No Wi-fi But Quality Family Time #SixWordSaturday

Our gorgeous sunny holiday is over!!!

I’m so sad to be home as it doesn’t take long for the holiday to seem a lifetime ago (when we only got back yesterday) and normality to set in- washing (loads of it), shopping (Old Mother Hubbard has nothing on my cupboards, fridge and freezer), paying bills (grrr) and being absolutely freezing cold despite the sun shining.

But the saddest thing of all is that now we’re home, we’re back to doing our own thing. The teenager has gone to the gym and meeting up with friends. The Hubby is on his XBox and I’m tippy tappy on the laptop (whilst waiting for the washing machine to do it’s thing).  

On holiday there was no wi-fi which meant no continuous status updates or chats with friends or sharing photos. (Well I shared the odd one which no doubt will cost a small fortune but I’ll worry about that when the bill comes in). It also meant I missed the week my book was on sale so there was minimal publicity for that (I may have posted a few tweets . . . again, I’ll see what the bill says . . . eeekkk).

But no wi-fi!!

What were we to do??? I thought I would go into meltdown. The teenager’s life had officially ended.

Talk!

It meant we had to talk to each other for two weeks! Face to face conversations over a meal . . . ate at a table . . .  in a restaurant  . . . with fantastic views.

I still took pics of my food!

The sangria!! Yummy!!! 

And boy, did we talk. Even the teenager couldn’t stop (the odd beer loosening his tongue). OK, so I now know about the superhero movies and the order to watch them, how they link to the comics etc. I know some stories from a life when my Hubby wasn’t my Hubby (didn’t his life start when he met me?). I probably know some other stuff too as we talked about random things, rambling on, late into the night, sitting on the balcony, watching the twinkling lights of the fishing boats come and go as we drank Sangria.

But it’s over and it may be the last holiday we have as a family as the teenager will be 18 next year, and already talking about holidays with his mates.

So, I’ll just gaze through the photos of our tanned, smiling faces and remember that actually no wi-fi wasn’t the end of the world for any of us.

The view from the balcony. Pure bliss

#Blog Flash 2013 Day 19 City

I've written many pieces on London so not to want to bore you (again) with how fabulous the city is, I have decided to write about another city . . . . 

Any reason to go to London and I am there. I love the thrill of the city; the noise, crowds, smells and tempo. There is one city I haven’t had the pleasure of but it is on the top of my list to go to; New York. When we see pics of it on TV, I’m instantly filled with excitement and an urge to go, where as my husband sees a concrete jungle of chaos and his worst nightmare. Needless to say, when I eventually get to experience this wonderful city, I will be going without him.  J  

97 words

For more blog flash please visit http://terriglong.com/blog/

End of An Era

I can't quite believe it is here. Tomorrow (Friday 26 Oct 2012) is the last day for my Hubby in his job with Harrods after 20 years! Yes 20 years!!! We knew it was coming; despite the redundancy being voluntary he didn't really have any other choice. But since handing in his 60 day notice, the time has just flown and when he gets up at 4am tomorrow, it will be for the last time! Obviously to celebrate this, he will wake me up to share this momentous occasion with him . . . . . Cheers. I look forward to it.

  No doubt falling back to sleep will be impossible after getting up to feed the cat who, on hearing the alarm will think it's breakfast time. It's like Bagpuss in this house; when Hubby wakes up so does everyone else . . . Except No 1 Son who would sleep through the Zombie apocalypse and then get the hump at missing it!

 Anyway, back to Hubby. 20 years. Wow! When he first turned up at 'The Corner Shop' in 1992 as a greasy, long haired 20 something he had no idea it would be such a huge part of his life. . . . .


In January 1993 a bomb exploded from a litter bin on the Brompton Road outside Harrods. Hubby was on duty on the door where the litter bin stood. The bomb smashed and blew in the windows. No one was hurt. Hubby saw out the rest of his shift  and then went to the pub where the world and his wife bought beers all night for him.

And then in 1996, his life changed forever . . . . . . .  for the better (of course) . . . . . . . I had arrived like a breath of fresh air, like the Tazmanian Devil, like a whirlwind (take your pick) and Hubby didn’t know what hit him! I love this store! I indeed was a kid in a sweetshop/toyshop/bookshop/bakery and the handbags!!!!! (But that could be another story if I convince Hubby to part with some of his money for a Chloe or Burberry or Chanel . . . . . the list is endless). He went from the 'I don't want a relationship eternal bachelor' to being a couple. (Hee, hee).


Then in the summer of 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales began dating Dodi, the son of 'The Boss' of  'The Corner Shop'and then August 31st happened. Amazing scenes along the Brompton Front with a sea flowers never ending. The amount of people in the dead of night was just as many as during the busiest part of the day. And then after finishing the night shift, we walked over to Kensington Palace to view the flowers and sign the books. To this day I have no idea what Hubby wrote in the book.


In 1998, I left Harrods to have No 1 Son. Harrods was the place where No 1 son had his first haircut which was a painless experience and where we bought his first pair of shoes.

 Obviously since I left, life for Hubby at work has been rather quiet. Well, apart from winning a couple of golfing trophies. But it has been an important part of our lives. Without it, we would not have met or met some wonderful lifelong friends.

I can’t believe Hubby is leaving but am pleased he is I guess. The long days and travelling are getting harder. Although I shall miss the bonus Christmas pudding and other gifts.  But I won’t miss those white shirts or the 4am alarm . . . unless we're off on holiday!


