tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35748172520696500822024-03-13T07:25:42.917+00:00Hawthorn HillLife on the hillMs B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-80116716214604784042011-05-28T12:19:00.004+01:002011-05-28T12:27:45.803+01:00Colds ahoy chez Thrift..booo...hissssYup we are all under the weather a bit here this week, full of colds and sneezing. The glorious (not!) weather probably hasn't helped but I am feeling very sorry for myself today. Thankfully MR G.T has taken the kiddies to his parents for the morning so I have been able to get some things done (house looks so clean *sigh* shame it won't stay that way very long!) and will now eat a meal all the way through in peace (luxury!) and maybe read a bit of my book afterwards!<br /><br />Jeddy has turned 6 months this last week, wow, he just doesn't seem a baby any more, quite sad if I dwell on it but hoping not to. To celebrate he has cut his 1st tooth, which I am pleased about as he has done it really without too much fuss, but problem now is he seems to have adjusted his latch or feeding style as I am sore again, like really sore! It's like starting all over with breastfeeding again! Hope that a few tips I have picked up online can help, but as he won't take a bottle or dummy I have no choice really but to grit my teeth and carry on, hoping it improves in a few days. I don't remember this problem last time with GS and he had his 1st tooth at 4 months, and I BF until 8 months. I suppose it just goes to show all babies are different, and when you get painless feeding you can get an unsettled baby with teething, and when you get a fairly fuss free teething you can still get nipple problems, all swings and roundabouts. If the pain continues I will get some advice at my breastfeeding support group on Friday, they are fantastic ladies and the lactation consultant there is also wonderful, anyone considering breastfeeding or wanting to get support, try and see if your local Surestart, hospital or Children's centre has one of these as their guidance and friendly approach has been such a boost for me.Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-59348593726719150832011-05-23T14:35:00.003+01:002011-05-23T14:55:14.914+01:00I know...two posts in one day... big shocker!!<br /><br />I am now determined to keep on the blogging wagon so will try and update as often as I can (read- as often as children allow)<br /><br />Thank you so much for the handy thrift/fitness tips from my last post, really appreciate all advice as I can literally feel the squeeze on our finances now the summer is approaching. Even trying to keep costs down and buy the bare minimum my shopping bill this month is still about £30 more than it was this time last year (and buying similar stuff) and diesel is costing us an extra £20 per tank, these little additions all add up, and yet Hubby hasn't had a pay rise in 3 years and I now take home a lot less, so where is it supposed to come from? I had a financial advisor call me last week to review our life insurance that came with the mortgage and I actually laughed aloud when she asked me how much savings we had and whether we had seperate life insurance for illness/loss of earnings etc, how are average people with families supposed to afford all these insurances/savings. Yes we could probably save loads by not having a car, but we live in a rural village with one bus service that runs hourly to 2 towns, it would be impossible for hubby to get to work on time without a 3 bus/2 hour trip each way, and as far as bus/train fares go probably as expensive by the time we are all travelling to appointments/work/visits. There are however areas I know I can save us money on, clothes, toys, food (kind of), holidays/days out etc can all be done cheaply it's just getting in to the habit of thinking that way and finding the best offers at the best places.<br /><br />The school half term looms ahead next week (didn't they literally just have Easter?!!) and I am dreading it. I love GS to bits, but he is at that stage where it's almost impossible to capture his attention for more than 10 minutes with any one activity, and as much as I try, Mary Poppins I am not, so that moves me to the question many parents ask... How do you keep a 3 year old entertained (possibly by themselves) for an hour? I have already purchased a few cheap colouring packs, activity books, new felt-tips (the old ones are worn out and don't work), I am armed with a few ideas (teddy bears picnic, board games, treasure hunt etc) but I am worried he'll exhaust all these before noon next Tuesday! It's pretty tough when he won't entertain himself for very long, if at all, without needing one of us there to supervise and play with, which we try too but sometimes stuff needs doing (like going to the lavatory!) and any time he is left alone he seems to start this bored/hyper/play up creation of whirling up in to a tantrum or path of destruction that inevtiably ends up with him sat on the naughty step screaming whilst I nurse a headache. I am hoping full time school might tame the beast within here and provide him with that much needed full-time attention, structure and a little self-discipline, but thats 4 months away, I may go completely bald before then tying myself up in knots of ways to entertain a pre-schooler... Are there any good blogs/links/lists of (cheap!) crafts/activites/games for this untameable age group you may have?<br /><br />Having moaned about him, he did get a lovely report from school last week totally singing his praises, so I am one proud Mummy I'd like to add.Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-6134438397499932011-05-23T14:12:00.006+01:002011-05-23T14:27:14.317+01:00Yorkshire ShotsA few pics from our Yorkshire trip! Enjoy!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ41sI9kTPJXr-6KHqRWn9nwReMaJmtDDzXxDFs7Onm6GNyb3bFqKApO6O27bI4F1GKlXIbnUBXDT-LYAVJNcRRf1IF7TD9Txt1SgCbIdVkbOJWWz9ZcpizcH6i8V4ZxVJdCN6w45hZcw/s1600/DSC_1379.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609901538797949922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ41sI9kTPJXr-6KHqRWn9nwReMaJmtDDzXxDFs7Onm6GNyb3bFqKApO6O27bI4F1GKlXIbnUBXDT-LYAVJNcRRf1IF7TD9Txt1SgCbIdVkbOJWWz9ZcpizcH6i8V4ZxVJdCN6w45hZcw/s320/DSC_1379.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIbRCB8BJKdj1HTqRuiii8c0GdK97k8E9yAFosd3XZOjFzDz1EeqFi4rywLWOyqNXWhp9yuCsO8OGRYOuEPzNDLAt1qRqP8T15JiP50bJEvc_Ov9ki1aBcHQHsJL1SjzRvBWw6iOko1g/s1600/DSC_1895.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609901538080160114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIbRCB8BJKdj1HTqRuiii8c0GdK97k8E9yAFosd3XZOjFzDz1EeqFi4rywLWOyqNXWhp9yuCsO8OGRYOuEPzNDLAt1qRqP8T15JiP50bJEvc_Ov9ki1aBcHQHsJL1SjzRvBWw6iOko1g/s320/DSC_1895.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfUNiMNqu5jw9YIhiPElipcA54XtGyUPba6RefEc9YjdeLPKpkipOngWgTDgsOFVQy2zItxrzH3LZY6QqlR_aFdU2x3JswoaJT6aHaXx2CxRENQ-z5y0SqyHO57D85TuFhnLAR7NlYi4/s1600/korbencastle.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609901530420130882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfUNiMNqu5jw9YIhiPElipcA54XtGyUPba6RefEc9YjdeLPKpkipOngWgTDgsOFVQy2zItxrzH3LZY6QqlR_aFdU2x3JswoaJT6aHaXx2CxRENQ-z5y0SqyHO57D85TuFhnLAR7NlYi4/s320/korbencastle.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqbiLogR8dvnRmGK_Wa2LaGtfoJdu5l09sQM9gOh53rxoFFjZbMS2i354e3IeZgqlCT5Fzq_4M8SHfkDfQaosEO_hrJ-JMwTSJ2aooKTLGq7136mPc1XUngaDRwEdCUfbWf1ch8qzXSk/s1600/steamlomomay11.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609901528618288210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqbiLogR8dvnRmGK_Wa2LaGtfoJdu5l09sQM9gOh53rxoFFjZbMS2i354e3IeZgqlCT5Fzq_4M8SHfkDfQaosEO_hrJ-JMwTSJ2aooKTLGq7136mPc1XUngaDRwEdCUfbWf1ch8qzXSk/s320/steamlomomay11.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQn9S8v7wCbPb8V9AYpOv8X96lp-cb8XIaGKSK0nC-TyCBdlRRDp-zeFK2FoJSd6I1a_6ABBDIYbEAajSZiAAo3oDIVD7DS_kcijP9vY75KtgwLwdUFDvlg_enLdIfUKz9NHAmJaGQznI/s1600/jeddymay11.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609899803163344946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQn9S8v7wCbPb8V9AYpOv8X96lp-cb8XIaGKSK0nC-TyCBdlRRDp-zeFK2FoJSd6I1a_6ABBDIYbEAajSZiAAo3oDIVD7DS_kcijP9vY75KtgwLwdUFDvlg_enLdIfUKz9NHAmJaGQznI/s320/jeddymay11.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HaG1Av36z6zVup6O_hFpM0c95FkzSyz8SALq1znBim_hUhGfo9WZ-rrLX3oK1MZ7R-XG6S3mABSO4r2ayBe-1lHhAewP6zV5NJ54d-Ql1EE89P2TtE9anaUSOVav7dHTkER_chsPnhE/s1600/yorkshiremoorslomomay11.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609899798548704978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HaG1Av36z6zVup6O_hFpM0c95FkzSyz8SALq1znBim_hUhGfo9WZ-rrLX3oK1MZ7R-XG6S3mABSO4r2ayBe-1lHhAewP6zV5NJ54d-Ql1EE89P2TtE9anaUSOVav7dHTkER_chsPnhE/s320/yorkshiremoorslomomay11.jpg" /></a><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609899790869112578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgaJhkZ3Glng8agyGybhUvSaapthPBZLqP_UZ-jqmv1mt_aItF_6DxYbNP5XjdubkDNa2FowOLE8JllCIk_bDLjaLeMSNTYwIinSRa-WsZ1wWGJYeYViuPftQ6gBypwo5r9fPKeWfdpI/s320/gemkandjmay11.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajl4f2PqO9XQlmrFYAwEARNVevTQDvTS46NrhhugapcivGFwiirXGu8uutJUzuuXFh7fEy0Uxuuoy2sZynWe2TOWMOtCNrjiARb7C3AZYnw69A9ReePDXr8NKGaCtQhmV1K0YHe8pyP4/s1600/brontemoorbwmay11.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609899787927094050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajl4f2PqO9XQlmrFYAwEARNVevTQDvTS46NrhhugapcivGFwiirXGu8uutJUzuuXFh7fEy0Uxuuoy2sZynWe2TOWMOtCNrjiARb7C3AZYnw69A9ReePDXr8NKGaCtQhmV1K0YHe8pyP4/s320/brontemoorbwmay11.jpg" /></a> <br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-92168761595800169912011-05-15T13:52:00.005+01:002011-05-15T14:36:07.190+01:00Back once again...Hi there!<br />Well, our little one is now just shy of 6 months old, it's flown by in a haze of sleep deprivation, adjustment and fun all jumbled in to one big half a year! Phew, no wonder I am a little exhausted. Jenson is doing very well! There have been times of despair when he won't nap (still working on that one), won't take a bottle to give me a break (given up on that one so breastfeed 100% now, well as well as solids that is), or on a growth spurt so pretty unsettled & un-fill-able for weeks (learned to go with the flow there!), but I am a lucky mummy to a gorgeous smiley happy chap most of the time who seems easily pleased and full of fun, so long as his needs are met, I'll take that and rejoice as GS was much tougher to placate and keep happy (and still is, but thats for another post).