Thursday 29 January 2009

Letter of complaint

Well surely she can't be the only one to feel like this at that 'special' time? LMAO

TO: MR. JAMES THATCHER

BRAND MANAGER, PROCTER & GAMBLE

Dear Mr. Thatcher

I have been a loyal user of your Always maxi pads for over 20 years, and I
appreciate many of their features. Why, without the LeakGuard Core(tm) or
Dri-Weave(tm) absorbency, I'd probably never go horse riding or salsa
dancing, and I'd certainly steer clear of running up and down the beach in
tight, white shorts. But my favorite feature has to be your revolutionary
Flexi-Wings. Kudos on being the only company smart enough to realize how
crucial it is that maxi pads be aerodynamic. I can't tell you how safe and
secure I feel each month knowing there's a little F-16 in my pants.

Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr. Thatcher? Ever suffered from "the
curse"? I'm guessing you haven't. Well, my "time of the month" is starting
right now. As I type, I can already feel hormonal forces violently surging
through my body. Just a few minutes from now, my body will adjust and I'll
be transformed into what my husband likes to call "an inbred hillbilly with
knife skills." Isn't the human body amazing?

As brand manager in the feminine-hygiene division, you've no doubt seen
quite a bit of research on what exactly happens during your customers'
monthly visits from Aunt Flo. Therefore, you must know about the bloating,
puffiness, and cramping we endure, and about our intense mood swings, crying
and out-of-control behaviour. You surely realise it's a tough time for most
women. In fact, only last week, my friend Jennifer fought the violent urge
to shove her boyfriend's testicles into a George Foreman Grill just because
he told her he thought Grey's Anatomy was written by drunken chimps.

Crazy! The point is, sir, you of all people must realize that the UK is just
crawling with homicidal maniacs in capri pants. Which brings me to the
reason for my letter.

Last month, while in the throes of cramping so painful I wanted to reach
inside my body and yank out my uterus, I opened an Always maxi pad, and
there, printed on the adhesive backing, were these words: "Have a Happy
Period."

Are you *+*#*ing kidding me?

What I mean is, does any part of your tiny middle-manager brain really think
happiness - actual smiling, laughing happiness - is possible during a
menstrual period? Did anything mentioned above sound the least bit
pleasurable?

Well, did it, James? FYI, unless you're some kind of sick S&M freak girl,
there will never be anything "happy" about a day in which you have to jack
yourself up on Nurofen and KahlĂșa and lock yourself in your house just so
you don't march down to the local Tesco's armed with a hunting rifle and a
sketchy plan to end your life in a blaze of glory. For the love of God, pull
your head out, man. If you just have to slap a moronic message on a maxi
pad, wouldn't it make more sense to say something that's actually pertinent,
like "Put Down the Hammer" or "Vehicular Manslaughter Is Wrong"?

- Or are you just picking on us?

Sir, please inform your accounting department that, effective immediately,
there will be an £8 drop in monthly profits, for I have chosen to take my
maxi-pad business elsewhere. And though I will certainly miss your
Flexi-Wings, I will not for one minute miss your brand of condescending
bullsh1t. And that's a promise I will keep. Always.

Best,

Wendi Aarons

Wednesday 28 January 2009

Fabric samples and ebay winnings

I know I probably don't really need any fabric samples but I saw that Shabby Chick had received some lovely samples so I thought I'd give it a try myself. John Lewis gave me some nice big pieces but I don't know whether they did it intentionally but the materials with a big pattern....well see for yourself.





Another firm that does fab materials at really reasonable prices (whose name escapes me right now) sent me these. Lovely fabrice but teeny tiny samples.





And just incase you thought there weren't enough photos in todays post. I did promise yesterday that I'd be back with pics of the goodies I bought from Anglesey Allsort's ebay shop.

Even the wrapping was gorgeous.



Look at it all.


Him indoors is talking about us having something like this put into the bottom of the garden.


Can you imagine the fun I'd have decorating it and making it into my space. All the boxes and shelves and space for my drum kit too. :)
Actually do you think he's trying to tell me something?

Tuesday 27 January 2009

Mrs Domesticated I ain't

but I did spend much of today doing housewifey things, mainly ironing.


