good ol Hogmanay!!

Well, recently I have cut out Gluten ( more about that later)and had a renewed feeling of energy, is it that false sence of security from the bottom of the wine glass or am I really feeling healthier and stronger??

I discovered the Nike plus for Iphone a few months ago but due to an achilles injury I was unable to run for quite some time so here I am back at day 1 setting a few goals

The first is to just go and run and enjoy it, the second get some clothes to fit, i swear my trousers were falling down on the route!!

So today, 8am, off I went iphone in pocket nike plus running and listening to my favourite tunes, i managed to 2.87 miles in 30 mins, no record breaking speed but I completed it , didnt walk and ran the hill!!

Hip hip hurray for me.....

happy New year to you all!!!!

now go shower!!!!

Have you done anything fun lately??

So someone asked me lately - what are you doing for fun. The look on my face must have looked like -"are you crazy?" I then thought of course I do fun things, I thought and thought and nope, I do nothing I just currently "function" moving from one task to another.

exercise, breakfast dropoff, work, pick up, play dates, dinner, bedtime, knackered! This doesn't include, house keeping laundry groceries, and meal planning but i do it all

So what do you do, I need ideas I am thinking of trying to come up with something realistic, I used to be involved with life, not just letting it pass me by!!

All suggestions welcome

A brand new day!!

Camping was so much fun and right here in Marin on Alice Eastwood campground. So near and yet so far, able to check out, hike a lot and enjoy the company of good friends.

Although I did enjoy some alcohol, I did not go over board at all on either food or drink.

The problem came when i returned home and people started posting pictures. uug fat me and horrid fat pictures of me!!

I must do something to improve myself very soon!!

Charting my points!!

Satuday

So today we are having our first family vacation of the year. Yes we do not do very well going away as a family! This vacation will be short lived and I am afraid it will just be 2 nights camping with the theater group but I know we will have fun.

Next year we must plan some time away properly or maybe we could squeeze something into this year.

Ahh

Now off to pack up the house in order to go camping locally for 2 nights

Well Hello!!

Dear readers,

Let me introduce myself I am a delinquent blogger "why" you may ask - no reason just lazy!!

Hope to be better at blogging soon and give you lots more drivel to read,

Love

Me!!

Well nice to be back, haven't update this site in a while as I was doing my "skinnythinking challenge" but that fell flat as I traveled around and didn't have a laptop to write my stories, I considered restarting or continuing on by decided to not bother and stick with this!

been a busy summer, camps, UK holiday, seeing grandparents, cousins, friends was lovely to catch up and now back at school.

Still desperate to loose some weight, worked out at boot camp and the gym this morning so now i just have to make sure I don't eat those burned off calories for lunch!!

With school back I am heading to work 4 days a week, going to give it a shot and hopefully can contribute something to those homebound people in Marin. Trying also to make more "me " time.

OK got to stop it is hot, more soon!!

See ya!!

Out of the fog

So after feeling so sick for so long i finally feel like I am heading out of the fog and back into my normal self.

It has taken a while and I am so glad I am beginning to get better. I was all packed and ready for boot camp this morning but unable to sleep until around 2am I gave up on that idea for a bit of rest. If this illness has taught me anything it is that I need rest to keep going. I have had a few false starts but I am feeling positive this is the one that means I am BETTER!!

I am still charting my progress daily on http://skinnythinking71.blogspot.com check it out and join the revolution on facebook!

Have a great weekend!!

Latest rant

So I had a mental breakdown on Monday feeling like I never get to do things for myself but just for the rest of my family and that got me thinking - what would I do if I had the time and a stark reality hit me.

I left home at 18 (1990)started nursing for 3 1/2 years my life was studying nursing, once qualified I worked a few years then on top of working full time I started to study for my 4 year degree course online, which during that time I got married and eventually moved to California and finished my degree, so i had a year off in the USA in which i studied and applied for my nursing license, and during my free time I did a theater production of Oliver and did tap classes. By now it was 2002 I got a job, had a baby, kept working, baby grew up, wanted to do activities I took him and ended up doing all this "mandatory" volunteering.

So that is me up to date and if I say pretty pathetic.

I have basically done nothing for myself except earn a living.

What would I like to do - I have no flipping idea. I like to cook but am too fat to eat, so there is a problem.

Any suggestions to my dilemma will be very welcome!!

Last big rehearsal

So today was the last big rehearsal and to be honest i am so glad mainly because we as a family are just so tired, it will be so nice to have Nathaniel back to his cheery self after being able to rest properly and go to bed on time for a change and eat some healthy meals!!

