New Years Eve

So this will be the last blog of 2012, I'm happy and sad all at the same time.  2011 has had its amazing highs, and some very low lows.

My Beloved and I

The Highs - Our Wedding, what an amazing few days we had, from the start when I walked down the aisle on my beautiful Sisters arm, into the arms of My Beloved, a man I love and adore, and whose wonderful children have welcomed me into their world, ungrudging and with good grace.  Our Wedding dance with family and friends was an honorable experience, from the Grand March to being thrown over the Clark shoulders, every moment is a treasured memory. To the family bash at our house, where my lovely Lily and Amelia amused us with their new friendship.  The Wedding cake designed and made by Cake Affair was something I look back on with a huge smile, not so much when we were trying to finish it before the honeymoon, big bellies in swimwear is not attractive.  And then the Honeymoon, wow the best two weeks of my life, spent in the company of my new Husband on an island so beautiful that words are not enough to describe it.

The lows are what they are, and you have to look forward sometimes and try very hard not to look backwards, we cannot always get everything right, but that does not mean we stop trying, right or wrong we are who we are, and what happens to us makes us who we are.


Huge hugs and love are sent out from The Mather family to The Fullwoods, The Hobsons, and The Parkers, for welcoming us into their families and for being the friends that they have become over the years we have known them.  To Isobel Donald without who's advice and friendship I am not sure I could have managed, she kept me straight and sorted my scrambled brain on numerous occasions and I love her like the sister I chose for myself.

Huge snogs and hugs to My Beloved who has taught me that you can have your cake and eat it, and we eat it together.  He has taught me so much about love and life and I am honored to have him in my world.

Happy New Year to all my lovely family and my wonderful friends I love you all and wish only the best of things for you all in the New Year.

ps That includes the Madhouse of Alvah, who's visits remind me I AM NORMAL..........

Man bag it is then

My Beloved once again rolled out of bed snottering all over the place, but he did return with coffee in hand so all is good in the hood.

The Little Princes were collected and Aberdeen here we come, first stop Lewis John, we all walked around the handbag department three times before we decided that nope, there definitely isn't anything I like.  Next stop Radley, yep I like them bags, I just don't like the prices, even with the sales reduction I would have to sell a small Prince or two to be able to afford one. The Little Princes decided they couldn't move another shopping muscle until sustenance was administered in the form of Carbonara and Margarita so off to Prezzo we walked, well My Beloved and I did, we had to throw the Little Princes over our shoulders as their shopping muscles had gone into spasm by this time. We did manage a quick look around Hamendebs but the choke chains chaffed and the Little Princes were howling by this time. I had a case of selective hearing and I was not leaving that shop until my new super duper, all singing, all dancing Man Bag was purchased.

Thank the lord for Prezzo, Carbonara and Mararita were poured down the Little Princes necks, and it was a miracle, their eyes brightened, their noses were wet, and the howling subsided.  So much so that I was left to my Chocolate Fudge cake and coffee whilst they got out their torches, put on their nose pegs and ventured into Holister. Two jumpers, two pair a jeans, a t-shirt and a partridge in a pear tree, then they hit Apple for a quick fix on the shiny machines before heading off to New look for their party clothes.

So our Beautiful Little Princes are suited and booted ready for the End of the Year bash they are attending, I'm not sure how the mega heels are gonna stand up to the barn dance, but boy will she look good, youngest Prince is going fancy and dressing as a Ninja, apparently it's a fancy dress of sorts and you have to dress as something or someone that best describes yourself, deadly assassin yep youngest Prince fits that bill, Eldest Prince will be a hip chick, and yep she fits that bill too.

Family Fun

Jesus today started at 5.30 with the Beloved getting out of bed because he was drowning in his own snot, I followed shortly afterwards as my caffeine levels were depleted.

And off we go to Aberdeen, shops, shops and more shops, I replaced what I had inadvertently thrown away, I got a new ipad from Apple to replace my freezing one, I do love Apple, Customer Service second to none, My Beloved spotted a few necessities that would look good on me, and I purchased them, unfortunately the handbag I was looking for was so well camouflaged I will have to go back to Aberdeen tomorrow and try again to uncover it, which is ok by me as The Little Princes are coming tomorrow and they have vouchers burning a hole in each of their pockets.

The queues for the restuarants were so long, and the film was starting at 2.15 so My Beloved settled for Greggs Sausage roll and Cornish Pastie, me I had a ginger bread man, mmmmmmmmmm, and a diet coke.

Sherlock Holmes great film, and Robert Downie Jnr is easy on the eye, and the only reason I got nudged to wake up was because I was resting my very dry eyes, but once rested I was fully functional and able to watch the conclusion of the film without squinting once. Squinting is seriously not good for your crinkles, and I'm sick of ironing my face just now. The steam burns.

My Beloved snored all the way home, which is ok as I snored all the way in, due mainly to the early exit from the bed. My Beloveds excuse for snoring was once again because he had a snotty nose, personally I believe that if you put that man on his back he will snort like a piglet, snotty nose or not......

Dressing for our evening out, new clothes on, new lush fancies leggies on, now a seam is supposed to look sexy, but not when it goes around the leg instead of up the leg, those fancies will be going back tomorrow, ten quid and I cant even get the seam in the right place.

