Its what I've been trying to do since Sunday afternoon to come on here and update - as usual real-life got in the way and its taken me until now  to really be able to sit down and compose all my thoughts.

I am currently waiting for the Electrician to come and install our new shower.  The old one stopped working after only 5 years - which I was shocked to find is a LONG time as far as showers go !! - and is a VERY long time when you live in a hard water area like we do.  Its a long time since Ive had to bend over the bath using one of those plastic shower sprays to wash my hair too - its very vexing.!!  Happily all should be finished by tomorrow evening latest (he's a great Electrician - so therefore in demand) .  I am really looking forward to getting back to my morning shower - it really helps to wake me up  and face the day.   Plus I also have very sensitive skin, and sitting around in baths tends to make it rather dry so I usually reserve a bath for a once a week treat rather than an everyday thing.  

Went to the Hygeinist yesterday to have the 3 monthly clean.  I must say I never dread going anymore like i used to when I was younger (2 lots of root-canal and a rather nasty extraction finally got rid of all my fears) and it is lovely to get out of the chair with gleaming pearly whites.  I can wear all my peachy lipticks again without looking like something from a horror movie ! :D  I stocked up on those little inter-dental brushes and floss whilst I was there - costs a fortune too - but I just couldnt bear not to use them now  - my teeth just dont feel as clean as they should when I dont bother.

We're expecting snow here this week - although no sign as yet - but there was rather a heavy frost this morning.  It was very cold yet quite exhilirating walking to and from school.   Ive never minded walking anywhere - we live about a mile from the school - but its amazing the amount of cars that are still dropping off and picking up kids, and most of them live far closer than we do.  I do sometimes worry that my son has had a bit of a hard life, but he never ever moans about walking so I guess its just a way of life for him.   Its certainly made him much healthier than a lot of his schoolmates - he 's hardly ever ill and if  he does get a cold then its over and done with very quickly.  I also dont think he's in danger of putting on weight either.  Whether its good genes (from Mother's side naturally!!) or just that fact that he DOES do a lot of exercise, I just cannot seem to get enough food into him.   He's growing taller too - 4" in about 18 months - so I think I may have an even bigger job on my hands in the future.  Bless him - my little boy is growing up.  Double digits next birthday.   The only thing not growing as quickly is his feet - he can still wear the shoes he had in September so I suppose I should be grateful for small mercies.  I'll save that subject for another day though.!!

Off to put some washing out now and catch up on all my correspondence which I have been putting off for some time

Yes it has been nearly 2 weeks since I first posted but I have been rather busy with other stuff and well - just life really.

Its recently been half term so normal routine goes out of the window. The one blissful thing about school holidays is that there is no alarm clock in the mornings. The thing I don't get enough of these days though is sleep - yet I should have a good eight hours really because I have to do a lot of walking to and from school, shops etc, But I always end up still being up (or at least awake reading or watching tv) well after I should be snuggled down.

Ive noticed as I get older that I need less sleep generally, but at least Ive managed to catch up on lots of lost zzzzzzzzz this last week or so, and am feeling well rested for once.

Its been quite hectic at the websites I run - that is my own 2, and the ones I have designed and maintained for my Stepfather's business, my Family homepage that I co-own with my own Dad, and my latest commission - a website to showcase the works of the Carpenter who built our decking last year. The last one is my first real commission. While I was supplying tea and cold drinks when the deck was being built, I was chatting to the chippy and he asked to take a pic of the finished deck as he was thinking of getting a portfolio together. I mentioned that I built websites and he asked if I could do one for him sometime. I thought it was just idle chitchat, but last month he got in touch and asked if I could make a site or him and run it for the first few months until he could take over. So that is what I am doing - he rang me yesterday to talk about the lastest batch of pics to be uploaded and tells me his business is already picking up as a result of the website. I am so thrilled that I can help make his business a success for him - he and his wife are a lovely young couple who have had quite a struggle since he decided to go out on his own - and of course it does me a bit of good to showcase my own talents!

The money is also useful too - Ive been able to buy the new shower we desperately needed in the main bathroom. It went wrong last week and everyone has had to use our ensuite one since then, which has been a bit of a pain, especially whn the grandparents made a flying visit. The new one is being fitted next week though so I will soon get my peaceful retreat back again.

Ive been scouting around both here at LJ and on the net genereally and can see lots of new pics, screencaps and icons of Matthew Macfadyen, a long-time passion of mine. Its a mixed feeling I have really - Ive liked him for so long and have been promoting him via the web as much as I can and now all of a sudden he's become very very popular since he played Darcy in Pride & Prejudice. Its definitely a double edged sword - I wanted him to get the recognition he deserves and yet I wanted to keep him a secret for just the select few of us that have been long time fans. Id love to know how to make the icons though - some of them are gorgoeous. Im going to snag a few and use them here if I can. I'll happily give credit of course.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a complete sucker for romantic films. Im so happy that Ive finally found a film Ive long been looking for on French ebay and ordered it - and Ive had an email to say its on its way. I can hardly wait until the postie knocks on my door with it. Ive also been collecting the free dvds from the Daily Mail this past 2 weeks. Last night I watched a Hazard of Hearts and in a minute I shall be going up to watch A Ghost in Monte Carlo. I like the luxury of snuggling down under the duvet rather than sitting downstairs - our heating system is a bit ancient and it tends to be cooler downstairs than up, especially at night, so I often go up early to get cosy. Dear OH wants to come onto the pc soon anyway - he is currently looking for a new job and likes to trawl the net and listen to some soothing music through the cordless headphones I got him as a Christmas pressie. Are we a boring pair or what.

Anyway I shall be off now as its getting on for the witching hour. Hoping to get befriended soon - in the meantime I find I have no difficulty in rambling on ad infinitum about anything and everything that takes my fancy.

Night night ...........

Well another Monday is here.

Having had extreme pc/connection problems over the weekend (and beavering on into the small hours to try and fix it) everything finally seems to be back to normal and I have been catching up on all the sites/boards I visit and emailing and pm-ing like mad.

Of course there's always an upside - I was able to do more and also watch some tv/films. Phantom was on Sky again on Saturday evening (I am currently more obsessed with that movie than with Pride & Prejudice I think) so I took the opportunity to watch it again. I also had time to watch the dvd of Dear Frankie and the latest on my rental list - an old Catherine Cookson called The Wingless Bird. Have decided to put Gerry Butler's Dracula film on the list too as although that genre is definitely NOT my cup of tea, I'd like to see for myself just how versatile he is.

It's half-term next week (well end of term really - where we live the school year comprises 6 terms a year) so we may well go off to France for one of the days - probably Monday. I do wish we lived nearer as by the time we've booked a hotel and paid for the crossing it can get quite expensive but we do love going so much that its worth all the hassle and expense. I'm making my list at the moment and top of it is more Persil, fabric conditioner and Olive Oil. Yes forget the wine (that's HIS department) I look for the essentials.

Just heard on the news that Leo Sayer is at number one after something like 20 years away from the charts?

I'll probably be back later ..............

Ive been wanting to start up a live journal for ages - and finally found both the time and courage to do it - so treat me gently as I'm a complete novice (despite having already set up and run two quite successful websites).

I hope to be more up to speed once I have a real chance to look around, but hey if you like some of the same things I do then why not pop on over and say Hi?

Here's hoping ............