<br /><br />We've just returned from some time spent in West Yorkshire, it was fantastic and although the weather was typically British we managed to get plenty of fresh air and long walks in. GS loved walking and is now able to keep up our pace and was enjoying the hikes even when my legs were aching (I am so unfit, more on this later!) I will pop up some pics later of the gorgeous scenery & attractions around Haworth, Keighley and Skipton.<br /><br />Maternity leave is beginning to take its toll financially, the reduced income plus recent government changes to child benefit, gas/elec bill increases and fuel costs have all hit hard; we seem to start saving in one area only to have that gain taken away from us by something else thats gone up; food, fuel, insurance, blah blah blah. Its hard juggling it all and i know we aren't alone and there are lots of people much worse off too. I only pray our jobs are both safe (I work for a council libary and we all know they've been heavily targetted for cuts- I wait and see). So, once again instead of burying my head in the sand I am on a thrift-drive to save our outgoings as best I can and make sure we have the money for the basic essentials, that will hopefully mean I can take the unpaid leave at the end of my paid maternity period to spend valuable extra weeks with my boys before GS starts school in September and Jed will hopefully be a bit more ready to be left with Granny Nanny while I return back part time. That's the plan anyway. It worries me as it was during such unpaid time in my last maternity leave that I was made redundant landing us in terrible debt and in a right mess, I hope history does not repeat itself but what can you do, just take it a month at a time.<br /><br />I will be trawling all your blogs and forums for thirfty finds, ideas, recipes and projects from now on and PROMISE to update this blog more regularly so I hope you'll join me in discovering how it pans out, and I will in return try and add my own thrifty finds to share along the way!<br /><br />My first thoughts are now about getting fitter, and more specifically, whether it's possible to get fit in a thrifty manner? Yes, starvation is definitely thrifty, as is lots of free outdoor exercise, but the actual logistics of eating a well balanced diet (as I am still breastfeeding) and combining exercise with looking after two young children in often less than sunny weather is not as easy as it seems, or at least I am not finding it so. I have a skipping rope I have yet to find half an hour to use without a little one within accidental whipping range, a free guide from a magazine to get fit in 10minute stretches which I am too exhausted at the end/start of each day to do, and a bike in the shed I similarly get no time to go on as I can't afford a baby seat. I suspect there are ways around these if I look closer, but I am lacking a real option to fit in any exercise other than the occasional kick about with GS & walks when the weather is fine, and several trips up and down the stairs every hour. Cooking more lower fat is slightly easier, although convenience foods are, well convenient, they are not healthy and I do actually enjoy cooking most days so I find homemade food is easy enough to do fairly healthily, I think my downfall is needing a bit of a social life every week I'll pop with friends or Granny Nanny to a cafe and then consume fatty & expensive drinks and cake no doubt, really need to bang this on the head but without going to these places I don't get out much and end up a bit cabin-crazy! Portion control is another naughty, I am so tired I feel the need to stodge up until I am full, and then seem ravanously hungry an hour or two later, I know breastfeeding means I need to eat regularly and when hungry but i think i need to train myself in to having smaller portions and of course better snacks instead of naughty biscuits and cake! I have a few friends that are doing Slimming World and blog about their experiences and recipes, so I am sneakily (thriftily?!) stealing their menu plans and recipes to try and semi-follow the principles in a light manner, particularly the portion/fat control side of things, so we will see where that gets me, if necessary I may need to buy a guide or two or even join up for access to the full plan to shift things if all else fails, but really hope to avoid that cost if possible. Does Nutracheck still do free trials, I found that a handy website before for keeping me on my toes? I shall have to google that and see. I need to state that this is NOT a need to lose weight for me, it's about toning up the parts that have gone extra wibbly after pregnancy and increasing my fitness so that I can keep up with my 3 year old's pace and not be out of breath walking up a relatively small hill, so I won't be doing weigh-ins etc, the proof will be in the (lack of) pudding of whether I can feel more healthier inside as well as out.<br />Wish me luck, and by all means offer tips you've found helpful if you have been/are on a similar mission!Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-68043748796034770602011-01-26T08:07:00.002+00:002011-01-26T08:39:19.651+00:00Introducing...Jenson Edwin Levi, our beautiful new boy!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566405226745988434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNw4Nkv3wJ4jBEqrOms6Srtjvom2Id5g9o2VchLIZEkYGQ1gcxHgJnqMs1G2TAov95UC6sqSyqfssQJbFdUxjQ1FthWu4RHKSTMmEI1TqrAGNv_tJV7A8YFUgavz8jMljEAn6uTczcxDI/s320/CSC_9802.JPG" /><br /><br />Born 25th November, 12 days overdue, 8lbs 7oz.<br />He is now nearly 9 weeks old and we are all doing well, needless to say I have been busy adjusting to having 2 little ones to care for but am loving being a Mummy 2nd time around. He is a pretty good lad and sleeps well at night, I tend to wake up once or twice to feed him but he does go for long stretches of sleep which is a blessing seeing as his big brother took months to get to that stage.Breastfeeding has had its ups and downs again, but I seem to have settled in to a happy state with it now and am certainly enjoying the convenience of how quickly J can be appeased when he is hungry and is gaining weight really well, he weighs 11lbs 13oz now.<br /><br />Jenson is a name we love and being motorsport fans it was fitting. Edwin and Levi are the names of my great-grandfathers.<br /><br />I was hoping for a home birth but it was looking likely I would need to be induced as I was so overdue but thankfully he came at the final hour the day I was due to go in hospital all by himself, lazy boy :) So, I got my homebirth again afterall and found it a magical experience being in my own surroundings with my home comforts and family.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBX-Od_BGEA301LwlummBDW_jNDwNMkUCkzpjzRJpXtU1P5sRCVVUhMDptffzmfhDfwGLf_LZsMVQ9VftLUE3ONjSya_9wERbCuApSmOZltp-zilL1gf2APV6wucwJSE1Kd2EYwy_FUAI/s1600/CSC_8418.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566405242835656402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBX-Od_BGEA301LwlummBDW_jNDwNMkUCkzpjzRJpXtU1P5sRCVVUhMDptffzmfhDfwGLf_LZsMVQ9VftLUE3ONjSya_9wERbCuApSmOZltp-zilL1gf2APV6wucwJSE1Kd2EYwy_FUAI/s320/CSC_8418.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnsl_gzVlDt5fxxOC5ALmMp2BC9gCKd2D4mQUE1-VuUiuoQBuReEPk-JXdUkJabQ6OrFiIdqOTKB_n2pYp4_kg6_KSifoTNA8t-0kM14-Zg836iTralrqeK8hC3kffyXOWXFavnyVSEQ/s1600/CSC_8443.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566405240066159730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnsl_gzVlDt5fxxOC5ALmMp2BC9gCKd2D4mQUE1-VuUiuoQBuReEPk-JXdUkJabQ6OrFiIdqOTKB_n2pYp4_kg6_KSifoTNA8t-0kM14-Zg836iTralrqeK8hC3kffyXOWXFavnyVSEQ/s320/CSC_8443.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5z7tnORFlfV59kFZWd54Uu2fOL-zBsCa3ciwnTnOi_-lKtixXr9Zc5pShvaWtuETFZ5gU18l5ndTZJRQrk_EoW6fSkCgZbUJawP2e2eJr4bP4FN9UlNnn5FjWADts0PslcYih1wfN2Ro/s1600/DSC_9849.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566405228413695090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5z7tnORFlfV59kFZWd54Uu2fOL-zBsCa3ciwnTnOi_-lKtixXr9Zc5pShvaWtuETFZ5gU18l5ndTZJRQrk_EoW6fSkCgZbUJawP2e2eJr4bP4FN9UlNnn5FjWADts0PslcYih1wfN2Ro/s320/DSC_9849.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><div> </div></div></div></div>Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-20666784527815521672010-10-07T07:39:00.003+01:002010-10-07T07:52:10.123+01:00Hello again!!Many thanks for the lovely messages on my photos!<br /><br />I had uploaded them with every intention of following it up with a detailed update seeing as I have been very quiet on here of late, but GS had other ideas by coming down with a bad cold, so I had to abandon at the upload stage so in effect it was a post and run!<br /><br />As you can see we had great fun doing the photoshoot, I really wanted to get a few nice bump ones with us as a momento, it just goes so fast, hard to believe baby will be here at some point by the end of next month, where has the time gone?! I still find myself smiling when I realise I will soon be a mum of two, I think for a long while this pregnancy has been very symbolic of everything we went through with GS and my miscarriage last year, so I am hoping and praying for a healthy bouncy baby this time, and will only truly feel like I can relax once baby is here (emotionally that is, not physically obviously lol!)<br /><br />I get a lot of questions asked now when I am at work and in public about how far left, comments about how huge I am then in the next conversation someone will say how small I am, I have to say I feel well versed in all this from last time, people say the funniest things when they see a bump! I get a lot of obvious questions about whether its a boy or a girl, and then peoples predictions follow, but genuinely I am very keen to obviously finally meet and know the flavour of our little bundle, but not fussed at all one way or the other, I'd be very blessed to have 2 boys or a boy and a girl as my family, I do just actually want a healthy baby at the end, I just can't wait to meet them now, well maybe a few more weeks of sleep first!<br /><br />My finish day for work is fast approaching, my last shift is October 18th, when I will be 36 + weeks, work have been amazing to me and very accomodating, but it is tiring to be on my feet and up and down a lot as you do, so it will be nice to be able to finish and put my feet up a bit more in the weeks approaching d-day.