We arrived at the Fife with our favourite people, and a lovely evening unfolded, two of our other favourite Maltese peeps turned up completely by accident and between the two tables a great evening was had by all, thankfully we avoided any of that flaming Sambuca's, but the liqueurs and tipples we did drink warmed the cockles of our hearts, just as well really cos it was fecking freezing on the way up the road. Now Buba Mumma had driven us halfway home under instruction from Moi (seriously not a good idea), I think automatics are easy, obviously not when your not used to them, but we arrived in the parking area, straight and all wheels in tact, phew......Although Mumma was still shaking on the way up to homeland,  it could have been that she was actually laughing at us two muppets teetering our way to the top of the toon, seriously underdressed for the weather.

I am sooo gonna miss The Fife come January, that was the best meal I have had for a very long time, well at least since the last time I was in there with my Physio buddy that is.

Demonic One

Having woken My Beloved up at 6am, just because I could, we snoozed until just after 9am when it was all hands to the pump, shower hair and out the door.  Off to Elgin to meet with the Demonic One, who was on her best behaviour, now bearing in mind that what is good behaviour for one, does not always pass as good behaviour for another, but it was definitely passable today. We met at a Fayre of Brew and were greeted beautifully by Ale Aim, big hugs and kisses for all, Demonic One was her usual cool demeanor, followed closely by her consort. Lunch was pleasurable and no fights erupted, which clearly is an improvement on previous encounters. The hugs and kisses continued with Ale Aim and we were very sad to say goodbye when the time arrived, but Ale Aim had a party to go to and we had a house to clean.  I can't understand how the hobo home keeps getting so messy, I always thought it was The Little Princes who were messy, but nope I think maybe it's us oldies that are making the mess just now.

I forgot to mention the sickness, sitting in a car that is driving on meandering roads is one thing, but to then try and read leads very quickly to feelings of nausea, and we had to travel to Elgin with the windows cracked to stop me throwing up in My Beloveds lap, or worse still my own.  I had ordered the Soup de Jour which was explained as Parsnip, what I should have asked was 'what tin will you be opening today' yuk.  But unfortunately this lead to more nausea on the way home, and the threat of imminent barfing on those meandering roads again. We managed to arrive home with my stomach contents in tact, mainly due to the deep breathing and determination on my part.

Why is it when you pack, you want the one thing you know is at the back and the bottom of your boxes, My Beloved needed a photo for the Grannies and we had to move open and rearrange the packed boxes until we found it...... it is now copied onto photo paper and awaiting an envelope and stamp.  The boxes are back in their rightful place and the house is now ready for our visitors, and once again we have had to visit the Tip, we are now on first name terms with the Tip man, and he now keeps our rubbish to one side for a week, mainly because I have recently thrown out items of clothing that should have been kept, and now find myself unable to wear two lovely dresses because of this fact. But bonus my beloved has offered to take me to Aberdeen tomorrow and there is a distinct possibility I may replace what I have lost, and once again be able to wear my lovely dresses. I must drive past the Tip tomorrow and tell the Tip man it will be safe to throw today's items next Wednesday and not a day before just in case.

The Little King and The Little Princes

Eldest Prince has got a notty nose, and cant shake her cold.  When the gas man arrived she was cocooned on the sofa bed wrapped in a hot towel fresh out of the tumble drier, 'ignore the Mummy' I explained as he walked through the sitting room with his bag of tricks.

Why is it that whenever you get workmen in, whatever you want them to fix behaves perfectly, I'm sure had we taken Eldest Prince to the Doctors her cold would have adios ed quicker than it came. The clanging in the pipes got bled and refused to show an appearance, despite me kicking the boiler.

The Little Princes were delivered home earlier than expected, due mainly to a party being mentioned, and neither of them can bear to miss out on a party.  So they were dropped off at Mother's house and I continued on to The Little King's, he was up dressed and not hungover amazingly, so I took him to a drinking establishment to see if I could rectify the matter.  We sat and chatted over Tennants and coffee, and played some silly game on the ipad, luckily for me the Little King is rather fond of Horror Films, because I was crappo, but we have nearly finished the first screen of Say what you see.

I then dropped him at his Bro from another Mo's house and spun off to My Beloved who was waiting patiently for me at home, supper is ready and the DVD has arrived, Warrior it is for us tonight, yahooo. Well once I can convince My Beloved to turn off Skrek The Third that is. You gotta love Shrek, even if he is green, ugly, and rather plump, and surrounds himself with some rather dubious friends, a Cat in Boots, and a talking Donkey, I'm sure I have dubious friends just like them.  

There's the fashion conscious friend

The Scary Mumma

And would you let this man into your house?

You see we all have dubious friends, not just skrek! We just don't always introduce them to our other sensible friends.

¿Sensible?

Boxing Day

Lunch was leftovers, and seeing as we had nothing to leave over, we ate out again, back to Glenfor Crescent for the second round. Yummy today we ate the cheesecake we didn't get to yesterday. I would have tried yesterday but the Creme Brulee just about finished me off, so I had to wait for today, and it was scrummy, too scrummy actually so I had to have a second slice, well it would be rude not too.

Finn was showing me around his ipad today, pretty swish machine indeed, then he got bored with that, or it could have been me and decided to swap machines, Nintendo ds it is then.  This allowed the Mumma Finn to play with her new ipad and download all the necessary apps to make life appaliscious.

