This is great

On the right hand side are the things that people, lovely, thoughtful, kind, well meaning people ALWAYS, say to me.  I try not to get upset.  But when you have heard them all a hundred times or more it starts to get depressing.  

This Instagram post made my remember that, whatever people say, what they really mean is 'I love you', 'I care', 'I don't really know what to say to make it all better'.  TBH you don't need to make it better, just be there.

I Am Trying To Believe In Miracles

And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.

Deuteronomy 8:2 

Happy Blogiversary

It has been a year since I started this blog.  Looking back I can't believe how much my life has changed and how happy I am.  

I have got a new job, which isn't without it's challenges, that I absolutely love.  I have most definitely got my teaching mojo back.  

After becoming more conscious about my overall health, I have begun to take matters into my own hands.  I go to fitness classes, hike and swim every week.  I have upped my fruit, vegetable and calcium intake and lowered my fat, sugar and alcohol (I am pretty much tee total now). I am healthier than I have ever been.

Fertility wise, I don't feel any closer to the goal.  I recovered from my op quickly and have to be honest I had extremely high (slightly unrealistic) expectations.  My cycles were 60- 90 days long, when this all began, are now 22-28 days long and while this is fantastic, I'm still not 100% sure I actually ovulate.  Which is the whole point surely?  I have a few appointments coming up which will hoepefully clear everything up, fingers crossed.

I have become more conscious of making sure that the time GO and I spend time together is worthwhile.  We have been on so many day trips, and weekends away.  We have coming with nature, been out for amazing meals and made the most of our National Trust membership.

What a year I have had, it has been full of highs and has been lacking in lows, which after the past few years is a great improvement.  Let's see what the next year on the blog brings.

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!

Bank Holiday Shenanigans - Part 1

Getting some fresh air

So G.O and I had managed to arrange to spend a bank holiday weekend together, sort of (more on that later) and we were going to make the most of it. 

Then as is usual for us, Saturday rolled around and we were both exhaustimacated, we don't often get to spend the weekends together and aren't really sure of the protocol.  Do we go somewhere big an flashy or local, do we stay in and potter?

In the end I decided to just chillax at home, we hadn't done that together in a while.  I went downstairs to make a healthyish breakfast muffins bacon cooked in the oven (for crispyness) and scrambled eggs (eat your heart out McD's), while his lordship caught up on his beauty sleep (god only knows he needed it having worked about 1000 hours in the past few weeks).

While I was waiting for everything to cook (Healtyish and easy) the post arrived. There was amongst the junk and party political rubbish a letter for G.O, I didn't recognise the postmark.  I raced upstairs and have home the letter.  Urging him to open it, it might be something exciting, It was, kind of.

I had signed G.O up on the mailing list for his favourite cider, which unbeknownst to us also sold my favourite garden wines.  The Lyme Bay company.  I've never tried the cider but the wine has a kick and a half and a flavour to suit every palet (no I'm not on commission).  I've had the wine before and a couple of glasses and I am out like a light.

He excitedly looked at the catalogue, while I finished breakfast. After everything had been devoured, and G.O was cleaning up, I read the catalogue.  "Did you know that mead is supposed to help boost your fertility!"  I announced. "Nope!" Came the slightly disinterested reply.  "But they sell the cider I like in the Bicester garden centre you like!" Within the hour were in the garden centre pushing a trolley of exotically flavoured ciders and a garden mead to the check out. Bang goes our chilling out at home time.

As we drove back home, going the country way for a change.  I decided to make a pit stop.  

Beautiful Bluebells

I pulled into the Boarstall Duck Decoy, my intention was only to show Stuart where it was, excitement overtook me.  I changed into my boots and began to show G.O the beautiful sights and sounds of Boarstall.  "I came here before, on my own.  I was driving by and just thought I'd pop in, a bit like now!"

We spent a very long time looking at and photographing the amazing Bluebells, it's a shame I can't bottle the aroma it was intoxicating, sweet but very subtle.

Our first stop was the duck hide, we had the place to ourselves and were able to just sit in the hide and watch the water listening to the birds and take lots of

photos.

As we left the hide, I was shocked to see someone standing about twenty metres away just watching us.  S/he didn't move, wave or acknowledge us in anyway, they just stood on the path hands behind their back.  G.O was oblivious as he was too busy taking more photos of the Bluebells, he must have hundreds of them.

