This time tomorrow check in for our flight to Munich opens and if I have my way we will be there. We are flying with easy jet so seating will be allocated at the desk and as Steve likes to try and get an exit seat, because of his long legs, it makes sense to be early. Steve would prefer to arrive at the last minute, but to have any chance of a bit of space for those long legs and to keep me happy we will go in plenty of time! I like the experience of the airport, the buzz and excitement of all those people jetting off somewhere exotic. My first ever flight was to Munich, followed by a coach trip into Austria for a ski holiday with the ski rangers (I mean sea rangers). It was an exciting holiday for a seventeen year old, Gluwine, hot chocolate and fondue evenings. The skiing was the hardest part, I remember spending most of my time in a heap at the bottom of the slope. Why then did I recently agree with Maggie that next year we would relive the experience! I must have had a moment of madness, (like the time I agreed to go to the IOW pop festival). It's well over thirty years since I took those first tentative steps on to the slopes and I'm even less sporty now and I'm sure my bones are very delicate.
My next foreign trip was a few years later when I accompanied Steve on a trip on the 'Almeria Star'. Steve was the lowly junior engineer and I signed the articles as librarian! The library was a cupboard and I did spend a lot of time scrummaging around for a book that took my fancy. It was on that trip that I was introduced to 'Neville Shute'. The officers and crew were all very friendly and I was fortunate that the 2nd Officer Nigel had his wife Lorraine on board. Lorraine was from New Zealand and she was good fun and we enjoyed each other's company all the way to Melbourne, from there she flew home to Napier.
I enjoyed the trip immensley, it was a lazy one for a wife on board as there were no meals to cook, only a smallish cabin to keep clean, our laundry to do. Long days at sea spent reading by the pool and evenings spent in the officers bar, chatting or playing cards.
Our first port after leaving Calais was Valpariaso in Chile where we spent two days unloading cars. Steve had time off and I remember taking a bus to Santiago. That night along with most of the ships officers we headed up the road into the little shanty town. As we left the the docks there were very small boys who were offering the services of their sister's! One of the Engineers must have got more than he bargained for because when we arrived in Melbourne a couple of weeks later he wasn't allowed off the ship as he had contracted 'The clap' and he had to wait until the medical authriites gave him the all clear! Our evening was spent in a bar/ bothel where the drink was flowing and the air was pungent with cannabis. Our trip continued from the australian coast up the 'Persian Gulf' to Banda Khomeni, where we spent many weeks unloading our cargo of frozen lamb. After five months on the ship I flew home from Melbourne to look forward to the next exciting stage of my life, motherhood..... Lorraine and Nigel are coming to the uk this summer, looking forward to seeing them again after so many years............

Sunday afternoon and the end of a busy weekend. Its nearly two years since we moved into our house and for twenty two months we have lived here without making any changes. Luckily the house is in good order, but were yet to leave our own mark. The reasons for our reluctance is probably two fold, Steve's keeness to sail every weekend from March to November and the my hating having the house turned upside down! Today we have started with some small changes in the kitchen.(perhaps not so small as Steve has spent the last two days dissassembling units). We have decided to move some units in order to allow for our kitchen table to be extended so that its easier to accomodate more people. We intend to keep the existing units but will replace the work tops, have a new cooker and a new sink. I say 'we', but my part in the project is puerely advisory, supportive and clearer upper! We do have a seperate dining room, but prefer to entertain our friends in the kitchen where it seems friendlier and informal!
Last night we were out at the sailing club for a chinese supper and a Maj Jong evening. We were teamed up with Denise and Jim who were excellent company, last year we had teamed up with a rather odd pair, a married couple about ten years older than us. The husband had spent all night harranging his wife, putting her down and being an absoloute b-----d. The lady responded by getting more and more drunk and eventually falling asleep at the table. We had good instruction from Gerry and Sue, but didn't quite understand how terms such as a goulash had become part of a chinese game!
I went into Fareham today to do some shopping for our trip to Germany this week. Vic had requested some supplies from blighty, among the requested items were cheddar cheese, bacon, branston pickle, ginger biscuits and aspirin. I wonder what I would miss most if I didn't live in the UK?
Heard from both sons today. Ian is in Finland and is spending a few days staying in a house by a frozen lake, he had just had a sauna and a roll in the snow! He sent me a text to say how refreshing it was:). Matt chatted on MSN and said he had hurt his ankle and that he couldn't walk on it, and that it was very painfull. I suggested that Matt go to A&E but as he has tickets for a concert tonight he would go after the gig as he didn't want to have a long wait for treatment:( Not sure how he is going to make it to the concert if he can't walk though.
I'm now on annual leave for a couple of weeks, so tomorrow I intend on a lay in and a leisurely day getting ready for our trip.