We collected the Little Princes and it's into Aberdeen for the Pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, what a fantastic show, we laughed, we danced, we booed and clapped, great fun was had by all. I hope they have Pantos in Israel.

What a lovely end to Boxing day laughing with the Little Princes and giggling on the way home about the numpty behind us, who obviously had no sense of humour, and apparently couldn't see, Oh yes you can!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Family and Friends

We had a lovely Christmas day from the moment The Little Princes woke to the moment we went back to bed.  The Little Princes tore into their presents and squeeled with joy at the choices Santa made for them.  They were equally as excited on the drive home because pressie opening would begin again as soon as they entered Mother's door. We think Rudolf must have had trouble with our Eldest Prince, because her little nose was so red I'm sure Santa would have been following her little beacon instead of Rudolf's, because even with balsalm tissues her nose was shinier than all the lights in Turriff.

Preparation was simple, we got the soup, so My Beloved had made it on Christmas Eve, mainly due to the fact that The Eldest Princes does not like broth, and had asked her Daddy to make her soup to take home to Mother's House.

So we left The House of Mather, and travelled great distance to Glenfor Crescent, little Buba was in his command centre, duly named by his Mumma, and he was wearing his Santa outfit, gorgeous.

Lunch began with our favourite people, and was slowly eaten whilst chatting and cooing over Buba who decided to wake after the starters, he wanted in on the action, and who can blame him. Second change of the day for Buba, and this time he was an elf, all gorgeous and green, with his own name emblazend on his hat.  From all the scratch cards, and lottery tickets that were placed in our wine glasses, not one millionaire was made, total winnings was £4.00 but don't quote me, I don't do numbers.

We dismantled the tables, and tidied away the leftovers, of which there are many, and we rested our bellies on comfy seats, Oh god I had forgotten how comfy a sofa could be, I felt like I was getting a hug in a mug from that sofa, and I wasn't even listing to one side.

His and Hers logo, those boys are bloody cheats, NO boys spanner and wrench are not the same, and if the answer says spanner you cant win on wrench. Girls turn, name all four members of the Rolling Stones, simples, well it would have been if the boys had not been cheating, Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards and Charlie Watt......................they didn't give us the point because Charlie is a Watts not a Watt, cheats, cheats, cheats.

The boys won, and none to graciously, but they are boys. we love them, and they would only sulk if they didn't win!

Pimms was made and drank throughout the game, chewing on grass is not my favourite pastime, it gets in the way of the alcohol, but it was moved to the side of the glass and drinking could recommence. My Beloved began to get tired and we decided it was time to say our goodbyes and our thank yous for a lovely day, we began the slow walk home, on turning the Glenfor corner we were confronted by the loudest display of Christmas lights I have ever seen, I thought my eyes were going to bleed, its no wonder we have been getting power surges, I now know where all the electrickery was going, to fire up those Christmas Lights which must be driving the neighbours mad.

We watched the Goonies before trundeling up the stairs to our lovely bed, bellies full, happy faces, and very very tired.

Merry Christmas Everyone

Tis the season to be jolly far la la la la la la la la la I hope everyone has been spoilt by their loved ones, and that Santa remembered everyone of you.  Some of us have been naughty and some of us nice, but Im sure you were all good enough for Christmas Sakes.

Have a Lovely day, don't over indulge, Cathy put the Jack Daniel's down, and Louise pink beef is good for you.  Enjoy everyone xxxx

Love to you all Davina 

Chritmas Eve,

Christmas Eve started early for us, after our lovely evening at The Crown with wonderful friends, we toddled of about 1am and landed in Buckleys, I know the shame, I think we lasted about 40 mins before we dragged our sorry arses up the hill to bed, but not before My Beloved had demolished two ham sandwiches and a couple of paracetamol, obviously the paracetamol were preventative.

8 am arrived with the beginnings of an aching head, so I rolled out the bed doused it with water, the head not the bed and went back to sleep, hello 12pm best we get up then, a coin was tossed and I won, My Beloved has to walk down for the car.  Probably should have gone myself, because by the time he arrived home he was walking like a man with one leg. Apparently he had to stop quite a few times on the way for the car, due mainly to the fact that his metal had siezed causing him to not be able to swing his leg. So if anyone saw a relatively young man mid afternoon holding onto anything that would take his weight, no he wasn't pickled just polaxed. Unfortunatley pickled and polaxed look the same on My Beloved.

The sunny climate of Israel can't come soon enough for Metal Mickey, at least there I wont have to defrost him on a radiator everytime the temperature drops.

We collected the Little Princes around 2pm and so the excitement of Christmas has well and truely begun, parcel wrapping and tag writing commenced and should be finished sometime around June. We visited some lovely friends today to return a memory card for a camera loaned to me last night, I just couldn't figure out why my camera wouldn't work, until I realised I had left the memory card sitting in the computer at home.  Sarah to the rescue, and snaps were taken, happy memories of lovely friends on a very special night.

I managed a little Facetime with the family down south today, My Great Neice in her Santa's Helper outfit, smiling and laughing at the camera, her Mummy holding her, her Daddy filming her and My Sister on her hands and knees cleaning, I'm hoping she is coming to me before the end of the night, I've a list as long as my arm of things she can do, its only fair, she has done theirs, she should do mine.

So far this afternoon we have managed E.T, and The Sound of Music, and I think it could be an evening of the Grinch again. I love Christmas, and can't wait for Tomorrow morning, as long as its not too early.