He has I think enjoyed the process but understands the need for a break!

He has little mermaid in 3 weeks, after that who knows where his stage career will head!!

So no complaining lots of smiles and 3 more shows!!

here goes!

Skinny thinking

So facebook is terrible for games but every so often you find something interesting, I am finding out and following Laura Katleman-Prue and her idea about skinny thinking,

today is day 1 of her 91 day plan to get everyone "skinny thinking" so here goes!

Today you have to focus on at least 5 minutes of exercise Freedom is possible.

I also managed to get back on track with boot camp after family responsibilities stopped me from going last wednesday and Friday, luckily the leader is kind and does not shame me for not going!! Those push ups were extra hard today!

I am also going to try and do at least 30 mins strength and yoga on the wii to get my balance better!!

You can follow my progress on my personalised blog - skinnythinking71

Happy Monday!!

Friday arrives

Fridays are always hard for me they signal the weekend and I know we as a family"enjoy the weekend" with meals out, drinking alcohol and generally having a good time.

I am working this weekend so have gone out and bought myself some salads to see me through thus avoiding me rushing my work to enjoy a fry up with Nathaniel and Simon and hopefully feeling better about myself.

It is too early to notice any weight loss but I have been tracking my food intake and I even bought the light for my bike and rode to boot camp this morning and it was fine. To be honest this is the most fun I have had with exercise in a very long time. So thanks to Keli and the other mum's for inspiring me to keep going, I almost look forward to the alarm going off at 5 am and next week I will definitely start the swimming on a tuesday and thursday and look forward hopefully to some positive news next friday in the shape of maybe a pound or two down!

Happy Friday and enjoy your weekend - in moderation as always!!

The next challange

Come on, there is always the next challange, for me it has to be loosing weight.

I would like to loose 40lb but lets start with the first 10!

I am being really good and going to bootcamp and I am putting in my all into it and it is hard (thanks Keli) but hard is good - there is no point if it is too easy!

Now I need to really focus on charting what food I eat and doing more exercise at home.

Lets see by the weekend if I have made a dent into that first 10lb's

Life in the old dog yet!

So I embarked on a 10k run this weekend. It was not something I expected to be good at, over weight and under trained I felt that this could be a necessity to spur me on the better health and fitness.

The packet pick up day is always exciting, I enjoy seeing the booths and the spirit of the race, I dont get this excitement at home as Simon and Nathaniel dont really understand how hard these things are to participate in or how fun they can be!

So this morning I headed off at 6.30 to park and get the shuttle to the start! Surprisingly it was pretty quiet I am used to bigger Marathons and there were onlt 700 people registered for all races and 112 for the 10k, we waited for our start which ended up being delayed due to poor planning and the 1/2 marathoners were still coming up the hill in an abundance when we were due to start on the same path, so a slight delay then.....

Suddenly I am off racing down the hill from Mcnears beach telling myself, go slow warm up it will be fine, the first mile was easy and then my achiles on both legs started hurting, every step hurt and I was regretting my decision to run, I struggled on back up the hill passing mile 2 and mile 3, by mile 4 the sun was out and high in the trees and I was warming up, 4,5 and 6 was pretty much a downhill then a back uphill and the last .4 was trail along the seashore.

My official time was 49.21 a good 6 seconds off my personal best and I placed 13th in the women, 25th overall (men and women combined) and 4th in my age group!

Not bad indeed!!

Now as keli would say - go out and run!

A Walkathon

So today was the school walkathon, much care was taken not to sign nathaniel up for too much per lap as you never know how much they will do. Last year in kindergarten it was very controlled, maybe it will be the same this year - at least they limit the time.

It is always so much fun to see the kids with pure excitement on their faces and in their voices!

We headed off to the route and everyone was so excited and the sun was blazing down.

The kids all hurriedly headed round their first lap and as you can imagine the last lap was more of a struggle, it was also very funny to see the boys racing round trying to beat their buddies while the gilrs strolled around without a care in the world!

Funny how when grown up the roles reverse;)

THe Scouting Movement

So Nathaniel and I spent the last 4 days at the scouting 100th Anniversary jamboree, camping for me always fills me with dread, seems like too much work but once I am there and my tent is up I usually have a good time.Baden Powel has achieved greatness with the organisation that he formed over 102 years ago and following 100 years ago with girl guides/scouts and the Boy scouts of America. Having moved through the girl guide movement in the UK I learned many skills and mostly I would say "organisation", "thinking for yourself" and "teamwork" were some of the valued skills I used as I left school and started my career. I helped celebrate the 75th Anniversary 25 years ago.

