Holiday-Part Two

We had a very pleasant evening meal sat outside in the little wrought iron enclosed terrace, there were plenty of places to eat in this villa. This little terrace was the perfect place to eat breakfast on a morning as this was where the sun came up overlooking the tennis court. I hate getting up too late on holiday, a little lie in is good but wasting mornings in bed on holiday is criminal, such a waste of a day.

The beach is where we were headed on the second day. Portugal has an abundance of such diverse beaches. The morning routine is to P20 the girls (a once a day sun screen application) have breakfast, pack the beach bag with everything that could possibly be required and head off, me with the map in hand. As I've mentioned more than once I am an avid people watcher, the beach is a great place to do this, it never ceases to amaze me how people are a little like dogs looking for somewhere to settle, wandering around and pointing before they finally place their belongings and sorting themselves out, we all do it. I also love this opportunity to observe the girls. T is so like me when I was younger, very gung ho throwing herself with abandon in the sea, she is fearless. A adopts a much more cautious approach weighing everything up, the sea is not for her, she is happy to collect pretty sea shells, all things at a much more gentle pace. Missing my mobile phone to capture these moments. Strolling for somewhere for a light snack I couldn't take my eyes off the woman who stood the whole time regaling all at her table of her birth, nearly baulking on my tuna sandwich when she got to talking about amniotic fluid, hubby and I felt like we had been through the whole labour with her! 

The rest of the week was spent pottering by the pool and trips to the beach with lazy late lunches. My major bone of contention is the mosquito's, I declare war, it is personal, especially when the kids get bitten. I run around like Arnie Schwarzenegger with an Uzi, coming around the doors like in an episode of CSI, you will die you little bastards. The lizards on the other hand we all love to watch. There always seems to be an obligatory cat or two that come in the villa rental price, hubby hates cats, one tried to suffocate him as a baby or so he says. Me and the girls secretly feeding them, hubby imagining it will end up like a cat version of Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds". Talking of birds I wasn't quite sure which type they were but boy were they brazen, they attacked the cat when I put food out for it and practically sat at the table with us when we ate outside, they were the equivalent of local teenage youths.

Last few days in another post.

Sha X

Holiday-Part One

After a week without mobile or laptop it is taking me a while to get back in to my usual activities on twitter or my blog. Considering my panic when I realised on the way to the airport my left arm mobile was languishing under my pillow in my bed. This put me in a mood good and proper. Hubby said have a bloody word with yourself, its not the end of the world to not have your mobile for a whole week! Going through customs the guy rummaging in my bag, taking a sample from my Liz Earle skin tint (he obviously has no clue this brand is about everything natural) I asked him if he had found my mobile in the cavernous depths of my bag, that was a big fat NO. When I overheard T telling A to shush saying "Don't talk about that near Nana" when she mentioned my mobile I realised I really did need to have a word with myself. Boarding the plane hubby and I being told to go straight on, this always makes us smirk as this is somewhat stating the obvious.

We arrived at Faro to be greeted with rain, was put on the wrong green bus to be taken to the wrong car hire place, none of this helped my mood. Car collected we set off for the villa. My hubby's sense of where he is in another country is pretty crap so he invariably gets lost, me on the other hand am the opposite which creates a row. We are both adamant we are right and I KNOW I am. The villa had everything it said in the brochure, pool, play area with slide, swings, see saw and at the back was the tennis court and beautiful grounds. This villa sleeps eight people the only double bed on the upper floor. As always we all go exploring, the main aim as to who is bagsy the best bedroom, all doors and cupboards inspected. The upper room had a door that reminded us all a little too much of Coraline this bedroom was never darkened again the whole week we were there. The brochure had failed to mention a fairly busy road at the bottom of the garden, it had actually stated the villa was in a quiet area.

Other half off for provisions, the kids wanted to go in the pool even though it was peeing it down, hey ho if that's what they wanted do I let them get on with it whilst I curled up under a blanket on the sofa wishing I had brought DVDs for entertainment. By the time he got back I was insisting he go to the welcome meeting in the morning to look at an alternative villa, I just didn't feel settled here at all. The next morning the sun shone, Natasha arrived to tidy and we discovered with a lot of map pointing the welcome meeting was about a half hour drive away, we never go to welcome meetings but I insisted hubby went. He arrived back about three hours later telling me they were sending someone to see us.