We carried on round the route and came to a fallen tree, which I decided was left for people to climb on, so I did.  

The view from the top of the tree

I felt very high up and wobbly, when I looked at the video G.O took I realise I was about 1.5 metres off the ground, but added to my height that's over 3 metres.  

Alright I climbed a tree that had already fallen down!

I jumped off, retrieved my bag from the natural bag holder and carried on.  I could hear other people behind us and didn't want them to bump into us when I was stuck up a tree, so to speak.

Natural Bag holder

As we scurried away I decided to leave them a false clue, just in case they were following us (you never know). I have been watching a lot of Man tracker and Survive That! recently.  I'm all about surviving in the wilderness and not leaving a trace behind me.  I'm not quite there yet!

Setting a false lead - which way did we go?

We carried around the bend, and bumped into the observer again, I still couldn't tell whether it was a man or a woman.  As we got closer SHE shouted to us "clock tower, has four faces, see!" She grabbed me and pulled me closer to a flower that did look like it had four faces.  

"New princess is a girl, isn't it?" I agreed, and said how I had hoped it would be a princess, nice and even (didn't realise that had happened).  She didn't seem to want us to leave, so I distracted her by asking G.O to photograph the flowers and began to walk away.  I couldn't decide whether she was a guide just passing time or a very weird lonely individual.  Either way I made my way around the pond, sharpish.

We hopped back in to the car.  "Before we go home I just want to check something!"  The last time I had been here I had also been to the Boarstall Tower, it couldn't hurt to see if they were letting visitors in.

TTC - again

Many moons ago GO and I decided we would give the trying to conceive until January (6 months after the drilling) and then we would begin to look into adoption.






I have always wanted to adopt a chd, there are so many children looking for a home, and we are looking for a chance to love and be parents. Being a biological parent is not a priority for me, I just want to be a mother. Since meeting GO I have always wanted to see what we would produce genetically speaking.






With this in mind, after returning from Christmas withy parents, I went for my six month check up. I explained my plan to my GP, who shocked me with her reply.






In essence she told me that I should keep on TTC, as I am in the prime of my life and really given anything a chance yet. I will be able to adopt well into my forties, but this may be my only chance to conceive naturally.






So after a but if a break we are how back on the TTC schedule, all be it with less focus. No temperature tracking, mucus, or accupuncture. We are taking our times and enjoying ourselves. We haven't given ourselves a time limit. We are just taking things as they come.






Fingers crossed, hoping for babydust xxx

Needing baby dust

I've had a rough four of days.  I was absolutely whacked Friday night so I went to bed early. On Saturday I felt awful, I struggled to keep anything even tomato soup down.  I slept for much of the day and just couldn't move.  I did manage to take a couple of ovulation tests which had very faint lines.  By Sunday I was feeling better, another test showed another faint positive, we got down to some baby dancing.  I had pains in my side, which along with the tests led me to believe that I was actually ovulation, I was over the moon.  I couldn't believe it, I popped into the GP to have a quick check up. She said that my longer cycles were probably anovulatory, and so on day 21 of my next cycle, I would need a blood test.  I thought nothing more of it, until tonight.  I found blood in my underwear, I think I had convinced myself this would be our month...

10,000 steps for a better life

A while back I read an article in a newspaper that said walking 10,000 steps was the key to a healthier lifestyle.  Most people only managed to walk between 5000 and 6000 a day which is considered to be part of a sedentary lifestyle and is one of the causes of the obesity epidemic here in the UK.

 

Mamilein had given me a pedometer that she no longer needed, so I decided that I would use it to see how far off 10,000 steps a day was, without putting in an extras.  No parking further from walk, or walking to the supermarket.  This was my control, to find out how many steps a normal day consisted of.  I was surprised to find in the first couple of days I was walking about 8000 steps, that was just day to day business at school.  So I decided to step it up a gear (pun intended) to see what I would need to do just to increase my step count to the illusive 10,000. 

 

I began by being more mindful of times when I could increase steps.  I would park further away in the supermarket car park, I ran up and down the stairs a few times to add steps to my counter, I walked the long was round to get to the corner shop. 

 

Soon enough I was reaching the 10,000 plus mark on my counter on a daily basis.  I haven't worked out what this is in kilometres and miles, yet.  I feel so much better for doing this, I know that if I can't be bothered to go swimming or to aerobics I don't have to feel guilty as I am walking a lot in my day to day life.  Some days its easy to reach 10,000 steps, particularly when I take the bus to walk and have to walk up the hill at home time.  Other days it's a struggle to get past 8000 steps, but I feel on the whole they balance each other out.