For Nathaniel I wanted him to experience that too and learn some independent thinking but also working as a team towards a goal.

The 100th Anniversary event was probably a bit wasted on him at 6 years old he doesnt understand the point of the scouting movement but instead he just has a good time camping with his friends and at some point you just have to let them do that! Friendship is a good thing to learn at cub scouts too!!

The boys enjoyed the usual activities of Archery, Soccer, BBguns, lighting fires and many other things as well as the more fun events of campfire and smores.

So, scouting continues to bring boys (and parents) of all ages over to enjoy and c

elebrate learning and friendship and i don't think there is any sign of it stopping anytime soon!!

Another new one

Every year there are new TV series, and some make it and some don't and every few years you find one that seems to "capture" the hearts of the world. Glee seems to be one of those that has hit it off with most people, as friends eagerly post "spoilers" on facebook and such joy to know you are ahead and know what is going on that say the UK it gives a strange excitement - it is a TV show!! The last one that had this much "buzz" was probably Ugly Betty in 2006 and prior to that Lost in 2004 (22nd september). The fates of these programs are not just in the audience but how the writers write so time will tell if "Glee" can maintain the phenomenon and keep going for many seasons, Ugly betty went quickly down hill and has now been cancelled, Lost, lost it's way around the 3rd season but came back strong for the 4th and now we are looking at the final season with just a few episodes left - I hope it makes sense!

Many of these series have dips and peaks and some people tolerate more than others but the main thing is just go out and enjoy what you can.

Our current favourites

Flash Forward

Nurse jacky

Lost

Brothers and Sisters

Just let me lie down!

So today I read an article from the new "Real Simple" magazine (may edition). Can I call you back in 15 years got me at the title, how I so feel like that some days and the past month it has been just definitely like that. Kristin Van Ogtrop author of "just let me lie down" writes about balancing kids, work and sleep - she leaves the husband out of it (for a minute). She talks about us having lots of time when we are young and suddenly balancing everything in our lives in our 40's it brings us to a subject of friends, she never thought she would have to "choose" to see friends rather than it be a natural thing, she notes that "friendships need consistent attention and occasional aggressive pruning" and really having to give up a few minutes of alone time to see a friend it becomes a juggling game.

I did as she did in the article and that was to draw up a pie chart and divide it up with the things you do in a day and boy I discover the same as her, I have very little time alone to do the things I love - yes I do not have cleaning the toilets on my "love to do" list.

I pride myself in being efficient and a good time manager but when asked to go out and I cant make it (babysiter problems or just exhausted) I am often made to feel guilty, but honestly i am tired or I do have to do the cleaning/tidying/shopping, god forbid I go to bed early! Is it because nathaniel is an only child that I take him to all these activities - I doubt it cause if he wasn't doing them he would be on playdates, but I sure feel like I spend a lot of time ferrying to his activities (14 hrs per week), and still working about 30 hrs a week minimum and volunteering and still having food on the table a smile on my face and a clean pair of knickers on!

I try to be good at everything, but it is more than obvious that as I take care of everyone else, it is me that goes down hill in the food I eat and the clothes I wear and the lack of exercise I do and the lack of friends that I see. I really do try and keep in touch as much as I can but it can be a struggle during these busy times! I am sorry.

So if I am sitting alone when I hit 80, please come and say hello, I know being busy isn't an excuse but sometimes it is a reason!

Happy Monday

Happy Easter and moving on!

So yesterday we had our "Easter party" it was so much fun, lots of friends and their kids to relax with. People "thank" me or tell me I am crazy but for me there is nothing better than getting to hang out with friends! If my house was bigger I could invite more but I felt it was the right number to keep an eye on and also socialise with everyone.

It was also a sad time as our friends Thomas, Elise and Elie are heading back to Montreal tomorrow for good. Now as experts from moving backwards and forwards around the world I can certainly understand how they feel and once Elise leaves there will certainly be a lot more wine in the Napa valley since everytime we get together we try to empty the place!

Elise has painted a beautiful picture which stands pride of place in our dining room and she has given up her 2 rugs.

We will miss them very much but wish them well as they head home to their Mother land and then for adventures in Lebanon after that

To my friends, THANK YOU for being our friends

podcasts

So, I have recently re-discovered podcasts! As I drive around all day in my car I have tried music, radio and audio books but they all just don't grab me, either too repetitive or need me to concentrate more so I have popped back into itunes and starting downloading some podcasts and you know what??? It is working,

I am cheerier when i get to my patients home and easy to pause and restart.