The kids and I had spent a very pleasant morning, me lounging by the pool in the sun reading, the kids in and out of the pool, the sun having his hat on had completely changed my mood and my view on the villa. When camp as Christmas rep arrived I was much more mellow but had to follow through with my original complaint. Listening to myself telling the rep my grievances I sounded like a real whinger whining bitch, there really was nothing wrong with where we were, my thoughts the previous day had been coloured by my mood and the weather.

A few stern words were exchanged between the shitty me and my usual more amiable self, amiable giving shitty a swift kick up the arse.


Our holiday had begun.



Sha X

One More Sleep

Most parents say this to their kids when asked endlessly how long it will be until whatever it is that they will be doing that is exciting, technically its not a full sleep as we will be up around four in the morning to set off to the airport. My A4 sheet of paper with my "to do" list is completely ticked off *high fives myself* we are off on our jollies.

Being away last weekend and the early part of the week I start to panic that everything won't get done, the list being strictly adhered to. It's funny how hubby and I do work cohesively together when going on holiday its about the one time we do, both having the common aim of getting us to that much longed for holiday. After the last few months we really are ready for the break, going to a villa for us is a real wind down, a time to totally relax. Two weeks for me is too long, a week not quite long enough, ten days would be perfect but villa's don't work that way.

Last night T and I went to Frankie & Benny's. One of the mums had decided to arrange an end of SATs celebration for the whole class, nice idea but spending two hours with 25 pre-pubescent kids isn't my idea of fun in an establishment that is overly priced for the quality of the food, those bloody overhead fans making us freezing. Me and a like minded mum hung out in a booth wishing we were in our pj's, bra off, glass of red in hand.

Today I managed to get my hand and toenails french polished in one of those walk in nail bars that has popped up in our town, you don't understand a word they are saying so hope for the best that you don't come out with a million adornments on your nails. The smell of I don't know what is so overpowering I wanted to ask for one of those clinical face masks they were wearing. Also managed a trip to a salon for waxing, not my welcome mat, the lip and chin require much more attention at my age. I decided to have for the first time ever my eyebrows tinted, this must be a bit like a poor man's botox and I guess I will get used to the surprised look, the kids saying as soon as I walked in "what have you done to your eyes". Hubby never even noticed. Me mostly prepped and prepared, a few last minute things to buy for the kids and I just love all those travel size things you can get from Superdrug.

The cases are packed and in the car, been to mams to do any last bits for her, like a tag team my sister gets back from Cuba tomorrow. The kids have gone to bed for the one more sleep, doubt they will do much of that as they are just a little excited.

I will be back in eight sleeps, ta ta for now.


Sha X

The Walk for Harry

Since I last posted things have been a little hectic to say the least. Getting back from Birmingham on Sunday evening I then had to organise an overnight stay in Essex for Monday to work in London on Tuesday getting back late last night. As promised I did say I would let you know how the walk for Harry went.

T and I arrived in Birmingham earlier than my expected time of arrival, I must have had the wind up my arse as we got there half an hour earlier than twat nav suggested (I may have a speeding ticket winging it's way to me as I write). We were staying at the Ramada within The Mailbox part of the city. The last time I went to Brum was about fifteen years ago for work. How very different it is now, very cosmopolitan with  restaurants and cafes overlooking the canal. As it grew dark the whole place looked lovely. Meeting L who was staying with us, we then went out for dinner meeting up with another lady from twitter who was up from London alone to do the walk. We opted for Nando's as I don't think the little tapas restaurants would have suited T.