2 hours of ironing. Ewwwwww. As I think I might have mentioned once or twice before now I do NOT like ironing. But I do have one Mother who loves ironing and she is coming to stay with me for 3 weeks as of next Wednesday. That means no washing or ironing for 3 weeks. She takes over that chore willingly while she's here. Maybe that's how she thinks she can do her bit and I am certainly not complaining. That is one thing that we can get on about no problem, she wants to do it and I let her. :)

So it would seem that my Custard Shortbread looked enticing enough to warrant people hinting that they'd like the recipe. So here you go.

Here is the recipe for the Custard Shortbreads:

185 g butter
⅓ cup icing sugar
1½ cups plain flour
⅓ cup custard powder

Cream butter and icing sugar, add sifted flour and custard powder, and a dash of vanilla. Mix well. Form into balls and place onto greased oven trays and press with a fork to form biscuits. Bake in a moderate oven for about 15 minutes.


I actually got the recipe from spoonfullofsugargirls

I make mine slightly different in that I put all the ingredients in the food mixer and keep whizzing it until it forms into a clump. If you've never tried this trust it does really work. It kinda of looks like breadcrumbs for a long while but then as if by magic it comes together. Then if you prefer you can roll it into a long sausage shape and just just off slices to place on your baking tray.

Let me know if you try them out and how you like them. :)

I was lucky enough to win a bag of sewing things from Anglesey allsorts' ebay shop. She is one super fast poster too. I think I received it the day after I paid for it. :D
And what a lovely bag of goodies it is. I'll be sure to pop back tomorrow and share with you all the loveliness.

Anglesey Allsorts lives in a beautiful part of the world and it's not a million miles away from where I grew up on the North Wales coast. Infact I have many memories of day trips all over Angelsey as a child. Did you know that Anglesey is home of the longest place name in the UK.


You'll notice that they very kindly but a phonetic version underneath so the tourists can at least try to say it all.

It is considered to be the longest place name in the world but in actual fact that is a place called.
Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit, meaning the 'City of Angels', is known to the locals as Krungthep Mahanakhon. The rest of the world knows it as Bangkok, Thailand. However, it is not recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the longest place name as it is not used on a daily basis by the locals.
Mind you everyone I know who can say the UK one shortens it to Llanfairpg so you could argue that that's not used on a daily basis either.

Monday 26 January 2009

See it's not my fault

it's all to do with my name!




You Are Spontaneous and Whimsical



You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life.

You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home.

You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble.



You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.

You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.

You have the classic "Type A" personality.



You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something.

You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense.

You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.

Saturday 24 January 2009

Look at my lovely fabric


This is the fabric that I won in JellybellyJellybrain's giveaway.


A few close up shots you say?



Look sparkles




And Laura Ashley too


Aren't I a lucky girl. I've got plans for that there fabric I have :D

After my blog about the books I've read so far this year Alex asked if there was any I'd recommend. So...
I'd definately recommend Cecilia Ahern The Gift. I've been really disappointed with the last couple of her books but this one hits the spot again and I have to say I did have to reach for the tissues at the end.
Dorothy Koomson is great I've not read a book by her that I've not enjoyed.
And Claire Galman is a good writer, infact I'm just reading her Lessons for a Sunday Father.

Ah well time for a cup of tea and a home made custard shortbread me thinks.

Friday 23 January 2009

Bookworm extraordinaire?

When I told someone at work the other day how many books I read already this year they suggested that I needed to get out more. But I do get out! Hmmm maybe I should put the books down for a bit and do some housework or hey how about something crafty for the first time this year.

11. Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman – Elizabeth Buchan.
10. Breakfast at Tiffany’s – Truman Capote.
9. The Cupid Effect – Dorothy Koomson.
8. The Chocolate Run – Dorothy Koomson.
7. Annie’s New Life – Maureen Martella
6. Bad Behaviour – Sheila O’Flanagan
5. Pants on fire – Maggie Alderson
4. The Gift – Cecelia Ahern
3. Onwards And Upwards – Arabella Weir
2. The Chocolate Lovers’ Diet – Carole Matthews
1. Love is a Four Letter Word – Claire Calman

And this is only the list of reading books that I've read and not the crafting books and magazines I've perused too.

