I won the raffle

I went visit Mrs F, my BFF and Mr F (who had had his leaving party the night before).  Mrs F wanted to visit some Christams fairs she had seen on Facebook.

She had been after some log reindeers for a while and had seen that a company had a stall at a local Christmas Craft fair.  We popped along and it was heaving, apparantly Father Christmas had called in and was being very generous.  There were all sorts of different companies, one that caught my eye was the boozy cupcake company.  I was tempted but as I had just bought my ferry tickets home I was rather penniless, I gave them a grudging miss.  As we headed back to the car I passed the tombola stall, which had boozy cupcakes as a prize. "I'll buy a ticket, it's only £1!"  I called as family F walked on.  It was as I paid that I realised it wasn't a tombola but a raffle.

"If I win, you can have the prize!"  I told Mrs F, thinking nothing more of it.

We headed to the harbour and had a coffee and cake, BFF and I did some bonding as we oohed and aahed over the Christmas lights and stalls. 

BFF showed off her nearly walking skills, she met a little friend called a bolonoodle (a 3week old puppy) it was ridiculously cute and very fluffy.  

Before it got too late we snuck over to a local garden centre that had real reindeer.

I couldn't tell which of the reindeer they were, but they were very friendly, if a bit sleepy.

We wandered around the lovely Chrsitmas displays and got our groove on to the oldest Santa band in the land.

The following week I received a phone call saying I had won the raffle, unfortunately the boozy cupcakes were all gone.  Nevermind, better luck next time.

They call me the Fairy GodMother

I took GO to visit Mrs F and my BFF (the best baby in the world). We had a lovely lunch with lots of hugs and kisses.  

GO was worried that BFF would be a grizzly baby, but I assured him that she was awkward sweetness and light, around me anyway.  

As we got back in the car Mrs F said that BFF had a question to ask me "would you be my Godmother?"  I was stunned (memories of GO's proposal came flooding back) but without hesitation I said yes. 

I am honoured that I was even considered to take on this important role in her life.  

I am making plans and how to be the best godmother I can be.  My first job is too send her a thank you card, in it I will explain how honoured I am and how I will take my new role in her life seriously, not too seriously though ;-)

Bank Holiday Shenanigans - Part 3

Bank holiday Monday is always a treat, not only does it make the weekend a three day weekend, it also makes the following week a four day week.  

Precious time together

Normally the Oxford May Day celebrations are a major event, which means that the tiny pub the G.O manages opens up very, very, very early (5 am) to provide sustenance for the many jolly individuals taking part in the celebrations.  This year the celebrations went off without a hitch (or so they say), and with May day being on the Friday before bank holiday Monday, it meant G.O was able to spend the day with me.

Bright and breezy on the Monday we set off for the big smoke, parked the car in the usual car park.  It is such good value for your money £3.00 until 4am the next day, and there is a security guard.  Got onto the Metropolitan (my 'home' tubeline for 6 years) and headed on the longest tube journey in the world (obvious exaggeration),  it only took an hour but it takes you past all of the landmark stops and onto the Dockland Light Railway (DLR), which in my opinion is one of the greatest transport inventions of all times.  I have some very fond memories of the DLR, in what was a horrendous time I had a blast.  We arrived at Custom house and it was buzzing.

Watching one of the live sessions - George Clarke's Amazing Space Woman

G.O had purchased ticket to the Grand Designs Live show, it an three day event based on the TV show of the same name.  While G.O are in no position to build, renovate or even buy our own home at this time, I love visiting the show because you never know who or what you will see/meet. At last years show not only did I meet The Renovation Man himself, we also watched a live Italian Cookery show.  "You can make it yourself itsa eezee!  Only flour, egg and water".  Each stall holder is trying to, obviously, get your custom.  I enjoy floating past them with "sorry I don't have a house!"  Why are you here? they all ask.  Reasonable enough question.  

Behind all of the architect, builders, solar panel, hot tub stalls is the food and lifestyle section.  All manner of companies are there and all are giving away free samples.  G.O and I will go past our favourite stalls three of four times and the booty we have at the end is phenomenal.  We don't ever bring or buy our lunch, if you are savvy you can be fed and watered by the stall holders themselves.  We had cheese, wine, sausages, crackers, yogurt, bread, and ice cream all given to us by the companies.  It is a veritable smorgasbord.  Not only is there food to try, there are new gadgets that have just come on to the market.  We were suckered into buying glass cleaner fluid that made my ring sparkle (I later realised it was just the lighting, hey ho), a heated back massager that is amazing at getting rid of all the knots in your neck, back and shoulders and also gives the best hand massage (no double entendre here).

Building a house inside the Exhibition centre

After about six hours of wandering around picking up freebies here and there, we decided to hit one of our new favourite places to eat My Old Dutch in Kensington, on our last visit I had overdone it a tad on the Kaasballen, so this time I knew it was all about moderation, and as always it was delicious. It was the perfect end to what has to be one of the greatest Bank Holiday weekends of my life. 

 A Hoisin Duck Pancake

It was only the tube ride back that I had a feeling of de ja vu, it was exactly a year ago that I went into the Headteacher's office at the Little Village school and offically handed my notice in.  I had told the head that I was thinking about resigning in the April (three hours before Ofsted called to say the were going to pop in and see us), but that weekend, I had no stress and had had an amazing time with G.O so I decided that I wanted a better work life balance which I wouldn't be able to achieve at that school.  Also I wanted to move, but that is another story.

This was me not overdoing it!

My new BFF

I went to visit a very good, old friend Mrs F, who had recently given birth to a gorgeous little princess.

I have a soft spot for children (funny that being a teacher) but I don't always feel comfortable with babies, especially tiny babies.  It's a lack of experience.  

I am the visitor who hands the baby back at the first sign of a grizzle.  I spent the whole day with this Lovely little family, having hugs and kisses and was even able to get the Miss F to fall asleep, albeit for only fifteen minutes.  

It is one of my proudest achievements and has raised Miss F to be my favourite baby and my new BFF.  God bless you little one. xxx

Yomping around the Brecon Beacons

When GO said we were going to the Brecon Beacons. The thing I was most looking forward to was hiking around the hills, and dales with spectacular views all around.  Unfortunately my trek around the waterfalls didn't happen this time.  I did however manage to get some time walking around the keeper's pond.

As we arrived at the car park we were all alone except for the sheep, they are everywhere in the Beacons, rightly so. I got out geared myself up for a wet and windy walk.

"I'll just set off, so I can take some photo's". I yelled.

"Hey, what are you doing?  Hey go away will you!  Stop it!"

I turned around thinking GO was shorting to me, only to discover a local getting very friendly with my husband.

Unfortunately I was no help, I couldn't help but laugh.  I just stood and watched as he somehow managed to escape his little stalker.

He doesn't look too traumatised.

The pond at the top of the mountain.

Still chuckling about the sheep.... What's that I see?

She's back and posing this time.

Lovely panoramic view, blocked by two tourists!

That's better

Look mum no hands, got to love the timer.

Messing around in the stream.

He's not scared of me sheep!

Photobomb.

I look daft, but I was warm.

Aw good times xx