Sunday morning we ordered a taxi to take us to Rookery Park where the walk would start, assuming the taxi driver would know where we needed to be was maybe presumptuous. Getting there eventually well before our allotted start time of 9.30am. L had got us white t shirts with Harry's smiling face on the front with sponge bob running across the front, Harry loved sponge bob. My emotions got the better of me when I heard Harry's voice booming from the tannoy. Looking around at all these people that had turned up for this boy was truly amazing, 11,000 ready to walk, some doing 26 miles others like us doing the family one of 10 miles. We managed to have a quick natter to Harry's mum, god only knows how her emotions must have been all over the place, such pride in seeing how many people wanted to do this for Harry and I imagine such longing that it was being done with him not for him. I think Harry had booked the weather it was just perfect.

Free radio, Birmingham's local station had organised this massive event brilliantly, we set off in stages at different times. Each and every bit of the way were marshals and signs pointing us in the right direction, my relief was on seeing the signs with the distance we had walked that it was the 10 mile ones not the 26, I really don't think I could have made that one but had so much admiration for those that were. It wasn't a walk in the park, poor L had real trouble with her Achilles tendon, the atmosphere and thoughts of Harry made us just put one foot in front of the other. The training T and I did prior to this really helped and when T was flagging a little I could say to her just one Brayton Barff walk so she could mentally break it down. She did amazing and didn't moan once. We stopped for comfort breaks a few times and was very grateful for the water handed out intermittently. Seeing the 1 mile to go sign a lady was on the corner of the road handing out Haribo's, the marshals encouraging you along. Arriving at Kings Heath was a fantastic feeling where we were given our medals for completing. Again a quick catch up with Harry's mum, my admiration for her and her family knows no bounds.

Waiting for the taxi back to the hotel I got in to conversation with a St Johns ambulance guy, he asked us where we had come from I also told him a lady had flown in from America to be at this event. He said in his thick Brummy accent "That's one special lad that is, he touched me from my toes he did babs" and he meant that from the bottom of his heart, he had lived on this street all his life and had never before seen anything like it.

We did it!!!! Thank you to all who sponsored us and for those that haven't got around to it there is still time. On the journey out of Birmingham I was listening to Free radio, the total raised so far £410,000.
All for an amazing young lad, Harry Moseley. Your message #HelpHarryHelpOthers carries on loud and clear H X


Sha X

#walkforharry

Just a quick update, the #walkforharry day is tomorrow. I am a little excited and a little nervous, not because I don't feel I won't be able to do it, all walking I have done in the last two weeks has given me some confidence. My nerves are simply because I have never done anything like this before, ever. My thoughts are though that the atmosphere will be amazing, all there for one common cause HARRY.

Being prepared I have bought a knee support, blister plasters, I am a little obsessed about getting blisters due to the fact our holiday is imminent and if I can say I have anything really nice about me it is my feet, energy bars and am prepared for any weather, the forecast is looking quite good not wet or too hot. The hotel is booked. So T and I are about to pack a little bag for our trip down to Birmingham this afternoon. After tweets, calls back and forth over the week we will be meeting up later on for dinner with some of Harry's other #twitfam as he liked to call us.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those that have donated thus far on our Just Giving page, we are near enough half way to our target with just on-line donations. Mum made me laugh the other day, she said "If you do this I will show my arse in Lewis's window, but as I can't I will give you £20" thanks for the vote of confidence Mam!.

Anyways had best crack on getting ready. Wish Liz, T and I the best of luck, I will tweet a picture of us at the end of it all and of course do a blog post. Should you wish to donate please click on my just giving page on the right.

Once again THANK YOU you are amazing.


Sha X

The Sisterhood

With the coming of middle age you may lament the loss of certain things. You may have targeted on an area of your body or face that has acquired a new disposition, only for the month after to hone in on that deeper frown line or the bags under your eyes. Since turning fifty everything seems to have fallen part, no new creams, lotions or potions doing the job they promised. Hell have I noticed a difference in all things in my skin, face and body.