So what have I been listening too.

Well - "the Archers" a UK soap opera has me listening to a little bit of craziness

Chris Moyles radio show is always a fun favourite

Sarah and vinnie Secret show is another daily favourite (not for the kids)

medical matters - from the BBC keep me upto date with some favourite topics

World book authors, give an insight and interview with an author of a book.

Any journey you take is always better with companion ship so next time you are out and about - check out the huge podcast directory and find something you are into!! They will keep you company all the way!!

whoa slow down!

When did life start going so fast. I really need a break from life as we have been so busy so I sit down and try to figure it out.

Looking at my calendar is crazy! No free weekends till after we do "big" middle may and then Nathaniel is in Little Mermaid, of course working every 3rd weekend only leaves me with some choice as opposed to "great choices"

So what can I do?? I could complain, spend many times sulking at going here or there, or - I could make it an "event" take a picnic to our commitment, even a beer, volunteer or where possible and without trying to look like a freak - run and exercises while Nathaniel is "doing his stuff"

Try to put a spin on the boredom of it all, you can do it and I am really trying,

Now back to downloading some podcasts - will talk about that one tomorrow!!!

Have an amazing WEDNESDAY!!

Another Monday morning

Don't you think that Mondays come round WAY too fast, no sooner are you celebrating on a friday evening then suddenly you are awake at 5am ready to start a new week.

I am still unfortunately still hurting from injuring my achilles on thursday I am trying to do "flat stuff but ice rest and painkillers seem to be the only thing that helps, it was particularly sore after boot camp this morning.

This week there is a little rain forecast which I know the plants will like and to be honest it helps get some cleaning done inside!

Our new computer system goes "live" on April 1st and honestly I feel like I understand it but do I/???????? I will keep playing with the phone hoping to discover secret treasures so that I can make charting easy!!

I have been trying to figure out how to fit in a weekend away soon, just the 3 of us, it would do us all good but I don't see any window of opportunity, which is a real shame, still it saves me having to make the effort to research and book somewhere.

Oh well by the end of the week we will be in april - very hard to believe !

I keep promising to make more time for myself I should start with a haircut and a pedicure, lets try to schedule my hair cut for next week!!

We shall see!!

Have a great week!!

lesson well learned

So today I went on a last minute hike, I was excited to go but the steep uphill at the beginning really caused a problem for my Achilles in both my legs, I got my hiking partners to stop for a bit but they were anxious to keep moving, the pain decreased for a bit but the constant uphill and the fast pace they were pursuing made the hike more and more uncomfortable - if they had slowed down it would have been easier.

Eventually I had to give up (I never give up but they were moving too fast and I was not able to allow my legs to recover). So I did what I NEVER do and know better to and that was to return home, they knew I didn't know the route, but were not volunteering to come back down with me, very embarrassed I left feeling very very sad.

So the inevitable happens, I got lost I was scaling the side of blackstone canyon with a dead cell phone (typical) trying to figure out which way was down.

I decided the path I was on was obviously the wrong one so I retrace my steps and eventually find the way down.

So the moral of the story is, if you go hiking with someone, stay with them, even if it means coming back earlier than planned.

Safety is the most important thing, I would do it for you!

Also Little legs cant walk as quick as long legs.

Now on to figure out about how to resolve my tendonitis before my race at the end of next month!

Will this one stick??

So, lately I have been struggling to stay focused and give myself any "me time" my who life revolves around everything else sometimes it gets a little hard to remember where I am underneath all that.

So today i signed up for the Marin county 10k, a 10K will be easy for me but maybe I can get in shape along the way and get a decent time!

So that will be fun, continuing with the boot camp and trying to use "hanging around time" to go for a run/walk of the other day i had a manicure!

I am a much happier person when i do a little bit of self care.

So your challenge this week, take an hour for yourself - the world can wait!

Another year gone!

So over the weekend I celebrated turning 39 - always celebrating never depressed! What will happen as I take the next year forward and my next birthday - I anxiously await the surprises in store for me not dread the sign of middle age and old age approaching! My thirties to me have actually been the best time so far of my life, one where I had my son and became physically fit and reaching goals I never thought I would achieve in the shape of several half marathons.

So as you can imagine, there was a lot of eating and drinking and celebrating as I turned 39, but the most important of all were the wonderful well wishes and spending time with Simon and nathaniel (the melting pot wasnt bad either)

However now spring is upon us it is time for me to stop over indulging and get back into shape and I have joined a local boot camp and although some things I struggle now, I am hoping within a month I start seeing some strength return.

