New Job...

 After 10 years of just looking after the kids (and the house, and the washing etc), I've got a job.

This was my first week and it didn't go too badly - they were still smiling when I left the office and they said "see you on Monday".

I'm going to get really fit as well because, as soon as I drop Bucket jnr off at school, I have to march for about 30 minutes to get to work. I will be exercising 5 days a week!!!! Although,,, I must admit that at the moment my legs feel like jelly and I've discovered some muscles that I didn't know I had.

And I never thought I'd get excited by the words "DRESS DOWN FRIDAY". Sam xx

January...

...is a really hard month.

Now, I'm only speaking for myself but I'm sure there are lots of others who are struggling this month.

Everyone gets paid before Christmas, so extra money is spent a bit earlier than planned; January is generally a 5 week month, so it seems like it's a really, really long time; somehow we've managed to have TWO car taxes at the end of the month and....I still can't find places to put the Christmas presents that the kids received.

I haven't really blogged much so far this year and I think it's just because the month feels like it's dragging me down a little. So I'm doing what others are almost certainly doing -

1. Trying not to spend ANYTHING;
2. Organising EVERYTHING;
3. Going to make SOMETHING.

1. I'm trying really hard not to buy anything extra for the house as money is so tight but I've a few extra pennies for stuff like milk and veg - milk is one of those things that we get through A LOT. Also, I've told the kids to stop growing - at least for this month. Luckily we've already shelled out for new shoes for them so I won't have to worry about that for a while. I've also been going to the library for my fix of books so I don't spend money on any new ones.

2. As well as finding places for the Christmas presents, I'm going through and trying to organise our cluttered home. I've probably mentioned before that we like to collect things and normally this isn't too bad and kept under control (I love boxes) but it seems to be mutating and now it's driving me NUTS. Also, as a crossover with no.1, I'm organising the food that we already have and trying to not buy extra (therefore spending no more money) - I hope the kids like liver as I'm sure there's lots a couple of bags in the freezer.

3. I'm going to be making cakes/biscuits (as no.1) and I want to use up all the fabric/old clothes that I've put to one side; cut them up and make quilt covers with the material. It probably won't be that neat but I think the kids will love their own special covers made with some of their old clothes.

And finally, I really, really, REALLY want to shift this stupid cold that I've had since before Christmas that NO amount of medicine/nose blowing/wrapping up warm will shift. I'm fed up with it now - it definitely has my permission to go. Sam xx

Brilliant game...

We went to France for summer holidays this year and stayed at a great camp. After raiding the Keycamp hut for something extra to do, we found this:

Monster Bingo by Orchard Toys

The game had a few bits missing but most of the pieces were there so we played a couple of games and had a brilliant time with it.  I have a 5 year old and a 9 year old and both really enjoyed it, usually games are either too old for one or too young for the other (cue lots of arguing/sulking/moaning and then the game put away).

When we came home again I looked it up and then ordered it as a Christmas present for Bucket jnr.

Well.......can I just say, once again, how brilliant this game is.We finally had a go last night after getting all the Christmas decorations down; tea eaten and showers done and we laughed a lot and very loudly. Now this is normally a good thing but Mr Bucket had a raging migraine and even with us being in another room, we were TOO loud.

Oh dear.

Anyway, so pleased with this game and I think we'll be playing it a lot more - definitely a good buy. Sam x

Happy New Year....

It's the 1st January 2013.

It's not raining, just looks a little bit cloudy but with the hope of the sun coming out.

The kids are quiet (they must be planning something).

I have some resolutions - some old; weight loss / some new; stop procrastinating, get off my arse and do it.

 We have a friend coming for lunch today (big lump of roast pork - the meal and NOT the friend).

It promises to be a good day.

It promises to be a good year.

Let's hope that 2013 is a good year for us all. Happy New Year, Sam xx