On the plus side is a few things. In your teens, twenties, thirties and forties you always have in the back of your mind how you look in terms of how men see you, and other women too but you place more emphasis on your attractiveness to the opposite sex albeit I think this is subconscious. You see all the time young women around town in the skimpiest outfits and towering heels, look and think they must be freezing and those shoes must be killing them. Your mother and her mother will have said similar things. Having watched over the years in the main at family gatherings where the age range can be from babe in arms to the oldest member of a family I have observed many a woman of a certain age either trying to keep up with the pretty young things or worse, seen a look of envy, this look is not pretty, there is nothing more ageing in my opinion than bitterness, and when a woman wishes she were that young pretty thing again it is sad. The thing is at my age if a male or female doesn't like me for my personality then I'm not wasting time, I would rather be with people who do. This makes things like packing for holidays much simpler, I am looking for comfort and ease, those killer heels and coordinated outfits have no place in my suitcase. That's not to say I won't have my nails and other things done I'm not talking about being a complete slob. To me now it is about being the best "you" that you can be.

Your health and well being become much more important, yes the eyes maybe fading, all the better for looking in the mirror, a bit of natures soft focus. I may have a little joint ache in my wrists but on the whole am fairly fit and healthy. My hope that my body won't let me down on my charity walk this weekend as I've been doing a lot to prepare for it. Most importantly for me is that I am around a good while longer to see the girls grow in to adulthood.

A major plus I have discovered is a sisterhood, the women in your life seem to come in to their own, a major force of power, they encourage you, relate to you, they support you. Without these women, and you know who you are, well I just know they make my days brighter and I am grateful for each and everyone of you.

The days of clippy cloppy heels may be gone. I like where I am and I like the sisterhood.


Sha X

A Day of Two Halves

This morning my sister, brother in law and I were attending a funeral of an old friend. The funeral was about an hour and a half's drive away. The arrangement was for me to drop the girls off with my niece who would take them to school. We were to leave promptly at 8am, my brother in law is a stickler for punctuality, we have a saying in our family "While ever we have a hole in our a**** none of us in our family are on time". We have the best intentions it just never happens. Having been given the hard word from my sister last night I arrived promptly.

Twat nav set up we were on our way. I had done the exact same drive the day before for work so told my brother in law it would take us about an hour and twenty minutes if we didn't hit traffic. About 12 miles from our destination brother in law who has a tendency to be a little stubborn took not a blind bit of notice of me saying to turn left at a roundabout, he was going by the sat nav and that was that. Me chuntering in the back telling him he was going the wrong way. All through this journey my sister was trying to sort out their holiday. They had been informed that the hotel they had booked wasn't ready, so were given alternatives that weren't of the same standard. They are due to go on Sunday. My chuntering getting louder in the back we were effectively going to our destination via another bloody town! We arrived with about ten minutes before the start of the service. Most unusual part of the day, walking back to the car with a tall man who shall we say had an interesting look about him. He had attended the funeral, how the conversation got to the information he imparted, a total stranger, I really have no idea, he told me he was as a swinger...mmm I must look like the type of person you can share this sort of thing with, you know as you would at a funeral.

We needed to be back home for my sister to get to the local travel agents, her friend who works in a travel agents had called to tell her about a great deal to Cuba. The idea of my sister going to anywhere so far is a big deal for her, going to Kefolonia was giving her panic attacks, brother in law was on it in a breath this was somewhere he had always wanted to visit. He made me laugh when the lady in the travel agents asked if we wanted a coffee, she got up to do it and he sternly told her to sit, as there were only two places left for his dream trip he wasn't going to lose it now. A few hairy moments when she said it had gone, then a huge smile from the travel agent as it had come back on her screen. They fly in the morning. This sent my sister in to a tail spin, I think she may just have wanted to vomit a little, this was both very exciting and nerve wracking for her. They now had a million and one jobs to do, brother in law was cock a hoop, not that you would know from his face but I have known him long enough to discern that he was. He has been married to my sister for twenty one years, never in his wildest dreams did he ever think he would get her to go somewhere like that.

Finally around two we got to get some lunch, hashing over the day thus far we all agreed that there were other forces at work to get from the seed being planted about Cuba to getting it actually booked. Having just been to the funeral of a contemporary, who from first visit to the doctors until his death was seven weeks, I detected in my brother in law how it brought it home to live life to the full, do the things you have always wanted to do and my sister is happy to go along for the ride.

There may have been tears shed early in the day, watching my sister and brother in law this afternoon made me smile, a lot.


Sha X