Merry Christmas to all our Relatives, Friends and Neighbours, I hope you have a Lovely Christmas Day and your bellies are full and the speeches short.

Never Wrong, but he's wrong again

This morning started earlier than expected, 5.10 to be exact.  Well if you go to bed at 9.30 what do you expect, but I cant help it if I like company and proceeded to wake My Beloved just so I wasn't bored.....

Doctors visit this morning confirmed what My Beloved had already been told, 'you have an ulcer Mr. Mather', you should listen to your wife.!!!! He now has a bag full of goodies to alleviate the pain and make him more comfortable and less windy, but humble pie is gonna kill him.

When asked what the Doctor thought might be causing his pain, Mr. GP announced 'Onion, garlic, spice, beer' to name but a few of My Beloved's favourite pastimes.  I have passed comment recently on the amount of garlic used for each dish that is served from the Maestro, in our house we have no need to worry about BO, because nobody can get close enough due to the pungent smell of garlic to even worry what our oxsters smell like. This said I must remember and add an extra swipe of deodorant tonight before arriving at The Crown,  even if it is just a swipe across my tongue.

Today we had to collect insurance papers from Inverurie, so decided to kill two birds with a brick.  Easier said than done, TESCROWS, we were queuing to get in the car park, have you even heard the like, there was people wielding traffic cones for relatives that were stuck at Rothienorman, some were prostrate across parking spots, and some we just double parked for the hell of it. Having a rental car we just nudged a jeep out of the way and pulled the safety zipper which sucked the sides of the car in a foot on each side get in.....

So now we have a fridge full of things we really need but won't eat, a conservatory full of veg, that won't fit in the fridge, god help us it we get an Indian Summer on Christmas Day, I have turned the radiator off to stop the leeks leaking and the broccoli breaking, but I cannot as yet control the weather, even though my recent snow dancing just led to more snow and not less.

Sicker than a sick thing

Well I think I have finally managed to convince My Beloved Husband that he is not allergic to everything he eats, it is in fact the amount and type of food he eats, and then washes it down with what ever brew comes to hand, generally white but sometimes red.  No Garry you do not have the constitution of an ox, you do not have food poisoning, you are slowly turning your stomach toxic, just because it's Christmas does not mean you can eat crap all day and all night WTF......

My Beloved loves Christmas,why? because he believes that he has free reign to eat and drink what ever he wants, but it comes to something when he steals settlers tums from an expectant Mother for his acid indigestion, and then has the nerve to moan that they taste like chalk.

Today was lunch with the girls and chit chat, then off to the Post Office for some redirection.  Then off to Banff for the Little Princes pick up, youngest Prince loves her super duper fast speed computer now we have fixed it, it only took us a year, we don't like to rush things.

I recently purchased some lovely tongs for My Beloved to use on our new wok, this is the wok that I had threatened him with death if he used metal tongs on it.  I knew when I purchased them I should have shown him how to release the tongs from the slidey catch, but no I decided he is a grown up and I had no need to worry.  I now need a new pair of tongs as yes because they wouldn't open he forced them breaking the slidey catch and rendering the tongs useless.......... 'But what am I supposed to use now ' I just looked at him scathingly.........................

Surf and turf in the house tonight, the Little Princes are such carnivores they get that from their Father, me I am still full from lunch and am hoping they have left me a sliver of something for my supper, but I don't think I will be needing if for a few hours yet.

Just a little thought that passed fleetingly through my mind today, if you don't like something don't do it, if you don't want to hear things stop listening, and if you don't want to read things adjust your settings, SIMPLES................. it is the season to be Jolly, Good will to all men and women.

Get your festive cheer on

Merry Bloody Christmas 

Ho Ho Ho!

Olly Dolly Doo Dah

Well the rabies are back again with a vengeance, those bloody injections are a pain in the arm, I'm rabid again.  And what makes if worse is that you don't even get rabies in Israel, but the dippy Doctor I saw determined Israel is Jerusalem and as such I should be injected. I made My Beloved come in with me for the second jags and even he decided she was dippy, fortunately she did know my arse from my elbow and as such injected my arm, because if it had been my arse I wouldn't be sitting down just now.

The bedroom is tidy and the house although tidy still looks like a hobo village.  When Bubaliscious Buba came for a visit with Buba Mumma we offered them the best our hobo village had to offer, which is an uncomfortable seat for Mumma and a bouncing knee for Buba, its ok though because Buba was happier bouncing on the bouncing knee and Mumma was too polite to comment.  Our little Buba was in good fettle and gave my arms a good workout.

My face was sandblasted at 5 and now feels as soft as Buba's bottom, although lets make this perfectly clear, I haven't actually tested that theory. But my lines are softened and my skin is clearer and fingers crossed I will wake up tomorrow like a new woman.  Please god cos this one is feeling like crap just now.

We arrived at Buba's house tonight in time for his bath, and he does love his bath, and he is very generous with the water in his bath, everyone got their share.  I had a lovely bosie before his last bottle and bedtime.  We ordered a carry out and spent a lovely evening eating and chatting with our favourite people.  We put the world to rights and shared a bottle of Vino collapso, well Buba Daddy and My Beloved did, I was on the coke again, and not the snorting kind.

My lovely sister sent me a photo of her Granddaughter today, and by the look of her fist shoved down her throat I would suggest she needs more feed in her food.