<br /><br />I have been very organised for Christmas and have quite a few presents made and bought already, I may even admit to having my cards and giftwrap ready... it's still my intention to continue with the homemade theme of presents for family like I did last year with apple chutney ready for the making, and then shortbread, biscuits and flapjacks in the pipeline for nearer the time. I got the Lakeland xmas catalogue through the other day, oh so very tempting to go mad on cutters, craft tools and cellophane bags from there, might have to reign it in for something cheaper but still, it's always free to browse (and dream!)Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-55227054849263631922010-10-04T08:40:00.001+01:002010-10-04T10:26:19.502+01:0034 weeks!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIk4ELun_rX-UGYN7BUziMDGRx2eVd4EfAjr11li6N1tuFa-GCnYnyEOOVd5xn6rReBcu-iVDCLaEFHIJmj9pUMN7AMQKVk7Q8FtQqryip5ImPgeHwPJsqMsePe4DsHRxcbdxDINQ3rRY/s1600/mumandk34wksbw.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 309px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524094489996987490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIk4ELun_rX-UGYN7BUziMDGRx2eVd4EfAjr11li6N1tuFa-GCnYnyEOOVd5xn6rReBcu-iVDCLaEFHIJmj9pUMN7AMQKVk7Q8FtQqryip5ImPgeHwPJsqMsePe4DsHRxcbdxDINQ3rRY/s320/mumandk34wksbw.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhk7Gb9LZQerzcWKrd4gooCm3GxYR_Kdv1X8pxyfISbhULSrdUaRSLLFPi4i2Amie_kT7f5-7nQNA9lOeRiWYTqyDR6NHDd0lfLHGjyn3WiE29Dg9cSFosikb4m_q-X8RAitEvPTeWCc/s1600/korbenmummyoct24wks.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524094482671224322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhk7Gb9LZQerzcWKrd4gooCm3GxYR_Kdv1X8pxyfISbhULSrdUaRSLLFPi4i2Amie_kT7f5-7nQNA9lOeRiWYTqyDR6NHDd0lfLHGjyn3WiE29Dg9cSFosikb4m_q-X8RAitEvPTeWCc/s320/korbenmummyoct24wks.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYOGIudtQxJWlFPe2vSe93SI7kYOxwZLcFzs_0xhhZd5YLl69aPj-EOZhtK29PB6ssBdHHqXXpx63YUE1Uy2O_RTHFISaVc3ZglZRZLP2zIU7LDAw8JmUl2VclCdEjHLsxmZb5DiQ8w0/s1600/korbenbump34wks.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 283px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524094480988665074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYOGIudtQxJWlFPe2vSe93SI7kYOxwZLcFzs_0xhhZd5YLl69aPj-EOZhtK29PB6ssBdHHqXXpx63YUE1Uy2O_RTHFISaVc3ZglZRZLP2zIU7LDAw8JmUl2VclCdEjHLsxmZb5DiQ8w0/s320/korbenbump34wks.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWVXhMQ82kO06NZzXO9KiwwB59POQjvVUH8T4qb6Od_JhsShXPQ8CzinC-CJkH3Kwd1zRO2-UPxrz4LTyUNIaXtZYRIkzDRmneIos75N65fnJYFlQhFXKBtp1jzUHz4wz_8M0v9VTQGU/s1600/34weeksoctart.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524094479910680050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWVXhMQ82kO06NZzXO9KiwwB59POQjvVUH8T4qb6Od_JhsShXPQ8CzinC-CJkH3Kwd1zRO2-UPxrz4LTyUNIaXtZYRIkzDRmneIos75N65fnJYFlQhFXKBtp1jzUHz4wz_8M0v9VTQGU/s320/34weeksoctart.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-16506318819895813902010-08-17T11:41:00.004+01:002010-08-17T11:58:18.929+01:00New hair, new chapter<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 281px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506328371804384578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGO5mXIavqPfcpbxehCV9OrWxnVJ-PcjmJQ_ZhWmYHWntHNs-m0yCrr_FVpPE5qIcUImqIsrvESK6AmmfcKimMMrOIosiXmwZWRpXAYfl3r2qMx0BySyyfUo7ClouRFmzeEvBKtWuTGk/s400/portraitaug102.JPG" /><br /><br />I've gone for the chop and had my hair cut, ready in preparation for having very little time to wash it let alone dry it (it was so long and thick it was taking over 5 hours to dry naturally or half an hour to blow dry it!) it's also put a lot more shine back in to it, so hopefully I can keep it healthier from now on. I go through stages with my hair, i've had it very long and very short, luckily my hair grows rather fast so can keep up the pace. I very often find that I chop and restyle my hair in response to changes in my life; new job, new baby, new outlook, etc, isn't it strange how something as simple as our hair can form such a part of our identity and our statement to the world about how we are and how we're feeling?<br /><br /><p>Big news this week in the Thrift household is our gorgeous son turned 3!! </p><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9emDXfGKkGjxuacO-DowLiwnSr1dULzmO72yI5A20mO86IseM7CLyTC21F6mPiJv4QFaeHPQ9I3IZm8oZgLlm2KHjU98qQ6iWMP_RbVeFoDZ7rz6h6YWUf5_CgP2mlS-BiUiSy1Qg8I/s1600/DSC_6542.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506328386451463218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9emDXfGKkGjxuacO-DowLiwnSr1dULzmO72yI5A20mO86IseM7CLyTC21F6mPiJv4QFaeHPQ9I3IZm8oZgLlm2KHjU98qQ6iWMP_RbVeFoDZ7rz6h6YWUf5_CgP2mlS-BiUiSy1Qg8I/s400/DSC_6542.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgskIF6_Ocv9hwPuKHK0VyRBWWWEcJwVIPQMZBFGnJgikS_afNq9l_FkjaRHkjYYuUIqvAxW3BPtww4VnlAb2J75CuKgI0wlGwvxfyZY8cY1d0s9nRkYDYiiJds8cx8_9vRXrdxjjMqMmE/s1600/DSC_6552.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506328382140247538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgskIF6_Ocv9hwPuKHK0VyRBWWWEcJwVIPQMZBFGnJgikS_afNq9l_FkjaRHkjYYuUIqvAxW3BPtww4VnlAb2J75CuKgI0wlGwvxfyZY8cY1d0s9nRkYDYiiJds8cx8_9vRXrdxjjMqMmE/s400/DSC_6552.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDS8w0RrB0dtXyDOFsm5okqwM2oF2yLBdD9mS3jZ-b4FdinvC1-zcPNVodVJrX66Afgtuxqz-jo7Vwt0L-hwfsXMEmN0gqbViUy2Fpt1WNI0bDe6DK48J35gepzVhGsebz9fFfNQyBei8/s1600/DSC_6548.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506328373047225218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDS8w0RrB0dtXyDOFsm5okqwM2oF2yLBdD9mS3jZ-b4FdinvC1-zcPNVodVJrX66Afgtuxqz-jo7Vwt0L-hwfsXMEmN0gqbViUy2Fpt1WNI0bDe6DK48J35gepzVhGsebz9fFfNQyBei8/s400/DSC_6548.JPG" /></a> The good news is he enjoyed his party and birthday very much, probably the 1st one he has really been old enough to understand and get excited about! The bad news- we have a house full of huge plastic toys that are taking over, and requiring a massive shop for batteries, aaaghhh!</div><div> </div><div>Feeling a little low today, I am realising being nearly 7 months pregnant and getting a stinking cold is not a good combination, but then again I should count my blessings, compared to last year my health has been fantastic and this is the 1st cold for months, so I'll just take it easy today, eat jacket potato with cheese & beans (my newest craving!) and keep putting the roof back on the lego police car GS has been given for the hundredth time today!</div><div><div><br /><div>We are off on Friday for a few nights in York; I love this city and haven't been before with hubby and GS so looking forward to exploring the old sights with them and showing GS the railway museum especially! The hotel we are staying at is actually converted railway carriages by the side of the main line, so should be very exciting for GS (and Hubby!!)</div></div></div></div>Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-43068108440890237982010-08-08T19:20:00.003+01:002010-08-08T19:32:06.912+01:00Hows my Garden growing?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6eCsP0xVERDJzmU49rEFF2oTe26p6u9MKHI9ZYnOZc-zTqe88ZQAaOPNbRBaUTS8K12Fww8mQMsiMJDFw7je4KvgaSZfnQ9pYeH3GRV6esmGj0tSZejDqK9N1nLefXXJfugkLBa6OiU/s1600/DSC_6336.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503107528839531058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6eCsP0xVERDJzmU49rEFF2oTe26p6u9MKHI9ZYnOZc-zTqe88ZQAaOPNbRBaUTS8K12Fww8mQMsiMJDFw7je4KvgaSZfnQ9pYeH3GRV6esmGj0tSZejDqK9N1nLefXXJfugkLBa6OiU/s400/DSC_6336.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7r6nP6ZgSGusX_NcaEnNR1Dx7Rs_K-rsQ1-uwCCgbAL-nIz4pyYkiPY1uL42t-Ps0wy2TiAGwXIDSC08i6aIQES5DULlPUPSyQ-WD4L-S4TWyI6fm0Evrdsr7dh2ImHNlobLzHJjN6I/s1600/DSC_6326.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503107521587987426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7r6nP6ZgSGusX_NcaEnNR1Dx7Rs_K-rsQ1-uwCCgbAL-nIz4pyYkiPY1uL42t-Ps0wy2TiAGwXIDSC08i6aIQES5DULlPUPSyQ-WD4L-S4TWyI6fm0Evrdsr7dh2ImHNlobLzHJjN6I/s400/DSC_6326.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMDK5pfWHf5bV1Td3fZH35urG9DvlTPu0CbFgR0l7lcuL6QyCMNZP-JBtihxCbgvgo4Tqi7DJDIuDs1VwdxUBIJi4cFkXkICHKwORzKjR1PSlBsnwwnfkliQMltOdgSCzdOKrcYWd2D0/s1600/DSC_6322.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503107516132053266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMDK5pfWHf5bV1Td3fZH35urG9DvlTPu0CbFgR0l7lcuL6QyCMNZP-JBtihxCbgvgo4Tqi7DJDIuDs1VwdxUBIJi4cFkXkICHKwORzKjR1PSlBsnwwnfkliQMltOdgSCzdOKrcYWd2D0/s400/DSC_6322.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTCdS-w2uy8m6kMY7JpOxQN6RHLiQN7eRCMyQtuM7gwiMSbOt183ZMa36pRymWvUJPSHkqxrQwVrLIphb9eo9qNABTqAxsfqkxgRZ8goa8hLXIAsgyV632x6KzTRBylNXgqFi1J8vTt8/s1600/DSC_6325.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503107510984474114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTCdS-w2uy8m6kMY7JpOxQN6RHLiQN7eRCMyQtuM7gwiMSbOt183ZMa36pRymWvUJPSHkqxrQwVrLIphb9eo9qNABTqAxsfqkxgRZ8goa8hLXIAsgyV632x6KzTRBylNXgqFi1J8vTt8/s400/DSC_6325.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7U9CkLww94S6Yq3tOvJwg8HO2RmBZeMlhccNo7fzgT646Xr0Z_tvYlaVRvODXKSYou7o6RwQ9qopt5HjjPVy9SSceN_B9fvlP7d5hQ4t3wYJZrOEZoW5nkBwqkXy5ND4IbmS3ynEE5o/s1600/DSC_6313.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503107499360745074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7U9CkLww94S6Yq3tOvJwg8HO2RmBZeMlhccNo7fzgT646Xr0Z_tvYlaVRvODXKSYou7o6RwQ9qopt5HjjPVy9SSceN_B9fvlP7d5hQ4t3wYJZrOEZoW5nkBwqkXy5ND4IbmS3ynEE5o/s400/DSC_6313.JPG" /></a><br /><br />It's been lovely all day today in Derbyshire, for a change, so a chance to sit out and enjoy the garden! We have done well this year with the fruit and veg, hopefully this may continue as we've set some plants for winter now in the front veg patch; cabbage, cauliflower & brussels.</div><div>It's been another summer of not being able to do too much in the garden myself but hopefully plenty of time for that in years to come once the babymaking is done and dusted and the kids are older.</div><div>Off to scoff a chocolate & coconut brownie, snarf!!! Have a lovely evening!<br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div>Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-31614605270609932262010-08-02T08:39:00.003+01:002010-08-02T09:08:18.436+01:00Pictures from Anglesey<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl361M8EHyW9BAd05ung-SxEoJg6_CHvbzln4Vzf2WnFjQBhtNr8m2G_e-3sF7slsLZOlWSfg8i7-w8Brb60sR3lMPxeX47YCjz0z5RWh74xtHCdYplkRLpAYKJ3FPV4nK9GtcYTr5yi8/s1600/DSC_5506.