I have just read Janis's blog and feel so priveledged to have her as a friend, what luck that her parents and mine lived so close and our Mum's in particular became friends. It would have probably made sense for my sister and Janis to have ended up with the special friendship that we have. When Janis and her family moved to Surrey we continued our contact, through letters and visits, firstly with sister and Mother and as I got older I would travel on the train and be met at Guildford, such a short distance now, but then it always felt such an adventure! Now when I see Jan she really has travelled such a long way!
I have been blessed with some other wonderfull friends. I met Maggie at Sea Rangers when we were about 14 years old and sort of clicked from the begining. I admire Maggie immensley, she had parents who loved her dearly, but life was quite tough. Maggie left school at sixteen as she had to earn a living, she worked in a shoe shop and then as a clerk for the GPO. Maggie saved hard for her own bike and also every penny for our first holiday abroad a ski holiday in Austria. I had a bike bought for me one Christmas and only saved for my spending money on that holiday!
I was Maggie's bridesmaid when she married Cameron and just recently Steve and I along with the boys were at their eldest daughters wedding. It was a lovely day and Maggie has a lot to be proud of, she is a wonderfull mother to her two daughters. Although Steve and I moved to Bedfordshire our families lives have always been close and our children are very close. At the wedding Ian and Matt seemed to take every opportunity to hug the bride and chief bridesmaid but I know the groom understood!!!
Sue is another special friend, we met at Highbury college and we have continued our frienship since then. Its been lovely being able to spend more time with Sue since we moved back to the south coast. Before we left Portsmouth we would see each other reguarly as our first children were born within three months.
I am lucky to have met other people through my life who have become friends. Linda and I met firstly when she interviewed me for a job, she was the teacher in charge of the reception unit where I applied for a job as nursery nurse and was appointed. We worked very closely for four years and had a very good working relationship and our friendship developed. Linda was an inspiring teacher, but left the profession five years ago as she was very dissilussioned and fed up with spending all her weekends and evenings on school work. What a loss to teaching. Linda is now making her mark in the world of IT. Linda has always been such fun and I love it when she comes to stay as we always have such fun!
It sounds really corny, but I am really blessed to have such a wealth of friends in my life. Thank you to you all.....

Well gosh its Thursday already, I'm not sure where the weeks gone. Again its the start of the weekend, but it has been a really busy working week. I may have cut down my hours, but don't think the work load has decreased any! I have enjoyed most of the work this week, particuarly developement assessments on gorgous babies, I attended a cp conference which is always difficult and today I was given a box of choccies by a mother of twins, I have been helping her massage the babies weekly for the past few weeks. Its lovely to feel appreciated, though I have thoroughly enjoyed the massage sessions as when its twins I actually get hands on a baby instead of demonstrating on a doll! This ladies Romanian mother has been staying since Christmas and she always brings me a drink with cake and home made bicuits. Today when I left 'Grandma' hugged me, she is leaving to go home to Romania soon, but will be back in August to visit her grandsons. Grandma insists she will bring me a souvenir from Romania, how sweet of her and I'm only doing my job!
I spoke to Matt last night, he tells me that he and four of his housemates will be moving out of their current abode and moving to another house in September. Matt has a deployment with the navy in the summer for a couple of weeks, for the rest of the hols Matt wants to come to Lots. I'm under no illusion that Matt is coming home because he wants to spend time with us, but because financially it makes sense! I wonder how it will work out? he is no longer a child, so will it be difficult and I have got used to a very peacefull life, the teenage battles left behind long ago.
Were off to my Mother's this evening, she has invited her friends and neighbours from her old street in Farlington over for a drink! It was a lovely evening last night, my Mums old neighbours were very good company and we enjoyed ourselves. We walked back, it was a blustery night, but nice to walk back as it meant that we both could have a couple of glasses of wine!
Worked like mad in the house this morning and then decided to go to Gunwarfe, asked Mum if she wanted to come and as she did I drove down to Gosport where we took the ferry across the harbour. Mum found the walk from the ferry to Gunwarfe difficult as she is still having difficulty with her leg. Wandered around shops slowly and then took Mum into the Ha Ha bar where we sat on a squashy sofa and indulged in hot choc, don't think you can beat the HC there. It was a lovely sunny day, the tables and chairs haven't yet been put outside, but I remembered all the times I sat out with Janis and the time my friends Linda and Shirley were here and we had meal there one summer evening Linda and I got very merry!
Got home and for some reason decided to get out the breadmaker, haven't made any bread for ages as we tend to eat far too much of it. The bread flour was out of date by a couple of months, the yeast was in date, but hopefully it will be ok!
I have to go and collect my car from the garage, its taken them three weeks to prepare as they have been waiting for a part to arrive from Germany. it will be nice to get my little Corsa back. Steve's car is still in the body shop and will probably be there for sometime, its going to cost over £3,000 to repair it! Thank goodness the elderly Mrs David was insured!! Not much planned for the weekend, though I know Steve has some household jobs to do.............