 

Today I returned home after a long day, I travelled on the bus and decided to get off a couple of stops earlier so that I could get a Chai Latte for my walk to school.  I knew I had a first aid course after school until early evening and just got on with things.  By the time I had walked up the hill and got on the bus (at the wrong stop according to the bus driver)  and collapsed into my seat, I had managed to clock up and impressive 13,000 steps and by the time I got home it had just past 14,000.  I feel very proud of myself and think I deserve a well earned soak in the tub.  Which id where I 'm off right now, ciao.

 

XXXC

 

Check out these sites for more information on the benefits of walking 10,000

 

More information about 10,000 steps

 

http://www.thewalkingsite.com/10000steps.html

 

It's My Birthday!

"Happy 35th Birthday!"  G.O whispered at 12.01am this morning, I smiled sleepily and then went back to sleep.  Only to sit bolt upright and say "What do you mean? 35!" 

"Yes, that's what app on my phone says,!"  He replied, "I'm 38!" He looked sheepish and a little confused.  He is 34 and I am 3 years (4 years now, until November) older than he is, what is confusing about that? "Ah he said, stupid app!"

G.O made up for it though in the morning (the real morning, not stupid o'clock) by presenting me with my gift (a Kindle HD, I have wanted one for a while now, I have too many books, and yes you  can have too many books!) and a beautiful heartfelt card. 

 

Last year I didn't receive a card, I was told it was at work" and that he would get it to me when he returned to work.  I never got the card that said "Happy Birthday to my wife" on my first birthday as someone's wife.  This is still a sore spot as you can tell.

 

We lounged around the house, I replied to Facebook and text messages and Skyped my parents in Germany.  The we decided to go out for a spot of lunch.  I have always wanted to go to the Crazy Bear restaurant in Stadhampton.  It is a wonderful kooky place with a bear hidden in the ceiling and reception housed in a double decker red bus.  When we arrived I looked everywhere for someone to talk to but the place was deserted, just as I was about to give up a man emerges from the floor, I should have looked down!  "We have no places available all weekend, you should have booked!"  "We were just passing anyway!" I lied. 

 

Just when I thought my fate was to go to the all you can eat Chinese buffet and partake in a spot of ten pin bowling, like a spotty teenager (I love bowling, I'm just being dramatic) I remembered a pub that we had visited years ago.  It have a lovely garden with lots of nooks and crannies, you can sit around the table behind a hedge and never be seen by another sole again.  G.O couldn't remember a thing, even as we pulled into the car park he wasn't convinced he had ever been there before.  As we walked through the garden and he saw the  building he said "I do remember this place we sat over there!" 

The place hadn't changed much, it has a very chilled, calm vibe and as we arrived we were greeted by the landlady who showed us to a table tucked away in a nook by the, thankfully unlit, fire.  The menu was simple,  I can't cope when there is a lot of choice, and they had a set menu to choose from.  I went for the dressed crab and Sea bass, with crushed potatoes and G.O  had the risotto and belly pork.  (Simple menu but it still took the pair of us ten minutes to remember what had to eat).  We sat and chatted, putting the world to rights as only we can, we made some exciting decisions (I won't share just yet)  one of which was that we would make the Mole Inn our new local, everyone needs a place that they always go to, Pizzeria Venezia anybody?

 

 

This Old Dutch

"I know  a place where we can go for lunch!"  Famous last words.  

G.O didn't want to have his photo taken on the tube in front of everyone.  He did smile eventually, but I don't want to use that photo, cruel I know.

One day G.O will learn not to listen to me.  However while getting there may always, and I mean always be a chore, the end result is most definitely worth it.  This time I wanted to take him to a Dutch pancake shop I had been to with a couple of friends last year.  Now I knew that it was in Kensington but I couldn't quite remember how to get there.  This is never a problem as far as I am concerned as long as I know a general direction, soon enough either I will recognise the place or I will whip out my GPS.  This time I did a bit off both.

We start our journey as always (these days) by car driving to Hillingdon and parking in the all day car park there.  Then we board either the Metropolitan line (most of the time this is the train we take) or the Piccalilly line (if we are heading for the West End).  Both trains are in my opinion a 'trek and a half' but I have lived along both routes and so they are quite nostalgic for me.