I have decided not to put up a Christmas tree this year, but I think I may just paint a tree on the wall and sit the pressies underneath it, the decorations consist on a card tree hanging on the back of the sitting room door, and if the Little Princes are really good I will flick the living room light on and off until I blow a fuse.  This years decoration is a beautiful bauble purchased for us by Littlest hobo, I mean Prince, and it is a bauble you can put a picture in, so this year we have a Christmas bauble with our wedding picture in and on the reverse a picture of the Little Princes.

Every year we buy a new bauble and have done since we got together, neither of us had any decorations when we got together but now we have quite a collection of baubles which hold great meaning to us and our life together.  We have the Empire State Building from our Trip to New York for My Beloved's 40th Birthday, we have a post box, from my time at the Royal Mail, we have a snow man snow globe with special couple on and a picture frame once again with our photo in. We have collected some very special baubles celebrating our time together and it makes our tree all the more special when we decorate it.  Next year in our new home we will have a tree and another decoration celebrating our time in Israel, maybe it will be a Star of David, to celebrate my wonderful Brother and my Father, and my son, David is a beautiful family name.

Private post

How are your meant to react to the lose of a parent, especially when the parent is estranged.  My Mother died today, suddenly and at home somewhere close to Barcelona, but having lost her many years ago it has just left me with a feeling of sadness not for myself, but for my Mother who made the choices she did, which influenced my family life.

David and Carol Bird RIP

Well Travelled

it's 915pm and we are home, the Little Princes are delivered safe and sound to Auldtown, and My Beloved is now in bed, he has been struck down by some mysterious disease, he was fine when he were eating a plate of Roast Beef with all the trimmings around 1pm, I say plate but it was actually served on a platter - and we are talking sharing plater.  He believes he has been struck down with food poisoning, well unless he had a different cow to us I doubt it very much.  He has over indulged on Vindaloo, Pease pudding, Ham and Stottie, Sausage rolls, and cheap Acetone laced Sauvignon Blanc by the keg.  Helloo.. your digestive system doesn't know whether its coming or going so its given out...

So I'm sitting in the company of Michael Buble and Facebook, eeeee its a great life I have, something mighty fine to look at, and no disturbances.  All was well until Dawn French snogged his face off and covered him in her slap-her red lippy, so not happy about that. But all is returning to normal as she has been whipped off and replaced by Gary Barlow, tell me there is no way he will get his slap-her red lippy puckered up, cos that would just be too much for me to deal with, I'm still having palpatations over Dawn.

We have had a lovely weekend with the family, all the beautiful cowskins young and not so young.  My Sister from another Mather had her birthday today, which would have been fine for her had she not stayed up till stupid o'clock with my other Sister from another Mother, they were both death warmed over and slightly grey this morning as we left, I think it will have been a long day for the pair of them. They laugh at my homing pigeon instincts for bed, but hey I was fresh as a dead daisy this morning.....

The Little Princes discovered tonight on the way home why the nail varnish remover pot wouldn't remove nail varnish, turns out I had picked up no more bite your nails, and apparently it doesn't remove varnish, but hell it tastes crap, I remember drinking from a glass last night and thinking it tasted odd, but when it happened on my diet coke can I thought my hands needed washing, but I didn't realise it was the stupid no more bite your nails all over my fingers since I had forced youngest Princes fingers in and rotated them, not understanding why the varnish wasn't even smudged......... needless to say they thought this was highly amusing.

Newcastle United

Having woken around 6.30 by some random house call I tried very hard not to shake the head too much, My Beloved rolled over and buried his head under the pillow, always a good indicator of a night spent in the company of Mr White and Mr More White.

Lily pop helped My Beloved get dressed, it's not that he was incapable just slow....And bending forward was making his world all fuzzy, so the little pop to the rescue. I have no idea what time I got to bed because when you loose count of the bottles, you loose count of the time too, it's almost like a miracle, countless bottles, no counting time! And My Beloved was well after me, his staying power is far superior to mine, I stay till my homing pigeon instinct kicks in, he stays and plays the game of last man standing.

At one time or another over the course of the evening all the In-Laws passed through the door, some were in and went out, some were out and came in, and some were just out of it. Two babies three dirty nappies later, and a Partridge in a Pear Tree. The Little Princes were entertained by their Cowskins, all five of them, oh no six I forgot the late entrance of Muddleanne. Ops I nearly forget the Saudi contingent, so that makes eight Cowskins and not a boy amongst them, well unless you count the expectant one, because everyone is secretly hoping he is the born again King of the Mather clan, a son and heir to carry on this beautiful name, a name I never get tired of being called, even when it is mispronounced or misspelt. We are The Mather Family, they are Geordies, and I don't mind.

Youngest Newshoe is ball boy from another mother, not another Mather, so he is ball boy for Newcastle United, as he is in the Newcastle Football Academy, our Little Princes are chuffed to be seeing him, and to be at the tribute match for Gary Speed, think its gonna be a tearful occasion. And on a personal level I have never been in a City centre where there are so many men, the bars, the coffee shops, the shopping centres are wall to wall black and white men, not matchstick men, black and white toon army.