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500719786103266866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl361M8EHyW9BAd05ung-SxEoJg6_CHvbzln4Vzf2WnFjQBhtNr8m2G_e-3sF7slsLZOlWSfg8i7-w8Brb60sR3lMPxeX47YCjz0z5RWh74xtHCdYplkRLpAYKJ3FPV4nK9GtcYTr5yi8/s320/DSC_5506.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzpbzPewNBMxIxIZV9ekudjZywU7OiN5ifU-txQpnL6oHHRXbyVFMF-2yYkWqBtgNxLFXG4UE5KNLwEj1TxjIyc3ZgyZCZatj5b3-K3omE5YcGraEy68JZQpsFsMgfPOY31h0WhaS_sE/s1600/DSC_5969.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500719778501278146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzpbzPewNBMxIxIZV9ekudjZywU7OiN5ifU-txQpnL6oHHRXbyVFMF-2yYkWqBtgNxLFXG4UE5KNLwEj1TxjIyc3ZgyZCZatj5b3-K3omE5YcGraEy68JZQpsFsMgfPOY31h0WhaS_sE/s320/DSC_5969.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvlnDQ5DE4LSl3quTmZzeuMtCw0AAop-ydtfQwlY6VC1s07KX3W8OR96__6UraS9C4uyRDINpr1jWjKKDAk_hQSxd-An0GVDMJXXMpxuHzgmjvtZdScxiIUYJ2M_wZ7mUGIxz8DfkG8IY/s1600/CSC_6042.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500719767603105554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvlnDQ5DE4LSl3quTmZzeuMtCw0AAop-ydtfQwlY6VC1s07KX3W8OR96__6UraS9C4uyRDINpr1jWjKKDAk_hQSxd-An0GVDMJXXMpxuHzgmjvtZdScxiIUYJ2M_wZ7mUGIxz8DfkG8IY/s320/CSC_6042.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11XmuCeIBfYDrL6dBXJg9ftivuwqdMjSWU6g7gtzRkBCEkKCgayu0NO2QEnzfFKfGkrmpcSezdynXHT-PIOWZq7TtGktkrWo9jNUsXF7SOsoMuXFMJ79otep1hO02gr08RdibVA6deAw/s1600/DSC_6068.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500719763041526242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11XmuCeIBfYDrL6dBXJg9ftivuwqdMjSWU6g7gtzRkBCEkKCgayu0NO2QEnzfFKfGkrmpcSezdynXHT-PIOWZq7TtGktkrWo9jNUsXF7SOsoMuXFMJ79otep1hO02gr08RdibVA6deAw/s320/DSC_6068.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8shDfjZkXCYV_mXHQA6mbhD66e0otjkcE4ElTmMzEIfIWSb_GUq-ytCnFVfAGdoR7l7tnsdiKT_BYcsO8DzCkkEKCNdN3XoqHNegKCU8QPm4tQRYpj3nZ4Vv3fP0K4s0u9mTwblyeM7Q/s1600/CSC_5807.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500719750996336338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8shDfjZkXCYV_mXHQA6mbhD66e0otjkcE4ElTmMzEIfIWSb_GUq-ytCnFVfAGdoR7l7tnsdiKT_BYcsO8DzCkkEKCNdN3XoqHNegKCU8QPm4tQRYpj3nZ4Vv3fP0K4s0u9mTwblyeM7Q/s320/CSC_5807.JPG" /></a><br /><div>I apologise, it has been a few weeks since our return from holiday and I'm very late sharing our pictures, but here they are, we had a fabulous time as you can see!</div><div> </div></div></div></div></div>Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-62655587823846875692010-07-23T08:12:00.005+01:002010-07-23T08:34:35.728+01:00Back on the frugal thrifty wagonI hadn't really noticed it, but my bank balances are telling me otherwise, but we appear to have dropped off the wagon seriously and are deep in to our overdrafts again *sigh* noones fault but mine, our holiday inevitably cost a lot in fuel and wet-weather entertainment, and bills just seem to be endlessly going up. Our latest expense increase seems to be the car insurance; I wish we could survive without one but living in a rural village with one bus service to limited destinations every hour makes it impossible; despite us making no claims it's increasing by £15 a month! I'm livid, how do they justify increasing it so much above inflation, but going on price comparison sites it seems one of the cheaper options still, I'm considering lowering it by increasing the excess we'd pay but this terrifies me especially once my income is lowered on maternity leave, would I be able to just find £100-150 like that should something happen? Maybe i'd be better trying to do so and then put the extra money we'd save away in an emergency fund to pay for it should it happen (or any other emergency) I've been considering this for a while now, at least it's in my control still then to use if it's needed rather than paying extra for zero excess but never benefitting (not that a claim would be a benefit but you see what i mean). It also irks me that figures released recently that estimate how many uninsured drivers there are out there, very frustrating when us law-abiding citizens are clearly paying to make up the difference.<br /><br />Anyway I digress. Living costs are certainly increasing, so I really need now more than ever to take control of our debt and spending. This includes sourcing cheaper alternatives for things we buy, not buying anything that we truly don't really need, stopping splurging on little items and treats for GS unless they are bargains/car boot finds and even then i need to encourage saving them for bday/xmas treats rather than showering him with treats which I know he doesn't really need (this will probably be my hardest challenge), not eating out much when theres an abundance of food at home, and shopping wisely according to a meal planner & making things go further. I also want to get back in to crafting again, so i can build up a couple of homemade gifts for birthdays and xmas.<br /><br />Another challenge will be over the summer holidays. Whilst gs is not yet at school (he starts in September) my niece is and Granny Nanny & I look after her whilst her Mum is at work throughout the holidays. The challenges with this are both kids love to get out and about and are very hard to entertain at home, they are a little young yet to involve in many home-craft activities without getting bored after 5-10 mins, so it proves very exhausting to constantly put on a new craft hour after hour, day after day, so we end up going out, which usually ends up costing money be it in fuel, food or admission. I have been researching local events advertised in the library and out and about with low-cost/free activites, and think I have accrued a pretty good list so far!<br /><br />The birthday plans are well underway! We have chosen a Toy Story 3/space theme seeing as GS loves this and also there is an abundance of stuff for this in the shops right now. My MIL bought some themed paper plates, cups and napkins, and i've roped in all my lovely family members to make cakes for a fab tea party spread. I'm hoping to go around the local B&M to get a few goodies for party bags (nothing major- i really disagree with expensive lavish party bags!) and thanks to your excellent suggestions I have quite a few good toddler party games up my sleeve.Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-1589031724627114242010-07-02T08:25:00.003+01:002010-07-02T08:37:06.964+01:003 year old birthday party ideas welcome!It is GS's 3rd birthday in August (my doesn't time fly!) so after a bit if umming and aahing about what to do we've decided on a tea party at home for close friends and family and their children, there will be about half a dozen or so toddlers so I want to put on a few party games, make some party bags etc but desperately need ideas please!!<br /><br />Anyone got any links to blogs or websites with ideas for toddler parties, things I can perhaps make for the goody bags or games? Anything you've tried yourself that went down well? I'd be very grateful if you could share!<br /><br />I already have in mind to put on a buffet of traditional party food; homemade biscuits & cupcakes, Angel delight & starwberries, sandwiches, sausage rolls, pineapple & cheese on sticks, homemade pink lemonade, etc. I'll be roping in family to help me prepare it, and then it can all be ready before guests around so I can mingle better without rushing around. Going to get a cool box and pop ice in it to keep adult drinks cool so people can help themselves. I remember last year we had a BBQ at August bank holiday and I seemed to spend most of it in the kitchen fetching drinks, cutlery and cloths as Mr G.T was busy guarding the BBQ, so want to avoid that this time around!Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-23499626612471844382010-06-30T08:14:00.004+01:002010-06-30T08:32:01.591+01:00Reader, I married him!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488463315560152834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1ao3xYVHfOF0IJ8J-vSEwNBmMH-jkYnNdHfqZtc8AHdpnaTNXEQfh3Y_2JsJW_usIhwbHTccjhPoAojsa7o-QxWAOw6eP9VNoSiWhIpMSd0pfZ0cue_SD2R8cRykBCYwBXfH3t2VVR8/s200/DSCF0320.jpg" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcFGDmJhdrNlYz18B8ECFVwhIXNLKDLrKNOqDNMm12N_GNMaqXWaEGYM2wupR6_WwBqdahgSO5sZq20zcNcqJqlBPQwWGYxP3d7rEj-0Z99UVGdotZTWpzCdolphhyaB23i5UGm-6sas/s1600/DSCF0155.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488464793025133522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcFGDmJhdrNlYz18B8ECFVwhIXNLKDLrKNOqDNMm12N_GNMaqXWaEGYM2wupR6_WwBqdahgSO5sZq20zcNcqJqlBPQwWGYxP3d7rEj-0Z99UVGdotZTWpzCdolphhyaB23i5UGm-6sas/s200/DSCF0155.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5oV8Kg0nkUSf5Q15EOaLoVJqg4RvspYKej0bITEKDds4oEj_Nc8smvZMwJnW1zo0ifnYsrqDlAPPJdZYBBmnTVa5SW1uUiWUSsvWrxKWIshZ7CfIAAx2EmMOQJV0mgauLL_JG5hV4Tw/s1600/DSCF0064.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488464789357513602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5oV8Kg0nkUSf5Q15EOaLoVJqg4RvspYKej0bITEKDds4oEj_Nc8smvZMwJnW1zo0ifnYsrqDlAPPJdZYBBmnTVa5SW1uUiWUSsvWrxKWIshZ7CfIAAx2EmMOQJV0mgauLL_JG5hV4Tw/s200/DSCF0064.JPG" /></a><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488463306963703762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLaTlq6bKBFc2530gbVAUM3JHjso46XrEA7e2wh8SdtjqIptSX3NVPKZ7tpjfwiBvZdxmSTyowIZt-fO3hXnk7g4CEdf0VqED1PdI5XcqXTCrCF83ybBmfp_J07A7du6pzpzjnMHCOLBI/s200/DSCF0259.jpg" /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobz3alrf9kP-gA6Fv2MZL0dGi7rKaVJKyAQqdZUkCxjNjqHN0eNbbUZ9JpgmDSEG-puAfcd2QGrcqSPMgpkrkjjswtDQ1I4GDybvX8f5UlulBpEUe6qQFqtPhkZElJp8EXfxisx2tEyM/s1600/DSCF0949.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488463301462046610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobz3alrf9kP-gA6Fv2MZL0dGi7rKaVJKyAQqdZUkCxjNjqHN0eNbbUZ9JpgmDSEG-puAfcd2QGrcqSPMgpkrkjjswtDQ1I4GDybvX8f5UlulBpEUe6qQFqtPhkZElJp8EXfxisx2tEyM/s200/DSCF0949.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Tm1_YsKDgOwg3R3VEeo7Zx9naNLGplOUMiO5EI2D95OgMS0AooT57tIqj3gTlsaRQvv8mXthK7Kxa-V5ckwUx1SwfUw4WzXh1d-LMGwVjSh3aW1SyQr6yNyzQtwJ8VPEMCg5Rtmslzs/s1600/DSCF0036.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488463288094392530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Tm1_YsKDgOwg3R3VEeo7Zx9naNLGplOUMiO5EI2D95OgMS0AooT57tIqj3gTlsaRQvv8mXthK7Kxa-V5ckwUx1SwfUw4WzXh1d-LMGwVjSh3aW1SyQr6yNyzQtwJ8VPEMCg5Rtmslzs/s200/DSCF0036.JPG" /></a><br />I have been reminiscing about our wedding day a lot lately so thought i'd indulge myself by posting up a few photos from the day. We went to Mr G.T's brother's wedding last weekend, which was beautiful and made me naturally remember my own fondly, then it was our own 4th wedding anniversary a few days later.