Life

A New Year!

 

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I will apologise for the lack of presence on my blog… Its because NaNoWriMo happened and then Christmas. It’s unfortunate that they fell at the same time and I decided that with so much ‘stuff’ going around in my brain I couldn’t cope with all of them occupying it at the same time. I need a break frankly from the PC. It’s technology that I dislike but in the modern world it is essential. Well I had a break … of two months and it probably was a lot longer than I anticipated and life just gets in the way!

I am now back and will be posting regularly once again!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I know I’m two weeks late with greetings but it would-be rude of me not to ask!

My holidays were eventful and they were very busy! Normally Christmas and New Year is filled with many pyjama days wrapped in quilts, coffee in hand and tins of chocolates surrounding us with Netflix marathons galore but this year although this year I had only two lounge around days!

We were happily engaged with celebrations galore! Four Christmas dinners later and many family members competing for title of ‘The Winners’ while playing women versus men, Best of British, Smart Ass and Articulate the men winning as normal … it was pretty fun and the wine flowed!

We hosted New Year’s Eve too. The house was full of family from both our sides  and an emotional realisation that it was the first time we were all in one room together since my Mum passed away in 2007. It was lovely to spend time with my family, something that we don’t do very often and even though we say we must meet up more, life becomes busy and it never happens. A few tears were wiped away and family photographs were taken to remember the occasion which probably won’t happen for a few more years to come.

We all saw the clock strike twelve as fireworks lit up London’s skies … we were viewing via BBC… we saw in New Year. We half sang and half hummed along to ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and pretended to know the words … of course only half of us did so just made the movement of lips to pretend!

Memories were made and was a fabulous holiday period. Celebrations are finished for now but there is a lot to look forward to this year too!

I’m back and can’t wait to get back into routine!

 

Madison!

 

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Happy Thanksgiving to all my  friends over the pond.

I’ve woken up today in a happy mood. Whether that is because I slept well or if it’s because i hit 29’000 word count for my novel, I’m not sure. What I am sure about is that I have a lot to be thank for. When it comes to life we have to be thankful to have our family and friends, a career that makes money to keep a roof over our heads and our health. we are alive so embrace it!

Here are my Top 5 things that today I am grateful for …

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Firstly, I am thankful for waking up this morning! We come across so many people through our lives who lose loved ones. So many of us have health problems or to daily issues to deal with in our lives that sometimes we forget the most important thing of all and thats that we are alive!

Today marks fifteen years since I lost my Dad to illness. He is always in my thoughts but today I am thankful for the memories I have of my parents.

 

 

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I am thankful for my health. My health isn’t the greatest to be honest. I struggle everyday with small tasks from drying my hair to walking up stairs. By allowing time to get ready in the morning and to work through the tasks of each day I am still thankful because my health could be worse! For now it is manageable.

 

 

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I’m thankful for my family and children. They are my world! They are always there when I need cheering up and to see their little faces smiling at me could warm a million hearts!

They are my little life angels to carry me. I love them with all my heart as I do my partner. Without them I wouldn’t be where I am today.

 

 

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I’m thankful for being able to read and write. This might seem like an odd thing to list as one of my five things to be grateful for but without these two very important things I wouldn’t be right here now writing this blog! I’m writing my first novel and without reading I wouldn’t know how to do that!

In a few months time you will hopefully be reading it!

 

 

 

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I’m thankful for coffee!

Well, Quite frankly … How would I get through the day without it?

Coffee is just Love in a mug!

….Unless of course you drink tea!

 

 

I challenge you to list your top five things your grateful for!

NaNoWriMo 2016

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I’ve not been writing for very long, one month in fact and I’ve come across a post about the ‘National Novel Writing Month‘. This is something I have never heard of but having read about it I’m really excited and have decided to participate.

After finding out what it entails I’ve gone through a series of emotions from wonder to fear to nervousness and of course excitement. Quite frankly it is scary as you have to its  minimum of 50,000 word for your book to be classed as a novel. If you only reach a word count of 30,000 you can pass it as a novella but NaNoWriMo is about novels so you target has to be 50,000.