Happy last day at Harrods Hubby!!!



xxx

Watch Out, Watch Out, There's a Shoe Thief About!

I have a favourite pair of shoes. They are a pair of Sketchers I bought about five years ago. And after a wash in the washing machine, they are always as good as new, smelling as fresh as a daisy. And I left them over night to dry off, thinking nothing more about it.  

Well now one of them is missing! I thought I was going daft and searched everywhere but it definitely wasn't anywhere to be seen. Someone was having a laugh as I imagined I was the victim of a practical joke.   

Missing: Have you seen this shoe . .

I accused Hubby and #1Son as the latter was out kicking a ball and the former doesn't like them. But they protested their innocence. And I actually believed them because why would they risk life and limb touching one of my shoes?    

But, it turns out,  there is a prime suspect . . . .

Prime Suspect shoe thief  

Yes, she may look all cute and innocent, sunbathing  like she owns the garden, but don't let that fool you. Apparently Foxes like to take things, so I have been told by various people. I guess it's the doggy thing they're doing; chewing items to death as they slobber all over it. 

I have searched the garden but nothing.  But then . . . . do I really want it back? Hubby thinks this is highly amusing and is in awe that the fox isn't dead from touching the shoe. Cheers! That's really kind of you.  

But it's not all bad . . . . . I get the excuse to go shoe shopping for another pair.  Love

Me

xxx  

Marilyn Monroe

One of my favourite pics of Marilyn who died age 36 on 5th August 1962. 50 years ago. The 5th of August is also my Hubby's birthday which we have been busy celebrating which is why this post is late.

The Final Countdown!!!!!

There are times when you have a fab idea for a blog post and the words just flow which is fantastic. There are, however, times when you do not have an idea but you know you want to write as you’re in the mood to share and this is one of those times. It’s not that I do not have an idea. It’s just I have already written two blog posts on the subject so I thought about what else is happening in my world. And it just so happens that it is coming up to the summer holidays which means winding down at work and indeed is the final countdown to summer (if the sun can join us, that would be awesome).

So here is the Final Countdown to the glorious six weeks off . . . . . .

1.     We had our end of term works do last night and it was a pub quiz which was awesome. Now loyal and regular blog followers will know that the pub quiz is a mixed bag for my team because we were sad at coming second from last and not getting the booby prize but gobsmacked at coming third and second because we’re usually so dire. Well last night we had high expectations as last year, we actually won! We argued, debated, over though, laughed, drank, ate and argued some more. We had the advantage of having The Mad American on our team so when we asked about the biggest state in America, she said Texas which I said too. But I’m not American. Someone else had their wits about them and said Alaska which actually was right. There were some other dumb arse questions about America and we got them all wrong! In fact, if we didn’t over think most questions, we would have probably won as we were second by only three points! The drink didn’t help either!

2.    Change! A part of life but I hate it. And every summer, we have this huge change of kids leaving, moving class, new peeps to work with and tying up loose ends. It’s a funny few days filled with parties, gifts and tears during the leaver’s assembly.

3.    Preparing to cook up a storm. There is a whole new world to the end of the summer term. The generosity of the gifts from the kids is amazing. And the shops have cottoned on; filled with Best teacher/Teaching Assistant for at least a month now. Being a baker, I like to be creative this time of year and give a treat handmade by me. It says so much more. Especially when Hubby sees the state of the kitchen. Which brings me to . . .

4.       Hubby! He is not happy at No 1 Son being around for six weeks and worse, me being around demanding the usual day’s out, pub lunches and togetherness! He likes his ‘me time’ of which is going to be nonexistent. Obviously No 1 Son will be doing his own thing and will come home when hungry or skint or both! So Hubby, on your days off its ‘Hasta la vista, baby’ to the Xbox 360!  

5.       The sun! And I don’t mean the Murdoch rag. I’m talking about the biggest star in the sky and its shyness so far this summer. Generally by now, I’ve been wilting in the heat, even melting. This time I’ve been getting soaked nearly every day either walking to work or walking home and don’t even get me started on the stress involved in trying to dry the washing out on the line! Usually by August, the rain comes and makes for a rather miserable summer. However, seeing as we have that already, I am hoping that the sun will come to the great summer party of six weeks off and I am counting down the days and counting on that jet stream to bugger off! And do you know why we have the jet stream hanging over us? America has a heatwave which is causing it. So for us to have our summer, America needs to lose there's so the jet stream does bugger off. Sorry Mad American. The garden needs my sun lounger and I need to finish reading Wicked and try to cope with the 50 Shades drivel; in the sun!!

6.       My lovely friend will be leaving me again. Every summer, The Mad American goes home to New York State and every summer, I see her before she goes, get really sad and become a Facebook-a-phobe because she has better things to do.  She’s counting down the days to glorious American sunshine and I’m slowly counting down the days until she goes. L However, she does bring back peanut butter M&M’s which are awesome. I so should have been born American although Hubby said if I was, I’d be the size of Alaska- which is the biggest state my Mad American friend, not Texas. (See above pics).

7.       The 30 day #BlogFlash for August 2012! I said YES!!! 100 words each day on a different prompt! Will I do it? You’ll have to keep your eyes peeled to find out . .

And that is it, I think. My little countdown to lazy summer days, busy family fun and becoming ‘Ladies what Lunch’ as we get together for relaxing summer gossip over a Spritzer and a Pimms.

Happy summer all and let’s give a big shout out to that beautiful, much needed summer accessory; the sun!  

Love Me xxxx

If you liked this, you may also like

The battle of the Pickled Onion Monster Munch