I can do it!! watch this space!!

Have a great week!!

The loneliness of the long distance runner

The loneliness of the long distance runner - what does that mean to you?? I read an article probably last year about how lonely it can be training to run long distance events. I agreed at the time but recently (after having taken a break from running) since I have been trying to get out an about running more i have seen a different side to that statement!

Running alone can be lonely but so can any thing if you are doing your journey alone, I am not always alone but when I am I have stopped listening to my ipod and started listening to the world around be, trees swaying in the wind, birds tweeting, cars driving past and strangers saying "hello". For me I am definitely not wanting to sprint to the finish line but instead "enjoy the journey and help those who need company or support.

On a recent bike ride Nathaniel told me "I cant go on, I will never make it home" (we were 2 houses from home but if anyone has taken on a hard journey they know that feeling). Don't worry I said I Know you can do it and if you are really struggling you can just get off your bike and walk the rest of the way, he cycled on and made it home. The next day that same ride was a little easier.

So the morale of today is...enjoy today whatever challenges you have and you can overcome anything alone or with the friends around you

happy Thursday

WOW

Wow,

It is amazing how quickly the past few weeks have gone, what with me working 3 - 4 days a week and Nathaniel signed up for everything imaginable, it has been hectic/stressful and definitely tiring.

So I keep him on a tight schedule so we get everything done and he still manages to get some rest. Not much for me though!

This past weekend we managed to finally get me a bike and nathaniel graduated to his 20 inch one, so sunday we ended up doing 2 bike rides which totaled over 10 miles, pretty good and I have continued to ride every day and even to school twice today!

I have tried to be more active around the house figuring that it will help as I have felt pretty isolated and claustrophobic sitting in a car all morning visiting patients then driving nathaniel around all afternoon so moving on my available days is much better!

I have once again embarked on a bootcamp at 5.30am but only twice a week and I fit in bike rides and runs in between time and a bit of gardening - all to keep me busy! That said it is 10pm and i am tired.

One good thing though the weather has been wonderful with just a bit of wind by the end of the day!! That I can definately handle!!

Good days

Nathaniel did great at his 2 auditions, today he will hear if he gets any lines in "the little mermaid" he isn't bothered if he doesn't!

It has been a beautiful few days and that just lifts your spirits so much, I definitely feel that my running and exercise has also improved my moods and allows me to deal with pretty much anything with a smile on my face!

I am sure now we will see more "good days" than bad and the days are getting a little longer now too, so much to look forward to over the next few weeks!!

Have a wonderful weekend!! Are you doing anything fun??

Audition Day

So, Nathaniel has finally decided to audition for some plays! he has not been pushed in any way but he decided on his own that he wants to do The Little Mermaid - at school, and "Big the musical" with Simon.

So the auditions are tonight, he knows both the songs and fingers crossed he does well, I can almost feel myself wanting him to do well, but I will stay away!! He is fine with a small part, i am sure if he continues to do this as he gets bigger, he will have more idea about "getting parts" and the disappointment when you don't get what you want, but for now, it is really enjoyable just watching him enjoy the process and be so excited about having 2 auditions today!!

sunny??

Sunny California is back being sunny again after nearly 8 days of continuous rain, once again i have a smile on my face and a spring in my step,

How wonderful it is to live in the beautiful part of the country!!

I may even walk to pick Nathaniel up from school, he can bike home!

maybe!!

Rain?

So it has been raining, for the past week?? We had some sun yesterday but boy, I am in need of a gentle run outside!! YOu get itchy feet with weather like this, course I could be popping on the wii fit, but instead I am catching up with all the winter sports on the TV, watching the ice skating, skiing and bobsleighing, all looks so much fun!

We know the weather will improve but in the meantime, I am quite enjoying hanging out at home with Simon and Nathaniel and playing some board games!!

Getting those old brain cells working.

Oh and I am now back on facebook after an absence of 6 days but able to have a much more "healthy relationship" with it now!!

truely obbsessed

I know I loved to be on facebook and chat with people but it has become like a littel friend to me and that is wrong so 48 hours ago I deactivated my account for a bit to see how I cope and then I can re activate it and have a healthier relationship with it!

So much stuff gets left while my 5 minutes on facebook becomes 1 hour or more time flies on facebook.

So how have the past 48 hrs been, well ok apart from every five minutes a new status idea pops in my head, I am sure as time goes on that will lessen!