Yo sushi for my afternoon delights, the Little Princes and My Beloved has pease pudding and Stottie, and I can now say I have had pease pudding, ham and Stottie, and I must say the small nibble I had was nice. But I didn't take both layers of the Stottie, that would have been way too much white bread for one day. I left home at 8st 7, by Monday that will be the individual weight of each leg, so with that in mind I have decided there is just no point restraining myself, and more especially when I am feeling a touch delicate, food is god on a hangover day.

I found myself a cafe with wifi and sat and passed a pleasant hour whilst beginning my blog, then off to the shops for a snoop before I meet the family in Shearer's Bar, going against the tide of supporters was a challenge in itself, and the only person to become aggressive was a woman!!!!who like me was going towards the stadium and not away from it.

We had a drink in Shearer's bar, and it was hooching, My Beloved's 6.50 pint was knocked over when his back was turned, Abbie was soaked the man next to her was soaked and you know who was raging, the funniest thing was when we got back to the car and Abbie admitted it wasn't the gent sitting next to her that had knocked the pint and caused My Beloved's ears to vent steam, it was in fact herself, I thought I was gonna end myself.

The youngest Cowskins were at their pantomine today and a good time was had by all,the others were in town and away to family, so everyone was happy. Chanel did a roaring trade today, new foundation for the Big Little Prince, new pressed powder for me. New bronzer for the Prince, new brushes, and tomorrow morning we are going to do a demonstration on how to apply make-up with new brush.

Indian takeaway ordered, pizza for the youngsters, and obviously a dry white in the chiller, no way am I drinking the same amount as last night, I want to be able to see my bed before I throw myself at this time

Life cover, and critical illness

Early start this morning, up and out the door by 8.30 well it would have been had I not had to do the house checks, clean toilets, buckets empty, heating on low and constant, milk lumpy - yep sorted.

Frosty, frosty start but hey we have a VW with front wheel drive, and four superbly bald  free tyres, and we are off.  The Little Princes like the car, well apart from eldest Prince who's new birthday bag is currently sitting on her feet, mainly due to the size of said bag, and we are speaking huge.

Aberdeen clear, Dundee pitstop - food, drink - Berwick holy cow no weather, weather, two cars off the road, one on our side, due mainly to the fact that I swear to god, we must have changed country and it wasn't England, we are talking Day After Tomorrow, suddenly we were on hard ice, not that black stuff and snow was dropping as well as the weather. Next accident no weather, large Range Rover drivers side tyre missing and a rather large hole in the front bumper, other side of the dual carriageway. We discovered why a little further on, we had to swerve to miss the car debris across the fast lane on our side.  They must have hit the central reservation and luckily managed to drive the car into the hard shoulder, everyone was fine but what a mess that Range Rover was.

My Beloved had a close call with a white van man, best we not mention that though.....

We arrived at the Motherland just around 3.00pm  White wine, Fosters and chit chat what more could you ask for..........................

Party Feet, a contradiction in terms

Early start today, Buba first, oh and he was so bonny in his little dungarees, had a wee chat with him and Mumma before I took myself off to the opticians.  Having yesterday been to visit the opticians once again, I say again as this is becoming a monthly habit, and one I shall miss when I leave for Israel, I even got offered coffee whilst perusing the frames yesterday, I visit the lovely ladies of HMD's fistly for the crack, and secondly to see if they have a frame that will make my face look more like it's not wearing glasses, and less like Olive from on buses. So yesterday I found two frames that I thought were not too bad and was allowed to take those very precious and quite clever frames up the road to My Beloved. Success the frameless frames are the one, but I thought I better get a second opinion so Buba Mumma was shown the frameless frames and agreed with My Beloved Hooray, so having ordered and paid for my new glasses I'm now a serious amount of money lighter, and praying they arrive before we leave.

We then took ourselves off to The Deen for the things we didn't manage to get last week, White Bra - having been measured in Lewis John's and tried on every imaginable bra, most of which were uncomfortable and very oddly shaped, I don't every remember having boobies shaped like Madonna's and I'm talking the Cone Bra...... so we left Lewis John and his bra's and headed off for more cake, if you can't find want you want eat cake.  Oh yeah My Beloved has bought himself a new wallet, and he was like a kid with a new toy, his all singing all dancing (very Plain) wallet holds all that he needs and more, he did mention to me, had I purchased a new purse I would have needed a new handbag and a pair of socks to go with it, socks!!!!, I think he means matching shoes and coat..

Oh dear god my feet, I knew it was a bad idea to put my beautiful sexy new kitten boots on for shopping, but when I mentioned it to myself just before leaving home I totally knew better, and put them on anyway, boy was I ever wrong, and don't worry I gave myself a good telling off. So having hobbled to the Ninety-Nine bar for coffee and cake, which turned out to be coffee and pretzels, what no cakE, are you for real, I decided I needed to purchase some party feet, but not before I hobbled from Ninety-Nine to Bravissimo, now your talking bras.  I was re-measured and a beautiful array of white and fancy bras were paraded in front of my very excited eyes.  Not a cone shape anywhere, they know how to sell let me tell you, you only have to ask Barclays Bank.  Kerching, kerching, kerching, that will do nicely three sets later, and one of them white I'm ready, what for I'm not sure, but I'm ready none the less.