50,000 words … thats a lot of words! It works out to around 1,667 words per day! That is quite some number and it means a daily commitment to getting a target word count done. If you fall behind it will mean there is serious catching up to do! It runs for the whole of November and once joined up you have access to an online community and forums and a profile where you can track your progress! You can start writing from Nov 1st until 30th Nov 2016.

So we have just over a month to get ourselves organised for this so what preparations do I need to do? I’m guessing my main concern should be an idea for a novel which I do have but apart from the few notes I have for some ideas of how my story will pan out thats as far as I have got. I think my focus will be planning an outline of the book including chapters, cliffhangers and settings,  a start, middle and end to a story. Characters will be created as I write but I have 5 main character for my idea. I will share a little insight into my story … but before I do, first I need to be clear what that is!

So the next question for me is how do I join the forums? I’ve logged on but the links for the forums don’t seem to be working. I’m eager to get going and start the planning process!

I may have answered some of the same questions you initially had if you had never heard of it before. If not and I have missed something please ask away in the comments!

I’m looking forward to the challenge! Who is joining me?  Are you participating? If you are Great! Add you name to comments and add me as a writing buddy!

 

32 Questions! 

I came across this post on a friends Facebook status and thought it would be good to share! It said … Can you fill this out without lying? The questions are not that out of the ordinary so not sure why anyone would want to lie when answering them.

Anyway, here are my answer’s …

  1. What was the last thing you put in your mouth? … Coffee – Mocha obviously!

  2. Where was your profile picture taken? … In a local Chinese ‘Eat all you want’ restaurant in the town I live.

  3. Do you play Pokemon Go? … I have to admit … A little, more with my son as he doesn’t have a phone.

  4. Name someone who made you laugh today? … Sophia, my darling funny little 2 year old! She was eating s strawberry and making noises as she bit it!

  5. How late did you stay up last night and why? … 12.30am-ish – trying desperately to get wifi to work so I could post on WordPress!

  6. If you could move somewhere else, where would you move? … Cornwall – To a house with a bigger garden and a tree that could have a swing attached to. (Childhood dream) Would need to be in walking distance of a little wooded area or a very close local beach so I could walk Lillie the puppy

  7. Ever been kissed under fireworks? … Yes by Phil my fiancé.

  8. Which of your friends lives the closest?  … Phil, my fiancé. He is my best friend! Can’t get closer than that! 😘

  9. Do you believe ex’s can be friends? … Yes, eventually and it really does depend on the ex! If you have children and not with the Dad the it is difficult but eventually it can work. I’m good friends my sons Dad.

  10. How do you feel about Dr Pepper? …. It’s fizzy?

  11. When was the last time you cried ? … Yesterday. I was having a conversation about not having my parents see my children growing up. It’s heartbreaking that my children do not have grandparents on my side of the family. I feel we all miss out on precious memories and feel it’s important that children have the love of grandparents.

  12. Who took your profile picture? … Me! It’s a selfie of course!

  13. Who was the last person you took a picture of? … Phil, he caught a fish while camping and of course that’s a rare occurrence!

  14. Was today better than yesterday?  … I’m away in the caravan … Both days were fabulous! They always are when we are away.

  15. Can you live a day without TV?  … Yes! Most definitely! We went without TV for two weeks while away end of July in Cornwall! Electrics are the bane of my life! I obviously need wifi etc for work and my blog but overall I would quite happily live in a little cottage by the sea and listen to the waves crashing against the rocks!

  16. Are you upset about anything?  … Always!! Life is hard!

  17. Do you think relationships are ever really worth it? …  A good relationship with my fiancé most definitely! He is my life!

  18. Are you a bad influence?  … I have children so I have to be good! There is no rule book to being a parent so I have to set an example to the best of my ability!