Thursday 22 January 2009

I swear they'll make me grey

Tonight I had eldest small persons parents evening specifically for Maths and English. She is sitting her exams in those subjects this year. As it is a Wednesday wee one has her swimming class so I had to rush back from that, get something cooked to feed the small people then rush out of the door to get to the school in time for my first appointment. I left big one in charge of mashing up the tatties, grabbed my keys and off I went. Both teachers gave glowing reports (as always) concerning big ones capabilities and expectations for her upcoming exams. So off I went back home with a nice warm glow knowing that I must be doing something right for her to be such a great kid.
I thought it was strange to be met by the dogs in the back garden and I could see that it was Blackpool illuminations inside the house with nearly all the lights on. It was only as I came in through the back door and big one shouted for the dogs to get out, wee one burst into tears and I could big one had plaster on plaster on plaster up her arm that I knew something bad had happened.

Wee ones latest way of expressing her annoyance with someone or something is to slam a door. We have always told the smalls that it is a dangerous thing to do, you know trapped fingers etc etc etc. Well tonight after they had finished their meal wee one had requested pudding. Big one had told her to wait until I got home as she was not sure what was for pudding and I wouldn't be long. Wee one was not placated with this and stormed out of the kitchen slamming the door behind her then for extra effect returned and slammed it once again.

Unfortunately the door out of the kitchen is one with a wooden frame and a huge glass insert. Fortunately it is safety glass so although it broke it did not shatter into a million pieces all over the place. Big one did scratch herself on the glass and once the realisation of what had happened hit home she was a bit shakey. Wee one was upset because her sister was hurt and of course she'd broken something. Big one had already given her sister the whole 'glass is dangerous' talk just before I got in and of course I gave it her again plus again with the we do NOT slam doors routine.

I took the door off its hinges straight away and thankfully everyone is ok but jeeze what a night! And no I won't be replacing the door with one with all that glass in it and why do things like this happen when him indoors is away?

Wednesday 21 January 2009

My fire and another award

I realised today as I was lighting my fire that I have never shown you all the final product of all that work. So here we are one glorious fire.


Please excuse the mess but the smalls seem to fail to understand the concept of putting things away properly at the moment so everything is piled by the sides. Oh while I'm showing you the fire you can also see two of the lovely bunches of flowers that I got for my birthday. The ones on the mantlepiece are from him indoors and the ones on the hearth are from my friend L.

Just to remind you of what it looked like once the boiler had been removed and the awful plaster job chipped off.


Oh and this is the kind of thing we get up to with the poor mutts when the days are a bit long.




Can you not see the pleading in this face? "Please take it off now Mum I'm a boy and tiara's are sooo not my thing"


And as I mentioned I got another award from the lovely Alex

A Fabulous Award. Isn't it Fabulous?
Ok now to tag some lovely people.
Twiggy
A lovely blogger and how can I not award someone who owns a pink guitar AND it's her birthday ;)

Fiftiesgirl
Another inspirational blogger and have you seen the fabulous record player they have!

The Devil Makes Work
Woo is an amazing woman and I think she's fab

Kookie
Because she is a wonder with the old crochet needle and one day she is going to come sit by my fire and teach me. :)

I could go on and on with all the fabulous people who's blogs I love so I'm just going to say to everyone who comes visit you are hereby awarded with the fabulous award because you are damn fabulous. ;)

Tuesday 20 January 2009

Another sad goodbye and other general blahs

Tony Hart died at the grand age of 83. He was always like a friendly grandpa or uncle who understood how much you loved to draw and would give you hints and tips on how to try out new ideas.




So what else has been happening in the world of Taz. Not a great deal to be honest. Spent pretty much all of yesterday and today asleep. Saturday night I went out. It was supposed to be a belated birthday drink for me and a pre-birthday drink for one of our friends. My best friend phoned me in the afternoon to say she didn't think she'd be going out wasn't feeling up to it, so I didn't rush back from shopping with the kids. But as I was dropping wee one's friend home I got a message saying she was out and hurry up down to the pub. So I had to rush home, jump in the shower and find something that didn't need ironing. Anyway it was a fun night out.
Sunday was a lazy day. ;)
Today I got up, go the smalls off to school, came home made myself a mug of coffee and thought oooh I'm cold I'll just go back to bed and read a bit of my book then get on with my day. Hmmm I woke up about an hour before wee one was due home from school. Ooops. Not sure if it's still the fallout from my ear infection, just the general ugh effect of lack of sun or the fact that the Dr upped my meds and they do tend to wipe me out. Or all of the above. Anyway I've made arrangements to go see a friend for coffee and cake tomorrow so I HAVE to stay awake. Plus if I don't get my butt into gear soon my ironing pile is going to claim a casualty.