</div><div> </div><div>We were married on Midsummer's Day in 2006, the sun was shining and we had a fantastic celebration. It's quite crazy when you remember all the preparation and planning that goes in to one day, but it is all worth it when you have such special memories to treasure, plus I did make a lot of things myself such as the confetti cones, table decorations, place names, table plan etc so that takes a deal of planning and time but you get such a warm glow of achievement after, not to mention a lighter pocket!<br /><br />The top photo is the view from our reception in Higham, I fell in love with the Derbyshire view!</div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-45644018332286420982010-06-24T08:52:00.004+01:002010-06-24T09:11:38.742+01:00Special Days<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7VZBEVrC4YGTMWCAcIzM7Uunm9ax80QpyE5guDfYJaFWy89VKAeztVl_qI8sWJDOuJV-Rs7eTDsqTk5PR7pM69wFX-z08yrSGA0Iq95g16WqdDGl3NkU0jLbnWVkjMw8qjT3NMqxTk0/s1600/DSC_4855.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486246783450696194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7VZBEVrC4YGTMWCAcIzM7Uunm9ax80QpyE5guDfYJaFWy89VKAeztVl_qI8sWJDOuJV-Rs7eTDsqTk5PR7pM69wFX-z08yrSGA0Iq95g16WqdDGl3NkU0jLbnWVkjMw8qjT3NMqxTk0/s320/DSC_4855.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuAP3kJKk26u8qcPsDO9YgTfb4XLBCu9h_ib8HxhjLNmoATaY3SFRizEaEr3aF1EQMrY-11IwFwkbB8bcqpYDR1-Gsj3dUsx3SVVCYM8vZYtbz7Dh0BJJo2VyBmRWDiM2Iw8zEiIFiK0/s1600/DSC_4850.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486246768308382354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuAP3kJKk26u8qcPsDO9YgTfb4XLBCu9h_ib8HxhjLNmoATaY3SFRizEaEr3aF1EQMrY-11IwFwkbB8bcqpYDR1-Gsj3dUsx3SVVCYM8vZYtbz7Dh0BJJo2VyBmRWDiM2Iw8zEiIFiK0/s320/DSC_4850.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9yCMCK3d_SVYWa3QE9MF1mahwZZLd_ZDrBq5YF-8_EdDwLmeJZ24ms5dXfVcAxKGe_ASvXFPuCzyiM9K-QzLEhRGYXCVtT04Nmyejyjm7o4vVDOBoPLouGWQ68cm2CDF8m2PL8IgEm4/s1600/DSC_4839.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486246759900611730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9yCMCK3d_SVYWa3QE9MF1mahwZZLd_ZDrBq5YF-8_EdDwLmeJZ24ms5dXfVcAxKGe_ASvXFPuCzyiM9K-QzLEhRGYXCVtT04Nmyejyjm7o4vVDOBoPLouGWQ68cm2CDF8m2PL8IgEm4/s320/DSC_4839.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ukYrV9-yuzXV_QhMQ4xBNVZZZjhoaJok8fUowDaagQQ5S032kTHMMfuDE7PsGriz9ngH-B5oxTxczvhTBwegS9iTz2fpNlX6QUvsxs6U0HF72ujDR-zcIQU-ugJ742O9dqssB4wPBQ0/s1600/DSC_4524.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486246755728513890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ukYrV9-yuzXV_QhMQ4xBNVZZZjhoaJok8fUowDaagQQ5S032kTHMMfuDE7PsGriz9ngH-B5oxTxczvhTBwegS9iTz2fpNlX6QUvsxs6U0HF72ujDR-zcIQU-ugJ742O9dqssB4wPBQ0/s320/DSC_4524.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzAb_LtboNzBzqsbDFLHePHgvKFGvS5xXmNvnj5wVj80X-ax2b8th_RC56hwEag4ZPVIDoaItlUcr06RSFovx-AnPT4eKPGoaWBcksPkAuiqvSuGzYq__OQMskdvBtFUOmtIdLriSuA8/s1600/DSC_4528.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486246745341639042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzAb_LtboNzBzqsbDFLHePHgvKFGvS5xXmNvnj5wVj80X-ax2b8th_RC56hwEag4ZPVIDoaItlUcr06RSFovx-AnPT4eKPGoaWBcksPkAuiqvSuGzYq__OQMskdvBtFUOmtIdLriSuA8/s320/DSC_4528.JPG" /></a><br /><div>The weather has been glorious here, I've been grateful for a little shade in the garden at times and my trusty fan at work, but apart from that I refuse to moan, it's so nice when the sun is shining, the best therapy there is!</div><br /><div></div><div>Everything is growing so wonderfully in the garden, we are enjoying those fresh red strawberries I can tell you, well, when I get one, GS seems to find them all first!</div><div> </div><div>The tractors have been so busy on the fields behind our house hay making. It always feels like summer is finally here when that happens, and GS adores watching them go round and round working busily each day/evening.</div><div> </div><div>I will be 20 weeks pregnant on Saturday, half way through, I can hardly believe it! Next Tuesday is our scan, hoping all comes back fine. We aren't going to find out the sex as we've decided it would be a lovely surprise to find out at delivery, and especially for Mr G.T to let me know first at that special moment, so I'm sticking to my guns and resisting temptation to find out early! There have been plenty of kicks and my belly is definitely growing nicely now.</div><div> </div><div>Potty training is in full swing here, and GS is doing fantastic. I have to say I am pleased we waited a little with him, he seems much happier now to be doing it than i think he would have been a few months ago. He has had a few accidents in his pants, to be expected I guess, but he is really getting the hang now of pulling them down and going in his potty, I'm so proud!! Last night after he had gone to bed with a nappy on he shouted over the monitor that he needed to do a wee so we trooped back up to help him out of his nightclothes on to his potty (he struggles to do this at night because he has to wear boots & bar because he was born with Talipes) and he did a wee!!!! Thats the first time he has actually told us he has needed to go, and so a big step! I have splashed out (is that an appropriate phrase lol?) on a travel potty too, not the cheapest but a good investment I think to help when he is out and about, he unfortunately had an accident in Thomas Cook yesterday whilst out with my Mum and seemed very sad about it poor dude, so hopefully this will help, thankfully the staff at Thomas Cook were very understanding.</div></div></div></div></div>Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-83508607090837259202010-06-08T07:52:00.005+01:002010-06-08T08:19:18.229+01:00May blossoms been and gone<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6clFiEdQ1PdCIDMvwNBSBPE2M1j5RPQTlZquE7AZF8YNnolWI5lAhD2OxftRC05G5R6jXQAWZXZ0vBvjH8bTwjSifIU4Oxzey7YW8xgiMNk6vQ2_la1aCpouMqTGfM13QhdNeDLQrMcA/s1600/DSC_3760.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480297723086098082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6clFiEdQ1PdCIDMvwNBSBPE2M1j5RPQTlZquE7AZF8YNnolWI5lAhD2OxftRC05G5R6jXQAWZXZ0vBvjH8bTwjSifIU4Oxzey7YW8xgiMNk6vQ2_la1aCpouMqTGfM13QhdNeDLQrMcA/s320/DSC_3760.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6s9TdhhLuNCeUpsw8D6jTgihed-y671k9fnA4wqYecG5WMfF-hxRIo7vazwPkSdpvyMoDUGZNhTW44hAodt8SSiMAEv-lDiAHtwDtnHc-sTZHvuAVG3EWLxwPrgUI6hWn9n4jo00DWo/s1600/DSC_4512.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480297717138208514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6s9TdhhLuNCeUpsw8D6jTgihed-y671k9fnA4wqYecG5WMfF-hxRIo7vazwPkSdpvyMoDUGZNhTW44hAodt8SSiMAEv-lDiAHtwDtnHc-sTZHvuAVG3EWLxwPrgUI6hWn9n4jo00DWo/s320/DSC_4512.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIQD8oW6_GFkMgUuCnnWaLSdQmyvW4VbuPssgzyQeXhBeHkd-9egeESCbT2_29pryPUzgpI1Xy1tnZWfFE2DGNf_Ay4WhZcy-t1BgJdYP_8TF7WQ-mlJvAEY-6ZZIlh5bcsT7FjYGnew/s1600/CSC_4502.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480297708683910210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIQD8oW6_GFkMgUuCnnWaLSdQmyvW4VbuPssgzyQeXhBeHkd-9egeESCbT2_29pryPUzgpI1Xy1tnZWfFE2DGNf_Ay4WhZcy-t1BgJdYP_8TF7WQ-mlJvAEY-6ZZIlh5bcsT7FjYGnew/s320/CSC_4502.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuHwxFPs3_EJYqP4BAR3S4LmZKRlx6rKe5RL5yM7ioV5FFKUYCjtw6mCaOyLX55q-BBWxfeZ27kPxyQxM9kzBC73vAkhbMs5fv931JqzxatbOyM8p6-XnHscBISrPheH7nXI18CYoHPA/s1600/DSC_3731.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480297703855085602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuHwxFPs3_EJYqP4BAR3S4LmZKRlx6rKe5RL5yM7ioV5FFKUYCjtw6mCaOyLX55q-BBWxfeZ27kPxyQxM9kzBC73vAkhbMs5fv931JqzxatbOyM8p6-XnHscBISrPheH7nXI18CYoHPA/s320/DSC_3731.JPG" /></a><br /><div>It's official, I am becoming a rubbish blogger!</div><br /><div></div><div>In my defence as I became increasingly back to my old self and the nausea waned, poor GS has been poorly and quite a handful along with it. Since mid-April now he has been suffering with what we thought was a cold, runny nose, sneezing, off his food, coughing, and generally ben ill-tempered and very hard to please. Turned out it was hayfever. Now he is on the antihistamine syrup he is much better, back to his old self again, such a relief. I am slightly gutted he has an allergy, I grew up with Asthma and my Mum has hayfever so was hoping that he would avoid such things, but I guess not, but at least now we know and can manage it better to avoid weeks of misery for him again I hope.</div><div></div><br /><div>Things in the garden have been fantastic. We've enjoyed a fabulous crop of rocket and mixed salad leaves, it's so satisfying to be able to freshly pick your own salad minutes before serving dinner! The raspberries & tomatoes are flowering, strawberries are ripening, the courgette has survived the rain so far, and we have garlic, beetroot, carrots, & onions growing underneath the surface. Even our olive tree is producing flowers so hopefully our 1st crop of olives this year! </div><br /><div></div><div>Sadly the may blossom had just started to look amazing and then yesterday the rain came and washed it all away, such a shame, but at least the gardens getting a healthy soaking.</div><div> </div><div>I've also rediscovered my baking mojo now the nausea has lessened, and with help from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cookie-Magic-Biscuits-Cookies-Attitude/dp/1862058474/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275981337&sr=8-1">"Cookie Magic" by Kate Shirazi</a> there are some delicious and simple recipes in there that are low cost and delicious! GS & I baked Anzac biscuits yesterday, might go for a blackberry jam version of the lemon biscuits today!</div><div> </div><div>Thrifting has been non existent really, I must give myself a kick and get back in to it, lord knows I need to save money now more than ever, I did pick up a couple of great xmas presents in the charity shop that have gone away in my goody bag ready for the season to start but I'm afraid apart from that its been convenience all the way recently, bad bad thrifter, I may have to change my blog name to Betty Spendalot! Still, time to turn things around, wish me luck!</div></div></div></div>Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-69155867147803984212010-05-10T08:56:00.004+01:002010-05-10T09:11:36.604+01:00Things are growing!<div><div>And it's not just my belly, look!