  19. Night out or night in? … Night in playing games with my family!

  20. What items could you not go without during the day?  … My children and fiancé ! My phone and medication!

  21. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital?  … My Mum. 😢

  22. What does the last text message in your inbox say ? … Morning angel xxx

  23. How do you feel about your life right now ? … Happy with my life, but there are changes I would make

  24. Do you hate anyone? … Hate is a strong word but there is one person who I know who lies and is very deceitful  … yes!

  25. If we were to look in your inbox what would we find? … Don’t look, that would just be rude and unacceptable!

  26. Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass? … Yes! I’ve never touched any drugs! Except prescribed obviously!

  27. Has anyone ever called you perfect?  … Yes, my fiancé … I don’t agree!

  28. Someone knocks on your window at 2am who do you want it to be?  … My Parents! I miss them both terribly!
  29. Name something you have to do tomorrow? … Pack up and return home! Always a sad day!

  30. Do you think too much or too little? … Far too much, I’m a 24/7 thinker! Im always running things over in my mind!

  31. Do you Laugh a lot? … Yes with the children! They are hilarious!

  32. Do you have any fears? Not loads, but we all have fears
    Now copy this and do it yourself! … Tag back to me so I can see your answers!!

Family Blessings

Family time is precious!

 

When it is time to spend holiday as a family we look forward to all the precious times together we will have. The dundane routine is replaced with the relaxed atmosphere that time no longer exists. The freedom of choice of activities becomes an exciting adventure. The morning is lazy, breakfast is not planned but consumed when hungry. Bedtime .. There is no bedtime!

We envision all the things we will do, go to the beach, walk along the coastal walks, take lots of family photographs and look out to sea. Meet family, build sandcastle and eat traditional Cornish foods, visit the places we love and meet new families.

The reality is … The kids will play up! The dog won’t walk! We never have food in the fridge!  We eat too many takeaways! The caravan awning will get wind blown and the poles fall down! The kids will fight scream and argue! It will rain!

… But all in all it is still our holiday! Although it will always be eventful with children and a dog, we know that memories of the time we spent together will be the most precious times we remember. The fun of games until midnight, playing cards and keeping tally of who wins the most, ice cream that melted all over our hands, the rolling up of the windbreak that nearly knocked us unconscious in the wind. The new friends we will meet and the time spent together!

I wouldnt change a thing … Except the kids behaviour of course!

Aside

Weekly Photo Challenge: Morning

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“My 6am Blissful Morning Walk!”

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The morning starts with Lillie whining to be let out her crate. I listen silently hoping my partner hears her and goes to her first. At the side of me the snoring gets louder … Hmmm he is playing me at my game! The cheek of it! So quietly I lay there in case he hears her. Still nothing but snoring from a dead weight laying next to me. I pretend to be roused by the puppy and that I’ve only just heard her in case is truly just waking up.

I get dressed quickly, as soon as I’m up and out of bed the tail wagging gets louder! It’s a race to be ready before the baby is woken up!

I go to her while her tail is wagging loudly against the side of her crate threatening to wake up the children. The caravan is small, there is room for her but for a 16 week puppy she takes up a quarter of the total floor space. Not that I don’t like that she is part of my family, I love her like a child but come on! There are five humans living in this tiny home for two weeks! Share the space!

Letting her out quietly is like a plane trying to take off without the noise of the engines! It’s impossible!

Crate is open … Tail wagging is furious … Middle child stretches loudly! Puppy is banging the sides of the crate creating a commotion like a rhino is in there … Baby sits up … “Hello Lillie”.  I’m at the door, opening it quietly but that last bit that sticks where the catch doesn’t quite unclick without a loud noise and then … Teenage daughter in the awning is awake! “What time is it.” … “Go back to sleep baby girl … It’s only 6,” … I wait for the “What? Why did you wake me up?” In a millisecond, there it is!

Lillies lead is on, walking bag is filled with all the essentials needed, crossed over my shoulder and I’m gone … With a big smile on my face as I hear hubby say … “Morning Kids”.