The drive home was uneventful, well apart from the pitstop at Spice of Life, oh I do love their food, we ordered we chatted and by the time my main course of something extremely hot and delectable arrived I found myself unable to eat, why? because the two tins of diet coke had caused those bloody pretzels to expand to three times their size causing my stomach to believe it was full, so I now have a doggy bag in the kitchen in case I'm peckish overnight. My Beloved is wandering around the house complaining about the size of his chumpbawomba belly, which he claims he can pick up with his fat fists and shake, I tend not to watch when he plays with himself as its a touch worrying...

Chillies Red Hot

This morning I woke unable to roll onto either my left or my right side, nope the back is fine. My arms were so sore after all the javelins inserted into them yesterday, I had track marks a junkie would have been proud of, and the mottled effect was none to attractive either.  Why is it when I get something, I get the worst reactions, from elbow to shoulder I was tortured, which really isn't helpful when My Beloved cannot understand why I have rabbit punched him in the kidneys because he grabbed my arms for a hug.....

Today has been mental, more packing, more skip visits, we said goodbye to the Mercedes today, but having discovered just how clever the New baby is it wasn't as sore a I imagined it would be.  The clever little VW top of the range whatever it is has some funky sound system, phones are now toothed up and legal for driving and talking at the same time, but get this the music stored on my phone automatically picks up through the sound system, I do love a bit of funky technology.  The cars not bad either, My Beloved is happy because like the Merc it has tiptronic transmission, me I prefer the press and play mode myself.  

I have it on good authority the more chillies you eat the more you burn calories, which is fine for me cos I love the heat, My Beloved on the other hand as previously stated talks the talk, but crawls instead of walks the walk. So the chillies were chopped, the powder was added and for good measure I added a whole heap of dried chillies ,seeds and all, I tasted it and approved. First mouthful, and My Beloved was sweating, 'it's not a builder, it's just hot' was his statement. me I couldn't see the problem I was loosing calories with every mouthful... And because I made a double batch I will be loosing calories tomorrow lunchtime and possibly evening, I'm gonna be so slim.

Sex, Drugs and Rocking Rabies

Today arrived after a well rested night full of sleep, well for me, apparently my sinusitis is causing sleep depravation for My Beloved, shame and welcome to my world.  I have lost count of the number of times since we have been sharing a double bed that I have wished for singles.  It's not that I don't like sleeping with him, it's the snoring.  Snoring with alcohol, snoring with heat, snoring with cold, all manner of snoring really, so the fact that I have deprived him of one nights sleep amuses me no end.

We took a slow Mercedes drive into The Deen for some retail Christmas therapy, then we took ourselves off for our Medical, 1pm was our appointment and 3pm we were finished, I've been poked, prodded, measured and weighed. I've howked up my lungs, and the nurse thought I was dead at one stage.  Not my fault the nurse is deaf and couldn't hear my blood pressure, she blamed her stethescope, I blame those pesky vampires. I have the lung capacity of a 32 year old, not bad considering the Lady flu germs swilling around my chest, imagine my age had I been fit.  My hearing is fully functional, which means its definitely selective.... But then upstairs to the Doctor, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Rabies, I have a plethora of drugs running through my system, and have to go back next week for the next lot.  I have to drink a litre of water!!!! I thought if you had Rabies you avoided the wet stuff. The trouble with drinking plenty of water as we all know is plenty of toilet stops.  I really don't know why I just didn't drink it on the toilet, save the effort of pants up, pants down.  I knackered with all this extra exercise, especially the trans-abs required to keep the lid on.

Next stop Prezzo, yummy, a litre of water to wash down my beautiful Arrosto Salad. I have been deluding myself all this time, I believed I was being healthy eating my salad leaves with goats cheese and flat bread on the side, with a foccacia on the top. Now most of the time I don't even eat the breads which always look lush, but for gods sakes I wont be eating them again any time soon.  I would have been better with the pasta, at least I would have known I was getting my 850 calories worth, instead of being fooled into thinking my rumbling belly was due to the litre of water and not the lack of food. 850 calories of nothingness so not chuffed. Quick exit before I succumbed to the sound of eat me, eat me, desserts.

4.30pm was not the best time to cross town for the airport, but the foot was down, and we crawled as fast as our safety limits would allow.  We are now a two car family again, a precious little VW Golf, if you listen you can hear its a golf.......Travelling home was eventful, it's not a Merc that's for sure, but it does have front wheel drive, hooray.  I have now figured out that you Do Not Touch the shift thingy with the gate on when stationary, it leads to an automatic stalling, personally I thought this was impossible, but not tonight it wasn't. I have no idea what speed I travelled at because I'm used to a digital reading and so far I can't find the setting button for that, I haven't got time to find the dial thing. And as for the radio, I like to know who is playing, what the song is called, and which Dj is irritating the hell out of me.  Nope, I know it's Radio One cos I tuned it, but all my other Mercedes tricks are missing :(

Cost of Living

Having stopped drinking when I go out, although I do think Christmas could sort that little discrepancy out, and going back to last year I blame Christmas 2010 for my alcohol reductions over the past year. I have taken to drinking with My Beloved in the house.  This is ok because for those people who have seen me drink wine socially I apologise yet again. I don't understand how I can drink copious amounts of Whisky and generally be the most sensible half of this relationship.  But give me a wine and two glasses later I am incapable of sensible speech and or focus, now I don't mean focus as in focusing on a task oh no I mean the sort of focus that leads to you having to shut one eye to correct double vision.  I love the old Grapes they just don't like me, and I have persevered for many years with no success.  I have also noticed that my greedy gene gets fired up when white wine is drunk, not just for the nibbles needed to stop me passing out from hunger, but for the next glass.  Don't even think about passing over my glass because I have had way too much, get it filled I'm on a mission.  You see, just the thought of wine and the word mission springs to mind.