I have fond memories of living in Rayners Lane - photo from 2011

Now I usually have a general idea of where we were heading and can plan a route in my head, glancing at the line station stops (whatever those things are called) on the train. Occasionally, I get  a little flustered, the old grey cells aren't what they use to be (as you can tell) and I need to consult and peruse, for quite some time, a map. 

It was while doing this, after I had reassured G.O I knew exactly where we were going (I Did kind of) that I realised that we need to get to Kensington High Street and not, as I had been heading towards, Kensington South.  In hindsight, this is not an issue, but we were trapped on trains that were packed with lots of pushy people and I just couldn't take it any more (sadly I am no longer a City Girl).

I proposed a plan to walk from Knightsbridge to Kensington, it would only be about ten minutes, (nearly forty five by the time we got there) this, on any other day, would have been fine.

I decided not to take the scenic route (the household cavalry barracks, is one depressing building), we would get glimpses of the scenic route through the building occasionally, but then it started to rain, just a drizzled at first but then it became a torrential  downpour and to make maters worse G.O's orange umbrella broke.  We needed to get there fast.

Like an oasis in the desert we rounded a corner and there in front of us in all its majestic glory was the Royal Albert Hall.  G.O stopped and took some happy snaps and this buoyed us on for the rest of the journey.

A little graphic of our journey, in green, with caricatures

Finally we reached 'My Old Dutch' a gorgeous little pancake shop, it was like a little piece of pancake heaven. I couldn't quite remember what I had had the last time but I knew that it was good.

I convinced G.O to share a couple of starters with me do we had Kaasballen and Frites, there is nothing nicer than Dutch frites and mayo.  Then I decided to have a chilli con carne pancake, G.O chose a modest ham and spinach pancake.

We they arrived they were enormous, I knew straight away I had made a serious error when I ordered the starter.  I struggled to finish the pancake. As delicious as it was, oh my word it was yummy, each mouthful was starting to cause me pain.  I started to slow down, the waitress told me that they didn't close until 10pm so I could take my time (it was half past four).  After half an hour it became really uncomfortable, I had new jeans on and they were tight. 

It was definitely a case of having eyes bigger than my belly, and with my Buddha Belly that is saying something.  I didn't eat anything for the rest of the day, but I know one thing for sure, I will be going back, those pancakes are delicious.

Warwick wandering

Let's go glamping next time

 

"I've got Friday off!"  G.O told me, whenever were both 'off' together I start planning what we could do.  My first thought was to visit Bath Thermae Spa and spend the afternoon relaxing in their rejuvenating well being pools.  Utter bliss!  But as is always the case in the UK I checked out the prices and availability and the cost was astronomical, for the same price as a gourmet meal with wine, you got a two hour session, and you had to pay to use the robes and towels.

Ready for Halloween?

Typical posers - castle behind us

 

I am very tight, I know, when I have to I will spend big money, I will do my research and wait for a bargain.  I had been told by a friend that there was a two for one offer, but we had left it too late.

In Character as a squire

Slimy Stuarts - they knew he was coming

I could have been Guy fawkes

G.O doesn't really enjoy spa days and told me about some deals that he was entitled to use through his Gourmet Society Card which offered 50% reductions on entry to some attractions.  There was a catch, you had to book in advance and as it was Friday, it didn't look promising.

Sword Fighting

Keeping an eye on the time

 

I gave the office a call and quoted the deal, it was still valid, phew.  "I don't suppose we can use the deal today?"  I asked tentatively.  The answer was yes and before we knew it we were on our way to Warwick Castle.

I can chop an apple in half!

Not if I can help it!

Lots of tower exits, but where are the entrances?

 

I had never really wanted to visit Warwick before, this summer however it became a  bit of a millstone around my neck.  One of the teachers at the little village school had organised a trip for the children as part if our topic, as I was recovering from my op I wasn't able to go with them.  No matter, one of the tabloids had an offer, collect 7 tokens and you got free entrance to the castle. I dutifully collected the tokens, and went to fill in the form when I noticed that the dealine had been the previous day.  I told G.O who was miffed, don't know why, it was my idea. I had just gotten over this when they began showing adverts all day long promoting the Horrible Histories exhibitions at Warwick Castle!  It was inevitable that I would go, and so we found our selves at the entrance.

Getting ready to fly

Big baby owl

So lovely

So close...