</div><br /><div>Raspberry canes!</div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXef7n3UXrG5m1Oskt_r8hWjDEw8uaEakgudb9scGFz-tL4kUe_MLs510nwMegYCR8K4FOcLTFMyMAbo90G9qqB0MIlkXK8vdFR1-dO3mbzDEjGP___BOZZlemeoxKcsoTlNwL17UkD8/s1600/DSC_3694.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469548190440714402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXef7n3UXrG5m1Oskt_r8hWjDEw8uaEakgudb9scGFz-tL4kUe_MLs510nwMegYCR8K4FOcLTFMyMAbo90G9qqB0MIlkXK8vdFR1-dO3mbzDEjGP___BOZZlemeoxKcsoTlNwL17UkD8/s320/DSC_3694.JPG" /></a> </div><div>Beetroot!<br /><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqyOLPv6Nvx8rbobesDEmwhTfrh0Hn0JbiVPd_HsdVQFeERfuJXr_JJ4592T2HF8yV0hlWAFbzCHgPU16eWmLwVIAq_-qzNMT9fvgFwsiECkxJigqyZzEWKTBxeqoVU24frCEb1szURM/s1600/DSC_3692.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469548181043585522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqyOLPv6Nvx8rbobesDEmwhTfrh0Hn0JbiVPd_HsdVQFeERfuJXr_JJ4592T2HF8yV0hlWAFbzCHgPU16eWmLwVIAq_-qzNMT9fvgFwsiECkxJigqyZzEWKTBxeqoVU24frCEb1szURM/s320/DSC_3692.JPG" /></a> My rhodedendron<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7JCv1za3cdhbprgL_VPGiVidIle1jCmbnkFCWL_U8tQydDeEGGnuYzl2EfwoL9UYzA7X74AYMrKeqVz8phP6KnHYWloR6N_YB3cGEpJBl_Je4yEdsVJSUNUck0c7PvUzE6mkrNNARiw/s1600/DSC_3687.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469548172657912018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7JCv1za3cdhbprgL_VPGiVidIle1jCmbnkFCWL_U8tQydDeEGGnuYzl2EfwoL9UYzA7X74AYMrKeqVz8phP6KnHYWloR6N_YB3cGEpJBl_Je4yEdsVJSUNUck0c7PvUzE6mkrNNARiw/s320/DSC_3687.JPG" /></a><br />And of course GS!</div><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQb7OhSmd7V1B_F1DiNRn4hBmujlmupBEYagK3e3Ly9fS9YCdGU6qkAst9cj82jL1T__IRDahqWsvLH6iJxJFPUeRZ8n68SgrdkjbkDvgXbRcLe18GR8ty7TpriJSLTdqv2qpzN0lamYk/s1600/DSC_3677.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469548165757079010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQb7OhSmd7V1B_F1DiNRn4hBmujlmupBEYagK3e3Ly9fS9YCdGU6qkAst9cj82jL1T__IRDahqWsvLH6iJxJFPUeRZ8n68SgrdkjbkDvgXbRcLe18GR8ty7TpriJSLTdqv2qpzN0lamYk/s320/DSC_3677.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div>Sorry I disappeared off the face of the planet through April, it seemed to go so fast, and I ahd my hands full with battling on through the morning sickness, getting GS to ditch the dummy (which he has done, such a big boy!) and off work whilst Granny Nanny had a holiday (she did very well to escape just before the ash cloud descended and returned once it was all over, lucky lady!)</div><div></div><br /><div>Things are very well with bump, I am feeling movement already (either that or I have a very strangely overactive gut!) and can detect the heartbeat on my doppler, my official due date is now the 13th November!</div><div></div><br /><div><br /> </div><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-12842615758078850862010-04-15T08:28:00.003+01:002010-04-15T08:39:53.493+01:00*Yawn*<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AD1f2EbFDh5hmGA2pgJnNt84gG4VzOfdRWkeVmG7Mdo1wKcwMBgSID8zruYMcJbQtI1BM-dZ-KoRaOoudhYIo_NyVvoDvgRaefP43uFaQZmHmLBEZb22l0KGrzNC_JD7kxo9ZipF_dk/s1600/CSC_2598.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460264946852018722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AD1f2EbFDh5hmGA2pgJnNt84gG4VzOfdRWkeVmG7Mdo1wKcwMBgSID8zruYMcJbQtI1BM-dZ-KoRaOoudhYIo_NyVvoDvgRaefP43uFaQZmHmLBEZb22l0KGrzNC_JD7kxo9ZipF_dk/s320/CSC_2598.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEaf-JkeaOaoQwIFGqm8bmOmJiZEdlrTXPBruh-DeCnn6MpB-0R33fJwFKZWeHPH1TUiFIJDqhq91uQ0A38ckminoG66Fa9JMT0Za1-i_r4MXWU-Vl2FvSE02SegrqhZJn_6G47x_CFE/s1600/CSC_2609.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460264946424234066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEaf-JkeaOaoQwIFGqm8bmOmJiZEdlrTXPBruh-DeCnn6MpB-0R33fJwFKZWeHPH1TUiFIJDqhq91uQ0A38ckminoG66Fa9JMT0Za1-i_r4MXWU-Vl2FvSE02SegrqhZJn_6G47x_CFE/s320/CSC_2609.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcjgiQ_JK4YdL4E6pxVvnBl7Ex1YgHMim9m-oQmwKOjVCjmqB_rzEzHuY0woIRVLcNrh4H0ydMj-gu7burQbnW5SrXamFHXLdT1Ipbxbpcdp8ulfyzVp2tX_oDh58Wn6Y-ob4j8Dv15c/s1600/CSC_2611.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460264936944441778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcjgiQ_JK4YdL4E6pxVvnBl7Ex1YgHMim9m-oQmwKOjVCjmqB_rzEzHuY0woIRVLcNrh4H0ydMj-gu7burQbnW5SrXamFHXLdT1Ipbxbpcdp8ulfyzVp2tX_oDh58Wn6Y-ob4j8Dv15c/s320/CSC_2611.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94n-8-iH3ltT-JLKnfczh50J5YheFJ1z9YlkZ09xEkPlRSnqoMJtdlpyafV5sRowNkoK9hIitx4ufmT9cu-72eVSW2-BEGS3mWhjV7VNuNqPAeCHHaM2qlF0psoP5qqlTqna2hRJ92js/s1600/CSC_2601.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460264931229574482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94n-8-iH3ltT-JLKnfczh50J5YheFJ1z9YlkZ09xEkPlRSnqoMJtdlpyafV5sRowNkoK9hIitx4ufmT9cu-72eVSW2-BEGS3mWhjV7VNuNqPAeCHHaM2qlF0psoP5qqlTqna2hRJ92js/s320/CSC_2601.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Sorry I haven't been updating lately, I keep talking photos with all intentions of coming on and discussing my day but am so utterly exhausted and nauseous right now I very often end up just staying away from the PC altogether!</div><div> </div><div>GS has been a little tricky lately, he had a virus over the weekend and now seems to have regressed back to being an argumentative toddler who cannot be pleased, which isn't exactly helping when Mummy has very little strength or willpower to battle with, and Granny Nanny has gone on her holidays to Portugal today so I'm home alone, think i might have to get messy crafts out later just to keep him happy, nevermind the mess and just let him get on with it!</div><br /><div>My scan is booked for the 29th April, so a little under 2 weeks left, bit nervous again but with how utterly awful I am feeling the upside is it must mean hormones & growth is agogo and all is well surely?!</div><br /><div>Hope you like the few pics above from the past couple of weeks</div></div></div></div>Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-7830340274187588862010-03-28T10:25:00.003+01:002010-03-28T10:38:40.273+01:00ReassuranceSorry to have gone quiet it's been busy and emotional this week.<br />Thankfully, little baby Snowdrop is tucked up safe and well so far so good, we know this as we ended up having a scan on Wednesday after I'd experienced abdominal and back pains Monday and Tuesday, I'd convinced myself something had happened (which only amplified things i think) so when we all trooped off to the EPU Wednesday lunchtime I was not expecting to see all was ok but there it was all tucked up, the size of a grain of rice, barely recognisable on the screen, but already with a fluttering strong heartbeat, I was choked! Still getting the back ache (may or may not be a kidney infection) but feeling much better now and able to face the next 5 weeks before our dating scan a little more positively.<br /><br />What is going on with the weather, awful showers this week then yesterday when I had to work all day it was sunny and warm, not fair! Now apparently snow is forecast for this week, whaaaat?!! I am however feeling very Springlike now the clocks have gone forward and we have more daylight to make the most of (when the sun is out). We out the sunflower seedlings outside yesterday to try and harden them but bought them in for the night, will continue to do this for the next few days but if snow does come then i'm not sure it's the right time to plant them in to the ground/pots just yet, but i think they won't like it if I leave them too long all crowded up in the seed tray. Any advice?<br /><br />We spent last night at Nottingham racecourse watching greyhound racing for a colleague of Mr G.T's leaving do. I was dubious at first about whether it would be my cup of tea, I have reservations about any form of racing and animal welfare, but I was really pleased to see they fully support the <a href="http://www.rgtmidlands.co.uk/">Retired Greyhound Trust </a>with a percentage of all the takings for each race that provides housing and care for 6 retired greyhounds at the center. There were lots of posters around advertising how lovely retired greyhounds are as pets and it got us both thinking how much we'd love a dog, how lovely it would be to give a dog a loving family home and help us too to stay active and get out and about more with a dog to enjoy the walks even more with. Hmm, not sure that any will be compatible with 3 cats and a toddler though (and hopefully a newborn soon) probably not, but it's something I'd consider for the future. They are beautiful animals.Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-36414257652455508142010-03-22T07:47:00.005+00:002010-03-22T08:00:07.192+00:00I love Spring!Thank you so much for your kind messages of congratulations on our bit of news, it's still sinking in, time seems to have frozen and is now dragging on very slowly, but trying to find ways of distracting myself from over analysing every last twinge and ache. I'm feeling extremely rough, exhausted and nauseous, so hoping that's a good sign all is growing nicely.<br /><br /><br />I am off from work today yet the sun isn't shining so am taking it is an ideal day to get cracking on with potty training, yes I must be mad!<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451363675198466306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil58G5uxXtGuClTRz4r-68ey4A6sa39cjuzRbb19-9GqX-kNEVeYx2k3hnLXwPqCtFxhfU0DkPNsF04xjuvzQuM2hvCsc1j-v1xMnrUdwItGSP89BTGmwyTziWOH66t-4ZBQYdaus_s3s/s320/DSC_2380.JPG" /><br />As you can see the sunflowers are growing nicely, we have a couple on this plantpot which is GS's own little pot he is tending to with a little help, and we have tray also which is overflowing, it must have at least 20 seedlings in! I think i'll give them a bit longer yet before planting them out just in case the frosts keep coming.<br /><br />The garden is gradually taking shape, we've bought a few more plants including a varigated Hebe, a honeysuckle for my trellis, some black grass and summer heathers. I also got several spring bulbs for the garden from GS (& Mr G.T) for Mothering Sunday including hyacinths, tulips and daffodils, so my pots are bountiful with Spring goodies! Sadly the money we were putting to one side to get the decking started had to be spent when the oven suddenly went pop, but hopefully if we knuckle down we can get the savings started up again.Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-22187263804817182812010-03-16T07:38:00.003+00:002010-03-16T07:41:40.942+00:00It's been an interesting week...