Weekend nearly over,though a really nice relaxing one. Didn't see much of Bristol as we decided to head straight fo the hotel and to chill out from the start. We didn't feel the need to explore the city as we have been there many times before as Steve's friend from college days Rhys grew up there and lived there before moving to Wales. Had a light lunch in the bar, sat by a wonderful log fire and spent the afternoon in the spa, swimming and reading. Funnily enough I'm reading a biography of a Bristol woman who was born in 1918 and raised her family during the war, after the war her dream was to have a prefab home! I'm sure she would see a change in Bristol nowadays!
We had a lovely evening with dinner in the restaurant, we had consummed a bottle of Champagne before the meal and wine with the meal so everything was feeling good with the world!
Started the day with a full English breakfast, well I say started, it was about 10.00am and Steve had been to the Gym where he had used 650 calories towards his breakfast. Breakfast was lovely and all the more enjoyable because its something we only have very occaisionally for a special treat. Our nice french waiter was very confused when Steve requested Marmite! He hadn't heard of it and asked us to repeat the word a couple of times! meal over, we left the table ready for a couple of hours lazing by the pool! The Jacuzzi was functioning, as it had been out of order the day before, I joined a couple of a similar age in the warm bubbly water for more relaxation! What a mistake!!!! The lady as soon as I entered the water started to chat at me and I soon heard most of her life history, I couldn't get a word in edge ways and neither could her poor husband who kept interceeding and who was quickly put in his place by his bossy wife. After they had left the pool area, I made an error of judgement and entered the changing area too soon, in the mistaken belief that this woman would have changed and been out of the way!! I sat at the mirror in order to wash the mascara out of my eyes, when once again I was acosted by this horrendous woman who proceeded to tell me about her husbands flebitis! (inflamed veins in his legs). I hurried back to Steve who doesn't quite get why I didn't just tell her to 'shut up'!
We left the hotel and decided to end our weekend with a trip to the Bristol branch of Ikea, funny how I hate shopping, but just love Ikea, I think because its so different to any other shop. We easily found things to add to our basket, even though we didn't know at the begining of the weekend that we needed any of them, some things quite as boring as new pillows and little plastic clips to fasten opened bags with, candles, a bag of pebbles (yes we live by the sea)!
Tried to stay awake to watch Miss Marple, but after a very busy weekend, just crawled into bed at 9.00pm and slept soundly until the alarm went off at 6.00am.

It's a beautifull day, after an early morning frost the day has developed into a glorious spring day. I walked out earlier and the sun was very warm and the sea was glistening, lots of people were out and about, like me, perhaps part timers with time to themselves, though a great deal of retired people as well. LOTS has a large population of over 60's and who can blame them for wanting to be by the sea on a day like today!
This morning I have spent time at home wading through the normal chores and then a couple of hours spent at the sailing club helping out Jane who is preparing a meal for Friday night supper. John was organising a fondue night, but has been stuck with a gastric flu bug and had to pull out, Jane as usual has taken on the responsibility at the drop of a hat. I offrred my help in capacity of assistant, I enjoy cooking, but certainly couldn't take on the mantle of preparing a meal for thirty. I like to feel in control in the kitchen and get flustered easily. Steve and I work as a good team whenever we entertain, I usually prepare ahead of time and Steve takes up the reins, he is a good cook, though he is very modest and would disagree. Were off to Bristol tomorrow morning, Steve is up to London tonight to meet with colleagues for a night out, he is unsure about going, the long journy home puts him off. I'm glad he has decided to go as I know that he really wants too!
Its now Saturday morning, Steve is still sleeping, but we have only got to get up and go when we are ready. I went back to the club last night and helped with the serving of the meal. I watched Jane as she cooked, she is such a competent cook, she was a little dissapoined that so few had turned up, but those who were there enjoyed the evening. I won a bottle of whisky in the raffle, pity I don't drink it, but I know a few people who do. Jane and I chatted as we worked together, she said that she was really glad that we had moved to Lee. I'm really glad too, we have made new friends here and life is good!
Well I think I shall make Steve some tea and we can get going off for our break away, mustn't forget to pack my cossie...