Condor getting ready to fly

And we're off!

 

We had nothing planned. Except for thedungeon  tour at quarter past four.  It was very "Disneyish" there were lots of people in costumes, and almost every quarter if an hour there was a new show.  We caught the end of a knight's of old battle, we watched a bird's of prey display with eagles, condors and a very stubborn owl we also saw a jousting competition by the trebuchet.  We tried to climb up a tower, but each one we found was an exit, we couldn't find an entrances anywhere.  All around the castle were little stalls that were either selling things, crafty stalls (design your own shield), giving lessons in medival skills or were set up to inform.

I can keep the enemy away with my foam bumpy ball thing...

Always looks so scary!

They love a bit of ginger wee!

just in case you can't tell G.O is on the left!  I think.

Medieval illnesses and cures.

Useful wooden sword

 

Most memorable were the "Dirk's" for sale, the Viking longboat, the Smelly Stuarts and tent that was occupied by two squires who on seeing G.O ran up to  him and in the loudest voices yelled "ah! a Ginger, we'll pay you well for your wee! We love a bit of ginger wee!"  (I have been reliably informed that in days of old they would use urine to wash clothes, and that the urine of a ginger was highly sort after) I would have been mortified had it been me, but G.O, ever the drama queen, lapped it up and made a big thing of bartering with them, then on the journey back up tried to sell them his flask, claiming it was genuine ginger urine! "You my man, are disgusting!"  Was the response.

Trapped in a bear pit.

With him chuckling away at my side, we made our way over to the 'fungeon' (G.O called the dungeon that most of the day, and still does!) we were escorted into a tent where we had some photos taken.  Then we waited in the "pit" to be taken in.  Now, I thought I had gotten quite tough over the years, yes, a dressing gown in moonlight can freak me out, but I can watch scary movies on my own now, but I was not happy when the guide said "we have prisoners who are still alive, they won't touch you if you don't touch them!"

Don't leave me on my own...

Do you use ginger wee to wash your clothes?  I use Ariel.

Today's urine was provided by G.O

Can take the chef out of the kitchen but....

This pose is a bit too German for my liking....

We made our way through the dungeon learning about the black plague, torture, and witch trials and at every point I was on edge, I trusted no one, I had a scarf covering my face the entire time chanting to myself "don't pick me!"  On the whole it worked, but they got very close.  Before the last room we were taken in to a hall of mirrors, which confused G.O, and made me slightly hysterical, so by the time we got into the last room I was on a knife edge.  I was convinced that something would come through the door behind me, G.O just ignored me.

Look more jousting!

The history of the castle in English, German, Italian and French

A boat house

Winter is coming!

G.O complaining about his helmet!

"I am a Lannister!"

 

The young man in the room began telling the story of a lady who had been convicted of witch craft and sentenced to death.  Just as the proclamation was made, all of the lights in the room went out, as they turned on again the man was stood very close to another visitor who screamed.  

He was too quick to pick up his chopper.

The story continued, as they sentenced her to death, the lady disappeared and she was heard cackling up in the tower.  The only way to reach the tower was by those stairs, and the door it never opened! At this point the lights turned off again and there was a cackling coming from up the tower and the door behind me began to shake, I couldn't take it any longer and screamed, got out of my seat and ran to another bench, much to everyone's amusement, as I sat down, the shelf near the bench holding all of the weapons began to move and threatened to fall off the wall.  

Witch Trials, I think it's the ginger one!

 

I moved back to my original spot, this all happened in about thirty seconds.  When the lights came back on the man had vanished  and a door opened, we had finished the tour. I was positively glowing with perspiration and was so relieved it was over.  It was revealed that the man was the witches son, but by this point I just wanted to leave.  

I don't like th e look of his hand placement!

Before we could go though to the exit they stopped us and showed us the pictures they had taken before we began the tour.  I was very shaken but even I could see the photos were pretty cool and I managed to persuade G.O to purchase them.



I can sail home with my beautiful umbrella.

I haven't got a hunchback, that's my bag.

Say no more!

One day it will be loaded.

It was then that the black clouds that had been threatening all day opened, we had seen everything we had wanted to see, bought enough souvenirs to satisfy G.O's need for tut, so dressed like a big green condom and a ginger fairy we made our way home.  

Dackel brolly, if you look closely you can see the little Dacshund pattern.

Human Condom

 

Yet again, a good day was had by all!