I am however not worried about my dying crops or rotting cafe!

Life for me is in this world with real live people and when i can be trusted to use it again as a means of social communication - not obsession I will get back on.

Meantime, more concentration on my family and my work! Course I am not cutting myself off from the world I have email, blog and phones!!

Back to reality!!

thursday thursday

So after a disaster of a day yesterday I am starting Thursday of with a more positive attitude. Up dressed had breakfast and ready for a brisk walk with some friends.

I even have the laundry in the washer and it is not 8am yet.

The only thing you will see on my computer is email and weight watchers!

More later!!!!!!

Just back from a 3 hour hike - weather is beautiful sunny and warm, I am so lucky!! Feeling positive, lovely soup for lunch, then maybe a car wash!!

Feeling tired

I think January does that to you, makes you feel tired after all the food of the festive season and the darker mornings, oh I cant wait till some good weather returns although today has been lovely 62 and sunny!!

So today I disabled my facebook account, I got the wrong day for my CPR class and feel I need to make some changes in my life, getting more over weight and lazy and more pressures from work. I pretty much have the choice of work more or quit with my job so i will probably take a little while to think that one over, the job is very stressful and my head is certainly not in a good place. One thing I do know however is that being on facebook isnt healthy, looking at my iphone isnt healthy! Just think of all the things I could be doing with my time instead of looking at what everyone else is doing!! Definately time for me to waken up!!

Minestrone soup

I have been trying some new recipes over the past couple of days and both have been great, moroccan lamb and Minestrone soup. Neither was difficult to make and in fact I will make the minestrone more now I realise how easy it was sometimes you just don't think!

I enjoy trying new things and am going to make meatloaf in the slow cooker for tomorrow's dinner (hopefully)

I definately find I go through moments of cooking a lot then not much!

Have you cooked anything good lately??

Ski day!

THis is what I have been waiting for all Christmas Holidays - to try my skiing skills out again at Sugar Bowl in Lake tahoe!

We drove up and eagerly got our ski's and headed to the slopes!

Things did not start well, my feet were "killing me" but a quick solution - I had them fastened too tight, then once headed for the lift on the nursery slope, Nathaniel slipped - he started to get frightened - being the caring parents we were we shoved him back on and headed up the hill, it became apparent to us immediately that Nathaniel had forgotten everything (sigh), I knew my skills were not good enough to teach him, but we managed a few times up and down before his lesson!!

Once I sent him packing on his lesson I headed for the top

of the baby slope to see if i could remember what to do, I could so up the mountain I went.

I went down the blue run first "trailblazer" this was more "advanced" than the green run but I thought I would give it a go, it was amazing - yes i pretty much managed and the snow was perfect, I never thought I would "understand" snow jargon, but couldn't help myself saying wow this powder is amazing, it truly was a fabulous experience, I ended up doing the blue and the green run (pioneer) 5 times each and my first time down Pioneer was a great improvement from last year where I got stuck half way down and burst into tears unable to go on (course I had to finish). This time I managed mostly weaving but when I felt Ultra brave I would speed down with my ski's parallel. I did those runs with ease and confidence and am keen to try some different runs next time - it was just the mountain is in two bits and didnt want to miss the end of Nathaniel's lesson!!!! He did wonderful too and moved up a level for next time - woo hoo!!

A big thank you to Simon for driving us up and back, especially as we were delayed with traffic coming home and I had hurt my wrist and couldnt drive!

01-01-10

Here we are at January 1st 2010, another year has started and we always look on with optimisim and excitement, as we make all these "plans and resolutions" to be better than the previous year, be it - eat less, exercise more, spend more time with family, learn to cook, garden etc etc.

For me, this year there will be no list, no deadlines, but motivating myself from within without the fear of a deadline! Be happy and healthy, have money for food on the table, enjoy being a family in our lovely home, that is the dream this year, I felt like I spent most of last year being sick, once all the apartment renovations started. Oh dear here I go, I already have a list - see how easy it is.

Anyway, what I am trying to say is you may make "plans" in your head over the next few days or months and if they come true - fantastic but if they don't - dont beat yourself up about it we are human and doing the best we can!

Enjoy the day and the year and

A very HAPPY new year to you all

Here are some important dates in 2010

Opening day of the Winter Olympics - February 28th

87 Academy Awards - March 7th

Mothers day - UK March 14th

Easter Sunday - April 4th

Mothers Day - US May 9th

Fathers Day - June 20th

Thanksgiving - November 25th