Oh but there is a little bit of sunshine on a cloudy day. Being Human is coming back as a proper series and I'm really hoping that despite the change of 2 of the main actors it will still be as great as the pilot promised it to be.

Saturday 17 January 2009

And the winner is...



......Fiona McCrae
Congrats Fee. If you could email me your address I'll get the book out to you asap.

Sorry I'm so late in announcing the winner but eldest small person is having issues with her computer so she's been borrowing my laptop and can I get any time on my own laptop now? Well no!

On the subject of giveaways I won fabric from jellybellyjellybrain's last give away and I received it in the post today. Wow what an amazing pile of fabric. I will pop back with pictures over the weekend so you can all see what a lucky girl I am. Thank you soooo much jbjb

Thursday 15 January 2009

New life and thank yous


Firstly I wanted to say thank you to everyone who read my post yesterday and shared compassion and understanding with me. What an amazing bunch of ladies you all are.
I saw my friends at a school open day this morning. B is coping with each day as it comes, his Dad's funeral is next week and he is already building himself up to try to cope with it. I was grateful to be able to get that talk with him today mind you I could almost feel the air being sucked out of the room by the Stepfords who were surely gasping when I gave him a kiss on the cheek as I left.


And the new life? Well my cousin has had her first baby.

She arrived via c-section and is a healthy weight of 7lb 13oz. We've not heard what the new little one is to be named but I'm so looking forward to seeing a picture of her.

I have just sat here watching rubbish on the tv and stuffed my face with a packet of these.


Well if the shops will have all the eggs out already what's a girl to do!
Remember the giveaway for the CK book finished at midnight and I will be announcing the lucky winner tomorrow.
x

Wednesday 14 January 2009

Things that make you go back

Yesterday we got some sad news, one of our friends father died. He had not been well for a long time but even if you know it's coming the pain of losing someone sucks. In fact sucks is too lame a word for it.
2004 was our sucky year. April was the month my mother in law died suddenly, she was 59 and her death was a big shock. By the July we were just getting ourselves back on to our feet and the kids were coming to terms with losing their first grandparent then the bottom fell out of my world. My beloved Dad, my big strong as an ox Dad, my big bear of a Dad, my hero suffered a fatal heart attack. One minute he was there and then he was gone. Even now I can remember the searing pain of being told he was dead. It has taken me a long time to get to a point of accepting the fact that I will never see him again. Now I can look at photos of him and smile at the memories each photo brings but it's been a long journey. One that truthfully I'm still on, maybe it's one that I will always be on but hopefully there will be less obstacles on my way. My beautiful small people have had a lot deal with so early on in their lives. They were especially close to my Dad and I did spend time worrying about them forgetting him but I need not of worried. Even though wee one was only just coming up to her 4th birthday when he died and big one 9 the bond they had formed with him has been on going and his memory lives on in them.
I miss so many things like being able to pick up the phone and ask for his advice (I know he could have given me so much advice about my getting chickens as he used to keep them), making cakes and knowing that they would all be gone in quick time with him about, knowing that no matter how crazy my mother was driving us both we both knew we only had to look at each other for someone to understand. So many reasons to miss him but I am always grateful that he was my Dad.

Phew if you got to the end of that well done. I didn't realise how much I was holding that in. Apparently keeping things in is a trait I inherited from my Dad or so my fiery mother and brother tell me :D


Tuesday 13 January 2009

Charity shops rock and my obsession with books


Well I really couldn't face another day of housework today. Bad me. So I took myself off to the nearest town to have a charity shop wander and to pick up an 18th and a 16th birthday card. With most people having a clear out over the Xmas holidays you can sometimes find some interesting bits and pieces but not this trip. :( Maybe the credit crunch is keeping people from parting with anything or people are just waiting for a good spring clean. What I did find though was lots and lots of wonderful books. Yep 4 bag fulls of books later and very sore hands from carrying them and I was ready to make my way home and try and find a spare inch of space on the bookshelf for them. Not much hope of that our bookshelves are positively bulging, I even have piles of books on the floor. Perhaps I need another sort out of my books and send some of the ones that I've already read or will never read back to the charity shops. Or maybe I should have a go at making something like this

or


Oh I do love my books. Reading a book is a great way to spend time all to yourself no matter what time of year it is. I've read books snuggled up on the sofa with a blanket and a hot drink, I've read books lying on the beach squidging the sand between my toes, I've read books thousands of feet up in the air (in an airplane obviously) I've read books on a boat, in a train, at work, in parks yep I've read pretty much everywhere. Did I ever tell you I was a bookworm?