Weekend begins here, well not for all, though as a part timer my working week ends on a Thursday! Because of the happenings of the week I have had a very short working week, though it certainly feels longer than usual. Today was a very enjoyable working day, which if I'm honest it usually is. I wake up each working day and don't look forward to the day ahead, not sure why, as I almost without fail leave work feeling good about my job! I know that it is having a round trip of over fifty miles in the car that I find difficult. Since Christmas I decreased my hours to three days so at least I don't have to sit in the car for nearly an hour every morning! Today I taught a group of young Mums baby massage, the babies were all unusually content and the Mums were all besotted with their infants. I always feel a pang of envy that this stage has passed in my life and then realization brings me back down to earth, I don't have sleepness night to endure, sore boobs or toddler tantrums looming. I can look forward to holidays, meals out, companiable times with friends and weekends away! (at least out of the sailing season). Steve and I are off to Bristol for the weekend at a hotel with a spa, no real plans, just to relax and enjoy each others company! Those of you in the know will say another day of relaxtion! yes its becoming a bit of a habbit, last Sunday we had a duvet day, shut the world out, stayed in bed till 3pm, ate nice food, drank bucks fizz and watched DVD's. (well if John and Yoko can do it)!
Came home from work, just had spag bog for dinner and a glass of red and now ensconsed on the sofa, where I will probably spend most of my evening. Steve hates this sofa and would like to change it for another! I love this sofa nearly as much as my bed!

Well its a few days since I wrote my last entry and what a few days! Monday was my day off. I went off to Sothampton to collect the portfolio for my baby massage course, I had worked very hard both on the course and on the portfolio. I knew before Christmas that I had passed the course and was now a 'bona fidi' instructor of baby massage. I was keen to see the comments written by my tutor and verified by the moderator. I know what compelled me to dash of at the first opportunity to read the remarks, but I won't write down here for anyone else to read those reasons! I took my Mother with me for the ride and then took her into Fareham where we ended up in 'Wilkinson's'! Shopping is one of my least favourite occupations and apart from mooching around gunwarfe and drinking hot chocolate with special friends, I'd rather do as much shopping online as possible! Wilkinson's sells a lot of goods and Mum chooses lots of stuff for her new flat, kitchen wares, a new bin and a new ironing board. We stuggle back to the car and to Lee. I make a descision to park outside the flat and after we have unloaded our purchases, we are just about to settle down to drink hot chocolate, eat a custard tart and to watch the sea from the little sun room at the front of the flat! We are aware of the commotion outside as a crowd gathers and the realization that an accident has occurred that has involved my car. (or rather Steve's car). I'm glad to say that Mrs David the 88 year old lady who has crashed into my stationery car is unhurt, she accepts a cup of tea and bacame very 'spiky' accusing me of pat!ronising her! I only asked her if she knew her own telephone number! Well this 4o++++ woman has trouble remembering numbers sometimes, so perhaps I can be forgiven in thinking that this lady 40 years my senior may have have some of my difficulties! 'I may have an old head, but I haven't lost my marbles' this feisty lady informs me! I want to shout back 'no but you have smashed into my car'. I remember in time that I have been brought up to respect elders and the only time that I was rude to an elder (he jolly well deserved it) I called an old man outside the villgae shop 'a silly old codger' (but thats another story)!
Yesterday I had an unexpected day off work, due to lack of transport, a couple of hours spent in the morning sorting out cupboards and the rest of the day spent on the phone to insurance companies trying to sort out a hire car. Today I went to work in a taxi, payed for by Mrs David's insurance company ' Help the aged' (no I didn't know they could arrange insurance either). Hire car eventually materiaised at lunch time as I had cancelled all my appointments I had a day in the office catching up on the paper work!

first entry in my blog

I have started to read Janis's blog which has given me the idea to create my very own. I'm not sure that mine will be that interesting but here goes! Perhaps I may not even tell my friends about it, would they want to read an account of my day to day life or even my thoughts? Do I know what a blog is, Is it a diary, I'm not sure! I am after all a middle aged (and thats if I live to be nearly a hundred years of age) woman, I have lived a very ordinary, but very contented life! I have a long and very happy marraige with Steve and together we have two children, though they are hardly children, at 20 and 24. Ian and Matt are two unique young men, who are set to leave their Mark. Ian: I am sure in the world of biological sciences in which he is to make his career, his enthusiasim is contagious and if only I had his intellect to understand the things that he is studying and that he so patiently explains to me. Matt has charisma and an eccentricity which at times is hard to tolerate, he is extremely intelligent and with his developing maturity I know he will be successfull. (apologies for sounding like a school report).
Well what else should I write? this week has been a very exciting week. We attended Adrianne and Dave's wedding on Saturday, it was a truely joyous event, It was wonderfull to witness these two delightful young people make their vows at a start of their lives together.
On Tuesday my Mother moved into her seaside flat, it is the first home that she has chosen and bought on her own, it must be very hard for her to now have a home to which my Dad has had no imput or shared memories. Its more than five years since she was widowed and she had obviously felt that the time was right to move out of the home in which she had spent the last twenty years of a very longand happy marraige in. When Mum moved in with and although there were no difficulties during that interim, I know she is delighted once more to have her own home. Mum won't mind me saying that Steve and I are pleased to be back on our own again, she understands why we like to have our home to ourselves.