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fV7hTDUjfZqLMYYr2jQUsiTj3H6lKl2bYTDWv5uFRjMorWry7zseTrv6Ly__RF4bHFFPZdskDHaaUlEO0z8jDS0PH_mBzZouJ2aGpDlPDca9sPIyswDPMHcKWnOnhdi5NRqJz2l-Bc8/s1600-h/DSC_2326.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449133197554144626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fV7hTDUjfZqLMYYr2jQUsiTj3H6lKl2bYTDWv5uFRjMorWry7zseTrv6Ly__RF4bHFFPZdskDHaaUlEO0z8jDS0PH_mBzZouJ2aGpDlPDca9sPIyswDPMHcKWnOnhdi5NRqJz2l-Bc8/s320/DSC_2326.JPG" /></a><br /><div>I am 5 weeks. Oh so excited but equally as terrified, it's been a real compost heap of emotions and I'm feeling like every day is slowly passing, still, patience is a key ingredient to motherhood so I'm just going to have to try and stay positive and take it a day at a time.</div><div> </div>Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-79046045529289588812010-03-08T08:16:00.003+00:002010-03-08T08:36:23.437+00:00A ride to Buxton<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmYXAY5GEuacli_B5U72scrNELgk2WrBpekD1tCgXSo6E_QOBkH-DyV_Pa9T-6EZso1FZqTW5MSL21BcDxDo7EVieiARp6ksl07kzBM2YVUEwcO_3x5RVW8Kc9oiF5CSTJq5o-DGxNV4/s1600-h/DSC_2241.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446177198664773922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmYXAY5GEuacli_B5U72scrNELgk2WrBpekD1tCgXSo6E_QOBkH-DyV_Pa9T-6EZso1FZqTW5MSL21BcDxDo7EVieiARp6ksl07kzBM2YVUEwcO_3x5RVW8Kc9oiF5CSTJq5o-DGxNV4/s320/DSC_2241.JPG" /></a> The road from Ashbourne to Buxton, beautiful Dale countrside!</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrFnlmf70uTJyhfmN3ViOa2dBKfeq-IO8v0INfVCvVypFFtOAf-vxJoy0K7SQog0R0-dGWtBOuroGZZaPHiSbvMgoJHOcC4oByY98gHKLEdRILKLcTljq12fUBw_wvFVZeT-v2DJgDfg/s1600-h/DSC_2179.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446177194662180898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrFnlmf70uTJyhfmN3ViOa2dBKfeq-IO8v0INfVCvVypFFtOAf-vxJoy0K7SQog0R0-dGWtBOuroGZZaPHiSbvMgoJHOcC4oByY98gHKLEdRILKLcTljq12fUBw_wvFVZeT-v2DJgDfg/s320/DSC_2179.JPG" /></a> Buxton country park<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BBt5UWVfFwTS3xSIuEqaO0D4q_xO5RSORVBi5wLAUQ82HEAg2nlglrpreYsbhTafNFa-0Wol4nl3Co9xCkFc8AWRGX5dewWtM-OjH2evZqwSy_mrpoqdU8uFw_dJTKBKRYqHb5RIsMM/s1600-h/DSC_2230.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446175538734811970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BBt5UWVfFwTS3xSIuEqaO0D4q_xO5RSORVBi5wLAUQ82HEAg2nlglrpreYsbhTafNFa-0Wol4nl3Co9xCkFc8AWRGX5dewWtM-OjH2evZqwSy_mrpoqdU8uFw_dJTKBKRYqHb5RIsMM/s320/DSC_2230.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kj_8Gfw79fE5_Gj6zC9SOXLXAzfbPzOl-Mb5-6L6sSM3PIo3HTwwpUHSmMLIQG4FV9FJ8gdx-S9xGySpXs4u3RWM82J3o3cRWMBd1ERCIzUAU5SqCPGqpJ9vW9BrUrKam0Spmog8nDE/s1600-h/DSC_2217.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446175536215437138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kj_8Gfw79fE5_Gj6zC9SOXLXAzfbPzOl-Mb5-6L6sSM3PIo3HTwwpUHSmMLIQG4FV9FJ8gdx-S9xGySpXs4u3RWM82J3o3cRWMBd1ERCIzUAU5SqCPGqpJ9vW9BrUrKam0Spmog8nDE/s320/DSC_2217.JPG" /></a> This old abandoned house reminded me of the beautifully haunting houses <a href="http://cariadincrete.blogspot.com/">Jude</a> meets on her walks in Crete so I felt inspired to take some pics!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqq1n45uChSLy9KfQqDJDJ2jJYsEpIvSgk5s661VjNGbMFpijmFO5rl6SBUFYmRtpic6Dvt4ypFS_zDafmOMPAJrfDiz6vBCGaCf45txWPEwaZDi9gpYSeXcoCNH7EFdjZZH4NxrwXXU/s1600-h/DSC_2205.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446175526450980226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqq1n45uChSLy9KfQqDJDJ2jJYsEpIvSgk5s661VjNGbMFpijmFO5rl6SBUFYmRtpic6Dvt4ypFS_zDafmOMPAJrfDiz6vBCGaCf45txWPEwaZDi9gpYSeXcoCNH7EFdjZZH4NxrwXXU/s320/DSC_2205.JPG" /></a> Daddy giving GS a helping hand on the woodland walk<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-ketSwP5u5Nk3FRTN4K4NVzHeYqVg7P8x23LoHjmf9RXfbLP1Lppdrd1_hDhn-ZzVZyQsNaDw6-6XgEW7QjbDIPs0f8lBMEo2VYzA8IsTu_8UpSwUO2bh8FtX8QOobYAl399KLnp8zU/s1600-h/DSC_2177.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446175524586940882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-ketSwP5u5Nk3FRTN4K4NVzHeYqVg7P8x23LoHjmf9RXfbLP1Lppdrd1_hDhn-ZzVZyQsNaDw6-6XgEW7QjbDIPs0f8lBMEo2VYzA8IsTu_8UpSwUO2bh8FtX8QOobYAl399KLnp8zU/s320/DSC_2177.JPG" /></a> A rather large fallen tree root<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQ6JHu99JntcaBaNzpF1ZQ9nbGccsAKL53h3h2r-XfP_EfMITGehdplmWH5m4-jgHIt-VVDMwChZjpoX3kWTiYhge6DX4oSbXTVmECeE8Ra52gLiLO9Z5OoelM8cHQfRCMs5FypYNuKg/s1600-h/DSC_2124.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446175517659667538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQ6JHu99JntcaBaNzpF1ZQ9nbGccsAKL53h3h2r-XfP_EfMITGehdplmWH5m4-jgHIt-VVDMwChZjpoX3kWTiYhge6DX4oSbXTVmECeE8Ra52gLiLO9Z5OoelM8cHQfRCMs5FypYNuKg/s320/DSC_2124.JPG" /></a> The beautiful Buxton country park woodland we explored!<br /><br /><br />As you can see what a lovely relaxing Sunday! The sun was shining, it was cold (there was still snow in parts) but gloriously clear blue skies meant we decided to take the car and head out to the Dales to Buxton. We packed a picnic and ended up at the country park where GS amazed us by doing quite a steep walk in to the woodland, he loved it!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">It's always so relaxing driving through the Dales and seeing such beautiful countryside; farms, stone walls, rivers, railways, and the 1st lambs of Spring!!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I am inspired to get cracking on the gardening today, GS & I are going to get the sunflower seeds planted and if it stays dry I'll get the garden weeded. As you can see from the title photo the bulbs are out and looking beautiful!</div></div></div></div><br /></div>Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-61042867341770625772010-03-04T12:43:00.002+00:002010-03-04T13:07:07.262+00:00Spring?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_hjGiz8hYKScUJoRhQhT3aGK7VxzvRQEC336rcoGkNGbQV5Bxc6k5N9Eh3afroKkFxGMRvC1DMro1VOTWBai40U1Eo8jZi_ZgsXWErCpi5sE4rXxOFHj7crkKO5JykX-51FODqVklNw/s1600-h/DSC_1972.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444760396935480050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_hjGiz8hYKScUJoRhQhT3aGK7VxzvRQEC336rcoGkNGbQV5Bxc6k5N9Eh3afroKkFxGMRvC1DMro1VOTWBai40U1Eo8jZi_ZgsXWErCpi5sE4rXxOFHj7crkKO5JykX-51FODqVklNw/s320/DSC_1972.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcyc8DxuJGSOz7JQ_5Od-dRbUVHiztAifBuQWTiE5ro590RVJqtvpOIcVg_aRF_3Aoi4UWsSirvCjecC4cyZQ8QyMts2IAlgtJH3_af4LlFOkx0GK7qsNQh9PUP3dIfyZjp2W5EXvfSY/s1600-h/DSC_2021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444760392974961698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcyc8DxuJGSOz7JQ_5Od-dRbUVHiztAifBuQWTiE5ro590RVJqtvpOIcVg_aRF_3Aoi4UWsSirvCjecC4cyZQ8QyMts2IAlgtJH3_af4LlFOkx0GK7qsNQh9PUP3dIfyZjp2W5EXvfSY/s320/DSC_2021.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtz1NZHlcGGTqw5HFewuIdhy7m8RXC624bsaZCjXBjVaQSROPyf1f1qP3n6SbfFosBCOX-jSh4ef6P8zs_aAMc0dTyneCajsKxqJzOjxkEhVLw7b1qVFLrwcnnEF-IyPMVniLW7d_uHU/s1600-h/DSC_1968.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444760381543445282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtz1NZHlcGGTqw5HFewuIdhy7m8RXC624bsaZCjXBjVaQSROPyf1f1qP3n6SbfFosBCOX-jSh4ef6P8zs_aAMc0dTyneCajsKxqJzOjxkEhVLw7b1qVFLrwcnnEF-IyPMVniLW7d_uHU/s320/DSC_1968.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFvyphmJ9bS7tAFMY5bRzMTwE1EW4-tYud_HqVm9OAWbG5ZFD_BBdTIFKpl3md2MZ808GwUWXoPG9PlP1AZnE3k4mYtg55-EMspqcu1io_UgO0YnVgXz9vkASI4p_sdTBHNHtd58zww8/s1600-h/DSC_2030.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444760379517138466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFvyphmJ9bS7tAFMY5bRzMTwE1EW4-tYud_HqVm9OAWbG5ZFD_BBdTIFKpl3md2MZ808GwUWXoPG9PlP1AZnE3k4mYtg55-EMspqcu1io_UgO0YnVgXz9vkASI4p_sdTBHNHtd58zww8/s320/DSC_2030.JPG" /></a><br /><div>The title of my blogpost has a dubious question mark after it specifically because I can't quite believe yet that the snow is over, i just have this feeling there is going to be some towards the end of the month as Winter has one huge finale, we shall see! It has certainly been a wonderful break this week, the sun has shone, the bulbs are peeking through and GS has his sunglasses at the ready!</div><div> </div><div>I think I have to say Spring is my favourite season, I love the warmer air, the bulbs flowering, the birds singing, Easter, and ofcourse the Hawthorn blossoming in to life! I am joining in the celebration of this over at <a href="http://nurturestore.co.uk/">Cathy's</a> Nurturestore by taking part in the Sunflower Club after Cathy very kindly sent me some seeds; we are going to get our kids (little and big) to sew sunflower seeds then we'll get learning about all kinds of things as they grow, such a fab idea! Feel free to follow the link at the top right of my blog to join the club as well, there's still time to buy some sunflower seeds and join in!</div><div> </div><div>Sorry I have been a bit absent, we are in the process of swapping PC's and therefore Mr G.T has been spending most of the evenings online while I have been lazing around, very naughty I know, I am really so desperate though for the warm light evenings to come so I can be pottering in the garden or have a stroll after tea, I am becoming increasingly demotivated by the cold weather and I'm becoming fat on all the baking we have been doing to occupy the time!</div><div> </div><div>Our walk above was around a beautiful nature park in Nottinghamshire that has been set up on the site of an old coal pit. I know I am seeming to be obsessed about these, especially as our back garden is also part of a reformed pit yard, but I think that's more of the area I live in, so much of it was colliery land in the not too distant past, so it makes sense that most of the open spaces now are land that's been given back to nature from the industrial past. I think it makes it somehow more poetic and beautiful, that it has been through so much and yet now the land is tranquil, full of wildlife and best of all free to roam around! As you can also see, GS got a little bit muddy!!</div></div></div></div>Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-20039790685708334402010-02-15T13:56:00.005+00:002010-02-15T14:20:56.496+00:00A rose...<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438471516182944882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOxm_TuZtRDyHmxDSJj71Py3hVh8-fLPDnbaagWeIySh4-MwS4ypX-nPHnitcv6eo7eFiOw-uetEHQyT2V-QnvH0wD0wEiMpU_sDbMzCkntiuBbrkeXL1itoWGY48lgZhAfZOL5vvUTg/s320/DSC_1949.JPG" /><br /><br /><br />I hope you all enjoyed a lovely Valentine's weekend?