head. An experience, spa day, or trip - all rejected by the husband too. The more I look for things the more I spot things that I want and plan to buy myself over time, or request for my Birthday at the end of the month, however none of this is getting me very far. I am hoping that all of my kind deeds I may ever have done revisit me in the form of suggestions by lovely Aunts and Sister in Laws…oh well, fingers crossed!
We will be heading to The Old Mill Inn which is a fab place to eat, drink and be merry! Its on the Lower Deeside Road which is a really pretty and leads to lots of lovely tea rooms out on the Western Road-so lots and lots of beautiful scenery!
Now I must get away and think about this further!
The husband and I put a lot of thought into this Birthday as its such a special year. Flowers, jewellery, chocolates – all things that went through my head. An experience, spa day, or trip - all rejected by the husband too. The more I look for things the more I spot things that I want and plan to buy myself over time, or request for my Birthday at the end of the month, however none of this is getting me very far. I am hoping that all of my kind deeds I may ever have done revisit me in the form of suggestions by lovely Aunts and Sister in Laws…oh well, fingers crossed!
Now I must get away and think about this further!
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