And while we're on the subject of books there is still time to enter my birthday give away I will leave it open until midnight UK time and will draw it straight away. It's ok I don't go to bed early.
The winner will be announced on Friday 16th January.

Right now where did I put my book....

Monday 12 January 2009

Just like buses

I've never had an award before but today I got 3. 2009's not shaping up too bad really is it? :D

The lovely Alex gave me my first award. And I am blushing at the lovely things she said about my blog.


Marie Antoinette Award
a real person, a real award

Here are the Rules for the Award:

1. Please put the logo on your blog
2. Place a link to the person from whom you received the award
3. Nominate at least 7 or more blogs
4. Put the links of those blogs on your blog
5. Leave a message on their blogs to tell them.

Ok so to nominate 7 or more people now. This is the long bit it takes me an age to work out how to do the linky thing.
Ok so here goes.

1. Kookaloo-starr

One of my first blogger friends and she always inspires me with her amazing craftiness.

2. ZombieCazz

Another great craftster and a fellow N East-er. I originally met Cazz on the Neeps forum many moons ago.

3. The Devil Makes Work

An inspiring young lady who enjoys lots of the same things as me.

4. ShabbyChick

Another lovely blog and blogger and she makes such cute things.

5. JustFee

Cute kittys, great fashion and she crafts. :)

6. Dinosaurtoes

The creator of some gorgeous goodies go see and salivate.

7. Twiggypeasticks

More crafty goodness and she has the same childhood memory as me. Playing in Mum's button tin.

If there is anyone else who I visit or visits me and you would like this award please just give me a shout.

And awards 2 and 3




They were given by the lovely April to all of her followers.


Here are the "rules" for sharing these awards with eight other bloggers:


* These blogs are exceedingly charming.
* These kind bloggers aim to be friends.
* They are not interested in self-aggrandizement.
* Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated.

Please give more attention to these kind writers.
When you pass the award along please include these guidelines.
I am to choose eight friends to share this with....

but I like April's idea and am instead giving it to all of my followers. All
12 of you. Wow I can't believe I've got so many people who think my wee blog is worth keeping an eye on. Thank you so much and I hope you keep enjoying the journey with me.

Post birthday but not blue

Well despite still being poorly for my actual birthday I can't complain on the presents front. I was totally spoiled or is that spoilt...anyway. Him indoors finally heard my pleas and I got the gorgeous purple ghds that came complete with travel hairdryer and case. It all came in a beautiful purple box which as most people who know me know feeds my box fetish too.


I also received Kylie's Sweet Darling perfume and the gorgeous Diesel Fuel for Life perfume. Guess I'll smell ok from now on ;)



The girls bought me a Pandora bracelet (latest charm bracelt craze in case you haven't heard of it)
This is the wee chicken licken charm that wee one chose for me. I guess I really do have to stick to my resolution to get chickens now then eh?

I also got a lovely glass bead but can't find a single picture of it online and can't take a decent up close shot of it to save my life.

I also had book vouchers, 3 gorgeous bouquets of flowers, chocolates and money. Yep definately a lucky girl.
I did manage to go out for something to eat with the kids on the evening of my birthday but that was a bit of a disaster. Well not so much a disaster as the fact that the kids spent most of the meal laughing like crazy. I just couldn't eat anything that had a sauce on it as it smelt and tasted really and I mean really bad to me. Unfortunately I didn't realise this till halfway through the starter when I suddenly caught a hint of the bbq sauce wee one was dipping her chicken into. And guess what I had ordered for my main course? Oh yes you got it. Chicken smothered in bbq sauce. But I didn't starve big one very kindly shared her lasagna with me and as I've not been eating much over the last few days that was more than enough for my poor tummy.

Today we met up with my friend from work for lunch. Well I could hardly say no as I'd already had to cancel our night out for my birthday. Luckily I was able to order something that had no sauce on or near it :)

I'm amazed at the number of people entering my birthday giveaway. Thank you everyone for taking the time to join in the fun. Not long now and I'll be putting the names in a hat.
Speaking of giveaways I had the pleasure of discovering today that I am one of the winners on Jellybelly*Jellybrain's fabric giveaway. What a great way to finish off my birthday weekend.

Tomorrow unfortunately will see me attempting to make a dent on my to do list. It's a very very long list, what with me being ill all week and as my energy levels are still very low it might take me sometime.....