<br /><br /><br /><br />We always celebrate as Valentine's night was our first ever date 8 years ago, and despite the sentiment of Valentine's being a lovely one it does remind me every year that it can be an incredibly lonely time for many, i certainly was not a fan before Mr G.T & I found each other, and therefore we never go mad, we enjoy a meal at our favourite restaurant together every year and get a little something thats special and personal to each other. Homemade and thoughtful gifts are so much better than overpriced shop bought stuff in my humble opinion.<br /><p>We spent an icy morning on Thursday having a walk around the fields at the back of our home. GS is getting very good now at walking all the way around on his own and enjoying crunching in the icy puddles!</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8RTEcygIKvGu5zs4TcGDUuJ_cMBuDq8ZXDz-EcXpnL23lfMuOSIsvWPAASI7CQkWk_yOnGKK7CacpUwCQrSz6flg32jNaru_ntYjrx9_hXAd4wtUsYomulmNoCvG83C2ONS-mmRPpns/s1600-h/DSC_1902.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438471545225929666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8RTEcygIKvGu5zs4TcGDUuJ_cMBuDq8ZXDz-EcXpnL23lfMuOSIsvWPAASI7CQkWk_yOnGKK7CacpUwCQrSz6flg32jNaru_ntYjrx9_hXAd4wtUsYomulmNoCvG83C2ONS-mmRPpns/s320/DSC_1902.JPG" /></a>I love this particular field as 20 years ago this used to be the site of the main pit shaft of the local colliery, a site of such misery, dirt, hardship and tragedy at times. Now all that remains is a little painted sign on the gate that this was the pit yard entrance not so long ago. Now it is a calm, serene and beautiful place that hides it scars so well.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikq_X0xvuja8iYUABZxcVpOKW7GuQXjpsFcfu5-C3VSdbDwPCcZvxGByaUBvHJRLvBIkdV64AhhqKTn9FlFQBueO2D8LKt-nObwF-5Yev9GMjVhjNjaUMCH5EJkPRObE4_Mi6jAU_tX1M/s1600-h/DSC_1880.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438471536778209986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikq_X0xvuja8iYUABZxcVpOKW7GuQXjpsFcfu5-C3VSdbDwPCcZvxGByaUBvHJRLvBIkdV64AhhqKTn9FlFQBueO2D8LKt-nObwF-5Yev9GMjVhjNjaUMCH5EJkPRObE4_Mi6jAU_tX1M/s320/DSC_1880.JPG" /></a> We came across this frozen puddle with such fantastic frozen ripples, i refused to let GS crunch this one up, it was too pretty!<br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438472348508897858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqET0Z9oJZEc70J9sjVY2X7cCZBbTuj0zwEgZ2lFHBdbgtGfsb5L6xf14lae86Iaj1NBRkocixcwe0YITKdrVpvHdSYZc7HgR0DOy09IuFRzbblIR2Yz_HkyGuGKWFrpO9zY4C68JPdY/s320/DSC_1851.JPG" /> Dear Daisy joined us on our little walk...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowR_v6ZLH2pM6N3ZhdhQZSWbt90gMEAJyCc54DT27pk-mQ-zdlynN9ZQQD5xb6TSKCnvZk9OdLWhoUuwgs6hZhfAbQQK7xGXuPIGkLbeA-CCX4xfeWlUkOKlxLiMUyl9ZdmbJuIrQA2A/s1600-h/DSC_1867.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438471533319948290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowR_v6ZLH2pM6N3ZhdhQZSWbt90gMEAJyCc54DT27pk-mQ-zdlynN9ZQQD5xb6TSKCnvZk9OdLWhoUuwgs6hZhfAbQQK7xGXuPIGkLbeA-CCX4xfeWlUkOKlxLiMUyl9ZdmbJuIrQA2A/s320/DSC_1867.JPG" /></a></div></div></div><br /><p>...and then got very upset when she sniffed some dogs being walked in the distance, she tried her best to persuade her crazy human pride to turn back as she sensed danger but we just didn't listen and kept on going past the hounds whilst she eventually got sick of trying to warn us and ran off for cover before they arrived hehe, she must think we are very silly.</p><p>I thought of several things this morning to blog about but now my time to write has come (as GS has a nap) i can't for the life of me remember a single one, oh dear, well I have the urge to make pastry maybe they'll come back to me then. Ta-ra for now.</p>Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-21096118216390525002010-02-11T08:12:00.004+00:002010-02-11T08:41:15.746+00:00Friendships<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436899329668169682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrwCatyAUd71JyoXnJHlEGkP-XH0jN7gXiAuUeeE410a-PVr0NSJIA7an_SKBPqP7zFVu5sOlW-AygIKejx_ffuGWL6T7a4CReDjMfgZSRfU_W-547U_tm7sTGfnhNI3jjEjK091ePKM/s320/CSC_1825.JPG" /><br />Seeing my beautiful niece and GS playing together and cuddling the other day made me reflect so much on my own friendships, particularly as there have been some emotional moments lately with some of them.<br /><br />There is 9 months between A and GS and they both adore one another, GS is definitely the loud and crazy one and A is far more reserved and quiet but between them they have so much fun and share pretty well, a rare find in toddlers! I hope as they grow older together they will always be close, they will go to different schools because of where we live but I hope they'll have each other plus any other further siblings that come along to always rely on and be there for each other, those sorts of friendships are so important when you are growing up.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4FTsiOx8uEtx1iPnctpxc4rA92ozbVWM2vHZVDa0JF8giScPDi8ib49o4vkRB61H5OKzLx5dIvwtsFlh2ZLEoqpzXByBmftS80_3rZwFgtNfdJHTp5edS9GNizIIpJ-h41cRnOe-CSo/s1600-h/DSC_1781.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436899332643582002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4FTsiOx8uEtx1iPnctpxc4rA92ozbVWM2vHZVDa0JF8giScPDi8ib49o4vkRB61H5OKzLx5dIvwtsFlh2ZLEoqpzXByBmftS80_3rZwFgtNfdJHTp5edS9GNizIIpJ-h41cRnOe-CSo/s320/DSC_1781.JPG" /></a><br /><div>I have some very dear friends who I have known many years, some who I don't see as much as I would like to or don't have so much in common any more but we still have a great time when we get to catch up. Then there are friends who are like-minded & wonderful but live miles away or even in another country, some who I have never met in person but am so close to, thanks to the marvellous media of the internet we have found each other and share so much, but it sucks we can never really meet up and share a coffee or help one another out with babysitting, or give a proper hug when we need one! I also have friends that I would like to be closer with but I just struggle to meet them on the same page, either we have very different lives and perspectives so struggle to find middle ground any longer, or no matter what efforts are made we just seem to stay distant.</div><div> </div><div>The latter has particularly been upsetting this week as it involves a family member, well someone who will be joining our family but still seems very reticent to become a part of it. I suppose I feel sad really that a potential close friendship is being pushed away, for whatever reason I am not entirely sure, the main ingredients seem there, we like similar things, we live close to one another, we have been through a lot of similar situations, but still despite many efforts we aren't close and can not really be termed friends. It's quite a shame really, but these things cannot be forced, who knows what the future may bring, but certainly for now I am making the decision to remain open in case that person needs me, but will stand back and give space from now on to let the dust settle and the distance remain.<br /></div><div></div>Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574817252069650082.post-16994362228377805512010-02-07T18:34:00.004+00:002010-02-07T19:08:11.507+00:00Sunday has been about Monkeys...Firstly this little monkey... <div><div><div><div> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435576104005461410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZGDHHvCFXxvMV5DEaRUsib9yhqWaPlCaZgypAF1v09r9gmyd865DEN9aI5VUM6BZda4W4t1a7wEybt6y5hTRtcD5_wjOnNRqdanHwD9aNlJQ3-GXU1B0FsjGl6WQy36ffQ5ndej6gu0/s320/DSC_1658.JPG" />...enjoying his craft session...</div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435576105195697346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5naHpEPm_AAB9RncAB11eRmZ71EdnaEpkni1bGOrmPDf8MuK-B2aRVyZIt-MuCiuupybUhFYtABf_fRZ1t4dQbin3G0U-U5BxYbHOaR9Blm3eXJ5R_DAEo7iIrA0hokjh8PAwp-17jbQ/s320/DSC_1562.JPG" /></div><br /><div><div><div>...and then this one...</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435576110216743266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyD_lnhmOQcVKaPlqmRJZIiVt2LCa0T0O6_r2upqMglu-VdTqobsrlURnRmnp4CJClzLaYmCgZxxG209n_2cah6HWMdCni7dTujV4IWD1khgGBEVABenfuO8UJ3Kq2sYP8o0thQtfHiQ/s320/DSC_1729.JPG" /><br /><div>I baked this after being inspired by <a href="http://foodiefarmgirl.blogspot.com/2005/11/let-them-eat-mexican-monkey-cake.html">Farmgirl Fare's recipe </a>"Mexican Monkey Cake" mmmm utterly delicious and seeing as it contains bananas (amongst some other more naughty ingredients) I decreed it one of our 5 a day and therefore had 2 slices, i'm sure that's how it works!!</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435576113252749634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlYqEO3W5vFSw-zmGTSfzCPfi039d4VQNYcHe8I2dRH32Z0xQz74cjl7kuNZR3f4CaxGBG0gh_D8KShQ7LpyE6uGY_VVIpPRQtX6XY1TTVsalDOYre9z27Rky4XjyIQ6Gqhic3P9fhD0/s320/DSC_1758.JPG" /><br /><br /><div>Totally un-Monkey related has been playing about with my camera as I slowly learn all the settings and get used to what it can do, I am getting quite pleased with my shots, especially the more abstract ones!</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435579499961771650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytFcXnhA03y1x0SnlItrVXmyRdLt74fV3lVcG1Q3u6zELT5IUF5WwAJQYdkn9cdVBSoluLdAhQCANTOw6DWygyjVDY_uo92biQ8wqNbKtv6DpmphyphenhyphenGNJcib1FfDNG-kCmcEjnxDqZPPI/s320/CSC_1677.JPG" /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435579494345209842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oEIzi_88ba3s8hv7p4uo52Po1ZVn8h0O0nYCBgpTvjWwSCBkszE8FKpx79oUtKbpj3kxi6pZ_Iv-zbqV_rOwN78prXsR__9bSuIR5IU6lQHf5ltbdbParEol0vaT3ymBHUTpjfQJr9Q/s320/CSC_1675.JPG" /><br /><div></div><div></div><div>I have succumbed to a cold over the weekend so I haven't been up to much worth blogging about other than the above really, but hopefully I am on the mend and will be up to better things next weekend seeing as it's Valentine's weekend and therefore Mr G.T' & I's celebration of 8 years together (our first date was Valentine's day)!</div></div></div></div></div>Ms B. Thrifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07596828734352833478noreply@blogger.com5