Last night My Beloved and I polished off some rather lush plonky plonky, which was ok until the knock at the door, I should have left the answering to My Beloved, I just know I was way to high and speaking far to fast, WTF....lesson learnt, send the Beloved next time.

We spent a pleasant evening, just us and X factor, oh yes and I nearly forgot Michael Buble phoooooooooar - I love that Canadian, he can sing to me anytime he likes, and I will be answering the door if he knocks inebriated or not.

Today has been all about the inventory.  We have counted and googled and measured and priced everything downstairs.  We have studied, thrown out and saved, and finally an apology from My Beloved! the cupboard that he has been threatening to empty since we moved into this house in 2006 has been tidied and priced, and he was gobsmaked at the cost of the contents should they fall off the back of our container.  As I pointed out 'I don't buy crap you know', in my snottiest voice of course.

Today was my day to get My Beloved's much spoken about and never cooked Braised Steak, so preparations were made and we took ourselves out to meet the Blacks, we were supposed to meet them last week when snow stopped play.  So we met for coffee, and chatted away with the beautiful boys adding their voices every now and then.  The smell in the house when we arrived back was torturous, especially as I was by this time starving.  A watched pot never boils, your not kidding, those veggies just wouldn't cook quick enough for me, so I had to scoff a few pepper slices whilst I waited. Ah dinner was lush, and being as my plate was stacked to the ceiling I have only eaten half and Im gonna enjoy the rest tomorrow.

We have been working out the cost of living differences for the Mapa's and Oh my god, do you know its gonna cost them 445% more for that little black number in Zara, Haifa if they loose or damage my clothes, where as if they travel for a day out to Tel Aviv it will only cost them 39% more for the same little black Zara dress, how does that work.  On the plus side groceries are 25.94% lower, and eating out 43% lower, well unless I want a McDonald's that is and then your talking 12% higher, thankfully I don't like them. And something rather odd - Apples and we are not talking Steve Jobs, we are taking fruits are 24% more expensive in Israel, guess I will be giving them up for lent then. I find this all very amusing really because having Dyscalculia I don't do numbers, so who the hell cares get your purse out LOL.

Sitting Bubaliscious

This morning couldn't come quick enough, Buba sitting today, it is of no consequence to me where Buba Mumma and Buba Daddy are going, I will be transported to Fairy land with my beautiful Buba, and I'm so excited.  What is even more exciting is that I will be swapping two Prince's for one Buba, two out - one in, can't be bad.

The weather has left a light sprinkling all over Turra toon, it may as well be two feet deep that car's going no-where fast.  Apparently and according to Facebook the roads are clear, and as we all know what you read on Facebook is the gods honest..

I left My Beloved snivelling, he has been struck down with the beginnings of Man Up, and the sick feeling I had last night after the Chinese has crawled over our bed and landed in his belly. So I took my Buba sitting ass and left.  Buba and his parents were waiting for me as I pulled up the path, ah he is just adorable, so we waved Mumma and Daddy on their way before we settled down with a good bottle and Miss Marple.  You are never too young for education.  And today I educated Buba into the ways of Agatha Christie.

Beautiful Buba

Buba guzzled his bottle way too fast, and as a consequence we were stuck with wind.  And oh dear it was sore, before he fell asleep I managed a retrieval of wind and milk, all over the shoulder, wa haaa I now smell like baby.   30 mins later and we were awake, more wind and a hissy of all hissy fits.  But once that wind came up we were happy, clean and sleepy.  Lucky for me Granny Angie gets the dirty nappies today, I said my goodbyes when Granny Angie took over the sitting duties and I left her with a sleeping Buba and Grandad Steve and walked home to my poorly Beloved.

We were supposed to be finishing the Inventory today, NOPE guess that can wait till tomorrow, so having transported the Little Princes back to Mother, we felt confident enough to take the car to the supermarket for provisions, Two White wines, 8 Diet cokes and a partridge in a pair tree...........

Having not used the microwave/combi oven on grill for quite some time, and today I only used it because i couldn't get the utility room light on despite standing on my tippy toes and swivelling that energy bulb, so I hit any button that would work.  So it's grill on, plates in to warm, and outside for a spot of recycling. I can't help that we don't use the grill section often, and if I remember the last time I used the microwave I blew up two snotty eggs, which should have been soft boiled!!!!!  So it really is no wonder its smoking, and I not talking sexy. Soup was poured into the smoky bowls, and supper was served, avec toasted bread roll for My Beloved, I just took the soup. Lovely jubbly I have to say, My Beloved does make a mean bowl of soup.

Youngest Bro-in-law called up tonight, he's been stung again, not my fault he purchased a pressie for his Wife before checking with google for what he actually wanted.  But I've sorted him out now, although my message writing had him a touch confused for a while.  I must remember he is actually blonde! simple instructions.

God the house seems so quiet, no-one is fighting, the TV remote is still in one piece and the channels being viewed are all adult, and I'm not talking XXX rated either. No Wizards of Waverly, no Disney channel, no Hollyjoakes, or Eastenders ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh shhhhhh its oh so quiet.